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Take ten brass, luxurious arrangements, add an inspiring leader, and a magical blend of friendship and musicianship and you are just scratching the surface… Join Tine Thing and her fantastic tenThing dectet as they pay homage to the large brass ensembles past while charting a whole new course. “Five!” tm, the chamber music interview series, doubles down on this fantastic “ten-tet”-Enjoy…

1. Please introduce us to the members of the group. 

1. Trumpet, Tine Thing Helseth: World renowned trumpet soloist. 

2. Trumpet (Eb), Maren Tjernsli: 

Works as a trumpet player in the Norwegian Army Band, also work as a conductor for a school band and gives trumpet lessons. 

3. Trumpet (C and Bb), Guro Brnstad Kraft: 

Work as a freelance trumpet player, who enjoys playing in many different genres, and have worked with many of the major orchestras in Norway. 

4. Flugel horn, Elin Kurverud: 

Professional brass pedagogue and work with talent development at Barratt Due Institute of Music. She is also instructs and conducts Torshovkorpset, a band for people with special needs. 

5. Horn, Lena Wik: 

Work as a freelance orchestral horn player, and have worked with many of the major orchestras in Scandinavia and Germany. 

6. Tenor trmb, Ingeborg Klovholt: 

Is a brass pedagogue and school band conductor, in addition and work as a freelance trombonist, and play in different kind of chamber music ensembles and orchestras.

7. Tenor trmb, Froydis Aslesen: 

Is a brass pedagogue, conductor and play in different kind of ensembles, both classical and jazz. 

8. Tenor trmb, Tone Christin Lium Rossland: 

Is a brass pedagogue, instructor, conductor and is also working as a freelance trombonist. 

9. Bass trombone, Astri Karoline Ellann: 

Is a brass pedagogue, work as a freelance bass trombonist, play in different kinds of orchestras and ensembles and work in the talent development department of Kongsberg Kulturskole. 

10. Tuba, Karin Nordli: 

Is a brass pedagogue and spend her time teaching and conducting a new generation of musicians. 

2. tenThing is a great name. did it inspire the number of players? & It is not quite a double quintet, Why a third tenor trombone, and not a second French horn?
TenThing is a play on the name of Tine’s surname. Her name is Thing, and we are 10 players, it also reflects that we are a classical brass ensemble in the standard formation of Philip Jones brass ensemble (4 trumpet, 1 french horn, 4 trombones and 1 tuba).

3. How do you handle the trumpet rotation in the group? Are there Bb or A piccolos, g cornet, or Eb trumpets involved?  We use 2 C trumpets, 1 Eb and 1 flugel horn. We use Eb trumpet instead of piccolo because we find the sound of Eb trumpet blends better in the section. Occasionally we also use Bb trumpet. The flugel horn is used as a connection between the trumpet section and the horn. 

4. How big of a deal is chemistry? Tine, which musicians have you known the longest and the least?
Chemistry is everything! Even though we have very different personalities we give each others space to be ourselves. The core idea is that everyone have equal value, and we support each others to be safe both off and on stage. 

Tine: The four trumpet girls came up with the idea of the ensemble, and invited some friends to join. It started as a fun project, and it still is 😉
Lena is the newest, but she’s been with us for 7 years…. 

5. Which brass groups have been your inspirations? (More than 6), Large:
Philip Jones Brass ensemble 

Mnozil brass German Brass 

& Smaller (Less than 6) 

Brazz Brothers (Norwegian Brass quintet) 

In general, we have got a lot of inspiration from the many different kinds of string ensembles around the world. 

6. Who handles the arrangements, and how much do you keep the audience in mind when selecting them?
We our very own arranger, Jarle Storkken, who arranges all of our music. Tine trusts her gut feeling when it comes to selecting music! It’s all about finding a mix of music audiences knows very well, and music that audience will remember and fall in love with. Trying to find a balance between the genres as well. 

7. Is the “British Style” band instrumentation big in Norway? (Cornets, baritones, euphoniums, Eb and Be tubas, etc…) & why did you choose a more traditional orchestral instrumentation?  Standard British brass bands are very popular in Norway, mentioning Eikanger-Bjorsvik musikklag and Manger musikklag who have both the European championship several times. Many of the members in tenThing have played in brass bands. As we studied to be professional musicians on brass instruments it was natural that the ensemble ended up to consist of traditional orchestral instruments. 

8. Given the spectrum of everyone in a tuxedo or uniform, to everyone dress as a different character, where do you find your current thinking heading on how to dress an ensemble?
We try to keep to a category of color codes and try break up the traditional way of dressing for classical concerts. The main point is that we don’t wear anything that will disturb the musical expression. 

9. How do you handle rehearsals? Is there one or two people in charge, a collaborative effort, a rehearsal conductor? 

Tine is leading is leading the rehearsals, and she has the overall artistic responsibility. However the other members of the group also come input for things they feel need attention. 

