2014 Program

2014 PROGRAM

September 17th-28th

Festival of New Trumpet music presents

American Brass Electric

FONT 2014 celebrates American brass at its finest, with 12 days of astonishing diversity and brilliance. From electric funk, jazz, new music, and to horizons of experimentalism, FONTs festival lineup shows off the wide spectrum of current activity on the instrument.

FONT honors the American Brass Quintet in their 54th season, as well long-time trumpeter Raymond Mase who was involved in commissioning and introducing many of America’s best modern works for brass quintet. Mr. Mase will accept the Award of Recognition in a concert at Mannes Concert Hall on September 26.

FONT is also proud to announce the first annual Roy Campbell Jr. Commission, an award of $2000 to an up and coming trumpeter/composer/bandleader. This year the award will go to Igmar Thomas.

The Festival also introduces the first annual Laurie Frink Career Grant, an award to a young trumpeter to be used for education. This year’s recipient is Riley Mulherkar, originally of Seattle. Mr. Mulherkar will perform at Cornelia Street Cafe on September 20, followed by John McNeil’s group.

Other events include two nights of emerging jazz players at Smoke, curated by trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, an evening of multi-disciplinary works at the Village Zendo, an evening of solo trumpet and electronics including cornetist Graham Haynes and trumpeters Shane Endesley and Eric Biondo. The Festival will feature FONT’sBRASS BEAT BLASTOFF, will include NO BS! Brass from Richmond, Va., Brooklyn’s Banda de los Muertos, and the newly formed FABA, (FONT’s Afro-Brass Assembly).

Festival directors Dave Douglas, Stephanie Richards, and Aaron Shragge are excited to offer this festival to bring together trumpeters of all stripes, and promote their ongoing enthusiasm for emerging artistry and creative pioneers and giants such as Raymond Mase.

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.”

Program:

9/17

Wednesday, September 17th @ 7pm, 9pm, 10:30pm, 11:30pm – Smoke – 2751 Broadway, NY 10025, $9 Cover.

-27pm – Jersey City born/Miami raised trumpeter Carlos Abadie is a disciple of the great Ira Sullivan and Melton Mustafa. Abadie moved to New York City in the summer of 1993 where he frequented Smalls Jazz Club and University of The Streets. Mr. Abadie started his professional career with Jason Linder and his big band. Later on he went on to play with such greats as Junior Mance, Louis Hayes, Ben Dixon, Charlie Persip, Billy Hart, Benny Powell, Kevin Mahogony, Illinois Jacquet, Odean Pope, Ray Santos,Bobby Sanabria, Andy Gonzalez, Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino, Conjunto Libre, Jerry Gonzalez, Steve Berrios, Nelson Gonzalez, Joe Ford and many more. Flash forward to 2014 Mr. Abadie has been holding down the Thursday late nights at Smalls Jazz Club with his quintet for the last 6 years. Mr. Abadie has released two out of four albums in a series he calls Immersed In The Quest, Vol. 1(Introducing) & 2 (Carlitoʼs Way) on Truth Revolution Records. Thanks to his new association with Curtis Brothers Music and Truth Revolution Records. Carlos Abadie – Trumpet, Joe Sucato – Tenor, Peter Zak – Piano, Clovis Nicolas – Bass, Luca Santaniello-Drums.

Kirk_Knuffke_by_Ken_Weiss9pm – One of New York City’s “Busiest Musicians” (NY Times) Cornetist Kirk Knuffke has been based in NYC since 2005.  A largely self-taught musician, Kirk is listed as a “Rising Star” in the Downbeats Critics Poll for 2013 and 2014 and was one of 4 finalists for “Trumpet Player of the year” by the Jazz Journalist Association in 2014.  Kirk stays very busy as a member of the celebrated Matt Wilson Quartet, touring the US, performing and teaching.   Kirk is featured on Wilson’s new recording of the Quartet plus John Medeski on Palmetto Records.  Knuffke also plays in groups led by Mark Helias, Bill Goodwin, Michael Formanek, Myra Melford, Uri Caine, Todd Sickafoose and Allison Miller among many others. As a leader or Co-leader Knuffke has made 10 recordings for labels: Cleanfeed, SteepleChase, Not Two, Relative Pitch, and No Buisiness. The Kirk Knuffke Quartet CD “Chorale” is now available on Steeplechase records (with Michael Formanek, Billy Hart and Russ Lossing), It was featured in the sunday New York Times, with Times writer Nate Chinen saying it is “Excellent”. Kirk Knuffke – Cornet, Mark Helias – Bass, Bill Goodwin – Drums

Leon Jordan Jr by Shannon Adelson10:30pm – The 26 year old Trumpeter/ Composer Leon Jordan Jr  is a Philadelphia Native who has studied music at the University of the Arts . Leon Jordan Jr has recorded two records as a bandleader including his most recent release “Breakout” that  features Jazz luminaries such as Kurt Rosenwinkl and Gerald Veasley.  He has recorded and shared the stage in a wide range of musical settings with Orrin Evans, Tim Warfield, Earth Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald , Maysa Leak, Kevin Mahogony,  Kindred the Family soul and Musiq Soulchild and many more. Leon Jordan Jr has recently performed with Jeremy Pelt, Dave Douglas, Dr. Eddie Henderson and Randy Brecker on the United Trumpet Summit Tour.  New music coming soon be on the look out!Leon Jordan Jr. -Trumpet, Anwar Marshall – Drums, Luke Orielly – piano, Rick Tate – Sax, Nimrod Speaks – Bass. Photo by by Shannon Adelson.

