2013 NTC Featured Guest Artists
Doc Severinsen, Special NTC Guest Artist
“Heeeeere’s Johnny!” That lead-in, followed by a big band trumpet blast, was the landmark of late night television for three decades. The ‘Johnny’ was Johnny Carson, the announcer was Ed McMahon and the bandleader was Doc Severinsen. Beginning in October 1962, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson ruled the night air for thirty years. On May 22, 1992, it came to an end……And the Beginning of a New Career for Doc Severinsen.
Within a week of the final telecast, Doc Severinsen and His Big Band was on the road. Doc’s group has been composed of The Tonight Show’s best musicians — Ed Shaughnessy on drums, Ernie Watts on tenor sax and Snooky Young on trumpet. Their repertoire includes Ellington and Basie standards, pop, jazz, ballads, big band classics and, of course, The Tonight Show theme. Audiences are finally able to hear the depth of talent belonging to a band that rarely played a whole tune on the air. Severinsen can blow the roof off with a trumpet solo, but he is not the only accomplished soloist. Many of his band members get their well-deserved turns in the spotlight. Doc’s tour dates are consistently sold out.
Ask Doc about retirement and the answer you will get leaves you with a very clear impression: he is not ready to hang up his horn or his traveling shoes.
Since moving to Mexico at the end of 2006, Doc has kept a busy performance schedule and made new discoveries in very talented musicians from Mexico. Together with Gil Gutierrez he has crafted an innovative and exciting program. It is classical Spanish with a jazz flair, gorgeous ballads, both Latino and American, plus some great movie music and among their best received — gypsy jazz, a la Django Reinhardt. The musicians are virtuosos and combined are electric. Add to this the soaring trumpet of Doc (not to mention his wardrobe!) and the experience is indescribably brilliant.
A Grammy award winner, Doc has made more than 30 albums–from big band to jazz-fusion to classical. Two critically acclaimed Telarc CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra showcase his multifaceted talents from Bach to ballads. The Very Best of Doc Severinsen reprises fifteen of Doc’s signature pieces. His other recordings include Unforgettably Doc with the Cincinnati Pops on Telarc, and the Grammy nominated Once More With Feeling on Amherst. He received a Grammy Award for “Best Jazz instrumental Performance – Big Band” for his recording of Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band- Volume I. Doc Severinsen and His Big Band/Swingin’ the Blues is his latest release with Ed Shaughnessy and Ernie Watts. In 2007 he released his first recording with Gil and Cartas, Gil + Cartas, En Mi Corazon with Special Guest Doc Severinsen and in 2007 he released Doc Severinsen/Gil&Cartas, El Ritmo de la Vida.
Severinsen’s accomplishments began in his hometown of Arlington, Oregon, population: 600. Carl H Severinsen was born on July 7th, 1927, and was nicknamed “Little Doc” after his father, Dr. Carl Severinsen a dentist. Little Doc had originally wanted to play the trombone. But the senior Severinsen, a gifted amateur violinist, urged him to study the violin. The younger Severinsen insisted on the trombone, but had to settle for the only horn available in Arlington’s small music store — a trumpet. A week later, with the help of his father and a manual of instructions, the seven-year-old was so good that he was invited to join the high school band. At the age of twelve, Little Doc won the Music Educator’s National Contest and, while still in high school, was hired to go on the road with the famous Ted Fio Rito Orchestra.
However, his stay with the group was cut short by the draft. He served in the Army during World War II and following his discharge, landed a spot with the Charlie Barnett Band. When this band broke up, Severinsen toured with the Tommy Dorsey, then, the Benny Goodman bands in the late 40′s.
After his days with Barnett and Dorsey, Doc arrived in New York City in 1949 to become a staff musician for NBC. After years of playing with the peacock network’s studio bands, Severinsen was invited to do a gig with the highly respected Tonight Show Band. An impressed conductor, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join that band in 1962 as first trumpet. Five years later, Doc took over as Music Director for The Tonight Show and stayed with the show until Johnny Carson retired from late night television in 1992.
Today, Doc has not lost his flair for outrageous fashions and witty banter. Yet, he is highly regarded as one of the most technically proficient trumpeters. Doc has the best stage presence of anyone out there. He can blow a horn like few others…he is a high note virtuoso, a genuinely funny man, and always a fashion fiend.
