FONT :: Festival of New Trumpet Music » 2000s jazz

ON THE HORIZON – New Yorker Magazine

rich — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:26:20 +0000

NIGHT LIFE

WHEEL OF LIFE

Oct. 20-23

The ninth Festival of New Trumpet Music, at the Jazz Standard, pays tribute to Kenny Wheeler. The eighty-one-year-old trumpeter, making a rare New York appearance, will be joined by Ingrid Jensen’s + Brass band and the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble and will play with his own quintet. (fontmusic.org.)

ILLUSTRATION: LUCI GUTIERREZ

CELEBRATE KENNY WHEELER AT THE JAZZ STANDARD

rich — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:24:13 +0000

THE 9TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW TRUMPET MUSIC
CELEBRATES TRUMPETER/COMPOSER KENNY WHEELER AT THE JAZZ STANDARD

(New York City, NY) – JAZZ STANDARD, one of the nation’s premier jazz clubs, presents the 9th Annual Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) series, “Kenny Wheeler Celebration,” from Thursday, October 20, through Sunday, October 23, 2011. Program schedule and artist bios are outlined below.

The FONT series celebrates Kenny Wheeler, one of the most creative and iconic of progressive trumpeters. Wheeler, a Canadian residing in the UK since 1952, celebrated his 81st birthday this year. He will make a rare New York appearance in this series devoted to his music and vision.

The Festival also presents a cadre of progressive New York trumpeters, among them Ingrid Jensen, Shane Endsley, Nate Wooley, Jonathan Finlayson, Tony Kadleck, and Jon Owens. As part of this celebration, Kenny Wheeler will be featured with Ingrid Jensen + Brass, will play his music alongside John Hollenbeck’s Large Ensemble, and will also convene a New York Quintet, featuring Jon Irabagon, Craig Taborn, Matt Brewer, and Rudy Royston.

Kenny Wheeler commented on being honored by FONT Music and returning to NYC: I first came to New York in the late 40′s. I was with a big band attached to the American forces and I had joined with the sole purpose of getting to New York. I just wanted to find and maybe talk to Miles. I couldn’t find him but in the process I had a really short (even for me) conversation with Charlie Parker. I was so disappointed I had missed Miles that it wasn’t until hours later I realized I had actually spoken to Bird! By that time though New York had gone from being in my head to being in my blood, heart and soul. It’s where most of the Jazz I listened to before and after that trip was born.

Although I have played in New York a few times over the years every time I come back I still feel the same excitement I felt that first time I visited all those years ago. For me New York is the place to play. The fact that I am being honored with a New York week and that so many fantastic trumpet players are involved is overwhelming. I am so proud and, before my nerves get the better of me, I would just like to say thank you to all of the people who have put this event together and thank you to New York for giving me the opportunity to come back and play here again.

The Festival of New Trumpet Music, a nonprofit founded in 2003 by Dave Douglas and Roy Campbell, Jr. designed to encourage creative brass music, will present its Award of Recognition to Wheeler during the week’s run. Previous recipients include Wadada Leo Smith and Bobby Bradford.

Each series presented by FONT features work from brilliant trumpeter/composers. This season, award-winning trumpeter and FONT board member Ingrid Jensen will honor Wheeler with a night of brass quintet music and rhythm section with Jonathan Finlayson, Tony Kadleck and a special appearance by Wheeler. In addition, John Hollenbeck has conceived of a special program for his Large Ensemble in honor of Wheeler. Trumpeters Shane Endsley, Nate Wooley, and Jon Owens will join in a performance of new unrecorded pieces for jazz orchestra (plus a few Wheeler chestnuts) that will also include Chris Cheek, Brad Shepik as special featured guests alongside Wheeler. The festival also presents informal sessions of Wheeler’s music at New York University, including members of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

# # # #

OCTOBER 20 – 23, 2011: FESTIVAL OF NEW TRUMPET MUSIC (FONT)

“KENNY WHEELER CELEBRATION”

THURS, OCT 20: Ingrid Jensen + Brass featuring Kenny Wheeler:

Ingrid Jensen – trumpet, Jonathan Finlayson – trumpet, Tony Kadleck – trumpet, Shelagh Abate – french horn, Elliot Mason – trombone, Jennifer Wharton – tuba, Kevin Hays – piano, Matt Clohesy – bass, Jon Wikan – drums, Music Charge: $25, 7:30, 9:30 PM

