[Shotimes] RE: OT great Jazz from NIU tonight

[Ron Fleshman]

Conrad is the best trombonist in the world bar none.  With the demise of Kai
Winding and Si Zentner, and the retirements of J.J. Johnson, Bill Watrous,
and Dave Bargeron, he's simply the best.  I envy you.

 

And you are right, nothing is finer than live big-band, big brass music.  We
only get that occasionally when Maynard Ferguson's band comes through town.
It's sad that many young folks will never attend these functions simply
because they haven't heard this kind of music.  Heck, many have never heard
a real trumpet or trombone because much of the music played nowadays
synthesizes those instruments.  With the de-emphasis on the arts in our
schools and the emphasis being on tests and the core subjects, we may be
seeing the last of the great taught musicians.  That is a tragedy.

 

 

Ron

92 White

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Mallinson [mailto:dmall@mwonline.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 11:17 PM
To: V8SHO@v8sho.com; shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: OT great Jazz from NIU tonight

 

A local high school with a progressive music educator in charge put on a 

jazz clinic today for area high school and middle school musicians.  The 

guest clinicians were the Northern Illinois University Jazz band, 

Directed by Ronald Carter, with Conrad Herwig on Trombone as the guest 

soloist.

 

Never heard of Conrad Herwig?  Well, I don't think I had either, but he 

is probably the best trombonist in the nation if not the world, or at 

least in the top tiny %.  He does things with a Trombone that I didn't 

think were possible (musically for those that must think in odd terms!)  :)

 

Oh and Ronald Carter is heavily involved in the Lincoln Jazz Center, and 

is a bunch of fun to watch direct, and he isn't a bad singer.

 

The NIU jazz band is consistently rated at the top of the college Jazz 

world, and would compare to any pro outfit.

 

Not much in this world is better than live music, and live big band 

jazz, done really right is something to treasure.

 

Just had to share.

 

Don Mallinson