The Trombone Corner

• Episode #36 Michael Dease

  The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark. Come watch the Los Angeles Brass Alliance (LAB-A) at 7PM on May 4th at Glendale First baptist Church for their second installation of Next Up! This free concert (generously sponsored by Bob Reeves Brass) spotlights LAB-A's annual collaboration between emerging LA-based composers and brass musicians.  Learn more at: www.labrassalliance.org. Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Michael Dease, commercial trombonist from Los Angeles. About Michael: Michael Dease is one of the world's eminent trombonists, lending his versatile sound and signature improvisations to over 200 recordings and groups as diverse as Grammy winning artists David Sanborn, Christian McBride, Michel Camilo, and Alicia Keys. Born in Augusta, GA, he played the saxophone and trumpet before choosing the trombone at age 17. In 2001, Dease moved to New York City to become part of the historic first class of jazz students at The Juilliard School, earning both Bachelors and Masters degrees, and quickly established a reputation as a brilliant soloist, sideperson, and bandleader.   Best Next Thing (Posi-Tone, 2022), Dease’s newest release, his ninth on Posi-Tone, gathers together an assemblage of exceptional musicians to help him interactively explore the essence of the blues and reframe the abstract truths of jazz as the "Best Next Thing "for today's audience of listeners. Dease, the winner of the 69th Annual DownBeat Magazine Poll for Trombonist of the Year and multi-Grammy award winner, is also a sought-after lead, section and bass trombonist with today’s leading jazz orchestras. His experiences include bands led by Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Charles Tolliver, Rufus Reid, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. However, it is on the frontline of quintets and sextets led by master musicians like The Heath Brothers, Winard Harper, Renee Rosnes, Bill Charlap, Claudio Roditi, and Lewis Nash, where Dease has revitalized the trombone’s image. Not content to simply improvise, Dease arranges and composes for many different bands, constantly adjusting his tone and timbre to add just the right flavor to the music. Dease’s unique blend of curiosity, hard work and optimism has helped him earn worldwide recognition, including awards from ASCAP, The International Trombone Association, Yamaha, Eastern Trombone Workshop, New York Youth Symphony, Hot House Magazine, Michigan State University, among others. Dease was profiled in Cicily Janus’ book, The New Face of Jazz: An Intimate Look at Today’s Living Legends (Random House). His experience in the studio has led him to produce several recording sessions for emerging artists, often composing and writing liner notes for the releases. Dease’s singular talent has made him an effective and prolific teacher, resulting in invitations, master classes and residencies at University of North Texas, Scranton University, University of Iowa, Florida State College, Broward College, and many institutions abroad. He serves as Professor of Jazz Trombone at the renowned Michigan State University jazz program and has also been on faculty at Queens College - CUNY, The New School and North-eastern University. Many of Dease’s current and former students are enjoying successful careers in the music world. Always an informed, but forward-thinking musician, Dease learned the craft from trombone legends Wycliffe Gordon and Joseph Alessi. His associations have run the entire spectrum of musical experience: Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, Paul Schaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Elton John, Neal Diamond, Illinois Jacquet, Slide Hampton & The World of Trombones, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, WDR Big Band, George Gruntz, Billy Harper, and numerous others. Dease enjoys spending every possible minute with his extraordinary wife and Professor of Percussion at MSU, Gwendolyn Dease, and their daughters Brooklyn & Charley. Michael Dease is a Yamaha Performing Artist and uses Pickett Brass and Vandoren mouthpieces exclusively. View Michael's All Music Guide entry here for a partial listing of his sideperson credits and discography.

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• Episode #35 - Nick Lane

  The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Nick Lane, commercial trombonist from Los Angeles.   About Nick: Nick Lane is a free lance trombonist, arranger & composer who’s been a fixture on the Los Angeles music scene for many years. Born and raised in Marshalltown Iowa, he attended Drake University on a euphonium scholarship after high school. More excited by performance and jazz, he transferred to Boston’s Berklee College of Music to pursue trombone and music composition. Soon after graduating he joined Maynard Ferguson’s band and spent the next 4 years honing his skills, recording 5 albums and 17 of his arrangements and/or compositions with Maynard. After moving to L.A. Lane formed his own band resulting in the “Bone in the USA” album in 1985. By that time he’d been asked to do several long tours with Rod Stewart and then Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. So his band leader days transitioned into side man days, touring extensively with Stewart and later the Who (Quadraphenia) Neil Diamond, Etta James, among others. For the past 20+ years, he’s often filled in with the group Chicago. When NOT traveling, Lane has found his way onto over 500 CD recordings as well as hundreds of TV shows & movies. His arrangements & compositions have been featured in all mediums. He has released 2 more CD’s of his music….Alias Smith & Lane with baritone sax pal Greg Smith and a B-3 organ trio and Songs of the Heartland….a CD of music Lane composed for the Central Iowa Music Festival featuring full orchestra and chorus. It’s Nick’s fascination with melody and harmony that has inspired his continuing song writing and composing efforts. In more classical settings he has written extensively for brass: large ensemble, brass quintet, trombone quartet & trio plus numerous commissions for various groups and individuals. With writing partner Doc Kupka, several songs have found their way onto recent Tower of Power CD’s as well as projects with vocalists Ray Greene and Ellis Hall. (Available on Strokeland Records website) Lane continues to write, record & produce horn sections in the pop, rock & R&B genres. Still not afraid to “shake it” on stage, these days he’s more often found in a recording studio, trying to capture the moment.