10. Ken Amis, of the Empire Brass, has striven to learn more about playing for non-musicians. Does this concept resonate with you?
We want the audience to have a enjoyable concert experience regardless of them being musicians or not. With this in mind we sometimes break the barrier between the stage and the audience and actually walk among them while playing. We havent given this a specific thought, but we play music we would like to listen to ourselves, which results in reflection about how to balance the program. 

11. When forming the group, and replacing people as they move in and out, what characteristics are you looking for in a person/musician?  Implicit that the musician has a high level on her instrument we look for a person that will fit in our social environment. This is an aspect that is very important since when we are on tour we live basically on top of each others. 

12. Your set up included the basses at the center, and the soloist on the outer profile. Did this come naturally, or was it the result of trial and error? It was a very natural choice to have the bass section in the middle as we dont have percussion, the basses are many times in the role of driving the tempo, and all the musicians need equal connection to this engine of the group. In addition it solves a lot of tuning issues. 

13. Your video presentations have very high production and editing values. Can you talk about the importance and challenges of high quality video presentation?  We have been in the very lucky situation where different tv productions have been made for us, which resulted in very high quality video presentations. By ourselves we have limited knowledge and technology to make high quality videos, having these professional videos give us an important marketing tool where people can from all over the world see us as a serious ensemble. Today the quality of live recordings from phones are good enough for us to send out little teasers to our social media platforms. 

14. Tine, this was an inspired idea. Can you address the fruits of pursuing an idea and investing your time and talent, and how it has paid off?

It’s incredible to think about where this ensemble started and what it is now. We had our first concert on my 20th birthday, and it’s been an amazing journey since that. TenThing has absolutely shaped me as an artistic leader. I’s been a challenge that has made me grow as a musician and leader. The feeling of the sound and musical trust that we have in our ensemble is something ‘m very proud of! My solo schedule is of course quite busy, but I’m very happy that we get to do a couple of tours a year! It’s been incredible to bring my friends (that’s what they are basically!) to places all around the world and share concert stages I normally visit on my own. 

15. How do you divvy up duties within the group, who handles what? We have 1 person for social media platforms, 2-3 persons for planning with management and budget, we also have one person to search and apply for funding for certain projects (to for example lower the costs of transport/ logistics) and Tine is the artistic leader of the group. 

16. Your arrangements seem fresh, and often use restraint, alternating between a few voices and the collective. Is this a conscious choice? Our arranger Jarle Storlkken is making all the choices for these kind of musical decisions and it always works very well, even though it sometimes stretches the limits of the player. But we always rise to the challenge. 

17. MEMORIZATION! What a commitment, but also an enhancement in performance experience and the visual aspects of performance. What did it take to have 10 people memorize a set of brass music?  All the players have their own preference of learn music by memory, so we all do our homework as best as we can before we start rehearsing. And in the rehearsal we have a lot of run throughs of the music in question in order to learn the others parts so you can recognize our personal part. 

c. 2019 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved www.davdibrubeck.com

Images courtesy of: www.tinethinghelseth.com www.muenchenmusik.de www.bbc.co.uk

Interested in chamber music? Check out more from “FIVE!” tm, the chamber music interview series…
Canadian Brass 2014, Windsync 2014, Boston Brass 2015, Mnozil Brass 2015, Spanish Brass 2014, Dallas Brass 2014, Seraph 2014, Atlantic Brass Quintet 2015, Mirari Brass 2015, Axiom Brass 2015, Scott Hartmann of the Empire Brass 2015, Jeffrey Curnow of the Empire Brass 2015, Ron Barron and Ken Amis of the Empire Brass, Meridian Arts Ensemble 2015, Berlin Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet 2015, American Brass Quintet 2015, Triton Brass 2016, 

Join Duo Brubeck, featuring the chart-topping Lindsey Blair on guitar, for an evening of sizzling cool jazz! Weston Town Center, 7:00-8:15 pm

Let us take you down, ’cause we’re going to….Strawberry Fields..

c. 2019 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved www.davidbrubeck.com

From ahead of you, calls the voice of a storyteller: equal parts Slaughter and Pilafian; leads a pioneer, for women, for new music, for women in brass; she beckons the scholar, did you know? The coastal trail is just ahead, from the wind swept shores of the Carolinas to the azured interior, Dr. Joanna Hersey beckons, leads and calls…can you hear it? “The Fourth Valve” tm is delighted to present the masterful JHR, enjoy!

1.  Tell us about “Shatterdome”.  What inspired it?  How did you arrive at the palette of timbres, harmonies and rhythms?

When I was ready to make my first solo recording I knew I had a point to make. I wanted to showcase an entire album for tuba of music by women, my own and others. If I could do it on tuba, if this music was available to be found, then certainly anyone on any instrument could program it. It doesn’t matter if someone programs only music by women, but the most common argument is folks don’t know where to find it, or think what’s out there won’t be good. So with O quam mirabilis, which I released in 2009, I wanted to do a somewhat normal classical album, with the goal of introducing new rep, so there’s Alma Mahler, and Libby Larsen, and music of a young composer named Portia Njoku.

