The Trombone Corner

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview John Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz, trombonists and podcast hosts of The Trombone Retreat.  After you listen to this episode, head on over to The Trombone Retreat feed for the second half of this episode.  You can come see us at Booth #271 at the TMEA Convention, February 8th thru 10th, 2024 in San Antonio Texas.

About John Sebastian Vera

John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010 and also joined the River City Brass as principal Trombone in 2015. He is also professor of trombone at Duquesne University and faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he teaches a course on Music Entrepreneurship and Digital Media as well as coach chamber music.

In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Mr. Vera has played with the symphonies of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo, Kennedy Center Opera House, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Vermont, Harrisburg, Charleston, American Ballet Theatre, and Orquesta Sinaloa de las Artes in Mexico amongst others. 

He began his studies with Jon Bohls in Texas and continued his education at Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman of the Dallas Symphony. He then spent a year studying with Ed Zadrozny as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron, and finished his graduate work in New York City at the Mannes College of Music studying with David Finlayson and James Markey of the New York Philharmonic.    

In 2011, he spent the summer in Haiti volunteer teaching and performing in the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite as well as the Ecole de Musique Dessaix Baptiste which became one of the more profound experiences of his life.  

A dedicated chamber musician, he also was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Guidonian Hand Trombone Quartet in which he played from 2008-2014. With the quartet, John performed over 100 concerts and gave master classes all over the country. Heralded by the New York Times for their "expertly played performances" they have been recipients of numerous national grants which have enabled them to commission countless composers to create new and innovative works for four trombones.  In 2014 was the premiere of River of Fundament, a movie by film artist Matthew Barney, in which John recorded for and acted in along with the quartet. 

Mr. Vera can also be heard on the HBO documentary The Words that Built America as well as on euphonium in the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided as well as many commercial and video game soundtracks as well as James Markey’s solo release, “On Base”.

John is an Artist for Edwards Instruments and resides in Pittsburgh.  His favorite musicians include Sigur Ros, Radiohead, the Books, and Efterklang. When he can get away from the trombone he most enjoys basketball, traveling and reading about psychology and social science.  Check out his podcast he hosts with Nick Schwartz called the Trombone Retreat available everywhere you download your podcasts. Follow him on Instagram @js.vera.

About Nicholas Schwartz

Nicholas Schwartz has a diverse career performing across North America, Europe, and Asia. After studying at The Juilliard School with then New York Philharmonic bass trombonist Don Harwood, he moved to San Francisco where he began freelancing throughout the Bay Area.

 Since 2010, he has been the principal bass trombonist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra. He has also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Opera,  Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, The Malaysia Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival, and Classical Tahoe.  Follow him on instagram @basstrombone444

About Third Coast Retreat

The Third Coast Trombone Retreat is an 7-day trombone immersion welcoming talented college, high school, and amateur trombonists from across the country to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.  

The Retreat takes place in the charming small town of Montague, MI. Truly an escape from the distractions of everyday life, the festival is nestled in a dense forest along the coast where happening across roaming deer is a common occurrence. The Retreat utilizes facilities all over the town from churches to coffee houses to historic barns to the beach.  We will perform not only for ourselves, but for the community.

A fulfilling life of being a musician does not simply begin and end with winning an orchestral or teaching position. Mastering the instrument is only the first step.  Being an artist in the 21st century requires discovering one's unique voice and finding new ways to present the art-form to communicate and contribute to society.  

Core to the retreat will be guest artist and faculty recitals, topical master classes including personal finance, performance anxiety and wellness as well as private lessons, orchestral section seminar, ensemble coachings, a trombone choir, a mock orchestral audition, and much more. In addition to the performance elements, the curriculum is expanded to include a talks about career-building, faculty bonfire Q&A, discussions on the mental approach to auditions and performances, wellness, meditation, and more.

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Adam Woolf, trombonist and sackbut specialist from the UK. Meet us at the SoCal Trombone Day on January 20th, 2024 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut CA, or see us at Booth #271 at the TMEA Convention, February 8th thru 10th, 2024 in San Antonio Texas.

About Adam Woolf

For many years Adam Woolf enjoyed a full-time career as a performing musician working with the very best classical music ensembles, festivals and orchestras around the globe. He complemented this by teaching at world-leading institutions around Europe. as professor of Historical Performance and Baroque Trombone at London's Royal Academy of Music, The Conservatoire of Utrecht, Royal Conservatoire of Brussels and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Adam is proud to have had a part in the development of many fantastic musicians in today's classical music scene.

As a performer, Adam played with top orchestras in the world of period-instrument performance, notably as first trombone with Sir John Eliot Gardiner's English Baroque Soloists, a member of His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, and the Caecilia-Concert. Alongside this, he continued playing the modern instrument with London-based ensemble Mardi Brass and other groups. His love of jazz and contemporary music led to the creation of new compositions and experimental projects.