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• Episode #34 - Ira Nepus

  The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Ira Nepus, jazz and commercial trombonist from Los Angeles. About Ira: Ira Nepus was born in Los Angeles, California and was raised on the jazz heritage of his father, one of the key founders of the Hot Club of France in Paris during the late Thirties and was featured in his first jazz concert at the age of 15. Ira gives equal importance to all styles of jazz, from traditional on up through contemporary. Ira currently performs with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which he has been an original member of for over thirty-eight years, privately teaches, and performs in all major recording studios throughout the Los Angeles area. He also plays and tours periodically with his own quartet and continues to record in that format. He currently is artistic director for the Gardens of the World's Summer Jazz Series in Thousand Oaks, sponsored by the Hogan Family Foundation celebrating over 10 years of concerts in the Park. He has performed/recorded with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Leon Russell, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Elvis Costello, BB King, (Grammy Winner) and/or also recorded with some of the following greats: Benny Carter, Woody Herman, Del Courtney, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, Nelson Riddle, Lionel Hampton, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, and Cab Calloway to name a few.

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• Episode #33 - Naomi Moon Siegel

  The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Naomi Moon Siegel, trombonist and composer from Mizzoula, Montana. About Naomi Moon Siegel: An award-winning trombonist, improviser, composer and educator, Naomi Moon Siegel is committed to creating a positive, transformative music culture beyond conventional genre norms. She has been an innovative performer and recording artist since graduating from Oberlin Conservatory in 2006. Siegel kicked off her professional career on the West Coast in Oakland, California, and came of age as a composer and bandleader in Seattle's thriving improv scene. Siegel is a staunch advocate for intersectional gender justice in jazz and music settings, leading workshops to build awareness and work towards positive systemic shifts in our music culture. Her third album Shatter The Glass Sanctuary (Slow & Steady Records, 2024) is a collection of adventurous original works that chronicles her adjustment to small-town living in Missoula, Montana, after residing for many years in Seattle, Washington. The music follows her inward journey of emotional highs and lows, propelled ever forward by a stellar sextet of acclaimed Seattle musicians. She is currently touring the new album throughout the Pacific Northwest. Listen and purchase her latest album here!  

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• Episode #32 - Conrad Herwig

  The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Conrad Herwig, commercial and jazz trombonist from New York City. About Conrad: New York jazz artist CONRAD HERWIG has recorded nearly 30 albums as a leader, receiving four GRAMMY®-nominations for his own projects. His latest CD release is The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner (Savant; 2024). This albums marks 27+ years of the “Latin Side . . .” series, and is a follow-up project to The “Latin Side of ...” tributes to Charles Mingus (Savant 2022), Horace Silver (Savant; 2020), Joe Henderson (Half Note; 2014), Herbie Hancock (Half Note;2010) Wayne Shorter (Half Note; 2008), Miles Davis (Half Note; 2004), and John Coltrane (Astor Place; 1996). These exciting and individualized projects feature an array of special guests including Randy Brecker, Ruben Blades, Michel Camilo, Joe Lovano, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D’Rivera, Dave Valentin and many of the hottest players on the international scene. Herwig is equally facile in a non-Latin arena. He has been voted #1 Jazz Trombonist in DownBeat Magazine “Jazz Critic’s Poll” and nominated for “Trombonist of the Year” by the JazzJournalists Association on numerous occasions. In constant demand as a sideman, Herwig has performed with Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, and Joe Lovano (featured as a soloist on Lovano’s GRAMMY® Award winning 52nd St. Themes CD). In the Afro-Caribbean genre he has toured with legends such as Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, and Michel Camilo. He is a longtime member of the the Mingus Big Band (where he has served as musical director and arranger including on the 2011 GRAMMY®-winning “Live at the Jazz Standard”). In other big band settings Herwig has also performed and recorded with Clark Terry, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis & Quincy Jones, and the Gil Evans Orchestra. All told Herwig has appeared on more than 200+ albums in what is now a 40 year career. In 2006 Herwig received the Paul Acket Award (formerly the “Bird Award”). The prize, presented at the North Sea Jazz Festival, is intended for an artist who, according to the international jury, deserves the attention of a broader audience. Herwig is also a recipient of performance and teaching grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Conrad was elected to the Board of Advisors of the International Trombone Association and has taught at Mason Gross School of the Arts in the prestigious jazz program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. where he currently serves as Artistic Director and Chair of Jazz Studies.

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