After that was released I felt like I could do more what was calling to me, which was joining the movement of electronic sounds. For me, the loud and explosive side of that movement isn’t my style, I saw there was a place for a more gentle mix, the tuba is inside or even under the electronic element at times. That album, Zigzags, from 2015, was an exploration.  “Shatterdome” was one of four new tuba and electronic tracks composed for the album. featuring collaboration through both composition and improvisation.  “Shatterdome”was inspired by the drama in film writing at climactic moments when good and evil collide and dark forces are at work, utilizing low resonances and long, lyrical phrases.  Composer and electronic musician William Bendrot worked with me, and he and I exchanged ideas, we would each try something, and then expand it, and sometimes I would improvise over chords he set out. He would take my motives and rhythmic elements and layer them into the texture, then I would create melodies. It was really fun to just listen and respond as a player, and see what came out of it.

2.  What drew you to Vaudeville?  What were the best and worst of it for women bands?

It all started with my doctoral dissertation, I wanted to showcase women making music in America before WW2. By the Second World War women were getting a toe into the business, and that has been well-researched, but before that we really know very little.  So women brass music before 1940? What was happening? I divided my findings up into the categories of large ensemble (orchestral and band), soloists, and small ensemble playing. The small ensemble playing was the most surprising, and I fell upon an amazing source. The University of Iowa has an amazing collection, more than one thousand boxes of materials, from the vaudeville era touring circuit (visit the Redpath Chautauqua Collectionhere: http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/traveling-culture/inventory/MSC150.html) and this is a treasure trove of publicity flyers, photos, concert programs and all types of memorabilia from vaudeville touring groups.

It was interesting that because it was a variety show, the idea was to present something for everyone. So it was actually much more egalitarian that one would imagine for the turn of the century. While racially segregated, minority chamber groups were able to work, as were women’s groups. All that mattered was that it was entertaining, so it was more diverse by a lot than classical music at the time. These women’s bands and small groups were paid professionals, and they toured an established circuit, often by train. Now it probably wasn’t that comfortable, but they got to play their horns and see the country, and make their music on a national stage. By the time motion pictures began, and Hollywood became a new center for entertainment, these touring shows died out for the most part. I wrote about this in a book called “Women’s Bands in America: Performing Music and Gender”, edited by Jill Sullivan. 

3.  What was your most memorable discovery writing about the SPAR band?  Who were the driving musical forces behind it?

When I was in the United States Coast Guard Band, I worked in the music library. One day, I found a photo of an all-female drum and bugle corps taken in front of the White House, wearing Coast Guard Uniforms. I was astonished. How could this have happened, but I knew nothing about it? So I asked around and found the Coast Guard historians who could tell me about the amazing group of women in the SPAR Band, and the other bands of the other services who worked alongside them. 

The SPAR Band is part of a massive musical effort, the first of its kind in American music.  The American engagement in World War II forced the government leadership to admit that to win a war in the Pacific and Atlantic, women were needed in the civilian and military workforce.  For the first time in U.S. history, women became part of a military strategy.  Temporary women’s units were formed for all branches of the military, and a variety of jobs became open to women, such as positions in military bands.  These bands performed across the nation assisting the war effort. Their work marching in parades and performing concerts throughout the country resulted in the sale of millions of dollars of war bonds to the American public. Their presence on military bases and across America’s small towns gave comfort to those torn apart by war. In their collateral duties, they drove ambulances, worked as nurses, visited hospitals, filed paperwork and organized supply chains.  

After the war, these women were immediately transitioned out of the military. For the next thirty years, military bands were again all-male. It was not until the mid-1970s that women again were able to hold positions in the U.S. military band system. This project became a chapter in the book “Bands of Sisters: U.S. Military Bands During World War II”, edited by Jill Sullivan, who also edited the book where I wrote about the vaudeville bands. I interviewed the living members of the band, who sent me their photos and memories, and a rare recording or two. The most surprising to me was how the whole program was just cancelled. They had these amazing bands, with this beautiful camaraderie, that were supporting the military and non-service communities alike, and they just closed them and kicked all the women out. Their use was over. Bands were supposed to be just men.

4.   Tuba/Euph. Quartet Vs. Brass Quintet; what is the best and worst of each?

Brass Quintet is good because people accept it as a more normal ensemble grouping, like for a recital series or something. I like quintet but it can be very challenging to stand out, there are a million quintets! And to be the tubist, responsible for keeping the pitch center on track, can be a challenge. People also have varying ideas of what proper balance should be in quintet, which can be an issue. But, we have some amazing rep-like my new favorite is “Aspects”, by Barbara York, beautiful new music for the ensemble.

Now quartet, for me, is where it’s at. I’ve been a member of the Alchemy Tuba Euphonium Quartet for more than twenty years, playing with the same four people, Gary Buttery, Danny Vinson, and James Jackson. I love the ease of four players over five, and the ability to surprise listeners with the clarity and balance of these massive instruments. Often you’re presenting something some of the crowd has never heard before, and children love it! Challenges of course include clarity, which can be helped by careful arranging, and keeping the voices speaking clearly in spaces like churches. Alchemy has a yearly residency at the Horn Tuba Workshop in Jever, Germany each February, and all our concerts are held in churches, that can be a challenge to hear each other. Despite all that quartet is one of my biggest joys as a player.

