Trombone Giants

Again..a little bit of jazz from the trombone giants Joseph Alessi, Scott Hartmann, Christian Lindberg, Branimir Slokar and Michel Becquet.

The Ottone Brass Quintet (Belgium)

The Ottone Brass Quintet was officially held over the baptismal font on 1 October 2004. In Ottone, Italian for brass, the group found its proper name. The quintet was immediately noticed by the Belgian national classical radio station, Klara and gave its first concert on 17th of October 2004 in deBijloke concert hall in Ghent. The concert was broadcasted during the programme ‘Visioenen’ produced by Peter Van Bouwel.Ottone unites five musicians whose aim is to help to revive the art of the brass quintet. The quintet consists of Alain De Rudder and Steven Verhaert, trumpet, Eliz Erkalp horn, Jan Smets trombone and Mark Reynolds on the tuba. As well as being soloists of deFilharmonie (Antwerp) and the Orchestra of La Monnaie (Brussels), each of the members bring with them a wealth of experience of playing in both national and international chamber music ensembles and have a wide knowledge of repertoire ranging from early to contemporary music.

Guiseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Prelude to Act I from ‘La Traviata’
Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) Suite of ‘Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk’

Italian Brass Quintet (Italy)

This group is formed by some members of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, joined by firendship and musicality. The high level and the virtuosism of its members enable them to deliver performances of great quality. It has a wide repertory, consisting of original pieces and of arrangements of all times.
The quintet has already performed in many Festivals, as it was invitet at: Antey-St-André (Val d'Aosta), Santa Fiora in Musica (Toscana), Ouverture Toscana 2001 (Siena), Minori (Salerno), Ancona Musica, Urbino Festival, Estate Musicale Imprunetina, Teatro Ponchielli di Cremona, Gargano Festival, La Spezia Società dei concerti, Syracuse University, Brass Festival in Nus, Brass festival in Brescia, Art is Life in Rome, Napoli nova Festival ,Madonie Festival, and others.
The members of the Italian Brass Quintet are quite active as teachers in courses and master classes in Italy, Europe and other countries. They are the coaches of the World Youth Orchestra, Accademia Mimesis Maggio Arte, Accademia Santa Fiora in Musica.

Berlioz Historical Brass

Berlioz Historical Brass dedicates itself to the exploration and presentation of early 19th century brass instruments. The inspiration for the ensemble stems from a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance of Hector Berlioz's Messe solennelle. Maestro Seiji Ozawa set a precedent by including a period instrument in the orchestra--the serpent played by Douglas Yeo--thus demonstrating that the modern symphony and chamber music settings could provide a venue to inform audiences of these unique brass instruments. The ensemble now includes the presentation of twelve instruments--keyed bugle, natural horn, trombone, buccin, serpent, serpent Forveille, serpent a pavillon, Russian bassoon, cimbasso, bass horn, ophimonocleide, and ophicleide--all used during Berlioz's time and most appear in his Grande traite d'instrumentation .

Berlioz Historical Brass players, in what has become an informal collective of musicians, perform in modern and period orchestras and serve as editors, columnists, and authors of historical brass resarch. The ensemble also serves to encourage and assist in the production of recordings and the publication of early 19th century editions of sacred and harmonie music for historical brass.

Norlan Bewley (The Low Brass Ensemble)

Norlan Bewley, Low Brass Artist (trombone, euphonium, and tuba family of instruments), is a new breed of brass player specializing in performance on all of the low brass instruments. For the past twenty years he has had extensive experience teaching, performing on, and composing for low brass, developing an unparalled perspective, insight, and approach toward these instruments. Through years of private teaching and performance, he has developed direct and effective methods of instruction that address the most basic and difficult areas of low brass playing in a manner clear to all, from beginners to professionals. In his private teaching alone, for the past 10 years Norlan has given more than 700 individual low brass students over 23,000 private lessons. A champion of the instruments, he is dedicated to the improvement, advancement, and increase of opportunities for every aspect of low brass education and performance.