FRI & SAT, OCT 21 + 22: John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble featuring Kenny Wheeler

John Hollenbeck – drums; Shane Endsley, Jon Owens, Tony Kadleck, Nate Wooley – trumpet; Alan Ferber, Jacob Garchik, Mike Christianson, Rob Hudson – trombone; Chris Cheek – tenor saxophone/reeds; Dan Willis – tenor saxophone/winds; Jeremy Viner – alto; Ben Kono – alto saxophone/winds; Bohdan Hilash – baritone saxophone/reeds; Matt Mitchell – piano; Kermit Driscoll – basses; Brad Shepik, guitar; Theo Bleckmann – voice; J.C. Sanford – conductor. Special Featured Guests: Nate Wooley and Shane Endsley, Chris Cheek, Brad Shepik. $30, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 PM

SUNDAY, OCT 23: Kenny Wheeler Quintet

Kenny Wheeler – trumpet, Jon Irabagon – alto saxophone, Craig Taborn – piano, Matt Brewer – bass,
Rudy Royston – drums. $30, 7:30, 9:30 PM

# # # #

ABOUT FONT
The Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music) supports new trumpet music in all forms, and provides a platform for emerging artists and creative pioneers. Its primary goal is to celebrate the excellence of the current music scene by hosting a broad array of new trumpet music performances. By presenting concerts throughout the year, commissioning new works, creating new projects, hosting panels, and collaborating with other New York presenters and international artists, FONT exposes the exciting range of current activity and brings together disparate communities of musicians, students, and audiences. FONT Music is a nonprofit organization directed by award-winning trumpeter Dave Douglas. It is run by an all-volunteer board that includes some of the finest brass players on the scene. The first Festival of New Trumpet Music took place at the now defunct venue Tonic in August 2003. By the time of the 4th annual festival, in 2006, it had grown to include seven venues and present over forty new trumpet events. The fifth annual festival took place from September 16 to September 30, 2007 at venues all around New York. Since its inaugural festival, FONT has presented approximately 290 concerts featuring more than 195 different trumpet players and hosted dozens of free masterclasses and educational workshops.

The New Yorker calls FONT “a grand highlight of the musical season”; The New York Times says FONT “prizes a spirit of innovation” and describes it as “a cross-stylistic extravaganza”; and JazzTimes praises its “stellar and eclectic schedule of genre-blurring commissions and exploratory collaborations.” The Festival of New Trumpet Music is proud to celebrate the music and legacy of Kenny Wheeler with this series at the Jazz Standard.www.fontmusic.org

About Kenny Wheeler
Kenny Wheeler has long been one of the most advanced voices on his instrument. Blessed with a full, lovely tone and an astounding range, Wheeler sounds equally at home in fiery free jazz explorations or softer, more lyrical post-bop meditations. Wheeler has written over one hundred compositions and is a skilled arranger for small groups and larger ensembles. His compositions blend lyrical melodies with a distinctive and ever changing harmonic palette. Although resident in England since 1952 and often thought to be an English musician, Kenny Wheeler was born in Canada in 1930 and began playing trumpet at age 12.

After studying at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory, he moved to London in 1952, where he gigged with swing and dance bands. In the 1970s, Wheeler played with Anthony Braxton, and went on to record the well-received Gnu High, which established him as a soloist of note. Wheeler turned out a series of excellent albums, including 1977′s Deer Wan and 1983′s Double, Double You (that year, Wheeler also began a four-year run with the Dave Holland Quintet). Several more generally fine outings followed in the ’90s, including the ECM dates Music for Large and Small Ensembles and The Widow in the Window and other recordings. Kenny Wheeler is a true innovator and a consequential part of modern music. “Wheeler’s simmering chemistry of 20th-century classical music harmonies, jazz and folk themes, and shrewd stimulation of the improvising freedoms he’s unafraid to love, have made his work a treasure-trove for today’s jazz students” – John Fordham - The Guardian,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Wheeler

Show Times: 7:30 & 9:30 + 11:30 PM on Fridays & Saturdays.
Jazz Standard is located at 116 East 27th St. (betw Lex and Park) No minimum & student discounts.
For reservations call Jazz Standard @ 212 576 2232, or visit www.ticketweb.com orwww.jazzstandard.com

Press/Media Contact: Red Cat Publicity
Jason Paul Harman Byrne
347 578 7601
Redcatjazz@mac.com

Free Tickets to a Clean Feed Show

rich — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:56:25 +0000

FONT is offering free tickets for this weekend’s Clean Feed double bill: Bay Area trumpeter Darren Johnston and NYC’s own Kirk Knuffke. Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 8pm, at the Cornelia Connelly Center in NYC.

