Two of my UConn jazz students plan to enter the Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition. It’s a competition that has launched the careers of outstanding young musicians under the age of thirty, and the featured instrument changes from year to year. I told them something simple: if they…
Three years ago I wrote down the goal of either starting or finding a regularly performing big band that would play my music. I’m so pleased to be given this opportunity with the Hartford Jazz Orchestra. And succeeding the great Don Trenner is an honor I don’t take lightly. We…
I’m often asked by both musicians and non-musicians alike, “what are you listening to these days?” In all honesty, I’m sometimes hesitant to share, because what I enjoy might not be a good entry point for jazz newcomers. Anyways, I’ll go ahead. Because I’m currently on sabbatical, I have more time…
As a big band arranger, writing drum parts is one of the harder tasks you will encounter. So, watch this instructional video to see: what to include in a big band drum part, and how to enter it into Finale music notation software. This video was made for my jazz…
Interpreting melodies is an essential, yet often overlooked skill for young jazz players and arrangers. This is understandable. How could we expect anything different when instrumentalists are exclusively taught and expected to play music exactly as it is presented to them in lessons and band class? But, within a jazz…