Adam has recorded over 100 CDs and DVDs, among which he am proud to count two solo projects, Songs Without Words and The Food of Love. Songs Without Words was the first full length CD to focus on the trombone as a solo instrument exclusively in music from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Alongside his output of recordings, some of which are available via this website, he also published various books which focus on historical performance practise on the trombone, also available here.

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Megumi Kanda, Principal Trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. 

About Megumi Kanda

Megumi Kanda, Principal Trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 2002, is an internationally acclaimed performer, teacher, and author.   

Megumi has performed as a soloist across the United States, Europe, and Asia, including with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Pershing’s Own Army Band, the US Army Field Band, and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. She has been a featured guest artist at many trombone workshops and festivals, including the International Trombone Festival and the American Trombone Workshop.

Megumi has appeared as guest faculty at numerous music institutions, including the New World Symphony, National Youth Orchestra of the USA, and Interlochen Arts Academy, and has given master classes and recitals across the US, Europe, and Asia.

In April 2006, Megumi was recognized by the Arion Foundation in Tokyo, Japan as one of the most influential Japanese classical artists. She has also received a Certificate of Commendation from the Consul General of Japan at Chicago in recognition for distinguished service contributing to the friendship between the United States and Japan. Megumi was named a 2017 Woman of Influence in the category of education by the Milwaukee Business Journal. In 2020, she was named the recipient of the International Trombone Association Award, which recognizes the highest level of creative and artistic output.

Megumi’s first book, The One Hundred, a collection of orchestral trombone excerpts with accompanying commentary, was published in August 2015 and is a resource widely used by aspiring young trombonists around the world. Her second book, Trombone Unlimited, a comprehensive method book, was published in 2020.

As a JVC/Victor Entertainment artist, Megumi recorded three solo albums: Amazing Grace, Gloria, and Mona Lisa. She also can be heard on Magnifique Live, a live recording of Megumi and other JVC artists in the August 2005 performance at Takemitsu Hall in Tokyo’s Opera City.

Megumi is proud to be a Greenhoe performing artist.

Podcast Credits

This episode of the Trombone Corner is brought to you by The Brass Ark and by Bob Reeves Brass. Join hosts Noah Gladstone and John Snell as they talk with trombonist Dr. Brett Baker.

Brett Baker is viewed internationally as a leading performer and educator. He is passionate about encouraging composers to write pioneering new repertoire and is one of the most recorded brass soloists. 

Previously Brett was Programme Leader of the Musical Arts Degree at the University of Salford, and is now Marketing Lead for Denis Wick Products, and continues as an Ambassador for Michael Rath Brass Instruments, as well as long serving soloist and Principal Trombone of the Black Dyke Band. 

He is a Past Chair and Past President of the British Trombone Society and increasingly works as a conductor and adjudicator in festivals and competitions. 

Brett has commissioned many trombone solos with both wind and brass band accompaniment. In 2020 he won the ITA Presidents Award for services to the International Trombone Association were he has featured regularly as a soloist.

Coming from a musical family, trombonist Andy Martin launched his career while still in his teens. His technique and virtuosity quickly established him on the Los Angeles music scene. As an instructor, Martin has influenced countless young players. He has appeared at many colleges and universities throughout the country as a guest artist and clinician.

A world-class jazz musician, Martin is featured as leader or co-leader on twelve albums. These albums showcase his collaboration with other top jazz artists such as the late Carl Fontana, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, and Eric Marienthal. He has also collaborated as a sideman with jazz greats such as Stanley Turrentine and Horace Silver. Martin had a long association with British bandleader and jazz promoter Vic Lewis, and was the featured soloist on many of Vic’s CDs.

Martin is well known for his work as a lead player and featured soloist with virtually every big band in L.A. Martin is the lead trombonist and featured soloist with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, the lead trombonist and soloist for The Tom Kubis Band, and was a featured soloist for the Bill Holman Big Band for 15 years. He has appeared in bands led by Jack Sheldon, Louis Bellson, Quincy Jones, Matt Cattingub, Bob Curnow, Patrick Williams, and Sammy Nestico, among others.

Martin has long been one of L.A.’s most prominent trombonists for commercial recordings, television and motion picture soundtracks and live theater. He has contributed on albums for many popular artists, including the Pussycat Dolls, Coldplay, and Michael Bublé. His television credits include the Grammys, the Emmys, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Martin has been the lead trombonist on television shows Dancing With The Stars and American Idol, and has appeared regularly on the soundtracks of major television series such as Family Guy, American Dad, and King of the Hill. His motion picture credits span the soundtracks of over 150 major films.