Somewhere along Doc’s journey from Oregon, to New York, to this evening’s concert, the “Little” was lost, but he remains ageless. Doc Severinsen continues to be a favorite of audiences across America.
Etienne Charles
Born on the Island of Trinidad in 1983, Etienne Charles defies easy musical
categorization. An alumnus of the prestigious Juilliard School and Florida State
University, he has received critical acclaim for his exciting performances, thrilling
compositions and knack for connecting with audiences worldwide. Etienne has
been hailed by New York Times as "an auteur", by Jazz Times as "A daring improviser
who delivers with heart wrenching lyricism", and according to Downbeat Magazine
"Charles delivers his ebullient improvisations with the elegance of a world-class ballet
dancer." In June 2012, Etienne was awarded with a US Congressional Record for
his musical contributions to the citizens of Trinidad & Tobago and the World.
Perhaps more than any other musician of his generation or Eastern Caribbean origin, Etienne brings a careful study of myriad rhythms from the French, Spanish, English and Dutch speaking Caribbean to the table. Crucially, as a soloist, he fully understands the New Orleans trumpet tradition (which is readily discernible in his trademark instrumental swagger) and what famed Crescent City Pianist, Jelly Roll Morton so succinctly captured in the now immortal phrase, 'The Spanish Tinge'.
With Kaiso, his latest recording as a leader, Etienne cooks up an ambrosial bouillabaisse of New World music genres, with Jazz and Calypso standing out as piquant flavours. He explores the songbooks of three calypso legends, the Lord Kitchener, the Mighty Sparrow and the Roaring Lion using many different instrumental palettes ranging from duet to chamber orchestra.
As a sideman he has performed and or recorded with Monty Alexander, Roberta Flack, Frank Foster, Ralph MacDonald, Johnny Mandel, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Maria Schneider, Count Basie Orchestra, Eric Reed, Lord Blakie, David Rudder and many others.
Etienne Charles serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University. He holds a Master's degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor's degree from Florida State University.
For more information please visit www.etiennecharles.com
Vince DiMartino
Vince DiMartino is one of the most sought after trumpet performers and educators. Since graduating from
The Eastman School of Music in 1972, professor DiMartino had taught at the University of Kentucky until 1993. At that time, Mr. DiMartino began a new appointment as Distinguished Artist in residence at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. There he teaches trumpet, brass and jazz ensembles, and jazz history. He has served as the Music Chair and is currently coordinator of the Centre College Instrumental Program. He is distinguished Matton Professor of Music at Centre College.
Vince DiMartino is equally known as a jazz artist. He has been the lead and solo trumpet in the Lionel Hampton Band, the Chuck Mangione Band, the Clark Terry Band and The Eastman Arranger’s Holiday Orchestra. He has also performed with some of this country’s finest college jazz ensembles. Vince has been a member of the artist-faculty of the highly acclaimed Skidmore Jazz Institute since its inception in 1988 working with fellow artist-teachers Milt Hinton, Todd Coolman, Ed Shaughnessy, Frank Mantooth, Curtis Fuller, Dick Oatts and Pat LaBarbera.
The International Trumpet Guild has featured Mr. DiMartino as an artist-clinician in major solo programs at their conferences including Louisiana State University, University of Gothenburg-Sweden, University of Colorado, University of New Mexico, University of Denver and London, England. DiMartino also was a guest at the University of Kentucky Conference in 1998, an event that Professor DiMartino hosted at this same location in 1982.
He has served twice as President and Vice President of The International Trumpet Guild as well as a member of its Board of Directors for two terms. He serves as chair of the Board of Directors of The National Trumpet Competition in Washington, D.C.
Mr. DiMartino has been soloist with many symphony orchestra including Cincinnati, Buffalo, Sante Fe, North Carolina, Orlando, Baton Rouge and Rochester, New York. He also appeared as guest soloist with the Boston Pops on their Summer Tour ‘99 and a national television broadcast of the same. He has also been a soloist with the Army Blues Jazz Band, The Army Brass Band, The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight and The United States Marine Band. Mr. DiMartino is the first civilian to perform with this ensemble. He is also co-founder of the New Columbian Brass Band, a turn-of-the-century town band, with Dr. George Foreman, Director of the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College. The band has recorded three CD’s for Dorian Records.