5.  It is tough enough to be a musical artist, much less a tubist, let alone a female tubist.  Who and what has kept your creative flame alive?

Most of us sit in sections as either the only female brass player, or one of a small minority. We sit in those sections for our whole lives, our whole careers. Even with wonderful male colleagues, many of us feel we can never miss a note or be imperfect without putting on the line the rep of every single woman in the field. So we sit under the pressure of that at every single gig we play. Every conductor comment, every glitch, under a microscope.

Perhaps because of this, young women go into the career in lower numbers. They’re not willing to put up with the teasing and feeling different (young people want to fit in!) and don’t see it as something for them. I recently taught a set of tuba masterclasses to 94 tuba players from the nation’s top performing high school programs, schools with super supportive booster groups, great leadership and budgetary support. Even in a group of this level, only 11 of those tubas were female. So still 88% male in our most supportive American school music programs.

One of our challenges is we see that in the past we were not okay with regard to race and gender equality, but we think it’s fixed now. People often ask me if I teach male and female students differently, and I don’t, but I do teach some students differently. I divide them in my mind into two categories (that don’t have to do with gender). There are the students who are very driven and ready to find challenge and are pro-active. These students need help with balance and staying focused on fewer tasks, keeping from becoming overwhelmed, etc. The other group of students, especially with tuba, are the students who love it, but are not used to being super-challenged there in the back of the band, and are approaching life waiting for things to happen to them. This group needs different teaching, they need to be reminded about being proactive instead of reactive, and goal-setting and advanced planning would be helpful. Both groups need support but in different ways. As the teacher I have walked their path already, gotten bruised and disappointed, had the way blocked, but kept going…and now I can help them along, just as my teachers did with me. 

One very special thing that I am so proud of is that I have become involved with the International Women’s Brass Conference, an organization which helps provide scholarships,  and presents conferences for men and women, featuring many female brass soloists and educators. This helps me stay creative and focused. The group is made up of both men and women, and the mission is to educate, develop, support and promote women brass musicians while inspiring continued excellence and opportunities in the broader musical world. So, while we want to showcase women in performance, we also want to involve men as well as young male and female students in our educational outreach events, to try and break down separation by gender for all instruments.

As President, I am able to give back to an organization which has given me so much at a crucial time in my young career, having attended the very first IWBC conference in 1993 as a young military musician.  I see my role as a director of sets of people, committees and groups each working on smaller pieces of the puzzle, such as membership development, new composer commissions, educational outreach, etc. I can see the big picture and where things can overlap, and direct forward motion. We just completed the 27th anniversary conference last month at Arizona State University, my alma mater! 

6.  What do you look for in a horn?

I’m definitely one for consistency and comfort, my instruments have been with me a long time! I’m a Yamaha artist so those are my go-to instruments. I am one that believes in less discussion about this detail or that, just work to make the horn you have sound like yourself.  I’m also a big fan of buying used for my students, who don’t always have the luxury of going out to the showroom and plunking down their credit card. Don’t overlook an older instrument which has been well made, because it has a well worn look. Sometimes students fall for a new shiny beauty that’s at a medium price point, when they would have been better served with a top model that had lived a bit of life before it got to them.

7.  How does doubling on Euphonium inform your tuba playing?  Vice-versa?

I’ve been so lucky that I got my start as a young player in a military band, sitting beside the world’s top euphonium artists every day. For years on end I heard the beauty and flexibility of great euphonium playing from Dave Werden, Danny Vinson and James Jackson in my section and in my tuba euphonium quartet Alchemy. I have made three albums with that group by now, and so admire their artistry. So it’s big shoes to fill when I pick up a euphonium. I do love it though, and I feel strongly that as a teacher of both instruments, I need to play both in my studio teaching. I learn and arrange new rep and present euphonium on all my solo recitals. There are challenges, like remembering not to over-blow, but coming back to tuba it reminds me of the lightness of articulation, just enough and not more. I feel the ease of flexibility on euphonium versus tuba, and that challenges my tuba playing to be versatile and quick. I enjoy the euphonium very much and normally have more students in my studio on euphonium than tuba at any given time. 

8.  Is the search for relevance as a solo classical musician a consideration?  How universal is a classical soloist in the everyday breadth and depth of the every day life?  How do you connect?

I think my voice is necessary. And so is yours. All of us have something to say as artists. And for me, it’s about saying what’s in your soul as an artist, through whichever medium. It doesn’t really matter to me if it is someone else’s cup of tea, it’s ok if my playing, or your playing, doesn’t spark joy in a listener. It’s ok if my next tuba solo isn’t one you’ll run right out and buy, or if my student will download my latest track. I think we all create because it’s a response to what’s inside us, the desire to participate in the conversation. I look to my mentors, people like Sam Pilafian, and Susan Slaughter, and my teachers, brass players who do their best to showcase well the possibilities of the instrument and the power of it to express. I want to tell my story, and luckily for me that has connected across audiences over the course of my career, and given me the confidence to always be creating. I am in the midst of a new project at all times, excited about the next thing. We put it out there for the world, we let it go, and we get back to creating.

