Festival 2015

Co-Curators Dave Douglas, Marquis Hill, Stephanie Richards, CJ Camerieri, Aaron Shragge, Nate Wooley, Jeremy Pelt Represent A Broad Spectrum of Styles And Sensibilities

2015 FONT Music Award of Recognition Goes To Jazz Trumpet Legend Eddie Henderson

From September 24 through 29, 2015, New York’s award winning Festival of New Trumpet Music returns for a new season of genre-crunching, forward-looking brass music.

Since 2002 FONT Music, directed by trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas, has been presenting astounding programs of new trumpet music across genres.

In 2014 the festival was honored with Chamber Music America’s Award for Adventurous Programming.

Along with trumpeters and longtime FONT Music collaborators Stephanie Richards and Aaron Shragge, Douglas and his core team have this year invited a community of brass players to “co-curate” the festival. Trumpeters Marquis Hill, CJ Camerieri, Nate Wooley, and Jeremy Pelt all contribute their unique and different visions to this year’s extraordinary program.

“Celebrating Eddie Henderson” will be the culminating event at The New School at 8pm on September 29

Mr. Henderson will also give a public master class on September 28th at 4pm, and participate in a panel discussion including Henderson, Dave Douglas, Randy Brecker, Marquis Hill and moderated by David Adler about Henderson’s work and life at 7pm on September 29.

He will be awarded with the festival’s Award Of Recognition, in honor of his pioneering work in the field. Previous recipients include Wadada Leo Smith, Kenny Wheeler, Raymond Mase, Bobby Bradford, and Laurie Frink.

“Signatures in Brass,” curated by Marquis Hill, will feature a grouping of some of today’s most compelling young jazz players, with Phillip Dizack, Keyon Harrold, Billy Buss, Josh Evans, and Ingrid Jensen in new and collaborative works. This lineup is particularly notable as Hill generously invited several of his Thelonious Monk Competition “competitors” as well as older players he admires for an evening of collaboration; a rare occasion to say the least. This concert will be presented on Saturday, September 26 with two shows at 7:30pm and 9:30pm, in collaboration with The Jazz Gallery.

The festival will continue offering a free event for children entitled “Blast Of Brass,” directed by Jesse Neuman, at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum on Sunday, September 27 at 2 & 3pm. This event represents a continuation of the spirit of community involvement for FONT Music, exemplified by past events including the 2010 Jane’s Carousel commission and performance, as well as talks involving diverse musicians such as Ted Daniel, Peter Evans, Raymond Mase, and Igmar Thomas. It also recalls the performance of Henry Brant’s piece for 52 trumpets at Roulette for FONT’s 10th Anniversary.

The opening event of the festival in 2015 will be “Without A Frame” a program hand-picked by trumpeter CJ Camerieri and including works by noted composers and performers from a range of styles Gabriel Kahane, Nico Muhly, Mick Rossi, Greg Saunier and performances by yMusic, Sam Jones, Brandon Ridenour, and Asphalt Orchestra. “Without A Frame” will take place at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3 at 8:30pm on September 24.

On September 25 at 8pm FONT Music will initiate a new collaboration with The Dimenna Center for Classical Music (Norman S. Banzaquen Hall) . Trumpeter Thomas Bergeron will perform a very special new version of the music from his album “Sacred Feast” featuring new arrangements of the music of Olivier Messiaen, including vocalist Becca Stevens and many others. Festival Director Dave Douglas said, “This is a project that is masterfully executed, and I can’t think of another trumpeter who could pull it off. A thing of beauty!”

FONT Music will also present two nights of experimental trumpeters curated by Shragge and Wooley at Downtown Music Gallery. Each evening, September 27 and September 28, from 7pm to 10pm, will feature sets by three visionary trumpeter / composers.

Longtime FONT Music board member and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt commented about this year’s Award Of Recognition recipient, Eddie Henderson: “Eddie has been a steady mentor in my career since it’s infancy. At nearly 75 years of age this year, his playing miraculously keeps getting more and more personalized. I think that it would be unjust NOT to celebrate his genius, perseverance and boundless creativity.”

Asked about the impact of Henderson, trumpeter Nate Wooley said, “Eddie Henderson, to me, is the essential bridge between the hard bop continuum of the 60s and contemporary jazz trumpet. He is a visionary that stretched the jazz language by moving its limits rather than bypassing them – the kind of musician that shifts the way we all think about what we do.”

Trumpeter Randy Brecker added, “The word that comes to mind when I think of Eddie is ‘musicality.’ His solos are all of course exercises in spontaneity, but sound like carefully thought-out sculpted gems of musical invention. And of course his is a completely personal sound on the harmon mute.”

Award-winning your trumpeter Marquis Hill on Eddie Henderson: “Dr. Eddie Henderson has led the type of life and career for which one might well and wisely strive. His diligence of craft and tasteful adaptation of rich precedents has quietly influenced many. Definition of a true master!”

Douglas refers to this year’s program as “a series of concerts about generations — the way music grows and changes with each successive era of players. To have Marquis, Eddie, CJ, and Stephanie presented under the same umbrella is an inspiring notion for all musicians – not just trumpeters.”

It is that growth within a continuum that inspires FONT Music and its broad and diverse community of music and musicians to continue striving to push the instrument forward into exciting new and unlikely settings.

---

Full Detailed Schedule:
Upcoming Events Page Here

---

Purchase Tickets Here: 
FONT Music 2015 Tickets

---

PURCHASE FESTIVAL PASS FOR ALL TICKETED EVENTS HERE FOR $100! (A $134 Value!)

In addition to access to all events, the FESTIVAL PASS allows access to the VIP Reception on Sept 29th at The New School following the Eddie Henderson Concert.
**Festival Pass ONLY includes one set for events at The Jazz Gallery (9/26) and Blue Note (9/27), to attend both sets you must by an additional ticket for the other set**

---

---

Abbreviated Schedule of FONT 2015

---

---

Thursday, September 24
“Without a Frame” @ Rockwood Music Hall 3 
8:30pm – $15 (Ages 21+ Only)
Curated by Stephanie Richards & CJ Camerieri w/ yMusic, Sam Jones, Brandon Ridenour, and Asphalt Orchestra.

---

Friday, September 25
“Sacred Feast” @ The Dimenna Center for Classical Music (Norman S. Benzaquen Hall)
8pm  – $22 w/ Thomas Bergeron Ensemble