Mr. DiMartino is also prominently featured on some of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra’s most recent recordings including, “Mancini’s Greatest Hits”, “Bond and Beyond”, “Big Hit Parade”, and ”Hollywood’s Greatest Hits”. He recorded Mel Torme’s “Christmas Album” as lead trumpet. Mr. DiMartino also has completed a recording project on Summit Records with jazz artists Allen Vizzutti and Bobby Shew and The Summit Brass called, “Trumpet Summit”.
With Dr. Schuyler Robinson, Mr. DiMartino made a recording for Mark Records with the DiMartino-Robinson trumpet and organ duo entitled “Orchestral Favorites for Trumpet and Organ”. The ITG has designated this CD as its membership gift CD. The duo was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. In the summer of 1994 he performed in the Lincoln Center with The Canadian Brass, The New York Philharmonic Brass and The New York Brass. He also was a featured artist-teacher at the Kiev International Trumpet Competition in 1998.
Vince and UK Jazz band director Miles Osland co-direct The DiMartino-Osland Jazz Orchestra and have recorded two CDs under that name on Seabreeze records, Quotient and Off the Charts.
Throughout his teaching career, Professor DiMartino has been a member of the artist faculty of many international seminars and courses. These include The Empire Brass Quintet-Tanglewood summer program, The Spanish Brass Festival in Alzira-Spain, The Kalavrita Brass Course in Greece, as well as seminars in England, Ukraine, Thailand, Germany and Canada.
He is 2004 CASE Professor of The Year for the state of Kentucky. This award is given nationally each year to one person in each state in The United States.
Vince DiMartino is the recipient of The Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2008-2009 for the State of Kentucky.
Vince DiMartino is a Shires Trumpet Artist.
Amy Gilreath
Dr. Amy Gilreath enjoys an active professional career as both an international/national soloist, an orchestral trumpeter, a chamber ensemblist and university professor. She holds positions of Principal Trumpet with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Chamber Orchestra, the Heartland Festival Orchestra, the Sinfonia da Camera, and plays extra/sub with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, Amy is one of the founders and members of the Stiletto Brass Quintet, (www.stilettobrassquintet.com) a newly formed group that has recently performed at the 2012 International Trumpet Guild and with guest soloist Doc Severinsen at the 2012 Great American Brass Band Festival. She continues to serve as the Brass faculty of the Orvieto Musica Chamber Music Festival in Orvieto Italy, and for the last four years as Director of the Trumpet Fest held in conjunction with Orvieto Musica, (www.orvietomusica.org) Amy has been a past member of the Dallas Brass, Brass Band of Battle Creek, Velvet Brass, Keith Brion’s “New John Philip Sousa Band” , Principal Trumpet of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and continues to be a member of the Monarch Brass Ensemble. She has soloed with the Leyland Brass Band, one of England’s top brass bands, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Chamber Orchestra, Orvieto Musica Chamber Orchestra, as well as with many university and high school bands. Along with performances in Italy, France, Germany, England, Austria, Spain, and Hungary, Amy has been an invited soloist and clinician at the Moscow Conservatory, Moscow Russia, Sounds News Music Festival in Canterbury, England; the Hans Marteau Brass Festival in Hof, Germany; and the Exploring the Trumpet Festival in Kalavrita, Greece, the International Women’s Brass Conference, International Trumpet Guild Festival of Trumpets, and a finalist in the Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Competition. In 2010, Dr. Gilreath was the first woman trumpeter to perform at the International Romantic Trumpet Festival in St. Petersburg Russia. Amy has received numerous praises for her solo CD entitled Enjoying Life. She can also be heard on the Sinfonia da Camera recordings of "On Freedom’s Ground – William Schumann" and "Impressions - George Enescu".