 11:30pm- Mohorns Promo 145Theljon Allen is a Baltimore native, began playing trumpet at age 12. He attended New School University and Peabody Conservatory. Theljon has recorded or performed with Ledisi, Tye Tribett, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Cyrus Chestnut, Joel Holmes, Hinton Battle, and Ariana Grande. Theljon also released his first album called Universal Language which is available on itunes and Amazon. Theljon will be featuring his quintet on the 17th at the Font Festival. Theljon Allen – trumpet, Elijah Balbed Tenor – sax, Mike Saunders – bass, Salem Brown – piano, Josh Thomas – keys, Charles Wilson – drums.

9/18

Thursday, September 18th @ 7pm, 9pm, 10:30pm, 11:30pm – Smoke – 2751 Broadway, NY 10025, $9 Cover

PW - Performance Pic7pm– Australian Jazz trumpeter Paul Williamson has established a pattern of producing distinctive recordings exhibiting outstanding ensemble performances. Hi nine CD releases as a leader exhibit Williamson’s desire to create music featuring improvised dialogues and interaction of complementary individual conceptions. It is music designed to reach beyond jazz formulas and clichés, whilst remaining grounded within the diverse traditions of jazz and improvised music. Williamson has performed with international jazz artists at festivals and venues in the United States, Europe, Asia, and throughout Australia. He was active on the European jazz scene whilst based in Dublin, performing with Bill Carothers, Dave Liebman, Reggie Washington, Paul Wertico, Ronan Guilfoyle, Lindsay Horner, Michael Buckley and Métier until returning to Melbourne in 2009. His recent performances include collaborations with Charlie Haden, John Abercrombie, the Australian Art Orchestra, Hermeto Pascoal, Aaron Goldberg, Django Bates and Mark Helias. In addition to an active recording career, Williamson is busy as a performer and educator. He is a lecturer in jazz and faculty member at the esteemed Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music at Monash University, which produces some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians. Paul Williamson – Trumpet, Edward Johnson – Piano.

_K8C02389pmSteve Fishwick is widely considered to be one of the best jazz trumpet players ever to come from the UK, and is rapidly gaining a global reputation thanks to his beautifully flowing, harmonically rich improvisations. He is one of an increasing number of trumpeters who have been heavily influenced by the melodic approach of the late great Kenny Dorham, a figure often overlooked (and undeservedly so) in the pantheon of Jazz Trumpet Legends. As well as “K.D.”, Steve cites Art Farmer, Miles Davis and Woody Shaw among his favourite players, but his style is very much his own. Trumpet great Wynton Marsalis recently said about him “Steve has his own style. He plays from the bottom to the top of the horn whilst maintaining the integrity of the chords. I can’t think of another trumpet player that can do what he does.” Legendary Jazz critic Ira Gitler had this to say ‘My question is where has Fishwick been hiding? Hip middle register melodious bebop, but when Steve lights his wick he becomes a flying fish, soaring above the waves, totally in control!’ Since graduating in 1998 from the Royal Academy of Music in London he has performed with many leading European and American musicians spanning a wide stylistic radius including George Mraz, Dado Moroni, Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter, Dick Oattes, Bob Cranshaw, Clifford Jarvis, Ronnie Cuber, Anita O’ Day, Tim Lefebvre, Eric Harland, Scott Hamilton and many others.  Many of his solo CDs are in collaboration with Welsh Tenor Saxophonist Osian Roberts and his twin brother, Drummer Matt Fishwick (both appearing with him at FONT).  A major career highlight occurred in 2009 when they recorded with Cedar Walton and Peter Washington (Osian Roberts/Steve Fishwick meets Cedar Walton!’). Their latest CD ‘When Night Falls’ was released earlier this year and features NYC baritone saxophonist Frank Basile. Steve Fishwick- Trumpet, Osian Roberts- Tenor Saxophone, Frank Basile- Baritone Saxophone, Jeb Patton- Piano, Michael Karn- Bass, Matt Fishwick- Drums.

