The Pokorny Low Brass Seminar will be held in person at Northern Illinois University, July 22-25, 2021. The faculty are Gene Pokorny, Carol Jantsch and Scott Tegge, tuba, Tim Higgins, Megumi Kanda, Tim Riordan and Andrew Glendening, trombone, Randy Hawes and Douglas Yeo, bass trombone.
Alone Together – Love, Verve, Melancholy & the “Great American Songbook”
Karl Ratzer & Ed Neumeister have been playing together for 10 years in various bands of the guitar player and now have also gotten together as a duo. Their brand new program “Alone Together” is a homage to the “Great American Songbook of Jazz” (CD/LP to be released in the fall of 2021 by ENJA Records).
Karl Ratzer’s two original compositions (Sabah El Nur & Señor Lopez) fit in harmoniously with the jazz classics Body & Soul, I Thought About You and Alone Together. All are played with inimitable verve & creativity and with a deep feeling for the songs (lyrics included), even though most of the tracks are instrumental; I’m Old Fashioned, the only song sung by Karl Ratzer, reminds one of Chet Baker, with whom the guitarist toured.
This duo of superlatives, in the rather rare line-up of guitar & trombone, impressively prove, by its interpretations, that jazz standards are not old-fashioned or out of date, but that their essence includes something eternal, a timelessness, that touches young and old today as it did yesterday. The unmistakable atmosphere of the 1920’s & 30’s in New York awakens to new pulsating life on this new CD/LP “Alone Together” by Karl Ratzer & Ed Neumeister.
Karl Ratzer lead various rock, funk & soul bands since the early 1960s, in the 70s he went to the USA (working with Jeremy Steig, Joe Chambers, Dan Wall, Chaka Khan, Chet Baker and others), after his return to Vienna in the 80s, he turned more and more to modern jazz, without discarding the various funky grooves. An important musical and spiritual influence for him was and still is the late pianist Fritz Pauer, who brought him together with musicians who taught at the Music University in Graz, such as Howard Curtis and Ed Neumeister, who later became members of the Karl Ratzer Quintet with Johannes Enders and Peter Herbert, with very successful performances in Austria and Europe. Subsequently, a trio (with P. Herbert & H. Curtis) was also formed and a collaboration with Franz Koglmann (tp, flh) was started as well. CD productions such as “Tears”, “My Time”, Underground System” strikingly demonstrate the vitality of the music of these ensembles, which are still active.
Ed Neumeister comes from the USA (West Coast), accompanied stars like Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson and Sarah Vaughan, played from 1980 on in New York in the big bands of Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich & Gerry Mulligan, then for more than 15 years in the Duke Ellington Orchestra (trombone & arrangements) and at the same time in the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (with Joe Lovano & Tom Harrell). In addition to his jazz activities, he has also played in symphony orchestras in San Francisco and New York. In the early 2000s he moved to Graz, where he taught at the Music University for 17 years. He founded several of his own ensembles (with Fritz Pauer, piano and Jay Clayton, vocals, among others) in Austria, Los Angeles and New York, where he returned in 2017. During his time in Austria, Karl Ratzer brought Ed Neumeister into his quintet, founded in 2012, that still exists today (concerts on New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day at Porgy & Bess in Vienna traditionally feature Karl Ratzer ensembles, including Neumeister).
“Alone Together” is a concentrate and distillation of all the experiences both performers have had, playing the repertoire of the “Great American Songbook”. A melancholic and respectful declaration of love to a time that has irretrievably passed away, but is brought back to life anew by Karl Ratzer and Ed Neumeister! (Julian Schoenfeld)
Located in scenic Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the Santa Fe Trombone Summit is a multi-day trombone seminar providing a unique one-on-one, high intensity, select size Participant group allowing for an in-depth and personal experience.
Co-founded by the Trombones of the Santa Fe Opera (Mark Fisher, Jonathan Randazzo, Chris Buckholz, Chris Bassett), Participants have the opportunity to play with and for all 4 co-founders in masterclasses, sectionals, quartet coachings, and sit-ins. In addition, Auditors join Participants in warm-up sessions, lectures, panel discussions, and select pieces in our trombone choir which performs on the final concert.