Amy joined the faculty of the School of Music at Illinois State University in 1990. Her former students hold positions in the United States “Pershing’s Own” Army Band in Washington DC, the United States Coast Guard Band, the Air Force Band - San Antonio, numerous National Guard bands, and perform throughout the United States, Portugal and Korea. In addition, former students are hold teaching positions not only in the state of Illinois but, again, throughout the United States. Dr. Gilreath’s honors while at Illinois State University include the 2007 College of Fine Arts Research Award, the 2007 School of Music Research Award, the 2000 College of Fine Arts Research Award, the 2000 School of Music Research Award, the School of Music Research Initiative Award, and the Outstanding Teacher Award. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Heartland Festival Orchestra, the International Trumpet Guild and as co-host of the 2003 and 2006 International Women’s Brass Conferences.
Dr. Gilreath has studied with Arnold Jacobs, Vincent DiMartino, Susan Slaughter, Ray Sasaki, Michael Tunnell, and Rich Illman. Amy holds DMA and Master degrees in Performance from the University of Illinois and a BME degree from Eastern Kentucky University, where she was honored to receive their Department of Music Outstanding Alumni Award.
Tom Harrell
Praised by Newsweek for his pure melodic genius, Tom Harrell is widely recognized as one of the most
creative and uncompromising jazz instrumentalists and composers of our
time. Even with a discography of over 260 recordings and a career that spans more than
four decades, Harrell has managed to stay fresh and current as he continues to actively
record and tour around the world. He is a frequent winner in Down Beat and Jazz
Times magazines' Critics and Readers Polls and a Grammy nominee. Harrell is also a
Trumpeter of the Year nominee for the 2012 Jazz Journalists Association Awards. His
warm, burnished sound on the trumpet and the flugelhorn, and the unparalleled harmonic
and rhythmic sophistication in his playing and writing, have earned Harrell his place as a
jazz icon to aspiring musicians and devoted fans alike.
Following the success of his first four albums with the current members of his quintet - a remarkably cohesive unit that includes tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, pianist Danny Grissett, drummer Johnathan Blake, and his bassist of 13 years, Ugonna Okegwo, Harrell released his 2012 offering NUMBER FIVE, this spring.
The quintet's previous albums, THE TIME OF THE SUN (2011), ROMAN NIGHTS (2010), PRANA DANCE (2009) and LIGHT ON (2007), received wide critical acclaim and won SESAC awards four years in a row for topping the radio charts in the U.S.
In contrast to his signature recordings during the RCA/BMG years (1996 - 2003) where much of his focus was on projects involving large ensembles, the latest albums on Highnote demonstrate Harrell's skills as a leader of a smaller unit that calls to mind the energy and rapport of Art Blakey’s and Horace Silver’s bands. The sheer joy of playing Harrell's music with one another is evident from each member of the quintet. The writing on these recordings is no less of an achievement than his work for the orchestra or the big band. The trumpeter-composer deftly weaves complex harmonies together with daring rhythmic concepts and unforgettable melodies while utilizing the available colors to full effect. Harrell's music is at once intelligent, soulful, fresh and accessible.
Harrell divides his time between writing projects, live performances, and recordings, and actively tours with his quintet around the world. Recent television broadcasts of concerts include: San Javier Jazz Festival in Spain; Viersen Jazz Festival in Germany; Red Sea Jazz Festival in Israel; Jazz a Liege in Belgium; and Chivas Jazz Festival in Brazil. Harrell was featured as the Artist in Residence at the Barga Jazz Festival (August 2009) and Vicenza Jazz Festival (May 2009). At the latter festival he performed duo, quintet and big band concerts over several days. Harrell also performed music from his WISE CHILDREN and PARADISE albums with the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra at Traumzeit Festival (July 2009) and with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra at the Seasons Music Festival (October 2010). In the spring of that year, Harrell reunited with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw as guest soloist and arranger for a tour in the Netherlands, after their successful collaboration at the Concertgebouw in July of 2009. In 2011, Harrell premiered his Tom Harrell Chamber Ensemble at the Highline Ballroom in New York as part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival, where he presented his own arrangements of the works of Debussy and Ravel. Harrell also toured extensively in July and August with his quintet, in support of the release of THE TIME OF THE SUN.