9.  What are your aspirations for your students?

My students in our small corner of rural North Carolina are often headed toward careers as educators, and tend to stay in the local area upon graduation. UNC Pembroke is an amazing place full of creativity and diversity, though set in the poorest county in the state, and one of the poorest in the nation. More than a third of the population lives below the poverty line, and most of the rest are not far above. For my studio, who are often first generation college students, their time with us can change the trajectory of their whole family, not to mention the generations of students they can influence as educators. I want them to see that there is greatness in them, I want someone to look them in the eye and tell them they can do it. I am so proud when they come to me at the start, often not having taken formal private lessons, and then progress through to the senior recital. It’s tough for sure. The dropout rate can be high, students have many additional challenges to attending school full-time. But for those that can make it work, my goal is that they can be a mentor and role model for those coming up behind them, those to whom life may not have been kind. 

10.  Can you tell us anything about your project with Bill?

Bill is from New Jersey, and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied both jazz and classical performance.  He went on to be co-founder of Ember Music, an international artist-run label that focuses on electronic composition and production, and through Ember, has released several tracks as a solo artist. So the setting of his background was very different from mine, as a straight up tuba performance person. Our approaches were really different, opposite almost, but it was interesting to us both to see how the project developed. We co-wrote four songs for the album.

The opening piece, Tether, is somewhat sparse, with a slow, moody, rock influence, based on futuristic cyberpunk anime compositional imagery, such as Ghost in the Shell. This track features spoken word using text from several Emily Dickinson poems. I’m a huge fan of Emily Dickinson, who is a New England girl like myself. Shatterdome was inspired by the drama in film writing at climactic moments when good and evil collide and dark forces are at work, utilizing low resonances and a focus on brass. One is upbeat, and incorporates brighter harmonies in fast-paced rhythmic development. Kakera, the Japanese word for a small piece or fragment, uses the tuba in the pedal register in combination with faster bass lines.

https://joannahersey.com/recordings/

Three other works round out the album, including the title track, composed in 1988, a ten minute unaccompanied tuba solo by New York composer Faye-Ellen Silverman. The work showcases extreme register, set in a wide variety of tempo and mood, and utilizes extended techniques such as multi- phonics and flutter tonguing. The album also contains a new arrangement of mine of the music of Hildegard von Bingen, as well as a solo for unaccompanied tuba, entitled Convent Window, composed for this album. My first solo tuba composition, Convent Window envisions the composer Hildegard von Bingen pausing for a moment of calm reflection at her window, and utilizes the resonant, lower register of the instrument. 

Interested in more “The Fourth Valve” tm Interviews?

Don Harry
John Stevens
Jim Self
John Van Houten
Demondrae Thurman
Deanna Swoboda
R. Winston Morris

Beth Wiese
Aaron Tindall
Marty Erickson
Beth Mitchell
Chitate Kagawa

c. 2019 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved www.davidbrubeck.com

Images courtesy of www.joannahersey.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO-11rIxCgs

Many never find their “voice”, while others never even think to search for it. In a world of imitations and cheaper images of beauty, Garling is a beautiful original. A gifted writer, talented leader and inspired improviser on the trombone, Garling blew out of Chicagoland and into the jazz world with Buddy Rich and Maynard Ferguson. His solo album, “Maynard Ferguson Presents Tom Garling”, remains one of the freshest, most mature and satisfying debuts in jazz to be heard. And that was just the beginning! Now a leader of his own jazz orchestra, Garling’s voice is amplified with treasured colleagues and seasoned with lifes deeper meanings. If you don’t know Tom, you are in for a treat; if you do, a connoisseur’s delight! “1385”tm, is delighted to present the preemininent jazz trombonist of his generation, Tom Garling.

1.  Which players inspired you the most as a teen?  
When I was about 13, I hadn’t caught the jazz bug yet. I was into rock and played keyboard (and later added guitar) in rock bands until about 16 or 17. Here are just a few bands that loved: Boston, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Eagles, Joe Walsh, Pink Floyd, REO Speedwagon (early). This was music that my brothers and friends listened to. In high school, I made friends with the people in jazz band, and took a jazz class that met during “zero” period, around 7:00 am. I began to love jazz at this time. Here is a small list of people I listened to that helped me fall in love with jazz: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Rob McConnel, Michael Brecker, Miles, John Coltrane, Bill Watrous, Carl Fontana…

Early in your career?  Adding to this list, as I grew into my college and Buddy years (keep in mind this is just a partial list, and not in any particular order of preference, but only as I think of them): later John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Steve Grossman, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, more Miles, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Wheeler, Weather Report, Tribal Tech, Frank Rosolino, JJ Johnson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Herbie Hancock…..

Now?  Do you hear any of them coming out of your horn?I’m always adding new music to my list of influences. Some are older albums by established innovators that I’d never heard before, and some are new emerging artists. Here are some recent artists: Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Snarky Puppy, Steve Davis, Elliot Mason, Michael Dease. (again, just a partial list). I believe all of my influences are coming through my horn whether I recognize it or not.

