{"id":3588,"date":"2014-03-07T14:53:05","date_gmt":"2014-03-07T14:53:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.artinfo.com\/blunotes\/?p=3588"},"modified":"2014-03-07T14:53:05","modified_gmt":"2014-03-07T14:53:05","slug":"fanfare-for-brooklyn-a-brass-fest-is-born","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/larryblumenfeld.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/07\/fanfare-for-brooklyn-a-brass-fest-is-born\/","title":{"rendered":"Fanfare For Brooklyn (A Brass Fest is Born)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The late trumpeter Lester Bowie will be honored at the first annual Brooklyn Brass Festival. Photo by Robert Serra<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I played trumpet in junior high band, in Brooklyn. My father-in-law is a professional trumpeter. When I\u2019m in New Orleans, I hang out with trombonists and tuba players.<\/p>\n

Brass players are their own breed, with calloused lips and unusual ideas about harmony and volume.<\/p>\n

Earl McIntyre <\/strong>was born in Brooklyn. His career as a trombonist, composer an arranger includes work with a long list of famous names that spans genres and generations: Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, the Art Ensemble of Chicago<\/strong>, among others, and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra<\/strong>, with which he was associated for more than 20 years.
\nHe\u2019s gathered some of his best brass-wielding friends in his (and my) home borough\u00a0for his first annual \u201cBrooklyn Brass Festival,<\/strong>\u201d March 7-9 <\/strong>at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music<\/strong> and Long Island University’s Kumble Theater<\/strong> (for a schedule, scroll down or go here<\/a>). It includes a\u00a0tribute to one of McIntyre\u2019s closest collaborators, the late trumpeter Lester Bowie<\/strong>, featuring the brilliant trumpeter Tom Harrell<\/strong> and including Bowie’s rarely (as in inly once before) performed piece, “Beyond The Gray Haze.”
\nFor anyone who plays, teaches or studies brass instruments (like McIntyre, most of these musicians are distinguished educators) or anyone in Brooklyn who just likes the sound of them, this festival should offer many and rare joys (such as 11 trombones in one band). The website says that students attend free<\/strong>.
\nWe discussed the event via email:
\nHow and why did you create the Brooklyn Brass Festival?<\/strong>
\nI created it to increase the brass presence in the New York City area. Years ago, we had many stores and vendors dedicated to selling brass and band instruments in New York. Now, we have very few. New York City students receive a limited amount of exposure to band instruments. We had brass conferences and other events where professionals met and shared ideas. Up and coming artists met masters of their craft.
\nWe no longer have that for various reasons, including the cost of real estate, hotel prices, and changes in educational priorities. Brooklyn, as a borough, and both the Brooklyn Conservatory and Long Island University as sponsors strike me as components of what could be a positive situation. We hope to make this an annual event.
\nDo you think the festival communicates anything about the identity of brass players, and about Brooklyn\u2019s scene?<\/strong>
\nI think it communicates Brooklyn’s “cutting edge” status within the arts community. Things that aren’t possible in other areas of New York for various reasons are occurring here. As for brass players, I think many of us miss the camaraderie that our community had years ago. Things are a bit far-flung, making it harder for us to exchange ideas, and certain performance practices are much easier to exchange live instead of online.
\nWhat do you think audiences will get out of this that they don’t normally get from the New York scene?<\/strong>
\nStudents will learn how to improve their abilities and develop a greater understanding of the various cultures that use brass instruments to perform their music. General audiences will see great brass players in a higher concentration than in other situations.\u00a0Also, we\u2019re presenting the New York premiere of Lester Bowie’s “Beyond The Gray Haze.\u201d This work has only been performed once\u2014in Chicago, 15 years ago\u2014and never in a brass\/percussion configuration with trumpet master Tom Harrell, and an all-star version of [Bowie\u2019s former band] Brass Fantasy. We\u2019ve got the incredible [trombonist] Steve Turre! A David Taylor-Slide Ride event featuring 11 trombones!
\nWhat were your experiences with Lester Bowie like?<\/strong>
\nI met and began to work with Lester Bowie through the “Musicians of Brooklyn Initiative”. This was an organization Lester, [alto saxophonist] Oliver Lake and [pianist] Cecil Taylor started in order to increase music performance situations in Brooklyn. I later went on to write quite a bit for Brass Fantasy and for special projects involving the Art Ensemble of Chicago [of which Bowie was a founding member] and other bands.
\nLester and I had similar backgrounds. Family bands, brass bands, the Salvation Army band. We also both had a wide musical concept, and a love for musical humor.