A graduate of Stanford University with a degree in music composition, Harrell is a prolific composer and arranger. Carlos Santana, Cold Blood, Azteca, Vince Guaraldi, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Danish Radio Big Band, WDR Big Band, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra and Arturo O'Farrill & the AfroLatin Jazz Orchestra are among the many who have recorded or performed his work. Harrell's composition and arrangement, "Humility," was recorded for the latter's 2008 release, which just won a Grammy for the Best Latin Jazz Album.
Some of Harrell's notable RCA/BMG recordings include WISE CHILDREN, a project in which he combines woodwinds, brass, horns, strings, guitars, percussion and the vocals of Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Jane Monheit and Claudia Acuna with his quintet; PARADISE and THE ART OF RHYTHM, both of which feature chamber groups with strings; and his big band project, TIME'S MIRROR.
In addition to the 26 albums and thousands of concerts worldwide as a leader, Harrell has worked with important figures in jazz history including Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Dizzie Gillespie, Horace Silver, Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Sam Jones (with whom he briefly co-led a big band in the 70s), Jim Hall, Charlie Haden and with contemporaries such as Joe Lovano and Charles McPherson.
In 2006, Harrell was awarded a Chamber Music America grant with which he composed and performed new pieces for trumpet and piano. He also wrote symphony orchestra arrangements for the French Orchestre National de Lorraine and the vocalist Elisabeth Kontomanou for a live recording album released in 2009, SIREN SONG.
Visit: http://www.tomharrell.com
http://www.youtube.com/tomharrellmusic
Chuck Lazarus
Charles Lazarus is known for his distinctive blend of lounge/exotica and funk fired jazz. The trumpeter / composer’s eclectic career has been met with acclaim from critics worldwide. Lazarus made his main stage Carnegie Hall solo debut with the New York String Orchestra at the age of 19 while still a student at The Juilliard School in New York. He has been a member of the Dallas Brass, Meridian Arts Ensemble, Canadian Brass, and currently the Minnesota Orchestra. He has been on the trumpet faculties of Princeton University and St. Olaf College, and has performed and taught master classes in every US state, Canada, South America and throughout Europe and Asia.
Lazarus has performed his own compositions for the Montreal and Ottawa international jazz festivals, live on Radio Canada, for music videos that have aired nationally on Canadian television, and as an opening act for Tony Bennett. He has performed with the New York Trumpet Ensemble, The New York Big Brass, The London Brass, and the Montreal Symphony and has been a soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, and the Bach Society among others. He has recorded for television and Imax film scores, as well as major symphony orchestras and numerous classical, pop and jazz ensembles. Lazarus released his debut solo CD, Solo Settings, in 2005 and followed up with a second recording, Zabava, in 2008.
A 2007 winner of the prestigious McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians, Lazarus has created and premiered three original orchestra pops programs in recent years: A Night in the Tropics, American Riffs and Fly Me to the Moon: Big Band Love Songs.
Joey Tartell
Joey Tartell joined the faculty of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University as a professor of trumpet
in 2003. Although teaching full time, he remains an active performer. He is a member of Tromba Mundi, and has been featured as a lead trumpet/soloist in pops concerts with the Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit, Baltimore, and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Tartell has toured and recorded with Maynard Ferguson, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors. He has also recorded with the Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, the Doug Lawrence Orchestra, and the Birch Creek Music Performance Center where he has been a faculty member since 1997. Joey has also toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
As a free-lance artist, Joey has recorded for "The Bob and Tom Show", Cedar Point Amusement Park, Electronic Arts, Williams Gaming, Konami, the Chicago Tribume, McDonald's, Applebee's, the Orange Bowl parade and halftime show, Hal Leonard Publications, Shawnee Press, and many others. He has backed up such artists as Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, Barry Manilow, New York Voices, Manhattan Transfer, Doc Severinsen, and Arturo Sandoval.
Students of Prof. Tartell are finding success in many areas. There have been winners and finalists of the National Trumpet Competition and ITG Jazz Competition, and members of the Disney All-American College Band. After graduating, his students have gone on to teach public school, accept graduate assistantships, work on cruise ships, and free lance. Others, after completing graduate degrees, have gone on to teach at the college level and win military band auditions.
Joey completed his Bachelor's degree in Trumpet Performance at the Eastman School of Music and was awarded a Performer's Certificate. He received his Master's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Miami.
