18 June 2008

Mr. Jefferson’s Bones (USA)


Mr. Jefferson's Bones began in 2001 as an off-season weekly sectional rehearsal of the trombone section of the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra (CUSO) of Charlottesville, Virginia. CUSO's then Principal Trombonist, Robert Graham, aspired to build a low brass section that was highly sensitive to orchestral section playing and intonation.
Soon therefater, the group expanded its purpose to perform publicly by building up its repertoire of Christmas music, often playing in December to benefit the Salvation Army's kettle drives, Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies, and the residents of various Charlottesville nursing homes. In addition, MJB often performed for worship services and choir concerts at a number of area churches, and in 2003, collaborated with both Sojourners UCC and First United Methodist of Charlottesville to create an original worship musical entitled "God's Trombones: Jazz and the Gospel."
In 2006, Mr. Jefferson's Bones headlined an evening of Staunton's Jazz in the Park summer concert series with an expanded lineup including local jazz trombonists Andrew LaPrade and Mark Maynard, and a jazz rhythm section. MJB provided an exciting and eclectic evening of great jazz standards and newer compositions, including songs made popular by J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, The Capitol Bones, Them Bones, Tutti’s Trombones, and The Stan Kenton Orchestra.
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Anna Lindvall

Rafael Mendez

Rafael Méndez was born on March 26, 1906 in Jiquilpan, Mexico. His musical training began when he was five, when his father needed a trumpet player for the orchestra comprised of family members. The Méndez orchestra was a popular performing group and appeared regularly at festivals and community gatherings. Rafael loved the trumpet and actually practiced more that his father allowed.
In 1916, the Méndez orchestra performed for guerrilla leader Pancho Villa. He was so taken with the family orchestra, that he “drafted” the family into his army. Rafael quickly became Villa’s favorite player, and after several months demanded that Méndez stay with the rebels, even after the rest of his family were allowed to return home. Months later, Méndez was released from the rebel army, and he began to perform in several travelling circus bands, in addition to the family orchestra. He joined the Mexican army in 1921, where he played in the army orchestra.
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22 April 2008

The Dragacevo Trumpet Players Festival (Serbia)


THE 48TH DRAGACEVO TRUMPET PLAYERS FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD from 06.08.2008 to 10.08.2008.
Guca Trumpet Festival was conceived by young educated people, enthusiasts wishing to brake the monotony of life in a small place as Guca of time was- far away and deep in a province. Their spiritual and cultural needs were far beyond the life of temporary socio-political events and activities. It was good luck for them to come to an idea to organize such a unique event as the Trumpet Festival, and it was also good luck for the Festival that that it attracted so many industrious and creative followers-devotees of authentic folklore and tradition.
The first Trumpet Festival was held on 14th October 1961 in Guca. It was held on the day of the Shroud of the Holy Mother in the churchyard during the last traditional festival that took place here. Young boys and girls thought that this festival gave them a chance for the last meeting. The organizers of the Trumpet Festival believed that, this way, they would have audience for their programme as well. The day was sunny and warm. The interest of the people exceeded all expectations of organizers.

Gaudete Brass (USA)


"…Certainly a group on the rise..."The Gaudete Brass Quintet has quickly established itself as one of the premier brass chamber ensembles in the country today. Founded in 2004, the quintet is committed to sharing the great brass quintet literature with audiences in an exciting and relevant way. They are Artist-in-Residence at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and have been featured on a number of prominent concert series, including the Fourth Presbyterian Noon Concert Series in Chicago, Fine Arts at First at the First Methodist Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Musical Mondays in Milwaukee. The quintet has also performed on live radio broadcasts on the "Live in Studio C" program on Nashville Public Radio and the 21st Century Classical program on WSME in Milwaukee. In 2007, the group celebrated the centenary of Alec Wilder with the playing of his Suite No. 1 for Brass Quintet. The Gaudete Brass has collaborated with many accomplished organists on numerous organ and brass programs. They were the guest artists at the Freedom Celebration at the Northland Family Camp in Dunbar, Wisconsin. The quintet performed in the semi-finals of both the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Plowman Chamber Music Competition in 2007.

19 January 2008

Canadian Brass to Holland

Canadian Brass is coming to the Netherlands on July 9th. The world-famous Canadian Brass gives a unique concert in concert hall ''Kunstmin'' in the city of Dordrecht. This concert is the first in a range of concerts during the Europe tour of Canadian Brass. Great chance that the tickets have been sold out quickly. First come, first served!