With Bobby Bradford coming to town in a couple weeks for the next FONT series we decided to get things going with a little pop quiz.

“Name 3 brass players Bobby Bradford has recorded alongside during his career (either as a sideman or a leader.) First 10 people that email us at fontmusic@gmail.com with a correct answer get one free ticket.”

Bobby will be in NYC October 3 & 4 accepting FONT’s Award of Recognition, and performing alongside Baikida Carroll, David Murray, Marty Ehrlich, Mark Dresser, Benny Powell, and Andrew Cyrille.

FONT in New York Times annual Fall ARTS Preview

rich — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:09:51 +0000

Today’s New York Times features its annual Fall ARTS Preview section. It spotlights FONT. View online HERE.

OCTOBER

FESTIVAL OF NEW TRUMPET MUSIC The annual trumpet-centric series engineered by Dave Douglas pays tribute to Bobby Bradford, the Los Angeles improviser associated with Ornette Coleman and John Carter. It brings Mr. Bradford together in a band with the saxophonist David Murray, and also presents other bands led by the excellent younger players Ambrose Akinmusire and Jeremy Pelt. Oct. 1-4, Jazz Standard, jazzstandard.com. (B. R.)

avishai cohen interview

rich — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:38:33 +0000

IN-DEMAND jazz trumpeter Avishai Cohen is returning to New York’s Festival of New Trumpet Music to perform with musical prodigy Ambrose Akinmusire, writes Robert Clayton.

And Avishai is full of praise for the winner of both the 2007 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition and 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.

He said: “Ambrose contacted me and asked if I wanted to perform with him at the festival on October 1 at New York’s Jazz Standard.

“He is an incredible young trumpeter and I am always happy to work with and support him.

READ THE REST HERE.

nyfa artist fellowships

rich — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:36:23 +0000

The NYFA just posted links to their 2010 fellowship grants.

You can get more info on the grant HERE.

underground: redux

rich — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:44:32 +0000

This summer’s New Trumpet Underground had a lot of great music.
We’ll be posting highlights from each set over the next few months at our MySpace page as we also get ready for October’s “In Honor of Bobby Bradford” at The Jazz Standard.

Let’s start at the beginning.
First night, first set.
Greg Bobulinski G-Men: Greg Bobulinski (trumpet & flugelhorn), Daniel A. Weiss (organ), Tom Kirchmer (bass), Ed Balsamo (drums)
Back at the Chicken Shack

www.bagofjazz.com

All recording and photos by Scott Friedlander. sfriedlander@twostools.com

LES MAÎTRES FOUS

rich — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:29:44 +0000

Nice post on this summers New Trumpet Underground at LES MAÎTRES FOUS.

Durant mon séjour à New York, j’aurai eu la chance d’assister à la dernière soirée du Festival of New Trumpet de cette année. Le FONT est fondé en 2003 par les trompettistes Roy Campbell Jr. et Dave Douglas avec pour mission la promotion des musiques et musiciens actuels privilégiant l’usage de la trompette dans une démarche créative. Outre l’organisation d’un festival annuel (dont la première édition a eu lieu au Tonic, club mythique désormais fermé, en août 2003) et de concerts ponctuels, cette plate-forme s’investit également dans la commande d’oeuvres, par exemple à Peter Evans ou à la formation de Laura Andel, Taylor Ho Bynum et Gamelan Son of Lion (un Cd à venir sur l’excellent label Creative Sources). On doit aussi au FONT le retour sur la scène new-yorkaise de l’immense Bill Dixon.

Read the rest ici

New Trumpet Underground This Weekend!

rich — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:17:56 +0000

FONT presents
New Trumpet Underground 2009
Cornelia Street Café
June 26-28

$10 per set or $15 per night
29 Cornelia Street, New York, NY 10014
(212) 989-9318

Check the schedule HERE