Recognized worldwide as a leading low brass performer, teacher, scholar, and author, Douglas Yeo is Clinical Associate Professor of Trombone at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for the 2022–2024 academic years. From 1985-2012, he was bass trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and before coming to Boston, he was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, a free-lance musician in New York City, and a high school band director. He served as Professor of Trombone at Arizona State University from 2012–2016 and has also been on the faculties of New England Conservatory of Music and the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Since 2019, he has been trombone professor at Wheaton College (Illinois). He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College (1976)—where he studied trombone with Edward Kleinhammer (bass trombonist of the Chicago Symphony, 1940–1985)—and his master’s degree from New York University (1979). In 2014, Douglas Yeo was the recipient of the International Trombone Association’s highest honor, the ITA Award, given to him “in recognition of his distinguished career and in acknowledgement of his impact on the world of trombone performance.” He has written dozens of book chapters and articles for many publications including the International Trombone Association Journal, the Historic Brass Society Journal, the International Tuba Euphonium Association Journal, and the Galpin Society Journal, and is the author of The One Hundred: Essential Works for the Symphonic Bass Trombonist (Encore Music Publishers), Serpents, Bass Horns and Ophicleides at the Bate Collection (University of Oxford Press), and co-author (with Edward Kleinhammer) of Mastering the Trombone (Ensemble Publications). His most recently published books are Homer Rodeheaver and the Rise of the Gospel Music Industry (2021, co-authored with Kevin Mungons, University of Illinois Press), and An Illustrated Dictionary for the Modern Trombone, Tuba, and Euphonium Player (2021, Rowman & Littlefield). His instructional DVD and seven solo recordings have received critical acclaim as have his 12 music arrangements that are published by G. Schirmer, International Music, Southern Music, and De Haske Music. As a teacher, Douglas Yeo has given master classes and recitals on five continents and has held residencies around the world including the International Trombone Festival (seven times), the Banff Center (Canada), the Hamamatsu International Wind Instrument Academy and Festival (nine times) and the Nagoya Trombone Festival (Japan), the International Trombone and Tuba Festival (Beijing), and the Dutch Bass Trombone Open (Holland). His website, yeodoug.com (1996), was the first site on the Internet devoted to the trombone, and his blog, thelasttrombone.com—Occasional thoughts on Life, Faith, and the Trombone—was launched in 2016. He is a Yamaha performing artist.

Video links (three links): Elizabeth Raum, Turning Point https://youtu.be/yzHZW0zF_K4

Girolomo Frescobaldi, recomposed by Eddie Koopman, Canzone https://youtu.be/Sk2BiD2FUYM

John Stevens, The Chief; Steven Verhelst, A Song for Japan https://youtu.be/pPVxhmcMJ8g

Bill Reichenbach grew up in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Takoma Park, Maryland where he studied trombone with Gene Brusiloff and Robert Isele. After high school, Bill was accepted to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. There, he studied with the great Emory Remington. While still a student, Bill began his recording career by playing lead trombone on several Chuck Mangione albums, a couple of albums with the Eastman Wind Ensemble (one on bass trombone and another one on euphonium), and the first recording of Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” (on bass trombone) which was composed for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 

After graduation, Bill toured for while with the Buddy Rich Big Band on bass trombone. During this time, the band recorded an album called “Stick It” which featured Bill on an arrangement of Jobim’s “Wave”. 

In 1975, Bill moved to L.A. where he started playing the jazz tenor trombone chair on Toshiko Akiyoshi’s big band. He made quite a few albums with the band over the next several years and was a featured soloist on all of them. At the same time, Bill was also the solo jazz trombone player on Don Menza’s big band and he recorded solos on an album with the band. Don put together a sextet out of the big band and featured Bill on tenor and bass trombone on a recording with that band. 

As a studio player, Bill has played on about 2000 records, 1000 motion pictures, and countless TV shows and jingles. 

Bill’s jazz quartet album "Special Edition" (Nothing But Bills Records) featuring Peter Erskine on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Biff Hannon on piano, reached number 10 on the national jazz radio play lists. 

New York trombonist Mike Davis and Bill have done 4 albums together - “Bonetown”, “Brass Nation”, "New Brass" and most recently, “Absolute Trombone II” and have played concerts all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. 

Bill has been a featured artist and clinician at several International Trombone Festivals including Utrecht (Holland), Nashville, Urbana (Illinois), North Texas State University, and most recently Las Vegas (2007), and Salt Lake City (2023). 

Some of the artists Bill has recorded with: 

Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Jr., The Jonas Brothers, Christine Aguilera, Seal, Mya, Quincy Jones, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Toto, The Yellowjackets, Seawind, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, David Foster, Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, Earth Wind and Fire, Dr. John, Arrowsmith, and Ray Charles. 

