Tag

Bobby Bradford

October 5, 2009

All the Brilliant Trumpets

October 4th, 2009 | Author: Dave Douglas


Bobby Bradford accepting the FONT 2009 Award of Recognition

This week I heard a recording of the music Nadje Noordhuis wrote for FONT this past June. What a beautiful sound and thoughtful composer. She says she’s recording it soon and I recommend checking that out if you can.

Ambrose Akinmusire shared the stage with Avishai Cohen — truly inspiring to see trumpeters playing TOGETHER. No competition, just music. Clearly pushing each other to new creative heights, playing original music and a few re-arrangements of music by Bobby Bradford. They say there’s nothing new under the sun, but when you see two creatively and technically gifted trumpeters side by side playing in two widely divergent styles it just drives home how many personal developments have taken place on this instrument in the past decade or so. Those developments are shot through all the music of our time, on all instruments, but hearing these two trumpeters it couldn’t be any clearer. Both of these guys are pushing new frontiers in terms of phrasing, intervallic leaps, and rhythmic interplay with the rhythm section. Most of all — leaps of imagination. Let it be said that the rhythm section was exemplary and constantly inventive – Vijay Iyer, Chris Tordini, and Marcus Gilmore.

On Friday Jeremy Pelt invited Eddie Henderson and David Weiss with the rhythm section of Marc Cary, Vicente Archer, and Gerald Cleaver. I’m not being sarcastic or ironic when I say it made me want to go home and practice. I love Jeremy’s sound and fluid facility. He has also been important to FONT as a board member, and every time he has a chance he highlights his hero Dr. Eddie Henderson, who played just as beautifully and lucidly as ever. They played some engagingly rearranged Bobby Bradford pieces and originals. It’s such a pleasure to hear a three trumpet gig that isn’t a high note fest, a rehash of old classics, or a battle of one-up-manship. Just pure music made now in our time.

Peter Evans and Nate Wooley joined me yesterday for a short performance and discussion of “extended techniques” for the trumpet. I’m putting that in quotes because we all had the same point to make that these kinds of things have been around a long time. Peter made a good point about Round Midnight being the first major bestselling example of extended trumpet techniques. Breathy, close-miked harmon mute with a lot of reverb and microtonal pitch bending? How bizarre!

That aside, there really are things these two guys are doing that have only developed in the last decade or so. Trumpeters like Peter and Nate, Greg Kelley, Axel Doerner, Ed Harkins, Franz Hautzinger, Jaimie Branch, and others (if you know of others I’m leaving out, please reply in the comments or send me an email) have started using split tones, circular breathing, slap tonguing and many other techniques as the basis for their music. Nate said a lot of the impetus for the work he’s doing comes from listening to electronic music and sound/noise music. That kind of makes sense when you hear his uninterrupted tones affected by sheets of aluminum flashing covering the bell–with your eyes closed you would be hard pressed to identify it as trumpet music. When asked why he started developing these sonic resources on the trumpet, Peter said he does it because it’s fun. It was fun playing with Peter and Nate, I hope we get a chance to do it again some time. The session was recorded and FONT will produce a transcript of the conversation and possibly some sound samples.

Bobby Bradford played a beautiful gig with David Murray, Marty Ehrlich, Mark Dresser and Andrew Cyrille last night. I’m going to hear the Octet tonight. Bradford is being given the FONT Award of Recognition (the recipient is chosen democratically by the membership each year) this evening, and it is hard not to get emotional in seeing this cornetist and composer celebrating with a great band in NYC. Sold out houses were there to cheer him on and the music was rich and powerful.