Nadje Noordhuis antique10:30pmNadje Noordhuis’ journey has taken her from a youth spent studying classical music in her native Australia to a headlong dive into the world of jazz that has earned her acclaim in the music’s mecca, New York. She was one of ten semi-finalists in the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition and was selected as a Carnegie Hall Young Artist to undertake a residency with trumpet great Dave Douglas in 2010. Noordhuis is a member of several big bands, including Darcy James Argue’s Grammy-nominated Secret Society as well as the Diva Jazz Orchestra. She also leads her own quintet, a duo with vibraphonist James Shipp, and is a member of Rudy Royston’s 303. As a composer, Noordhuis has been commissioned by the Baroque ensemble ThoroughBass, the new music ensemble ExhAust, and by the 2009 Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT). Noordhuis’ self-titled debut album was released in 2012 on the Little Mystery Records label. A luxurious autobiography in music, she incorporates gorgeous melodies, lush romanticism, vibrant improvisation, and influences ranging from Irish folk songs to Spanish tango. Nadje Noordhuis- trumpet/flugelhorn, Sara Caswell- violin, Vitor Gonçalves-piano, Matt Clohesy- bass, Jared Schonig-drums.

IMG_6687_311:30pm – Keyon Harrold is a great music mind, an eclectic trumpeter, music producer, arranger, and songwriter who is always trying to push musical boundaries in composition and improvisation. He hales from St. Louis and is a part of the extensive lineage of trumpet greats from that area such as Miles Davis, Clark Terry, Lester Bowie, and Russell Gunn. He hit the music scene hard upon his arrival to New York City, where he completed a Degree in Jazz Performance at Mannes Jazz Program at the New School University. He is one of the most sought after musicians right now. He has had the honor to work with the worlds best in several genres of music; A well versed artist harrold is, Saxophonist and Jazz Voice Lauren Schoenberg said, ”Harrold has the uncanny ability to play a gig at the Carlyle with Bobby Short and the next morning go on tour with Snoop Dog and fit in perfectly.” As far as jazz Keyon is a regular in Charles Tolliver’s big Band, a member of Billy Harper’s quintet, Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life Group, frequents with Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodges Band and Chris Dave and The Drumheads and has recorded with Gregory Porter and David Sandborn. He has also toured and recorded with Maxwell(Black Summers Night) Jay-z (American Gangster), Beyoncé (Bday) Anthony Hamilton, Mos Def, Common, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Mary J Blige. As a producer he and his brother, Jasson Harrold, Have been producing records for 50cent, LL cool J, Lloyd Banks, Stat quo, Dead Prez, Kid Kid, Young Buck and Tony Yayo. The most recent song placement was the “The Queen Latifah Show Theme Song” which airs daily on CBS. Harrold has an album on the Criss Cross label entitled “Introducing Keyon Harrold” and is currently recording his next offering. Harrold is a force to be reckoned with on his principle instrument, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis calls him the “future of the trumpet”.

 9/19

Friday, September 19 at 7:30pm- Village Zendo – 588 Broadway #1108, New York, NY 10012 $10. Buy Tickets Here.

7:30pm – Friday, September 19th, FONT Music and Village Zendo Arts co-present: An Evening of Improvised music to the 1926 Japanese silent film “A Page of Madness” at Village Zendo, 588 Broadway Suite 1108. A Page of Madness is a silent film by Japanese film director Teinosuke Kinugasa, made in 1926 and is the product of an avant-garde group of artists in Japan known as the Shinkankaku-ha (or School of New Perceptions). The multi-media performance will feature grammy nominated trumpeter/composer Tim Hagans, Dragon Mouth Trumpet/Shakuhachi by Aaron Shragge and percussion/vibraphone by James Shipp. Don’t miss this unique musical collaboration to one of Japans most intriguing films.

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERATim Hagans, an excellent post-bop-oriented trumpeter, was with the orchestras of Stan Kenton (1974-1977) and Woody Herman (1977), before moving to Sweden (1977-1981) where he played with Sahib Shihab, Ernie Wilkins’ Almost Big Band, the Danish Radio Orchestra (which was then directed by Thad Jones), and Dexter Gordon. After returning to the U.S., he taught at the University of Cincinnati and recorded for the local MoPro label. Hagans taught at Berklee (1984-1986), and then in 1986 he started working with Joe Lovano and Fred Hersch. Later, he has made records with Bob Belden, Lovano, Rick Margitza, John Hart, and the Yellowjackets, and has worked with the big bands of Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider, and the Gil Evans orchestra. Tim Hagans has recorded several Blue Note albums as a leader.

©2014 Erika Kapin PhotographyAaron Shragge has been greatly inspired from the practice and study of the ancient musical traditions of North India and Japan. Shragge has a BFA in Jazz and Contemporary Music from New School University has a Master’s in Music therapy at New York University. Aaron Shragge has performed with multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter, Ben Monder, Jon Gibson, The Sam Roberts Band, Akim Funk Buddha, and Medeski Martin and Wood’s Billy Martin at such venues as Symphony Space, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, The Blue Note, CBGB’s and The Tenri Cultural Institute. He has studied improvisation with Kenny Werner, and is currently studies shakuhachi with Grand Master’s Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin, Japanese Master Yodo Kurahashi II and North Indian vocals with Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan. His current projects include a duo with Ben Monder, a Jazz quintet that plays the music of Tom Waits and new solo works for Shakuhachi/Dragon Mouth Trumpet.