Stiletto Brass Quintet
STILETTO - five highly accomplished women from the U.S. with careers spanning the fields of orchestral, wind band and brass chamber music performances in such groups as Dallas Brass, PRISMA, Monarch Brass Quintet and Ensemble, the "President's Own" United States Marine Band, Detroit Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and the Long Beach Symphony orchestras. Individual performances have taken them to the stages of Europe, North America and Asia including England, Italy, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the United States. This highly stylized contemporary ensemble reflects timely changes in the music scene with repertoire consisting of the most powerful compositions of varied genre from popular styles to the avant-garde written by the leading composers of our time.
Members:
Amy Gilreath, Trumpet
Cathy Leach, Trumpet
Kelly Langenberg, French Horn
Jeannie Little, Trombone
Velvet Brown, Tuba
Tromba Mundi
Founded in 2008 for the sole purpose of the exploration, promotion and performance of new works for
trumpet ensemble,Tromba Mundi has recorded several world premiere compositions and continues to commission new music for the genre. Tromba Mundi is dedicated to drawing the attention of students, professionals and brass music aficionados to the thrilling sounds of the trumpet ensemble!
Each member of the ensemble is a professional performer and pedagogue from various universities across the United States. Members have performed frequently with ensembles such as the Cincinnati Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Summit Brass, New Mexico Philharmonic, and Brevard Orchestra, as well as various jazz ensembles, chamber ensembles, and commercial recording work. Several Tromba Mundi members also have critically acclaimed solo recordings.
Tromba Mundi released their debut CD, Music for Trumpet Ensemble, in 2008 which features seven premiere recordings as well as works the from standard competition repertoire.
Members:
Dr. Scott Belck, Associate Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (OH). Performs with the Capital Brass, the UpBeat Brass, and has recorded with the Cincinnati Pops, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band. Yamaha Performing Artist.
Dr. Jean-Christophe Dobrzelewski, Associate Professor of Trumpet at West Chester University (PA), international soloist and recording artist, "Prix de Trompette" award winner from the Conservatoire de Musique de Rueil-Malmaison. Clinician and Yamaha Performing Artist.
Dr. John Marchiando, Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of New Mexico, Principal Trumpet of the New Mexico Philharmonic and member of Summit Brass. Clinician and Performing Artist for Shires Custom Trumpets.
Dr. William Stowman, Professor of Trumpet and Chair of the Department of Music at Messiah College (PA). Has performed and recorded with the North Texas Wind Symphony, The Keystone Wind Ensemble, and BrassCross. Bill is Competition Coordinator for the National Trumpet Competition. He is an Artist/Clinician for Edwards Trumpets and Pickett Brass.
Joey Tartell, Associate Professor of Trumpet at Indiana University (Bloomington) and lead trumpet for the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra. Has toured and recorded with Maynard Ferguson, the Woody Herman Orchestra and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors. Clinician and endorsed by B&S trumpets.
U.S. Navy Concert Band
The United States Navy Concert Band, the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, presents a wide array of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions and modern wind ensemble repertoire. As the original ensemble of the Navy Band, the Concert Band has been performing public concerts and participating in high-profile events for over 85 years.
Collaboration with celebrities has become a hallmark for the Concert Band. The band was featured with Arthur Godfrey of NBC radio fame in 1927. Gene Kelly was guest star for the first episode of "The Navy Hour" radio program in 1945, which the band produced for an astounding 23 years. More recently, the band featured guest artists Tony Curtis and Gregory Peck. In 2002, the band was filmed performing "America the Beautiful;" the performance was broadcast by the NFL prior to each game during opening week.
In addition to national concert tours and an extensive local concert season, the Concert Band has been featured internationally at military tattoos and festivals in Oslo, Stockholm and Quebec City. In 1996, the band was honored to participate in the 300th Anniversary of the Russian Fleet in St. Petersburg and in The Baltic International Festival of the Fleets in Kaliningrad, Russia.
Recognized as one of the finest wind ensembles in the world, the Concert Band is in constant demand by the nation's foremost musical education organizations, such as the American Bandmasters Association and The Midwest Clinic.