Some of the motion pictures which Bill has played on are: 

“Indiana Jones 5” 

"Wolverine"  

"Night in the Museum 2" 

“Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Crystal Skull” 

"Up" 

“Sex in the City” 

“Hancock” 

“Ratatouille” 

“Spiderman 3” 

“Hairspray”

“Dreamgirls” 

“Transformers” 

“American Gangster” “Wall-E” 

“I Am Legend” 

“Dreamcatcher” 

“X-men II” 

“Identity” 

“The Core” 

“Daredevil” 

“Red Dragon 

“Chicago” 

“Men in Black II” 

“XXX” 

“Training Day” 

“Spiderman” 

“Collateral Damage” “Black Hawk Down” “Planet of the Apes” “Monsters, Inc” 

“Don’t Say a Word” “Zoolander” 

“Princess Diaries” 

“American Pie 2” 

“Legally Blond” 

“Scary Movie 2” 

“The Mummy Returns” “Evolution” 

“What Women Want” “Proof of Life” 

"X-men"  

"Space Cowboys" 

"Remember the Titans"  "Meet the Parents" 

"Family Man"  

"Charlie’s Angels" 

“The Matrix” 

“The General’s Daughter” “The Green Mile” 

“South Park” 

“Sixth Sense’ 

“Deep Blue Sea” 

“Toy Story 2” 

“Magnolia” 

“Stuart Little” 

“Galaxy Quest’

“Reindeer Games” 

“U-571” 

“Godzilla” 

“Contact” 

“Conspiracy Theory” 

“The Jackal” 

“Alien Resurrection” 

“Men in Black” 

“Air Force One” 

“Batman and Robin” 

“Forrest Gump” 

“Independence Day” 

“Mars Attacks” 

“Hercules” 

“Mission Impossible” 

“Batman Returns” 

“Twister” 

“The Rock” 

“Starship Troupers” 

“The Frighteners” 

“Jurassic Park” 

“Nixon” 

Bill is an Artist-clinician for the Greenhoe/Shilke Co. He has given master classes and clinics throughout the United States, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. 

As a writer and arranger, Bill has worked on records for Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, Diana Ross and others. He has arranged many HBO Special Themes and composed the theme for the HBO “One Night Stand” comedy show. Bill also composed the theme for Fox’s animated series “Peter Pan & the Pirates” as well as much of the underscoring. He contributed to such films and shows as “Licorice Pizza”, “I Love Trouble”, “Frank’s Place”, “Baby Boom”, “Brand New Life”, “Snoops”, “Teen Wolf”, and the special “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue”. Bill composed the main title for a series of Kurt Vonnegut stories called “Welcome to the Monkey House” for Showtime. He composed a score for a documentary film about Frank Lloyd Wright called “A Very Proud House”. 

Bill has also composed pieces for Wind Ensemble including "Streets of Paris" which was recently premiered by trombone soloist Larry Zalkind and The Riverside City College Wind Ensemble conducted by Kevin Mayse, “Atlantic Crossing”, “Streets of Paris”, “The Improbable Journey”, “Fanfares, Questions and Answers”, and “An American Dream”. Bill and family now live near Asheville, NC. 

Bill plays the Greenhoe Bass Trombone

Trombonist/composer Michael Davis has enjoyed a diverse and acclaimed career over the past 40 years. Widely known as the trombonist for five world tours with the Rolling Stones, he toured and recorded extensively with Frank Sinatra, has released 14 CDs as a solo artist, composed over 150 works, authored a dozen books for brass players of all levels and appeared on over 500 CDs, television themes and motion picture soundtracks. He is the founder, creator and president of Hip-Bone Music, Inc. In 2011, the S.E. Shires Company released the Michael Davis signature model trombone and followed that in 2014 with the release of the Michael Davis+ trombone.

Born to a musical family in San Francisco, CA on August 13th, 1961, Michael’s early musical studies included the piano, drums, tuba, baritone horn and electric bass. Settling on the trombone in high school, he quickly found his stride and received principal chairs in many all-state honor groups. His collegiate career commenced at the Eastman School of Music in the fall of 1979.

In the spring of 1983, Davis received the break he had hoped for when the Buddy Rich Band called and asked him to sign on. His two-year stint with the band forged musical and personal friendships that continue to this day and presented him with “the best graduate degree anyone could possibly hope for.” Michael’s freelance career in New York City began in earnest in 1986 and before long he was one of the top trombonists around. As testimony to his versatility and wide regard, the list of jazz and pop luminaries he has worked with includes: James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Jay Z, Sarah Vaughan, Sting, Beck, Branford Marsalis, Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Bob Mintzer, Paul Simon, David Sanborn, Terence Blanchard and scores of others.