IMG_3745James Shipp is a vibraphonist, percussionist, composer, and bandleader who has been living and working in New York for the past 13 years. James plays a wide variety of instruments and styles, most of which are based in or around jazz, which he refers to as the “big tent” in the international music world. In his career James has played jazz both new and old, Caribbean music, Brazilian music, “third-stream” chamber music, mostly improvised music, rock, funk, r&b, and with many bands that cross and blend different genres and styles. James’ current focus as a bandleader is Nós Novo, a quartet that re-imagines traditional music from Ireland and the surrounding areas through the lenses of modern jazz and Brazilian musics.

9/20

Saturday, September 20th 9pm at Cornelia Street Cafe Laurie Frink Career Grant Awardee Riley Mulherkar & John McNeil Quartet. Location: 29 Cornelia St, New York, NY 10014 (212) 989-9319

Credit - Lauren Desberg9:15pm – Riley Mulherkar is the first recipient of the Laurie Frink Career Grant. Now entering his fifth year in an Accelerated Bachelors, Masters program in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School, Mulherkar was awarded the Knowles Prize for Jazz and the Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music in May of 2014. Born and raised in Seattle, Mulherkar received the Ella Fitzgerald Outstanding Soloist Award at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Competition in 2010 and was named a “rising jazz artist” by Wynton Marsalis in JET Magazine the following year. He has performed at the Umbria Jazz Festival, Jazz à Vienne, and Carnegie Hall, and has shared the stage with Marsalis, Leonard Slatkin, and Paquito D’Rivera, among others. Mulherkar is a founding member of The Westerlies, a new music brass quartet that has premiered over 40 original works since its inception in 2011, and was awarded Earshot Jazz’s “Northwest Alternative Jazz Group of 2013.” Mulherkar is actively engaged in educational outreach. He teaches at Harlem School of the Arts as an Arts Enrichment Fellow at Juilliard, and founded the music program at stART Osceola, a summer arts intensive in Florida where he has taught the past four years. He has also facilitated numerous master classes in Brazil, Mexico, and across the United States. 9pmJazz Quartet: Riley Mulherkar -trumpet, Samora Pinderhughes – piano, TBA – bass, TBA – drums. The Westerlies: Riley Mulherkar – trumpet, Zubin Hensler -trumpet, Andy Clausen -trombone, Willem de Koch -trombone.

JohnMcNeil10:45pm – John McNeil is regarded as one of the most original and creative jazz artists in the world today. For over three decades John has toured with his own groups and has received widespread acclaim as both a player and composer. His highly personal trumpet style communicates across the full range of contemporary jazz, and his compositions combine harmonic freedom with melodic accessibility. John’s restless experimentation has kept him on the cutting edge of new music and has kept him from being easily categorized. Although his background includes such mainstream jazz groups as the Horace Silver Quintet, Gerry Mulligan, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, John is equally at home in free and structured settings. This stylistic versatility has put him on stage with such disparate artists as Slide Hampton and John Abercrombie, and shows itself in the combination of free and structured elements found in his CDs recorded on the OmniTone label from 2003 to ’06. JOHN McNEIL quartet featuring pianist Ethan Iverson.

9/21 Day


Sunday, September 21st at 2-12:45pm and 1-1:45pm FREE! Blast of Brass: An interactive concert featuring the science and fun of making music with the brass family of instruments. At the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Jesse Neuman. With: Elizabeth Frascoia (trombone), John Altieri (tuba), and Brian Adler (drums). Location: 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213 (718) 735-4400.

-1Jazz trumpeter and educator Jesse Neuman presents a concert for the whole family.  Learn about (and try out!) trumpets, trombones, tubas, and other instruments of the brass family.  See how serious science meets serious swing, as the musicians perform and explain several styles of brass influence music, and give kids ages 5 to 12 an up close listen to these joyous instruments. Featuring Jesse Neuman (trumpet), Elizabeth Frascoia (trombone), Jon Altieri (tuba) and Jeff Davis (drums).

9/21 Evening

Sunday, September 21th 8:30pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, Roy Campbell Commissioning Grant Awardee Trumpets for Roy Campbell Grantee Igmar Thomas & Trumpet Conduction with Lewis “Flip” Barnes: Location: 29 Cornelia St, New York, NY 10014 (212) 989-9319.

