Webster Jazz Bands

Michael Philip Mossman to commission tune for WG Jazz I

2008-05-11T19:45:00.003-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, Michael and I are in the final stages of preparation for the late 2008 release of his commissioned piece for Jazz I. The piece is likely to be in an afro-cuban or boogaloo style (or both) and will feature our outstanding trombone section. It will also be released in 2009 as a Hal Leonard publication. Commissioning a piece is an extremely important event in any program, and I am proud to have such a magnificent writer as Michael working with us!

Jazz I auditions

2008-05-01T16:13:00.000-04:00

2008-2009 Jazz I auditions will take place in the high school bandroom on Wednesday night, May 21 at 6:30PM. Audition packets will be made available at Hixson Middle and WGHS on the afternoon of Friday, May 2nd. The 2008-2009 roster will be announced on Friday, May 23.

WG Jazz I at Art and Air 6PM!

2008-05-01T16:11:00.001-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, WGHS JAZZ I will be performing at Webster's Art and Air Festival on Saturday, June 7 from 6:00 to 7:30PM. This is a change from before...We will also be joined by several alumni all-stars! Mark your calendars!

Webster students enjoy clinic with Cyrus Chestnut

2008-03-05T19:31:00.003-05:00

Jazz St. Louis was kind enough to supply us with another fine clinician today; Pianist Cyrus Chestnut and his trio. Dozens of students enjoyed a performance by the trio, followed by a clinic session with WG Jazz Combo 1.

That makes our current tally of professionals with whom WG Jazz students have worked this year to:

US Airmen of Note
Esperanza Spaulding
Delfeayo Marsalis
Chip McNeill
Michael Philip Mossmann
Tim Warfield
Dana Hall
Phil Palombi
Cyrus Chestnut Trio

Thanks to all those who have helped make these clinics possible. The influence on our students is immeasurable.

Jazz in the Meadows-combo champions!

2008-02-24T18:48:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the results from Jazz in the Meadows:

Jazz I performed extremely well, and rankings have yet to be determined.

Combo II received high marks in the non-competitive class.

Combo I was honored as small combo champions for the second time in three years!

Blake Deibel was selected as the outstanding soloist in the small combo division.

Congratulations to ALL students who attended JITM. I hope everyone had a great time.

Metro East Jazz Festival Grand Champions

2008-02-20T22:34:00.001-05:00

Webster Groves Jazz I took 'Grand Champion' honors at the Metro East Jazz festival in Belleville on Feb. 16.

Blake Deibel was selected 'top soloist.'

Combo 1 was selected as the top combo of the day.

Jazz II received 2nd place in their class.

Congratulations to all students, and thanks for a great day.

Chicago trip

2008-02-20T17:11:00.005-05:00

Folks, here is the info on the Chicago trip. I've tried twice with no success to get through on the listserv...

please notice the SLIGHT change in call time on Friday due to inclement weather.

IF WE HAVE SCHOOL, students should most certainly go to school and report to the bandroom AFTER their first class.

Friday, Feb. 22

10:00AM depart WGHS
1:00PM lunch in Bloomington-Normal
2:00 head to Schaumburg
5:00 arrive Springhill Suites, Schaumburg
5:30 eat dinner, likely at Woodfield Mall
7:00 head to Hammerschmidt Chapel, Elmhurst College
7:30 jazz concert featuring Gary Smulyan, bari sax; Jiggs Whigham, trombone; Dennis Mackrel, drums.

Saturday, Feb 23
all day at Rolling Meadows High School-Jazz in the Meadows Fest.
11:30 combo 2
2:00 Jazz I
3:30 combo I
5:00PM finals
7:00 awards
8:30 dinner at Lou Malnati's, Elk Grove Village

Sunday, Feb 24
9:00AM depart Schaumburg
2:30PM arrive WGHS

All students are encouraged to wear the hoodies, and PERFORMERS should wear all black for Saturday.

Students will be responsible for FOUR meals-Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday lunch, and Sunday lunch.

Missouri All-State 2008

2008-01-22T18:32:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the following students who were selected to the 20-person Missouri All-State Jazz Band this year:

Blake Deibel, lead alto
Wilke Coleman, lead tenor
Jacob Edwards, lead trombone
Christopher Sell, drumset

Caleb Smith, trumpet (chose orchestra)
Ally Hany, trumpet (chose concert band)

In a state of nearly 6 million people...6 of the top 25 isn't too bad...