In the field of music education, Davis has served as a guest artist and clinician around the world, while also authoring a number of highly esteemed instructional books and arrangements for musicians of all ages and abilities. A multiple recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, he maintains his own jazz groups and projects through Hip-Bone Music. He has documented his efforts on 14 CDs as a leader, including his latest, Open City with the Hip-Bone Big Band featuring a star studded line-up of New York jazz and studio luminaries. Open City showcases a unique family alliance with Michael’s oldest son Cole penning three of the compositions, co-producing the entire project, and playing bass while his younger son Zaq brings his talents to the trumpet section.

Currently, Davis continues his busy schedule as an in demand New York freelance musician with a steady diet of Broadway shows, studio recording work and live concerts. He travels extensively as a solo artist guesting with professional, college and high school bands around the world, while also continuing to build his publishing company into one of the preeminent purveyors of the highest quality music for brass.

Kenneth Thompkins was appointed Principal Trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra by Neeme Jarvi. Prior to this appointment he held positions in the Buffalo Philharmonic and The Florida Orchestra and New World Symphony Orchestra.  He has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Thompkins enjoys working with young musicians and has performed masterclasses and recitals at many universities including the Curtis Institute of Music, University of Michigan, and the Eastman School of Music. In 2017 Thompkins recorded Sonatas, Songs and Spirituals featuring the music of Alec Wilder, William Grant Still and Philip Wharton. Sonatas, Songs and Spirituals was the winner of The American Prize in Instrumental Performance for 2018-2019. He has performed as a soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra and New World Symphony.  He also premiered “Troubled Water” trombone concerto by Carlos Simon with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2023.

Angel Subero is a Venezuelan trombonist who attended the Conservatorio Itinerante in Caracas, Venezuela, where he studied with the legendary Michel Becquet. After coming to the United States in 2001, he attended  Boston Conservatory, where he studied with Lawrence Isaacson, and New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Douglas Yeo. He also studied with John Rojak at the Aspen Music Festival. Subero has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, the Venezuela Symphony, Simon Bolivar Symphony, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, to name a few. He has worked with such conductors as John Williams, Seiji Ozawa, Kurt Masur, Sir Colin Davis, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Keith Lockhart, and Robert Spano, among many others. In the realms of jazz, Latin and commercial music, Subero has appeared with artists such as Bob Brookmeyer, Aretha Franklin, Slide Hampton, Jim McNeely, Claudio Roditi, Danilo Perez, Chris Botti, and many more.

Trombonist, composer, arranger James Burton III has lent his sound to multiple Grammy Award-winning albums and Tony Award-winning Broadway productions. Born in Queens, now a resident of Harlem, Burton III is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Jackie McLean Institute at the Hartt School of Music. While earning his Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School, Burton held both the Morse and Gluck Fellowships and received the Schuman Prize, an award named for Juilliard’s founding president and given to one graduating Masters Degree candidate annually.

Burton got his professional start playing with many of the great large ensembles; the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, the Lincoln Center and Vanguard Jazz Orchestras etc. Additionally, the opportunity to perform/record with legends Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Ron Carter and Christian McBride inspired Burton to co-found a 10-piece ensemble called the Uptown Jazz Tentet, which celebrated the release of a second album in late 2020, to much critical acclaim. Currently, Burton’s playing and original compositions can be heard alongside band mates Jeremy Pelt and Wayne Escoffery in a dynamic new ensemble; Black Art Jazz Collective. BAJC has released three albums since its inception, the latest two reaching the #1 position on the JazzWeek Charts for  international radio play.

In the model of jazz education pioneer Jackie McLean, Burton is an avid educator and has been a full time associate professor at both the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music as well as Director of Jazz Education at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Burton continues to pass on the legacy of the music via master classes, ensemble coachings and workshops for arts education institutions across the globe.

View the show notes and a transcript for this episode at: https://bobreeves.com/blog/james-burton-trombone-interview/

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by The Brass Ark (brassark.com) and Bob Reeves Brass (bobreeves.com).

James Miller is the Associate Principal Trombone with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a position he has held since 1999. His duties include performing on alto, tenor, and bass trombone; tenor tuba; and bass trumpet. His previous orchestral experience includes the North Carolina Symphony, the Long Island Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and the Dallas Symphony. Miller earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he was a scholarship student of Per Brevig.

His playing experience includes performances with the Silk Road Ensemble, the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Ensemble ST-X, the Michael Bublé Big Band, and a variety of jazz, rock, ska, and Latin ensembles. He has been a participant in the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Ojai Music Festival as well as performing as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and on the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella series. His solo career spans performing with orchestras and wind enssembles in the United States and Mexico. As a composer, he has had world premieres at New York’s Lincoln Center and continues to perform his own works in solo performances throughout the country. He serves on the faculty of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Aspen Music Festival.

Miller is a Conn/Selmer and a Denis Wick clinician and has released three CDs on All Barks Dog records: From Coast to Coast, Trio for Voice, Trombone and Cello and Delays, delays.

