The Trombone Corner

Inspired by the great valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, Barry Mosley is keeping the legacy of playing  jazz valve trombone.  The first important jazz valve trombonist were Juan Tizol and Brad Gowans in the 1930s and 1940s, setting the stage for others. The valve trombone has a unique place in jazz history. Barrys first great jazz credit as a young artist was performing many times with jazz legend Chet Baker in the mid-1980s by Chet's invitation. The lyrical qualities of Bob Brookmeyer and Chet Baker has been a major influence on Barrys approach to jazz improvisation. Playing as a leader and jazz soloist, Barry has been performing at top Los Angeles jazz clubs for many years as well as performing for special Los Angeles society events. Barrys valve trombone style has also been greatly influenced by the cool sounds of California's WEST COAST JAZZ providing for a unique and always swinging jazz experience. Barry moved to Los Angeles in 1989 from the California Bay Area to be involved in the great music scene in Los Angeles. Being mentored by two great trombonist Slyde Hyde and Bill Watrous, Barry soon began playing in the top Los Angeles jazz clubs a leader and jazz soloist on valve trombone. Some Los Angeles jazz club credits include VITELLOS, SPAZIOS, RED WHITE and BLUEZZ, COLES, JAX BAR AND GRILL, THE HIP KITTY in Clairmont, CAFFE 322,, LEFT COAST WINE BAR, CHADNEYS, COLOMBOS,  THE SQUASHED GRAPES in Ventura, EDWIN MILLS in Pasadena and many more. Barry's trios and quartets have been popular for special events such as the Hollysooc Annie Awards at Royce Hall, Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Marina Del Rey Yacht Club, and more. Two CD's released as solo artist, JAZZ TIME  and SPEAK SOFTLY have recieved jazz radio air play in the USA and Europe. Barry also has thousands of YouTube hits as a jazz performer and educator. Learn more about Barry Mosley at www.barrymosley.com [http://www.barrymosley.com] Learn more about The Brass Ark at www.brassark.com [http://www.brassark.com] Learn more about Bob Reeves Brass at www.bobreeves.com [http://www.bobreeves.com] The show notes for this episode can be found at www.trombonecorner.com [http://www.trombonecorner.com]

Steve Shires is best known in the brass world as the founder of the S. E. Shires Company, crafter of custom trombones and trumpets.  His passion for designing and building brass instruments grew from his love of playing the trombone.  Steve received his undergraduate degree in trombone performance from the University of Iowa, where he studied with John Hill and George Krem.  A true trombonist, he skipped theory class to apprentice as a brass repair technician at West Music Company in Iowa City and was soon developing his craft by converting old small bore tenor trombones into  alto trombones. While continuing his trombone studies in Chicago with legendary Chicago symphony brass section members Arnold Jacobs, Edward Kleinhammer, Frank Crisafulli, and Jay Friedman, he worked for the Schilke Music Company, learning the art of spinning brass instrument bells, as he absorbed the high standards of quality that Schilke represents.  In 1986, Steve and his wife Cathy relocated to Boston.  It was there that he gained much of his knowledge of the Horn, working for Osmun Brass Instruments, the nationally respected shop for horn repairs and restorations. It was here that Steve gained the invaluable experience of rebuilding valves, cutting bells, and restoring Geyer, Kruspe, Conn, and Paxman horns. Steve founded the S. E. Shires Company in 1995, and was president of the company for nearly 20 years, until its recent purchase by the Eastman Music Company.  In addition to running day to day operations, Steve was the primary bell spinner.  During Steve’s tenure, The S.E. Shires company was one of the few instrument makers that  spun its own bells, made its own valves, drew its own tubing, and used computer controlled lathes to machine all of its parts. In 2015 Steve and his wife moved to their new home in Vermont, where Steve combined his vast  experience designing and building world-class trombones and trumpets with his years as a horn technician to create the ultimate horn. He crafted his first Geyer model horn in 2017 and has been improving on the designs since then. The Series II Stephens horn, featuring a unique custom wrap that marries the best qualities of the Geyer and Schmidt models was introduced in 2019. Learn more about Stephen Shires at www.stephenshorns.com [http://www.stephenshorns.com] Learn more about The Brass Ark at www.brassark.com [http://www.brassark.com] Learn more about Bob Reeves Brass at www.bobreeves.com [http://www.bobreeves.com] Interested in the Reeves - Brass Ark trombone mouthpieces? Buy them online at www.trombonemouthpiece.com [http://www.trombonemouthpiece.com]