FINAL.PORTRAITS.PHF-39pm – “I heard the future here and now — let’s call it the present! — in the form of trumpeter Igmar Thomas.” – ArtsJournal.com. Igmar Thomas is one of New York’s most celebrated musicians, bandleaders, composers and arrangers. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, which led to the formation of his group, Igmar Thomas & The Cypher, as well as musical connections to peers and legends alike, such as Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington, Lionel Hampton, Wyclef Jean, Talib Kweli, and countless others. In addition to his work with The Cypher, Thomas is the conductor of the Revive Big Band, which Complex Magazine refers to as “a 19-piece jazz army.” The Cypher plays hip-hop-inflected music with a strong jazz foundation and has featured a range of artists including Talib Kweli, Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, and DJ Premier. From naming his band “The Cypher”, to orchestrating classic hip-hop songs & samples for live instrumentation, to performing with emcees, whom he calls the “mainstream hornmen of today,” it’s clear that hip-hop, for him, is not separate from jazz, but the vibrant result of the natural evolution of improvised Black American music. It is no surprise, then, Thomas’ gift has taken him to hallowed musical venues like Carnegie Hall, Harlem Stage, the Apollo Theater, and The House of Blues. He has appeared in musical performances at major events like the NBA All Star Game Weekend and George Wein’s Care Fusion Jazz Festival. He has also appeared on television programs including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, a Comedy Central show with Zach Galifianakis, and countless music videos that have aired on MTV, BET and more. Thomas has appeared as a featured guest with performers including J. Cole, Marc Cary, The Roy Hargrove & The Mingus Big Bands’, and a host of other celebrated artists and groups. He has worked and/or recorded with Wyclef Jean, John Legend, Ravi Coltrane, James Moody, Clark Terry, Jim Jones, The Roots, Pete Rock, Macy Gray and many more. Thomas has shared the stage and spent studio time with the likes of Patti Labelle, Mos Def, Terence Howard, and Iggy Pop. He has also performed as an opening act to various artists such as Chick Corea, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Destiny’s Child and The Wu-Tang Clan, just to name a few. He just finished touring with Esperanza Spalding as part of her Radio Music Society tour. Igmar Thomas Group – TBA.

flip-500x33310:30pm Trumpet Conduction with: Lewis “Flip Barnes, Dave Douglas, Stephanie Richards, Aaron Shragge and others.

9/22

Monday, September 22nd at 7pm Rockwood Music Hall FONT’s Electro-Trumpet Sessions: 7pm, Eric Biondo, 7:45pm Shane Endsley, 8:30 Graham Haynes. Location: 196 Allen St, New York, NY 10002 (212) 477-4155.

Eric Biondo7pm- Eric Biondo: This solo performance will be a journey though the land of trumpet choruses. I will be using pre-composed chorus material as arrival points. Like being on tour, the distance between cities has always felt like verse material to me. The suspense of arriving at your destination (chorus) is hopefully full of reward. Improvisation will be the vehicle to transport us from chorus to chorus. The instrumentation for the evening will involve my homemade internally miked trumpet, analog drum machines, piano, looping and percussion. Eric Biondo is a Brooklyn based trumpet player and writer. He is active member of Superhuman Happiness, Beyondo and 178 Improvisation Product. His performance/recording credits include Antibalas, TV On The Radio, Charlie Hunter, The Monkees and many more. Please visit www.ericbiondo.com for more information.

Shane_Endsley_by_Reuben_Radding17:45pm – Brooklyn-based trumpeter/percussionist Shane Endsleys an avant-garde, jazz, and post-rock-leaning musician who finds work across a broad spectrum of musical styles from folk to free improvisation. Born in Denver, Endsley studied trumpet, percussion, and composition at the Eastman School of Music. After graduating, he found work performing with several name artists, including singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. Endsley is a founding member of the post-rock/jazz outfit Kneebody — all of whose members met while attending Eastman — and has appeared on several albums with the ensemble, including the group’s 2005 studio debut on trumpeter Dave Douglas’ Greenleaf label. A regular performer with such downtown N.Y.C. artists as trumpeter Ralph Alessi — with whom he often plays drums — and saxophonist Tim Berne, Endsley released his debut solo album, 2nd Guess, in 2002 on WenEnd Music. In 2007, Down Beat magazine picked Endsley as one of the Top 25 trumpeters of his generation. In 2011, he returned with Then the Other on Low Electrical Records.

a28847584b534bc01c741aaceea7c8:30pm – Regarded as an innovator on cornet and flugelhorn, an extraordinary composer, and an emerging force in contemporary electronic music and world music, Graham Haynes has redefined and deconstructed that genre we still call “jazz”. Graham Haynes has recorded fifteen critically acclaimed CD’s as a leader and countless CD’s as a side person with such artists as Steve Coleman, Roy Haynes, Ed Blackwell, Abbey Lincoln, Cassandra Wilson, Sting, Butch Morris,The Roots, David Murray, Karl Berger and many, many more top musicians. Since 1986 Graham Haynes tours annually in Europe, Asia, and Africa and has appeared several times on national tv. He is in high professional demand as a musical director and composer by film, theatre, dance and multimedia artists. In 2003 Graham lectured at NYU on the subject of Music and Trance. Mr. Haynes has taught as an adjunct professor at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2010 and taught and taught and lectured at Banff Creative Center in 2013.