Noah Gladstone wears many hats. On any given day he may be found performing on historical trombones and other bass instruments for period concert reconstructions to recording trombone for the latest Hollywood's motion picture or TV show, to managing orchestras for high profile clients and contracting musicians for global productions and recording sessions, to producing original music for the latest video game release with millions of viewers.

Inspired by the great valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, Barry Mosley is keeping the legacy of playing  jazz valve trombone.  The first important jazz valve trombonist were Juan Tizol and Brad Gowans in the 1930s and 1940s, setting the stage for others. The valve trombone has a unique place in jazz history. 

Barrys first great jazz credit as a young artist was performing many times with jazz legend Chet Baker in the mid-1980s by Chet's invitation. The lyrical qualities of Bob Brookmeyer and Chet Baker has been a major influence on Barrys approach to jazz improvisation. 

Playing as a leader and jazz soloist, Barry has been performing at top Los Angeles jazz clubs for many years as well as performing for special Los Angeles society events. Barrys valve trombone style has also been greatly influenced by the cool sounds of California's WEST COAST JAZZ providing for a unique and always swinging jazz experience.

Barry moved to Los Angeles in 1989 from the California Bay Area to be involved in the great music scene in Los Angeles. Being mentored by two great trombonist Slyde Hyde and Bill Watrous, Barry soon began playing in the top Los Angeles jazz clubs a leader and jazz soloist on valve trombone.

Some Los Angeles jazz club credits include

VITELLOS, SPAZIOS, RED WHITE and BLUEZZ, COLES, JAX BAR AND GRILL, THE HIP KITTY in Clairmont, CAFFE 322,, LEFT COAST WINE BAR, CHADNEYS, COLOMBOS,  THE SQUASHED GRAPES in Ventura, EDWIN MILLS in Pasadena and many more.

Barry's trios and quartets have been popular for special events such as the Hollysooc Annie Awards at Royce Hall, Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Marina Del Rey Yacht Club, and more.

Two CD's released as solo artist, JAZZ TIME  and SPEAK SOFTLY have recieved jazz radio air play in the USA and Europe. Barry also has thousands of YouTube hits as a jazz performer and educator. 

Learn more about Barry Mosley at www.barrymosley.com 

Learn more about The Brass Ark at www.brassark.com

Learn more about Bob Reeves Brass at www.bobreeves.com

The show notes for this episode can be found at www.trombonecorner.com 

Steve Shires is best known in the brass world as the founder of the S. E. Shires Company, crafter of custom trombones and trumpets.  His passion for designing and building brass instruments grew from his love of playing the trombone.  Steve received his undergraduate degree in trombone performance from the University of Iowa, where he studied with John Hill and George Krem.  A true trombonist, he skipped theory class to apprentice as a brass repair technician at West Music Company in Iowa City and was soon developing his craft by converting old small bore tenor trombones into  alto trombones. While continuing his trombone studies in Chicago with legendary Chicago symphony brass section members Arnold Jacobs, Edward Kleinhammer, Frank Crisafulli, and Jay Friedman, he worked for the Schilke Music Company, learning the art of spinning brass instrument bells, as he absorbed the high standards of quality that Schilke represents.  In 1986, Steve and his wife Cathy relocated to Boston.  It was there that he gained much of his knowledge of the Horn, working for Osmun Brass Instruments, the nationally respected shop for horn repairs and restorations. It was here that Steve gained the invaluable experience of rebuilding valves, cutting bells, and restoring Geyer, Kruspe, Conn, and Paxman horns.

 Steve founded the S. E. Shires Company in 1995, and was president of the company for nearly 20 years, until its recent purchase by the Eastman Music Company.  In addition to running day to day operations, Steve was the primary bell spinner.  During Steve’s tenure, The S.E. Shires company was one of the few instrument makers that  spun its own bells, made its own valves, drew its own tubing, and used computer controlled lathes to machine all of its parts. 

In 2015 Steve and his wife moved to their new home in Vermont, where Steve combined his vast  experience designing and building world-class trombones and trumpets with his years as a horn technician to create the ultimate horn. He crafted his first Geyer model horn in 2017 and has been improving on the designs since then. The Series II Stephens horn, featuring a unique custom wrap that marries the best qualities of the Geyer and Schmidt models was introduced in 2019.

Learn more about Stephen Shires at www.stephenshorns.com

Learn more about The Brass Ark at www.brassark.com 

Learn more about Bob Reeves Brass at www.bobreeves.com 

Interested in the Reeves - Brass Ark trombone mouthpieces? Buy them online at www.trombonemouthpiece.com 

Timothy Higgins was appointed to the position of Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony by Michael Tilson Thomas in 2008. He was previously the acting Second Trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC.  Mr. Higgins, a Houston native, has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Northwestern University and has performed with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Aspen Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Washington National Opera, and Baltimore Symphony.  His principal teachers have been Michael Mulcahy (Chicago Symphony), Michael Warny (Houston Grand Opera), and Royce Landon (Des Moines, Iowa).  He has participated in music festivals with the Roundtop Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Music Center.