Dave Douglas

October 1, 2009

FONT this weekend “IN HONOR OF BOBBY BRADFORD”

OCT 1-4: FESTIVAL OF NEW TRUMPET MUSIC (FONT)

“IN HONOR OF BOBBY BRADFORD”

Jazz Standard NYC
116 E. 27th Street
Tickets:
www.jazzstandard.net/

OCT 1: AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE QUARTET plus special guest Avishai Cohen
SET 1, 7:30 PM | SET 2, 9:30 PM

OCT 2: JEREMY PELT plus special guests Eddie Henderson and David Weiss
SET 1, 7:30 PM | SET 2, 9:30 PM | Set 3, 11:30 PM

OCT 3: BOBBY BRADFORD QUINTET featuring DAVID MURRAY
SET 1, 7:30 PM | SET 2, 9:30 PM | Set 3, 11:30 PM

OCT 4: BOBBY BRADFORD OCTET featuring DAVID MURRAY
SET 1, 7:30 PM | SET 2, 9:30 PM

September 16, 2009

Free Tickets to a Clean Feed Show

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 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.

September 14, 2009

FONT in New York Times annual Fall ARTS Preview

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.)

September 13, 2009

avishai cohen interview

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.

August 13, 2009

in honor of bobby bradford

Jazz Standard is proud to host the Seventh Annual Festival of New Trumpet Music series, “In Honor of Bobby Bradford” from October 1 through October 4, 2009.

The FONT series exposes a broad array of today’s creative trumpeters, including Bobby Bradford, who celebrates his 75th birthday this year, as well as Eddie Henderson, Baikida Carroll, Jeremy Pelt, Ambrose Akinmusire, Avishai Cohen, and David Weiss.

The Festival of New Trumpet Music, a nonprofit that encourages creative brass music, will present its second Award of Recognition to Bradford during the week’s run. As part of this celebration, Bobby Bradford will convene a Quintet and Octet of long-time associates including David Murray, Marty Ehrlich, Mark Dresser, and Andrew Cyrille.

Each series presented by FONT commissions new work from brilliant emerging trumpeter/composers. This season, award-winning trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire will compose a work honoring Bradford for his Quartet plus special guest trumpeter Avishai Cohen.

In addition, FONT board member Jeremy Pelt has convened an all-star group in honor of Bradford. The legendary trumpeter Eddie Henderson will join in a performance of original work and pieces by Bradford that will also include James Zollar on trumpet, and the rhythm section of Marc Cary, Vicente Archer, and Gerald Cleaver.

Jazz Standard is located in NYC at E. 27th Street (b/w Park and Lex)
www.jazzstandard.net/

OCT 1-4: FESTIVAL OF NEW TRUMPET MUSIC (FONT)
“IN HONOR OF BOBBY BRADFORD”

OCT 1: AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE QUARTET plus special guest Avishai Cohen
Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet
Vijay Iyer – piano
Chris Tordini – bass
Marcus Gilmore – drums
Special Guest – Avishai Cohen
TICKETS: SET 1, 7:30
SET 2, 9:30

OCT 2: JEREMY PELT plus special guests Eddie Henderson and James Zollar
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet
Marc Cary – piano
Vicente Archer – bass
Gerald Cleaver – drums
Special Guest – David Weiss (trumpet)
Special Guest – Eddie Henderson (trumpet)
TICKETS: SET 1, 7:30
SET 2, 9:30
SET 3, 11:30

OCT 3: BOBBY BRADFORD QUINTET featuring DAVID MURRAY
Bobby Bradford – trumpet
Marty Ehrlich – alto saxophone, clarinet
Mark Dresser – bass
Andrew Cyrille – drums
Special Guest – David Murray (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet)
TICKETS: SET 1, 7:30
SET 2, 9:30
SET 3, 11:30

OCT 4: BOBBY BRADFORD OCTET featuring DAVID MURRAY
Bobby Bradford – trumpet
Marty Ehrlich – alto saxophones, clarinet
Benny Powell – trombone
Baikida Carroll – trumpet
James Weidman – piano
Mark Helias – bass
Andrew Cyrille – drums
Special Guest – David Murray (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet)
TICKETS: SET 1, 7:30
SET 2, 9:30