9/23

Tuesday, Spetember 23rd at Ibeam: Emerging Players: 9pm Victor Haskins, 10pm Jonathan Saraga, 11pm Jackie Coleman: Chase Experiment. Location: 168 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

night13_victor_haskins 9pm Trumpeter Victor Haskins will open up the series with a unique solo acoustic performance. Victor has performed at the Elkhart Jazz Festival, Richmond Jazz Festival, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Jazz Gallery, and the Kennedy Center. In addition to being a featured speaker/presenter at TEDxLizardCreek 2014 on the topic of improvisation, Victor is the Director of the first and only Jazz Outreach program for the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts National Symphony Orchestra Education Department. Victor Haskins -Solo trumpet.

_DSF3097 copy10pm Jonathan Saraga performs exciting new music for his quartet. Saraga has received global notoriety by having won first place in the 2007 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo Competition and by participating as one of five finalists in the 2011 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition. He was also was selected as one of two trumpeters from an international pool to participate in the 2011 School of Improvisational Music intensive program. His quartet will feature Lage Lund – guitar, Matt Brewer – bass, Gerald Cleaver – drums.

-111pmJackie Coleman, trumpeter, arranger, composer, teacher and electric bass player in a wide range of musical styles presents “The CHASE Experiment”. The band is a 10-piece Brooklyn-based Bill Chase Tribute band that performs the classic CHASE music from the 1970’s. For their performance at FONT, they will be performing a chart that was never recorded by the original CHASE group! Jackie Coleman – trumpet & Arrangements, John Replogle – trumpet, Sam Hoyt – trumpet, Mike Taylor – trumpet, Aaron Rockers – trumpet, Brad Whiteley – keys, Deen Anbar – guitar, Adam Minkoff – bass & vocals, Nick Anderson – drums, Maria Eisen – vocals.

9/24

Wednesday, September 24th at Ibeam Emerging Players: 9pm Sam Neufeld, 10pm- Benje Daneman, 11pm Mike Irwin. Location: 168 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

by Katherine Tom9pm– Sam Neufeld has performed at notable festivals/venues such as the Rex’s Jazz Club, The Toronto Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, and The Jazz Standard in New York and The Monterey Jazz Festival. An recent graduate of the NewSchool Jazz and Contemporary music program he will present new music for his trio featuring  Albert Baliwas – alto saxophone, Devin Starks – bass.

Benje-Flugel-685x102710pm– Benje Daneman’s strong and diverse performance history includes touring with Doc Severinsen and his Big Band, performing with the world renowned Jose Limon Dance Ensemble, recording for Grammy nominated album “Elevation” (HMI Big Band), in addition to recent tours with his own ensemble at nationally renowned clubs such as Dakota Jazz Club (Minneapolis, MN) and Cezanne (Houston, TX). His performance will feature: Benje Daneman – Trumpet, Rob Clearfield – Piano, Sam Weber – Bass, Austin Walker – Drums and Ashley Daneman – Voice.

Michael Irwin Image11pm – Trumpeter and composer Michael Irwin grew up in New York City. Inspired by the sounds he heard throughout his youth, he studied Jazz at the Conservatory of Music at SUNY Purchase where he was the student of trumpet legend Jon Faddis. Michael has contributed to albums by The Chieftains, Vampire Weekend, Brazilian Girls, The Budos Band, and TV on the Radio. A presence on the vibrant New York Jazz and new music scene, he has played in ensembles led by Kenny Wollesen, Federico Ughi, David White, and others. He also leads the Highline Jazz Quartet, a group exploring the American songbook and jazz canon, as well as The Brooklyn Bears, a trio that plays original and improvised compositions. Michael’s musical interests have led to fruitful collaborations and international tours with singer/ songwriters such as Elvis Perkins and Jocie Adams, and with The Walkmen, The Low Anthem, Arc Iris, and The Woes. Michael loves to teach. His teaching includes jazz and improvisation workshops in Talkeetna, Alaska through a grant from Chamber Music America. Mike Irwin – Trumpet, Max Johnson – Bass, Kenny Wollesen – Drums.

9/25

Thursday, September 25th at Littlefield: FONT’S BRASS BEAT BLASTOFF:  Three powerful brass party bands hit the stage as part of FONT 2014 featuring No BS! Brass, Font’s premiere Afro-Brass Assembly and Brooklyn’s own Banda de Los Muertos.   Location: 622 Degraw St, New York, NY 11217. Doors at 7pm.  Tickets 20$ (15$ for students with ID). Buy Tickets Online Here.