To set us apart even more, attendees are invited to participate with the faculty in outdoor recreation opportunities in the Santa Fe area, along with team building events and group meals.
For those of you that can’t make it to Santa Fe yet, we’re proud to offer an affordable and virtual experience of select events streamed to you wherever you are in the world at The Summit Online.
3 Ways to Attend
The Participant Class is open to a limited number of 12 professionals and/or college students (9 tenors, 3 basses). As a Participant, you will work closely and personally with SFTS Faculty in masterclasses, quartet and section coachings and sit-ins, and perform on the final concert in the SFTS Trombone Choir. You must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
As an Auditor, you will be able to attend all masterclasses and performances. You will also have the opportunity to participate in our daily morning warm-ups, panel discussions, and rehearse and perform in the SFTS Trombone Choir on the final concert. While auditors have no age limit, we ask that students under 18 years of age be accompanied by an adult over the age of 21.
Online! – NEW to Summit 2021! From the comfort of your own home wherever in the world you live, you now will have the chance to attend select events LIVE ONLINE at the Summit starting in 2021.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Early-Application Deadline: April 1st, 2021 ($30 Application Fee waived)
Application Deadline: April 15th, 2021
Participant Announcement: April 30th, 2021
2021 Summit Dates: July 27-30, 2021
The São Paulo Symphony Orchestra – Osesp, conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, welcomes Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, for the world premiere of a new piece by the jazz master Chick Corea (1941-2021) at Sala São Paulo, Brazil, from August 5 to August 7. The Concerto for Trombone: A Stroll is a co-commission by Osesp with the New York Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic and Fundação Gulbenkian.
On Friday, August 6, the concert will be broadcast live on Osesp’s YouTube Channel, from 8 PM (BRT) – 7 PM (EST).
One of the last works by the North American jazz composer, keyboardist and bandleader Chick Corea, who passed away in February, 2021, the Concerto for Trombone was composed for Joseph Alessi, who tells the story in his own words:
The reason why Chick Corea came to write a Trombone Concerto dates back to the occasion when the brilliant Japanese pianist, Makoto Ozone, was performing as a soloist with the NY Philharmonic several years ago. After the concert, Makoto invited Maestro Alan Gilbert and myself to the club Birdland, where Makoto was performing with the great Gary Burton. During the second set, they played a beautiful tune composed by Chick Corea called Brasilia. When I heard this wonderful piece, I felt so inspired that I approached Makoto and asked him if he thought that Chick would ever consider writing me a trombone concerto.
Makoto texted Chick and in a few days Mr. Corea replied that he might be interested. I sent Chick my information and we spent about six months texting one another about a possible concerto. While at first Chick was hesitant about working with a symphony orchestra, I assured him that the New York Philharmonic was well versed playing any style of music and that the professionalism of the orchestra was unmatched in regard to rehearsing and performing new music. Chick eventually agreed to write the trombone concerto – a very happy day for me!
In November of 2020 I heard briefly from Chick, who said that he was not feeling well and would be out of touch for a while during treatments. It was devastating for me to learn on February 9, 2021, that he had died. We had expected that he would be with us in Brazil to hear and enjoy this music, as well as playing the piano part of this Concerto onstage. He is sorely missed, and I wish I had been able to say goodbye and tell how wonderful it was to collaborate with him. I dedicate these performances to the life and memory of Chick Corea, a musician of true genius and one of the kindest and most sincere people I have ever met.
PROGRAM
São Paulo Symphony Orchestra — Osesp
Giancarlo Guerrero conductor
Joseph Alessi trombone
Richard STRAUSS | Ariadne auf Naxos, Op.60: Symphonic Suite [Arrangement by D.W.Ochoa]
Chick COREA | Concerto for Trombone: A Stroll [Co-comission] [World Premiere]
August 5th and 6th: 8 PM (BRT) – 7 PM (EST)
August 7th: 4.30 PM (BRT) – 3.30 PM (EST)
Sala São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Live broadcast on Friday, August 6: https://www.youtube.com/videososesp
Jay Clayton and Ed Neumeister with guest pianist, Gary Versace celebrating their release “3 for the Road” on MeisteroMusic Records, will be performing pieces from their new CD as well as newly composed works, their unique interpretations of jazz standards and works incorporating spoken word poetry.