Timothy Higgins was appointed to the position of Principal Trombone of the San Francisco Symphony by Michael Tilson Thomas in 2008. He was previously the acting Second Trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC.  Mr. Higgins, a Houston native, has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Northwestern University and has performed with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Aspen Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Washington National Opera, and Baltimore Symphony.  His principal teachers have been Michael Mulcahy (Chicago Symphony), Michael Warny (Houston Grand Opera), and Royce Landon (Des Moines, Iowa).  He has participated in music festivals with the Roundtop Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Music Center. Along with a busy orchestra career, Timothy Higgins is a sought after arranger of music.  He was the sole arranger of the National Brass Ensemble’s Gabrielirecording. Additionally, he has arranged music for CT3 Trombone Quartet, National Brass Quintet, Bay Brass, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Brass Ensemble.  Timothy Higgins has also composed works for brass instruments in solo and chamber settings. His arrangements and compositions have been performed by the Washington Symphonic Brass, the Bay Brass, the San Francisco Symphony brass section, the Chicago Symphony brass section, the Los Angeles Philharmonic brass section, and numerous university brass ensembles. His arrangements and original compositions are available through his publishing company, 415Music. As a teacher, Timothy been a faculty member of the Pokorny Seminar since 2012, and is currently on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Northwestern University. He has also led masterclasses in Japan, China, Canada and the United States, including classes at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, the New World Symphony, Vanderbilt University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School of Music. In 2005, Timothy won the Robert Marsteller Solo trombone competition, as well as the ITA Trombone Quartet competition with CT3.  While attending the Tanglewood Music Center, Mr. Higgins was awarded the Grace B. Upton Award for Outstanding Fellow. In 2013, Timothy released his solo CD, Stage Left. Learn more about Timothy Higgins at www.415music.com. [http://www.415music.com] The show notes for this episode are at www.bobreeves.com/blog/timothy-higgins-trombone-interview/. [http://www.bobreeves.com/blog/timothy-higgins-trombone-interview/] This podcast is sponsored by The Brass Ark (www.brassark.com [http://www.brassark.com]) and Bob Reeves Brass (www.bobreeves.com [http://www.bobreeves.com]).

Christian Lindberg was voted “THE GREATEST BRASS PLAYER IN HISTORY" by the world's biggest classical radio station CLASSICFM.  Christian has premiered over 300 works for the trombone (over 90 major concertos), recorded over 70 solo CDs, has an international solo competition created in his name, and been voted brass player of the 20th century side by side with Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. On top of his unrivaled career as a trombonist Lindberg has now also embarked on a highly successful conducting career, and the near future includes major conducting engagements in Musikverein, Suntory Hall, at Beethovenfest, in Salzburg Festspielhaus, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Meistersingerhalle, Nürnberg and National Centre for the Performing Arts (The Giant Egg) in Beijing with orchestras such as Nippon Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, New Zealand Symphony, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Irish National Philharmonic and Ulster Orchestra to name a few. Learn more about Christian Lindberg at https://www.tarrodi.se/cl/.

Jack Schatz, an in-demand New York City–based trombonist and tubist, has played in numerous Broadway shows, including The Phantom of the Opera, My Favorite Year, Damn Yankees, Hello Dolly!, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Side Show, Little Me, Flower Drum Song, Wonderful Town, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliott: The Musical, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, and Nice Work If You Can Get It. He can also be heard on recordings ranging from Barbara Cook’s All I Ask of You(DRG, 1999) and Jazz Takes on Joni Mitchell(Arkadia Jazz, 1999) to Chakra (Plastic Sax, 2013) and Noah (Nonesuch, 2014).