Along with a busy orchestra career, Timothy Higgins is a sought after arranger of music.  He was the sole arranger of the National Brass Ensemble’s Gabrieli recording. Additionally, he has arranged music for CT3 Trombone Quartet, National Brass Quintet, Bay Brass, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Brass Ensemble.  Timothy Higgins has also composed works for brass instruments in solo and chamber settings. His arrangements and compositions have been performed by the Washington Symphonic Brass, the Bay Brass, the San Francisco Symphony brass section, the Chicago Symphony brass section, the Los Angeles Philharmonic brass section, and numerous university brass ensembles. His arrangements and original compositions are available through his publishing company, 415Music.

As a teacher, Timothy been a faculty member of the Pokorny Seminar since 2012, and is currently on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Northwestern University. He has also led masterclasses in Japan, China, Canada and the United States, including classes at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, the New World Symphony, Vanderbilt University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School of Music.

In 2005, Timothy won the Robert Marsteller Solo trombone competition, as well as the ITA Trombone Quartet competition with CT3.  While attending the Tanglewood Music Center, Mr. Higgins was awarded the Grace B. Upton Award for Outstanding Fellow. In 2013, Timothy released his solo CD, Stage Left.

Learn more about Timothy Higgins at www.415music.com.

The show notes for this episode are at www.bobreeves.com/blog/timothy-higgins-trombone-interview/.

This podcast is sponsored by The Brass Ark (www.brassark.com) and Bob Reeves Brass (www.bobreeves.com). 

Christian Lindberg was voted “THE GREATEST BRASS PLAYER IN HISTORY" by the world's biggest classical radio station CLASSICFM.  Christian has premiered over 300 works for the trombone (over 90 major concertos), recorded over 70 solo CDs, has an international solo competition created in his name, and been voted brass player of the 20th century side by side with Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong.

On top of his unrivaled career as a trombonist Lindberg has now also embarked on a highly successful conducting career, and the near future includes major conducting engagements in Musikverein, Suntory Hall, at Beethovenfest, in Salzburg Festspielhaus, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Meistersingerhalle, Nürnberg and National Centre for the Performing Arts (The Giant Egg) in Beijing with orchestras such as Nippon Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, New Zealand Symphony, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Irish National Philharmonic and Ulster Orchestra to name a few. 

Learn more about Christian Lindberg at https://www.tarrodi.se/cl/.

Jack Schatz, an in-demand New York City–based trombonist and tubist, has played in numerous Broadway shows, including The Phantom of the Opera, My Favorite Year, Damn Yankees, Hello Dolly!, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Side Show, Little Me, Flower Drum Song, Wonderful Town, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliott: The Musical, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, and Nice Work If You Can Get It. He can also be heard on recordings ranging from Barbara Cook’s All I Ask of You (DRG, 1999) and Jazz Takes on Joni Mitchell (Arkadia Jazz, 1999) to Chakra (Plastic Sax, 2013) and Noah (Nonesuch, 2014).

Leonhard Paul is the trombonist and bass trumpeter in the world-famous Mnozil Brass and the Wieder-Gansch-Paul Trio. Originally from Vienna, Austria, Leonhard received diplomas in pedagogy studies and trombone studies from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He went on to receive a degree in jazz trombone from the Conservatory of Music Vienna where he studied under Erich Kleinschuster.

Since 2005, Leonhard has been a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna-MDW where he teaches chamber music, period music (sackbut), and popular music.

Besides his busy schedule with the Mnozil Brass, Leonhard has also performed on sackbut with the Wiener Akademie, Concentus Musicus Wien, and Tonus and on trombone with Salonorchester Alhambra and Die Eiserne Zeit among others.

Alan Kaplan has long been one of the top studio trombone players in Los Angeles. His recording credits vary vastly from Marvin Gaye to Johnny Mathis to Madonna to Placido Domingo to Sarah Vaughan to Oingo Boingo to Whitney Houston to the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, and countless more. He has played on the scores for nearly 1000 movies and thousands of television episodes. He was a regular member of the staff bands on the Merv Griffin, Joan Rivers, and Star Search Shows. Several times in the last few years, Alan has been in the orchestra on the Academy Awards. He also was in the band for the Jerry Lewis Telethon for over thirty years. At 19, Alan joined the Buddy Rich Big Band becoming the bands youngest lead trombone ever. The next few years found him playing with big band legends such as Harry James, Louis Bellson, Don Ellis, and Lionel Hampton. Learn more about Alan at www.alankaplan.org.