\nLester never told me what to write. I do remember him telling me this, when he had me do an arrangement of \u201cMy Way\u201d: \u201cAll the things you always wanted to do to the tune that no would let you do\u2014Do that for me.\u201d
\n\"\"<\/a>Brooklyn Conservatory of Music presents the<\/strong>
\nFirst Annual Brooklyn Brass Festival <\/strong>
\nin Association with the<\/strong>
\nLong Island University Brooklyn Campus<\/strong>
\nMarch 7-9, 2014<\/strong>
\nEvent locations
\nBCM Concert hall
\nLIU Brooklyn Campus
\nLIU Kumble Theater LIU Kumble Theater
\nFriday March 7th <\/strong>
\nSteve Turre Quintet<\/em><\/strong> & 7:30 & 9pm BCM Concert Hall<\/em>
\nSaturday, March 8<\/span><\/strong> Long Island University Brooklyn Campus
\n10:00 am-6:00 pm Exhibits<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n10:00 am-1:00 pm Spotlight Performance with High School\/College Band & critique<\/em>
\nBob Stewart, Conrad Herwig, Wayne Escoffery, Jerome Harris<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>
\n <\/em>
\nLunch Break 1-2pm (vendors remain operational)<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n2:00-3:20 \u201cClassical, Jazz & Beyond\u201d Workshop for Euphonium & Tuba with Dave Bargeron<\/strong><\/em>
\n2:00-3:20 pm Art of French horn Improvisation\u201d Workshop with Jeff Scott<\/strong><\/em>
\n2:00-3:20 Jimmy Owens Wilmer<\/strong> Wise Trumpet discussion.<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n3:40- 5:00 pm Trombone Workshop (Conrad Herwig<\/strong>)<\/em>
\n3:40- 5:00 Rhythm master class (Jerome Harris<\/strong>)<\/em>
\n3:40-5:00 Wayne Escoffrey<\/strong> saxophone master class<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n5:00-6:00 Exhibits continue<\/em>
\n6:00-7:00) Break<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n7:00-9:00pm<\/em>
\nBrass Fantasy <\/em><\/strong> <\/em>
\nTribute Concert to Lester Bowie with Brass Fantasy\/Carnival with guest artist<\/em>
\nTom Harrell<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>
\n\u201cLester Bowie Day Award\u201d to Deborah Bowie<\/em>
\n(Lester Bowie\u2019s wife)<\/em>
\nSunday March 9th<\/strong>
\nBCM 3pm<\/em>
\nDave Taylor<\/em><\/strong> Solo set<\/em>
\nSlide Ride<\/em>
\nRound table Discussion on Contemporary trombone<\/em>
\n(where is it going and why?)<\/em>
\nI played trumpet in junior high band, in Brooklyn. My father-in-law is a professional trumpeter. When I\u2019m in New Orleans, I usually hang out with trombonists and tuba players.
\nBrass players are their own breed, with calloused lips and, often, unusual ideas about harmony and volume.
\nEarl McIntyre, who was born in Brooklyn. His career as a trombonist, composer an arranger includes work with a long list of famous names that spans genres and generations: Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, among others, and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, with which he was associated for more than 20 years.
\nHe\u2019s gathered some of his best brass-wielding friends, including trombonists Steve Turre, Dave Taylor and Conrad Herwig, and trumpeter Tom Harrell, for his fist annual \u201cBrooklyn Brass Festival\u201d (for a schedule, scroll down or go here). It includes a special tribute to one of McIntyre\u2019s closest collaborators, the late trumpeter Lester Bowie, and includes Bowie’s rarely (as in inly once before) performed piece, “Beyond The Gray Haze.\u201d
\nFor anyone who plays, teaches or studies brass instruments (like McIntyre, most of these musicians are distinguished educators) or anyone in Brooklyn who just likes the sound of it should offer many and rare joys.
\nWe discussed the event via email:
\nHow and why did you create the Brooklyn Brass Festival? <\/strong>
\nI created it to increase the brass presence in the New York City area. Years ago, we had many stores and vendors dedicated to selling brass and band instruments in New York. Now, we have very few. New York City students receive a limited amount of exposure to band instruments. We had brass conferences and other events where professionals met and shared ideas. Up and coming artists met masters of their craft.
\nWe no longer have that for various reasons, including the cost of real estate, hotel prices, and changes in educational priorities. Brooklyn, as a borough, and both the Brooklyn Conservatory and Long Island University as sponsors strike me as components of what could be a positive situation. We hope to make this an annual event.
