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.

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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

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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