The LOW BRASS ENSEMBLE

Low Brass Ensemble Music is a new type of listening and performance opportunity. The musical sound is a cross between the Trombone Choir and the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble, which are both popular groups. They each exclude the other half of the low brass section however, so the goal of the Low Brass Ensemble is to allow all of the low brass instruments to participate in one group.

The instrumentation for the Low Brass Ensemble is trombone 1, trombone 2, euphonium, and tuba. The music is all 4-part writing, so the Low Brass Ensemble can be used for chamber music as a quartet, or with multiple players on each part as a large ensemble, even using the entire low brass section if desired. From an educator's perspective, it can be an easier ensemble to assemble than an all trombone or all tuba/euphonium group, plus it involves all of the low brass section.

Giovanni Hoffer (Italy)

Giovanni Hoffer was born in Lecco (Italy)in 1972.In 1991 he took his French horn diploma at Milan’s Conservatoire “G.Verdi” under the guidance of Master Michele Berrino.He began his career playing with the main italian orchestras, including the Scala Philharmonica, the “G.Verdi” Symphonic Milan, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra, the R.A.I. Orchestra in Milan, the Italian Swiss Confederation Orchestra. He also played in many international tours (Japan, Australia, South America), working with world famous directors like Riccardo Muti, Lorin Maazel, George Pretre, Eliahu Inbal and many more.At the beginning of 2006, after the encounter with Lele Veronesi, he started the Hofferquattro project. Here, with the faith and dedication of Lele Veronesi (drums), Maurizio de Gasperi (piano rhodes) and Andrea Taravelli (electric bass) experimented the French horn’s potentials, tackling some standard jazz and mainly some compositions by Giovanni Hoffer himself."The French horn is still chained to classical music and looked upon with suspicion in the jazz scene.I have no idea where this journey will lead me, I like sailing towards the horizon.I don’t define my music, I let it go by itself, when it wants and in the way that suits it best."

International Brass (Germany)

INTERNATIONAL BRASS - five musicians from four nations sharing one common language: music. These cultural differences go towards creating a group with a unique appeal. Together, they help to inspire entertainment of the highest quality.

Willy Huppertz (The Netherlands), Waldemar Jankus (Lithuania), Wilhelm Junker (Germany), Thomas Lindt (Germany) and Matthew P. Hall (United Kingdom) combine to bring a rich musical diversity to the stage. From baroque to rock; from romantic organ works to big band jazz; from Mozart to Mancini - no musical genre is off-limits. And, above all, the consistent factor remains music making of the highest quality.Such a comprehensive repertoire allows the ensemble to provide programmes suitable for a wide range of occasions, from church concerts to open air festivals.

Original music for brass quintet does not provide music for every occasion. The ensemble has consequently tailor-made much of its own repertoire - striving to maintain the essence of each original composition whilst simultaneously creating a new work in its own right. Amongst many of the exclusive arrangements made for INTERNATIONAL BRASS it is possible to find some real gems.

Opus Lib Quintet (Canada)

This high profile ensemble brings their own vision to classic jazz repertoire. This includes the classics like Bernstein and Gershwin, but also encompass some noted jazz composers : Mingus, Ellington and others. This is not a jazz group but rather an ensemble interpreting jazz in a classical fashion. Not only we do perform by ourselves, we also team up with guest artists. We are also setting up some special events with some symphony orchestras.
Opus Lib is also working on various pedagogical projects aimed at ages from elementary school up to university level. This way we could combine a concert with a workshop or small school presentation. The topics for the workshops could be not only brass instrument technique, but also arranging, composing for film, conducting, jazz performance practice, contemporary music performance tips, and so on.
The quintet members are talented in many ways. For instance, some compose and arrange for shows and films. They provide the Opus Lib Brass Quintet with original arrangements. Others are performing in major ensembles and orchestras touring everywhere on the planet.