\nDo you think the festival communicates anything about the identity of brass players, and about Brooklyn\u2019s scene?<\/strong>
\nI think it communicates Brooklyn’s “cutting edge” status within the arts community. Things that aren’t possible in other areas of New York for various reasons are occurring here. As for brass players, I think many of us miss the camaraderie that our community had years ago. Things are a bit far-flung, making it harder for us to exchange ideas, and certain performance practices are much easier to exchange live instead of online.
\nWhat do you think audiences will get out of this that they don’t normally get from the New York scene?<\/strong>
\nStudents will learn how to improve their abilities and develop a greater understanding of the various cultures that use brass instruments to perform their music. General audiences will see great brass players in a higher concentration than in other situations.\u00a0Also, we\u2019re presenting the New York premiere of Lester Bowie’s “Beyond The Gray Haze.\u201d This work has only been performed once\u2014in Chicago, 15 years ago\u2014and never in a brass\/percussion configuration with trumpet master Tom Harrell, and an all-star version of [Bowie\u2019s former band] Brass Fantasy. We\u2019ve got the incredible [trombonist] Steve Turre! A David Taylor-Slide Ride event featuring 11 trombones!
\nWhat were your experiences with Lester Bowie like?<\/strong>
\nI met and began to work with Lester Bowie through the “Musicians of Brooklyn Initiative”. This was an organization Lester, [alto saxophonist] Oliver Lake and [pianist] Cecil Taylor started in order to increase music performance situations in Brooklyn. I later went on to write quite a bit for Brass Fantasy and for special projects involving the Art Ensemble of Chicago [of which Bowie was a founding member] and other bands.
\nLester and I had similar backgrounds. Family bands, brass bands, the Salvation Army band. We also both had a wide musical concept, and a love for musical humor.
\nLester never told me what to write. I do remember him telling me this, when he had me do an arrangement of \u201cMy Way\u201d: \u201cAll the things you always wanted to do to the tune that no would let you do\u2014Do that for me.\u201d
\nBrooklyn Conservatory of Music presents<\/strong>
\nFirst Annual Brooklyn Brass Festival in Association with the<\/strong>
\nLong Island University Brooklyn Campus<\/strong>
\nMarch 7-9, 2014<\/strong>
\nEvent locations
\nBCM Concert hall
\nLIU Brooklyn Campus
\nLIU Kumble Theater LIU Kumble Theater
\nFriday March 7th <\/strong>
\nSteve Turre Quintet<\/em><\/strong> & 7:30 & 9pm BCM Concert Hall<\/em>
\nSaturday, March 8<\/span><\/strong> Long Island University Brooklyn Campus
\n10:00 am-6:00 pm Exhibits<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n10:00 am-1:00 pm Spotlight Performance with High School\/College Band & critique<\/em>
\nBob Stewart, Conrad Herwig, Wayne Escoffery, Jerome Harris<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>
\n <\/em>
\nLunch Break 1-2pm (vendors remain operational)<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n2:00-3:20 \u201cClassical, Jazz & Beyond\u201d Workshop for Euphonium & Tuba with Dave Bargeron<\/strong><\/em>
\n2:00-3:20 pm Art of French horn Improvisation\u201d Workshop with Jeff Scott<\/strong><\/em>
\n2:00-3:20 Jimmy Owens Wilmer<\/strong> Wise Trumpet discussion.<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n3:40- 5:00 pm Trombone Workshop (Conrad Herwig<\/strong>)<\/em>
\n3:40- 5:00 Rhythm master class (Jerome Harris<\/strong>)<\/em>
\n3:40-5:00 Wayne Escoffrey<\/strong> saxophone master class<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n5:00-6:00 Exhibits continue<\/em>
\n6:00-7:00) Break<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n7:00-9:00pm<\/em>
\nBrass Fantasy <\/em><\/strong> <\/em>
\nTribute Concert to Lester Bowie with Brass Fantasy\/Carnival with guest artist<\/em>
\nTom Harrell<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>
\n\u201cLester Bowie Day Award\u201d to Deborah Bowie<\/em>
\n(Lester Bowie\u2019s wife)<\/em>
\nSunday March 9th<\/strong>
\nBCM 3pm<\/em>
\nDave Taylor<\/em><\/strong> Solo set<\/em>
\nSlide Ride<\/em>
\nRound table Discussion on Contemporary trombone<\/em>
\n(where is it going and why?)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I played trumpet in junior high band, in Brooklyn. My father-in-law is a professional trumpeter. When I\u2019m in New Orleans, I hang out with trombonists and tuba players. Brass players are their own breed, with calloused lips and unusual ideas about harmony and volume. Earl McIntyre was born in Brooklyn. His career as a trombonist, … <\/p>\n

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