Bay Street Brassworks

Bay Street Brassworks brass quintet is an award - winning ensemble based in Baltimore, Maryland. For over 10 years they have performed a wide range of events including concerts, educational programs, master classes, clinics, festivals, corporate events, weddings, receptions, and tours throughout the United States and Asia. The ensemble just concluded a critically acclaimed 2006/07 touring season with LIVE ON STAGE, performing concerts in nearly 30 states. In 2003 the quintet won the New York Brass Conference Brass Quintet Competition and in 2006 joined the management roster of Producers, Inc. of Tampa, Florida and became Performing Artists with the Yamaha Corporation of America.
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Unknown trombone player


Caprice No.24 in Aminor
Uploaded by kingbeerock

21 October 2007

Shady Brass (Latvia)

''Since 1999 group Shady Brass Q is making character of smiling accelerators. That's we are - Shady Brass Q. Some people sometimes call us as circus musicians. Are we angry on it? No, because our mission is to entertain, to educate and, of course to amuse everyone. But if we can make someone mad by our fun, then our mission is complete. CHEERS!''

25 September 2007

Rythm and Brass


"Beyond Category" was a term the great Duke Ellington used as the highest form of praise for those artists who transcended normal boundaries. Since their inaugural season in 1993, rhyth3 & Brass has lived up to the ideal of a musical presentation that is not bound by time, geography or culture. With the unique ability to incorporate influences as divergent as Josquin Des Prez, Pink Floyd, John Coltrane, Johann Sebastian Bach, and, of course, Duke Ellington, rhythm & Brasssearches for the commonality in these influences and fearlessly weaves them all into a single concert experience.
While maintaining an active touring schedule, rhythm & Brass has also performed at numerous special events including a 1994 New York concert debut at Carnegie Recital Hall with celebrated jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker. Commissions have been premiered at Chicago's Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic and the national convention of the Music Educator's National Conference. R&B has also been featured at the New York Brass Conference, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute, Kentucky's Great American Brass Band Festival, the National Trumpet Competition and the National Association of Music Merchants Convention in Los Angeles. Internationally, rhyth3 & Brass has toured extensively in Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Virgin Islands, and Japan. Read more...

24 September 2007

Leroy Osmon Composer

Although born May 27, 1948 in Washington, Indiana, Leroy Osmon grew up and lived for 44 years in Texas. His early education was in the Texas Public School System, studying clarinet and alto saxophone in a school band. With no formal musical training in composition he entered Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas to study composition with Paul Holmes and orchestration with Charles Wiley. After completing his degree Osmon taught band in East Texas. He went on to complete his Master of Music at Sam Houston State University in composition (studying with Fisher Tull), conducting (Gary Sousa) and musicology (James Marks). While working on his DMA at the University of Houston, Osmon studied composition with Michael Horvit and conducting with Eddie Green. Although Leroy Osmon continued to teach band in the Texas Public School System (retiring after 30 years) and teach an occasional class at the University of Houston, he now composes full time (with over 100 works - 30 published) and teaches part time at the Bach School of Music and the University of Yucatan in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

New Brass Music
Concerto No. 2 for Tuba, Winds and Percussion, by Leroy Osmon is now in print with RBC Publications of San Antonio, Texas. This work was commissioned by and is dedicated to, Dave Kirk of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. It is scored for orchestra winds and percussion. The first performance was by Dave Kirk in May of 2006.

Other works for tuba by Leroy Osmon:
The Kesten Suite for Flute and Tuba ­ RBC.
Elegy for Tuba and Small Orchestra ­ RBC.
Frescos de Bonampak (Octet No. 2) for Tuba Ensemble ­ RBC.
Concert Etudes for Solo Tuba, Vol. I ­ SMC.
Concert Etudes for Solo Tuba, Vol. II ­ SMC.
Additional brass works: A Rocky Headland Amid Wild Winds ­ RBC.
Brass Choir 4.4.4.2. Introduction and Allegro for Brass Quintet ­ RBC.
Prelude: A Dream I Had ­ SMC. Brass Sextet.
Sonatina for Trumpet and Viola ­ RBC.
Concerto for Turmpet, Winds and Percussion ­ RBC [in preperation]

23 September 2007

Midnight Brass Quintet

Comprised of students from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, the Midnight Brass Quintet has enjoyed a number of successes both within and outside Peabody. From masterclass performances with musicians such as the Atlantic Brass Quintet, Graham Ashton and the Oklahoma Brass Quintet, to performances on the Thursday Noon and Elderhostel Recital Series, MBQ began and remains as active contributers to the Peabody community. In addition to recital and masterclass performances within Peabody, MBQ is also active as a commercial chamber ensemble throughout the greater Baltimore area. MBQ was recently hired to perform for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's unveiling of the 2006- 07 concert season at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, as well as invited to perform a solo recital on the Art of Healing Concert Series at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute. MBQ has also begun giving outreach concerts within the community through Peabody's Creative Access and has performed for organizations such as the Baltimore School for the Blind and My Sister's House. This past summer, MBQ spent 10 days as fellowship participants at the Summer Brass Institute in Menlo, California, where they performed with and were coached by members of the Bay Brass. MBQ is currently coached weekly by Phil Munds of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.