2.  You have enjoyed success as a leader, a trombonist, a soloist, an arranger and as a writer!  How do you go about balancing these diverse activities and maintaining such high quality?
I’m extremely grateful to have had a steady influx of jobs in music, but I never considered myself very good at managing my time. I just take jobs as they come-or don’t take them if I can’t fit them in. Like everybody, I keep a calendar of gigs, writing deadlines, and my teaching schedule, and try to give myself enough time to prepare for each event. For writing, I reserve days in my calendar for just composing-something I had to learn about the hard way when I found that time was not available. For gigs and teaching, I reserve days in my calendar to practice the material needed for the gig, or compile assignments and teaching material for classes and lessons. On top of that, I make sure to play my horn everyday to keep my chops up. Like a lot of people I know, I work best with a deadline! 

3.  What did Buddy Rich and Maynard Ferguson mean to you and the jazz era of the 1970’s and 1980’s?
Buddy and Maynard meant everything to me musically and personally. There is nothing like playing music at such a high level every night to hone your craft. Buddy’s band was my first experience at this, and it was exhilerating to say the least. After five years of playing with Maynard, my chops were strong! They both were responsible for helping to launch my career as a known jazz musician. I didn’t know it at the time, but playing with Buddy turned out to be a clear path to go to music school for free.  Maynard loved to promote his sidemen and be involved in music education. As a result, I was able to hone my skills at teaching, giving clinics and masterclasses around the world with Maynard and the band. He also produced my first album on Concord Records as part of his brain-child, the”Maynard Ferguson Presents” series. For all of this, I feel that I owe everything to them.

In the world of jazz, there still hasn’t been a drummer yet that could match what Buddy did, in my opinion. He was simply the best drummer I will ever play with. His time was more driving and energetic than anyone, and he set the bar for big band drumming-time, set ups, fills, solos, etc. When he was soloing, his sticks were a blur!  All of the great well known drummers that came after him have regarded him as an influence. Bud Herseth said this of Maynard: “He’s one of the greatest trumpet players of the 20th century”. I think that about sums it up. When Maynard played, he had a sound that was so big, it was like 10 trumpets playing at once! Like Buddy, all trumpet players will turn to him for influence.

4.  How do you see the trombone as an expressive voice? 
I think all instruments are expressive in the right hands. What is special about the trombone is the slide, giving it a “vocal” quality. It affords the player to easily bend and slide into notes much like a voice would do. In that spirit, the great trombonists have always looked to vocalists for inspiration in how they inflect their music.

5.  Who are some of your favorite band mates, their musical achievements and extra musical attributes?
I have played with so many great musicians over the years, it’s hard to just pick some and say they were my “favorite”. All of them were great to play with in their own way. It would be easier to ask: “Who were the musicians you didn’t like playing with”, and that would be a very small list. 

For a long time, people have been asking me “When are you going to put your own big band together?” and just recently, I’ve done that. Choosing the members for the band was not easy, but I decided to pick them based on something they did on a gig at one time that affected me in a deeply visceral and positive way-their sound on a single note, or a solo they played, or the way they communicated with the musicians around them, to name a few examples.

Their achievements have less to do with commonly perceived success in their careers, and more with their search for the divine through their instrument. You can hear the dedication and unconditional passion in every note they play. So, in short, without “name dropping”, these are my favorite band mates.

6.  Who do you look to as the great writers for 6-8 pieces?
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Timmons, Horace Silver. Freddie Hubbard, Oliver Nelson. to name a few.

7.  What do you look for in a horn for various circumstances?
I’ve been playing the same horn for many years (King 2b jiggs). If I were to describe what I look for in a horn, I would say the obvious things, like good intonation, good sound, a horn that slots well in all registers. If these things are sound in my playing, the circumstances don’t matter much, whether jazz, rock, salsa, playing like Tommy Dorsey, etc. 

If I were to get a call to play a classical gig, a bigger horn more suited for that style would be needed. It’s probably a good thing that I don’t get many of those calls, and if I did, I think long and hard before accepting it.  There might be a better horn out there for my needs, but I’m more of a “get personal with what you have” kind of guy. If there is an issue with some aspect of my playing, I tend to look in the mirror, rather than blame the horn. As long as there are no major problems with a horn, a practice routine that tackles the areas that need work is what’s needed. 

8.  Which is more crucial: listening versus transcribing in developing your soloing?  Whether transcribing or not, listening and mimicking is absolutely necessary. You’re not a musician unless you learn to play music of the past by ear. I have know many great players that never wrote down a solo on paper. They just listen and steal ideas from their favorite players.

Having said that, I think transcribing is important. I have found that by the time I’ve finished writing out a transcription, I have the solo memorized because I’ve listened to it over and over again. Transcribing also helps your calligraphy, sight-reading and rhythmic and pitch notation. It’s important as a musician to learn to sightread music, and link up what you see with what you hear.

9.  What inspires you now?
Playing music with great musicians always inspires me. In addition, music that I’ve never heard before that I enjoy helps to keep my creative juices flowing. I’m also inspired by hearing one of my charts  played by a great band, an impetus for writing. Also, new discoveries about the world, new perspectives, new knowledge, musically and personally.