BandadelosMuertos-18pmBanda De Los Muertos: Many of New York’s edgier slipstream jazzbos—including saxophonist Oscar Noriega, trombonist Curtis Hasselbring, and drummer Jim Black—are among the morphing lineup of this loud and emotional 14-piece group devoted to the heavy-metal, brass-driven banda sound rooted in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Los Muertos draw much of their weepy repertoire from Banda El Recodo, which gave contemporary Mexican music a kick in the brass during the ’40s. – Richard Gehr, the Village Voice. http://www.bandadelosmuertos.com/

9:15pmFONT’s Afro-Brass Assembly – (For the first time, FONT sponsors it’s very own FONTsemble with FONT’s Afro-Brass Assembly. Featuring members of Antibalas, Chop and Quench (aka The FELA! Musical Band) and the NYC Afrobeat and Downtown Music community.

20121117_003710:30pm – No BS! Brass takes the New Orleans brass band into uncharted territory, fearlessly combining elements of James Brown, John Coltrane, Michael Jackson, and Led Zeppelin into their fiercely original sound. Trained in the conservatory and hardened in the garage, No BS! Brass has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Festival of New Trumpet Music, and on National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk Concert. Equally at home in the club or on the parade route, in the concert hall or on a festival stage, No BS! Brass creates new believers wherever it goes.

9/26 -Day

Josh-featuredFriday, September 26 @ 12pm – J. Landress Brass Showroom – 153 West 36th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018 Free!Anniversary Celebration: Trumpet maker Josh Landress shop anniversary and open house. All are welcome to try the instruments in the shop.

9/26 Evening

Friday, September 26th at 7pm, Mannes Concert Hall: American Brass Quintet plus Practical Trumpet Society. be performing works by Gunther Schuller, David Sampson and a world premiere of John Zorn’s In Excelsis for large brass ensemble.  Opening this evening’s concert will be NYC’s own Practical Trumpet Society premiering new works by Gareth Flowers, Stephanie Richards and Zorn’s recently composed Fanfare for the Great Hall. Location: Mannes Concert Hall, 150 West 85th Street 2nd Floor, (212) 580-0210. $15 – Buy Tickets Here.

FONT honors Raymond Mase and the ABQ FONT is proud to announce it’s 2014 Award of Recognition to Raymond Mase, founding member of the American Brass Quintet and who was involved in commissioning and introducing many of America’s best modern works for brass quintet. In celebration of this award, the American Brass Quintet will be performing works by Gunther Schuller, David Sampson and a world premiere of John Zorn’s In Excelsis for large brass ensemble.  Opening this evening’s concert will be NYC’s own Practical Trumpet Society premiering new works by Gareth Flowers, Stephanie Richards and Zorn’s recently composed Fanfare for the Great Hall.

Raymond Mase

Ray1FONT honors Raymond Mase for over 40 years of excellence in brass performance and education. Trumpeter Raymond Mase has distinguished himself as soloist, chamber artist, orchestral player, and clinician. As a member of the American Brass Quintet since 1973, he has performed worldwide, premiered over one hundred new brass works, appeared with the quintet on over thirty recordings, and contributed countless editions of 16th, 17th, and 19th century brass music to the ABQ library and their acclaimed recordings. In addition to his contributions to the brass field as ABQ trumpeter, he is also a founding member of the New York Cornet and Sacbut Ensemble, a group specializing in the performance of early music on period instruments, and the well-known large brass ensemble, the Summit Brass.

American Brass Quintet

ABQ_2013D_PC150030The New York Times has written that “among North American brass ensembles none is more venerable than the American Brass Quintet,” while Newsweek has hailed the ensemble as “the high priests of brass” and American Record Guide has called the ABQ “of all the brass quintets, the most distinguished.” Through its acclaimed performances, diverse programming, commissioning, extensive discography and educational mission, the American Brass Quintet has created a legacy unparalleled in the brass field. The American Brass Quintet, 2013 recipient of Chamber Music America’s highest honor, the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award for significant and lasting contributions to the field, is internationally recognized as one of the premier chamber music ensembles of our time, celebrated for peerless leadership in the brass world.

Practical Trumpet Society

-1Exploring the space between new music, improvisation and performance art, trumpeter and composer Stephanie Richards examines the physical, visual and auditory interactions of live music performance. As reflected in recently commissioned works, Rotations for twelve choreographed musicians and carousel and Trading Futures for six hundred found sound surfaces, Stephanie’s theatrical tendencies often result in compositional collaborations of sound, sight and movement. Stephanie has become a prominent voice in experimental improvisation, collaborating with artists such as improvisational pioneers Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, John Zorn and Anthony Braxton, composer Helmut Lachenmann and performance artists Mike Kelly and Yoko Ono.  As a founding member of Asphalt Orchestra, created by the new music collective Bang on a Can, Stephanie has worked with David Byrne, St. Vincent, Susan Marshall, Tyondai Braxton among others, and performed alongside Kronos Quartet, The Pixies and hip hop artists Kanye West, A-Trak and Common. Championing new music for brass, Stephanie has premiered works from stages such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Barbican, the Blue Note NYC,  the Guggenheim Museum and others. She holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, McGill University, California Institute of the Arts and has held residency at Stanford University. In addition to performing and composing, Stephanie encourages the performance and commissioning of new music and jazz as Vice-President of the Festival of New Trumpet (FONT).