She’s a singer. She’s a trombone player. She’s a songwriter. She’s a performer. It would have been a lot easier if Aubrey Logan would have just picked one. But she’s never been one to be pigeon-holed. She lives her life outside the box and that makes her difficult to define. And that’s okay with her because she purposely defies definition. Her Top 5 debut album in 2017 helped establish her as one of the premier young singer-instrumentalists in the country. Her participation in Dave Koz’s #1 album, Summer Horns, helped cement her position. But it was her own #1 album in 2019 that really helped Aubrey Logan become a household name with music aficionados around the world. Because it was that album, Where the Sunshine is Expensive, that showed the depth of songwriting that she’s capable of. 

In between her recording commitments, Logan finds time to share the stage with artists such as Alabama Shakes, Meghan Trainor, Pharrell Williams, Josh Groban, Dave Koz, The Commodores and The Boston Pops at venues as diverse as Ronnie Scott’s famous jazz club in London to the expansive Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. She’s appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, the Grammys’ Award Show, and ABC’s The Goldbergs. Aubrey has recorded a duet with her childhood hero, Gloria Estefan. She’s won multiple awards at the Montreux Jazz Festival. She’s beloved by not just the dedicated fans of Postmodern Jukebox, but she considers the creator, Scott Bradlee, and her colleagues within the collective her true friends. And she loves performing. But it’s in her writing that we find out who Aubrey Logan really is. Learn more about Aubrey Logan at www.aubreylogan.com.

Ralph Sauer retired from the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2006 after 32 years as principal trombonist. Previously, he spent six years as principal with the Toronto Symphony as well as with the Canadian Opera and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. A native of Philadelphia, he is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Emory Remington. Mr. Sauer has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including premieres of concertos by Kazimierz Serocki and Augusta Read Thomas. He has given masterclasses and recitals throughout Europe, Japan, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and the United States, and has appeared at the Stratford, Marlboro, Aspen, and Pacific summer music festivals. He is a founding member of Summit Brass. Recent activities include performing as guest principal with the Malmö (Sweden) Symphony Orchestra, teaching at the Malmö Academy of Music, and leading masterclasses at various American universities. He continues to add to his catalog of more than 300 transcriptions for brass instruments.

Bass trombonist Robert Sander's training included four great teachers, Don Kimble, Jeff Reynolds, Robert Simmergren and Roy Main. His professional career began with the Disneyland Band, which provided a great learning opportunity that developed into a long, established career in the Los Angeles area. Bob performed for 30 years with the Pacific Symphony, 24 years as a founding member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, 12 years in the Composers Brass Quintet, and a decade or so in Hoyt Bohannon’s garage on Tuesday nights. He has played on a freelance basis for 45 years; including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, hundreds of motion picture and television scores, and in theater, ballet and opera pits. He has been a member of the Bill Watrous Refuge West Band, the Jack Sheldon Orchestra, the Jimmy Cleveland Orchestra and did two tours subbing with the west coast iteration of the Toshiko Akioshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band. He is presently retired from low brass performance, serves as president of Local 7, American Federation of Musicians, and has taught trombone at California State University, Fullerton for more than three decades; where he co-founded (with Jeannie Little and Alex Iles) Trombone Day in 2004. Bob is a Greenhoe Artist.

Jay Friedman is principal trombone for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After four years with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and two years with the Florida Symphony, he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1962 and was appointed principal trombone in 1964. When not playing trombone, Jay has also appeared extensively as a conductor, becoming Music Director of the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest in 1995, having served as Music Director of the River Cities Philharmonic, and Resident Conductor of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared as guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Italian Radio (RAI), the Malmo Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Santa Cecilia Orchestra of Rome. Friedman has also prepared and published numerous transcriptions of orchestral and classical music for brass ensemble, most frequently trombone choir. Learn more about Jay Friedman at www.jayfriedman.net.

David Rejano is the Principal Trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra since 2016. Before that, he served as Principal Trombone with the Orquestra Sinfonica de Navarra from 2002 to 2007, Principal Trombone with the Orquestra del Gran Teatro del Liceo de Barcelona (Barcelona Opera House) from 2007 to 2010, and Principal Trombone with the Münchner Philharmoniker from 2010 to 2016. He has also performed as a guest with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchestre National de France, Seoul Philharmonic, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks or the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Paris. David Rejano appears frequently as a soloist at the Festival Européen du Trombone, Concours National de Trombone de France, Sapporo Festival, Summer Brass Festival or the International Trombone Festival, as well as with top orchestras like the Vancouver Symphony or the LAPhil. He frequently works together with Zubin Mehta, Gustavo Dudamel and Valery Gergiev. Learn more about David at www.davidrejano.com. Brought to you by The Brass Ark (brassark.com) and Bob Reeves Brass (bobreeves.com).

​