For example, right now I am working on lip slurs to smooth out my lines. I always practice various things that help me to perform the music I’m asked to play, like fast moving scales and lines, tonguing exercises, interval drills, and playing a line in all keys. When I find something that is not coming out right, I concentrate on that for a while. 

c. 2019 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved www.davidbrubeck.com

Photos courtesy of:

www.maynardferguson.net & www.tomgarling.com

It’s HOT in South Florida! You want to get out of the house, take the family to something good, BUT into the AC! The Brubeck Brass has you covered. Join us in the spacious atrium of the Charles F. Dodge City Center on Sunday, June 9th at 4:00 pm for a fun concert with BRASS! AND IT’S FREE!

Join us in the first of a summer long series of professional musicians led by the Youth All Star Faculty members Richard Hancock, clarinet, Cornelia Brubeck, cello and David Brubeck, trombone. We will explore three of the major symphonic instrument groups in a fun, atrium atmosphere where you can relax and get close to the instruments and the musicians while being engulfed in the waves of their beautiful sounds. All under Air Conditioning! Enjoy…..

c. 2019 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved

Join the fun as “Miami’s Own” Duo Brubeck returns to this vibrant concert series set in downtown Ft. Lauderdale-one afternoon only! Duo Brubeck has redesigned the jazz duo according University of Miami Jazz Professor Tim Smith who says they have, “created a better mousetrap” when it comes to the jazz duo. Close your eyes and you might just imagine two or three musicians are playing instead of just two.

Duo Brubeck will feature the artistry of the incredible Lindsey Blair. Lindsay has been a staple of the South Florida jazz scene since his arrival more than thirty years ago to study at UM and was designated “best jazz artist” by The New Times in 2011. His 2018 release, “All Wes All Day”, has been climbing the jazz charts and regularly placed in the top of the charts worldwide! He is a consummate soloist, able to transmit electric emotion AND sophisticated cool.

Bass Trombonist David Brubeck has created a style of playing his instrument which has been published, recorded and imitated around the world. His “Stereogram” technique is reminiscent of jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin, and Brubeck is able to give the impression of performing two parts at once. Mix in his subtle control of the classics with an energetic bolt of brass and shake well!

Duo Brubeck has been featured on WDNA, at international festivals, and for the concert series of Music in Miami, Arts at St. Johns, The Cleveland Clinic Distinguished Artists Series, Arts & letters and many others. Completely Unique and always refreshing, come and listen as Duo Brubeck sambas, swings and sizzles away the after noon. All are welcome at Christ Church! Suggested donation is $10.00 at the door.

c. 2019 David William Brubeck

From Kentucky to flying high with the United States Air Force Band, Brandon Jones always has a plan! Join the “Fourth Valve” tm as he shares his passion for music, keen insights regarding the euphonium and experiences with aplomb! Enjoy….

1. One embouchure, or pivoting?
I honestly try not to think too much about what my face is doing when I play. The whole “paralysis by analysis” can creep in if I’m not careful. Having said that, I try to think of everything being as much on “one embouchure” set as possible. I only pivot when I’m playing extreme loud dynamics on pedal notes. I try to use my ear 100% of the time and allow my air to do the work for me. If my aperture remains open and if tension stays away, I can generally play my full register with the same embouchure set.

2. Can you discuss the differing approaches you take to ensemble playing as opposed to soloing?
Ensemble playing versus solo playing are, in most cases, two different skill sets but with the non-negotiables being the same. There are four what I call “non-negotiables”. Those are tone, tune, time, and rhythm. Those simply cannot be compromised, ever, regardless of solo playing or ensemble playing. One can argue that when you’re the soloist, you can move the time around when emoting, but this must be purposeful and for enhancement of musical line only, never accidental. When I’m playing in an ensemble, whether it be with the United States Air Force Band or Brass of the Potomac, I’m always aware of what my role is at that time. American wind band euphonium versus British brass band euphonium are two different identities. When in the wind band, the euphonium is usually either doubling, supporting, or singing as the solo line.

If I’m doubling, I’m always listening down to the lower voice that I’m doubling (if it’s tuba, etc). If I’m supporting, I’m making sure I’m giving the trombones/trumpets/etc enough of a foundation. If I’m the dominant solo line (Colonial Song, Commando March, Planets, etc), I’m singing out and getting the sound to the back of the hall as quickly as possible. Unless it’s an expressive solo line in the wind band, I never use vibrato in the American wind band setting. When I’m playing solo/principal euphonium as I do in Brass of the Potomac, I find myself using a very vocal/operatic vibrato way more often, particularly in solo lines or lyrical lines with the euphoniums and baritones. Otherwise, the same rules apply for me as they do in the American wind band in terms of supporting, doubling, etc. When I’m on stage as a soloist, that is a different skill set to a degree as well. The euphonium is incredibly difficult to be heard over a band in general because of the conical nature and the fact that the bell is facing the ceiling and not the audience. I rely on taking massive amounts of air in so that I can play as big as possible without forcing my lips to overwork. Being a soloist with brass band and wind band, I find that I never really explore a true piano dynamic. I generally play a full dynamic bigger than indicated, even with great ensembles who understand to stay below the soloist. With string orchestra and piano, it’s a bit different, and I can generally play piano and softer without issue.