Link to the website of Louis Babin member of OLQ

Philadelphia Brass (USA)

The Philadelphia Brass was formed in 1988 by professional musicians of Eastern Pennsylvania to pursue their common goals: performing the best of brass quintet literature of all periods and styles, and educating the public to the pleasures, subtleties, and complexities of chamber music. Since its inception, Philadelphia Brass has performed over 500 times. It has collaborated in performances with bands, choruses, organists, dancers and clowns. It has performed educational programs for kindergartners, college students, and adults of all ages, coached grade school instrumentalists and taught a master class for the brass students of Juilliard.

Critics and public alike have enthusiastically praised the appealing diversity of repertoire, technical virtuosity, humorous and informative educational programs, and superb musicality of the ensemble. The ensemble's playing has been praised as "artistry of the highest calibre" and "dazzling technique" by presenters. Its master classes have been called "excellent and sensitively handled" and the esteemed American composer Daniel Pinkham has written that Philadelphia Brass is "the most artistic brass quintet before the public today."

Ryoma Takaoka: Flight of the bumble bee (WOW)

The Denver Brass (USA)

Formed in 1981 by an enthusiastic group of Denver's finest brass performers, the Denver Brass Inc. is comprised of 14 professional musicians who have dedicated themselves to enhancing the quality of life of the people of Colorado, the United States, and audiences around the world, by presenting fresh and exhilarating concerts of diverse and dynamic musical styles. Unique in the world for its approach to concert programming, and one of just a few professional large brass ensembles in the world, The Denver Brass has enjoyed a success that is directly linked to its universal appeal. People from every background find inspiration in the ensemble’s unique sounds. From “Echoes of Castles & Cathedrals” to “Latin Brass: Hot, Hot, Hot,” “Brass, Bagpipes & Co.,” and “Big Band Bash,” there’s something for everyone in every Denver Brass season. Denver Brass musicians are heard by more than 75,000 persons at more than 150 performances annually. The organization is in the forefront of brass performance, entertainment, commissioning, publishing, recording and education. The Denver Brass is heard on 20 compact discs on the Klavier, Centaur, Delos and Denver Brass labels. The recordings are sold nationally and internationally, and have received rave reviews from major brass and music journals around the world. The musicians of The Denver Brass are selected through audition for their technical and creative excellence, and are on the faculties of the area’s finest universities and music schools. The Denver Brass has been heard for the past several summers at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Denver Film on the Rocks, with the Colorado Symphony, at Denver's Carousel Ball, opening night of the Colorado Ballet, the Mayor's Cup Race, Denver Botanic Gardens, the Arvada Center, World Youth Day Papal Mass of 1993, Colorado Music Educator’s Conference, and at many of the world’s major international music and brass conferences - International Organ Conference, International Women’s Brass Conference, Raphael Mendez Brass Institute, International Trumpet Guild Symposium, and the International Tuba-Euphonium Conference.

Bella Tromba (UK)

Bella Tromba are a unique and innovative ensemble. Their dynamic performances and charismatic personalities ensure that their work extends far beyond the boundaries of the classical music world. Bella Tromba met in 2004 at the Royal Academy of Music whilst studying for Postgraduates. Their aim was to form a versatile ensemble and to find repertoire to show the full spectrum of colours that the trumpet has to offer. The trumpet has been under exploited in the field of chamber music, though its versatility makes it ideal for this genre. Bella Tromba have unearthed much forgotten music for trumpet quartet as well as shaping the future of the trumpet quartet by commissioning and arranging new works.
The members of Bella Tromba have all performed with many of the countries leading orchestras, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, the Halle, the Orchestra of the Swan and the London Mozart Players.

Bella Tromba’s Outreach programme is an opportunity for all types of people to discover and explore live music performed by dynamic young professional musicians.
Every concert and workshop is an exciting mix of Classical, Popular and Jazz music. Each piece is introduced with listening notes, and the production of sound is explored through informative and fun demonstrations.