2179021gareth-27801Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Gareth Flowers is an electro-acoustic trumpeter, know for “shimmering vibrato” and “wide-ranging lines” (The New York Times, June 2010). Although his musical journey has included performances with the major orchestras of New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seoul, he relishes making music on an intimate scale, and performs with ICE, the TILT Creative Brass band, the Argento New Music Project, and the Tri-Centric Foundation’s (Anthony Braxton) orchestra. He often performs in theatrical productions on Broadway, and has recorded for many fine musicians including Gabriel Kahane, Anthony Coleman, and duYun.As a composer-performer, he has had his own eccentric electro-acoustic Inventions performed at the Clark Studio Theater of Lincoln Center and at the Tank, and his electro-acoustic trumpet and laptop duo, the Batteries Duo, has performed at Issue Project Room, Bargemusic, and Cornelia Street Café. Gareth received his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Raymond Mase and Mark Gould. He also recently joined the faculty of Columbia University’s Music Department. http://iceorg.org/about/artist/flowers.

John Zorn

The one word virtually everyone can agree on in any discussion of the work of composer John Zorn is “prolific,” in the strictest sense of the definition. Though he didn’t begin making records until 1980, the recordings under his own name number well over 100, and the sheer number of works he has performed on, composed, or produced easily doubles that number. Though now an internationally renowned musician and the founder and owner of the wildly successful and equally prolific Tzadik imprint, Zorn is a cornerstone of New York’s fabled and influential downtown scene. In addition, he has played with musicians of every stripe. He is also a musical gadfly: genre purity, and pursuing the ends by which it is defined, are meaningless in Zorn’s sound world, thus making him a quintessential mirror of 21st century culture. He has mentored countless musicians in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and has broadened the exposure of many other artists stateside via his Tzadik label. His compositions have been performed by hundreds of artists, including the Kronos Quartet and Medeski, Martin & Wood. In addition, he has composed literally dozens of film scores. He has been the subject of books and documentary films, as well.

9/27

Saturday, September 27th at 8pm, New School Trumpet Alumni/Faculty Tumpet Round Robin Location: John L. Tishman Auditorium, University Center 63 Fifth Avenue, Room U100, New York, NY 10011, (212) 229-5630. Featuring: Kenyatta Beasley, Sam Neufeld, Nick Roseboro, Aaron Shragge and others. $10 – Buy Tickets Here.

09/28

Sunday, September 28th, 3pm St. Peter’s panel discussion and 5pm Vespers Service with the American Brass Quintet., playing Early Music Edited by Raymond Mase featuring works by Marenzio, Mazzi, Gabrieli, Cangiasi, Gastoldi and others. Location: 619 Lexington Ave. New York, NY (212) 935-2200

ABQ_2013D_PC150030The New York Times has written that “among North American brass ensembles none is more venerable than the American Brass Quintet,” while Newsweek has hailed the ensemble as “the high priests of brass” and American Record Guide has called the ABQ “of all the brass quintets, the most distinguished.” Through its acclaimed performances, diverse programming, commissioning, extensive discography and educational mission, the American Brass Quintet has created a legacy unparalleled in the brass field. The American Brass Quintet, 2013 recipient of Chamber Music America’s highest honor, the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award for significant and lasting contributions to the field, is internationally recognized as one of the premier chamber music ensembles of our time, celebrated for peerless leadership in the brass world.

 FONT president/co-founder –Dave Douglas

Dave Douglas is a prolific trumpeter, composer and educator from New York City.

His unique contributions to improvised music have garnered distinguished recognition, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Aaron Copland award and two Grammy nominations. Douglas has developed his work for several unique ensembles with whom he’s currently active, including his new quintet, an electric sextet (Keystone), and Sound Prints Quintet, co-led with saxophonist Joe Lovano. His new quintet released its debut recording, Be Still, in September 2012 with singer Aoife O’Donovan, the first time Douglas has featured a vocalist on a recording. The follow-up to that critically-acclaimed recording, Time Travel, was released in April 2013.

Since 2005, Douglas has operated his own record label, Greenleaf Music, releasing his own recordings as well as albums by other artists in the jazz idiom. Through his artist-friendly approach and innovative practices, he continues to prove himself a pioneer in new music marketing and delivery methods for the jazz world and among artist-run labels.

Douglas has held several posts as an educator and impresario. From 2002 to 2012, he served as artistic director of the Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music at The Banff Centre in Canada. He is a co-founder and director of the Festival of New Trumpet Music, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2012. In 2013, he begins his second year as International Jazz Artist in Residence at the Royal Academy of Music in London and launches his own Jazz Workshop, dedicated to enriching the musical experiences of younger players.