3. Who are some of your favorite musicians who can infuse expressive phrasing into music in such a way as to make it seem more meaningful or from a fresh perspective?
I’ve always loved listening to Luciano Pavarotti and Yo-Yo Ma. More specifically, the iconic recording of Pavarotti performing “Nessun Dorma”. The sheer power in his voice and his ability to remove himself from the confines of the ink are truly remarkable. Yo-Yo Ma’s recording of the Bach Cello Suites remains one of my all-time favorite discs. As for euphonium player influences, I would have to say Steven Mead’s recording with the J.W.F. Military Band with the Euphonium Concerto by James Curnow is what got me hooked on the euphonium. I always go back to that recording to renew my love for why I chose the euphonium.

4. Your articulation is very defined yet resonant. How do you strike the balance, and what is the concept you are going for?
Well, thank you. Ha! I actually used to be terrible with articulation. I find that most students and amateurs think of articulation being predominantly a motion of the tongue. I try to work on “ha” articulations and to coordinate the release of air to the initiation of sound. From there, I’ll slowly add in a very light “dah” syllable and increase the front/heaviness of the “dah” when applicable. I try to stay away from using anything “t” syllable as much as I can. Learning to truly control the air release/initiation of sound is of the utmost importance. I try to make sure there’s as much TONE in every part of the sound as possible, and less tongue noise.

5. Are there characteristic approaches or sounds of the five military bands? If so, how would you describe them?
First of all, every one of the DC premier military bands are truly phenomenal, and I am beyond blessed to have the opportunity to be inspired by all of my colleagues. I think that each band is filled with, for the most part, the same type of musician. I don’t subscribe to the idea that one is better/worse than the other, necessarily. There are many factors to what creates the approach to balance, style, etc. Most of it comes down to what the Commander/conductor is asking for in those regards. I think our band SOUNDS fantastic. I’m blown away with the level of maturity in our group on every musical level, but specifically in regard to tonal center, balance, and pitch. Having said that, all of the DC bands sound truly great.

6. Why did you pick euphonium, and why have you stuck with it; what attracts you and renews you?
My middle school band director, Ms. Karen Alward, asked me if I would try the baritone in 7th grade. I was one of the absolute worst trumpet players to ever grace God’s green earth. I immediately felt more at home with the switch, which naturally encouraged me to spend time practicing. I played then, and still do, because I truly love to play. That passion comes and goes in terms of intensity, and hearing great musicians can always renew that passion and drive it to become more intense than ever. I am very blessed to be surrounded by some of the absolute best musicians on planet earth day in and day out in the DC area, and that inspires me constantly. The euphonium has always been attractive to me because of the versatility and sound. In the right hands, it is capable of producing the most beautiful melodic lines and achieving fierce technical passages. It’s very unique.

7. Which other styles of music inspire you, recordings?
I was in a very competitive marching band in high school, so I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that I’ve had some inspiration from some great marching bands. I thoroughly enjoy hearing a group that does it the right way, meaning they don’t sacrifice true tonal center, balance and pitch to achieve a decibel level to appease a few judges for a higher score. Hearing recordings of the great Lassiter High School Marching Band with my good friend Alfred Watkins is certainly inspirational to me!

8. Have you seen a future for brass instruments that compliments the trend toward increasing electronics?
I’m honestly not the best person to answer this question. I have very little experience in this regard. However, friends of mine such as Michael Parker have found an innovative way to incorporate electronics into their performance and I think it works well given the right circumstances and audience.

9. How do you conceive of tuning in an ensemble?
My thoughts on tuning are that once you learn your instrument and its tendencies, you shouldn’t use a physical tuner ever again. I teach the marching band wind section at Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology in Virginia (have been music caption head for 5 years now) and we don’t use tuners past the first few rehearsals. There are two ways of tuning in my opinion: internal and external. External is where we look at a device or get approval from someone else telling us that we are “at A440”. Internal is where we are internalizing the pitch and adjusting to another sound source, ie drones/etc. I find this much more beneficial in a practical application setting being that we should never be performing with tuners on our stand or clipped to our bell. Pitch will always change, slightly, based on the temperature of the venue, etc. I also subscribe to using just pitch as well, meaning that the third should be lowered, the fifth raise, etc. I find this to really make a difference in any ensemble setting.

c. 2018 David William Brubeck All Rights Reserved www.davidbrubeck.com
images courtesy of Adams Euphoniums online, USAF and YouTube

Interested in more “The Fourth Valve” tm Interviews?
Don Harry
John Stevens
Jim Self
John Van Houten
Demondrae Thurman
Deanna Swoboda
R. Winston Morris
Beth Wiese
Aaron Tindall
Marty Erickson
Beth Mitchell
Chitate Kagawa
Aaron McCalla