Supporting Musicians: Jay Clayton voice
Ed Neumeister trombone
Gary Versace piano
3 FOR THE ROAD FEATURING JAY CLAYTON
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Featuring Ed Neumeister & Gary Versace
DOORS @7:00
SHOWTIME @8:00
Cover Charge- $20.00
Dates
August 15-21, 2021 (arrive August 15, depart August 22)
Application Material Deadline: July 10, 2021. Save with early application! $40 until June 10, $50 until July 10.
Location
Montague, Michigan
Guest Artists and Faculty
Ko-ichiro Yamamoto – Principal Trombone, Seattle Symphony
John Romero – Principal Trombone, Metropolitan Opera
John Sebastian Vera, Co-Director – Principal Trombone, Pittsburgh Opera and River City Brass
Nicholas Schwartz, Co-Director – Principal Bass Trombone, New York City Ballet
Jazz Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and Friends tribute to Louis Armstrong and New Orleans at the North Carolina Folk Festival.
Trombonist/composer David Manson is a guest artist on the 25th Subtropics New Music Festival in Miami on September 17 & 18th. Manson will perform commissioned work RE: David written by Gustavo Matamoros on Sept. 17th. Manson’s compositions will be performed by his group Erg on Sept. 18. Both performances are at the Deering Estate in Miami, Florida.
September 17, 2021
6:30 PM | Live Performances and Inter Media
David Pate/Tom Kersey Duo, George E. Lewis, José Hernández Sánchez, Helen Thorington, David Manson
September 18, 2021
9:00 PM | Live Performance
Erg Quartet
featuring David Manson, Tom Kersey, David Pate and Jim Stewart
Program to include
HOLST ORCH. JACOB – Suite No.1
LEOPOLD MOZART – Trombone Concerto
WAGNER – Siegfried Idyll
Performers
Colin Prichard – Trombone
Nicholas Braithwaite – Conductor
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Can you imagine greeting the day to the sounds of one of the most heavenly pieces of music ever written? On Christmas morning 1870, Wagner’s wife Cosima woke to hear the Siegfried Idyll played by musicians posted on the stairwell outside her door. Created as a birthday gift, and to celebrate the birth of their son Siegfried, Wagner told Cosima that he had ‘unconsciously woven our whole life into it’.
The ASO’s own Colin Prichard takes centre stage in one of the first virtuoso works for solo trombone, by none other than Mozart’s father Leopold. Speaking of brass, Holst’s masterpiece for band,
his Suite No.1, was transformed into a brilliant orchestral work by his friend Gordon Jacob, and is conducted today by someone who always brings out the best in British music, the ASO’s former Chief Conductor, Nicholas Braithwaite.
Elisabeth Shafer: The Versatile Trombone
Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) and the Wadsworth Public Library continue Concerts in the Courtyard with Akron-based trombonist Elisabeth Shafer, accompanied by keyboardist Timothy Shafer on September 26, 2021, at 2 pm. The program will include pieces from a variety of styles. The Wagenseil Concerto is written in the classical style and is one of the first solo pieces from the trombone repertoire. The Sulek Sonata is a romantic-style work and shows off the full and soaring sounds of the trombone. Its subtitle is the “Vox Gabrieli,” which means “The Voice of Gabriel.” Mache Dich is an aria by J.S. Bach from his St. Matthew Passion. Originally written for a baritone singer, the work translates beautifully onto the trombone and brings out its expressive and singing qualities. Chris Brubeck is the composer of the last piece, the Prague Concerto. He is the son of the famous Dave Brubeck, composer of the popular work, Take Five. The Prague Concerto combines jazz influences in its harmony and rhythms to create an exciting third-stream work.
The program takes place in the Wadsworth Public Library Courtyard, 132 Broad Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281. In the event of rain, the concert will take place in the library community room. Registration is recommended at www.ormaco.org. For more information call 419-853-6016.