Jazz dates to know

2008-01-22T18:24:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, Feb. 12 Jazz concert, WGHS
Saturday, Feb. 16 Metro East Jazz Fest (Belleville)
Friday, Feb. 22 Jazz in the Meadows, Chicago IL
Wednesday, Mar. 12 Combo night at the Roadhouse
Thursday, Mar. 13 Jazz I performance TBA
Saturday, Apr. 19 Greater St. Louis Jazz Fest (UMSL)
Thursday, May 15 Jazz concert, WGHS
June 6-7 Jazz I at Art and Air (WG)

stay tuned for details on festival dates

All-Suburban Jazz Band 2007-2008

2007-11-06T19:45:00.000-05:00

All-Suburban Jazz Band 2007-2008

SAXOPHONES
Drew Lefkowith, lead alto Clayton High School
Kate Scott, 2nd alto Lindbergh High School
Blake Deibel, lead tenor Webster Groves HS
Wilke Coleman, 2nd tenor Webster Groves HS
Jeff Collier, bari St. Charles West HS
Blake Deibel, alternate alto WGHS
Dirk Downing, alternate bari WGHS

TRUMPETS
Ally Hany, split-lead Webster Groves HS
Justin Firth, split-lead Lindbergh HS
Caleb Smith, solo Webster Groves HS
Anne Linders, jazz Pattonville HS
Montel Moore, jazz Pattonville HS
Luke Arens, alternate Pattonville HS
Bryan Foote, alternate Oakville HS

TROMBONES
Jacob Edwards, lead Webster Groves HS
Andrew Brimer, solo Lindbergh HS
Paul Davis, jazz Webster Groves HS
Eric Pashia, bass 1 Lindbergh HS
Derek Schloemann, bass 2 Webster Groves HS
Emily Muser, alt Oakville HS

RHYTHM
Christopher Sell, drums 1 Webster Groves HS
Ben Portner, drums 2 Clayton HS
Samson Mengstaeb, piano Parkway South HS
Jacob Berendzen, alt piano WGHS
Bo Bray, guitar Webster Groves HS
Jack Callahan, alt guitar Clayton HS
Ben Mogerman, bass Clayton HS
Mike Vangel, alt bass Lindbergh HS
Ben Portner, vibes Clayton HS
Brian Fleischer, perc-aux Clayton HS

USAF Airmen of Note to perform at Steger School

2007-10-16T18:23:00.000-04:00

WGSD students will take part in a clinic with the world's premiere full-time big band, the United States Air Force Airmen of Note.

The Airmen will perform at Sheldon Concert Hall on Wednesday evening, October 17 and follow up with a pair of Thursday concerts at Steger School. WGSD staff is excited to host such an amazing organization.

Webster students join Delfeayo Marsalis

2007-10-16T18:19:00.000-04:00

On Friday October 5th, students from Webster Groves High School were lucky enough to spend a couple of hours with trombone great Delfeayo Marsalis. Mr. Marsalis was kind enough to come out and share some expertise on jazz small groups and trombone technique. Check out his new album 'Minions Dominion' on the Troubador Jass label.

Jazz and Joy 2007

2007-10-06T09:21:00.000-04:00

Jazz and Joy 2007 will take place on November 16 at the Shrewsbury Civic Center. Be sure to check the blog for details!

Jazz I Program for Sept 15 Festival

2007-08-28T09:36:00.000-04:00

Program to be selected from the following tunes:

Loved One (ballad)-Antonio Garcia
Moten Swing (swing)-Benny Moten/Basie
Naima (latin)-Coltrane
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (ballad)-Wolf/Landesman
Tickletoe (swing)-Lester Young
They Can't Take That Away From Me (slow swing)-Porter
Won't You Be My Neighbor (latin)-Rogers
Listen Up! (funk)-Jackson
The Chicken (funk)-P. Ellis
Footprints (waltz)-Shorter
Who's Walkin Who? (swing)-Mintzer
Dance of Denial (afro)-Mossman
Ladybird (swing)-Dameron

I'll make a CD available ASAP.

WG at the Bistro 2008-Featuring Michael Philip Mossman

2007-08-16T14:08:00.000-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen,

WGHS Jazz I and II will be playing at Jazz at the Bistro on Tuesday, January 8, 2008.

We will be featuring New York-based trumpeter and arranger MICHAEL PHILIP MOSSMAN. Trumpeter, arranger and composer Michael has been active on the international scene since the age of 17. Mr. Mossman has performed and recorded with his own groups and with bands led by a virtual who's who of the music industry. He currently is lead trumpeter with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra.
Michael’s most recent solo album, the Orisha Suite on Pimienta, was nominated for a Latin Grammy.The album features Ray Barretto, Paquito D’Rivera, Patato Valdez and many others. Michael is also featured as lead trumpet and arranger on the Grammy nominated album, Un Noche Inolvidable by the Lincoln Center afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. as Earlier releases by Michael Mossman were Mama Soho, on the TCB label and Springdance, released on the Claves Jazz label. Both feature Michael’s much sought after work as composer/arranger in Afro-Cuban and Brazilian jazz. Michael currently publishes music with the Hal Leonard Corp., Three-two Music, Really Good Music, and his own Ryamos Music Co.

A National Merit Scholar, Michael graduated cum laude from Oberlin College and Oberlin Conservatory with degrees in Sociology/Anthropology as well as Orchestral Trumpet and Jazz composition. He studied with Vincent Cichowicz of the Chicago Symphony before moving to New York. Michael completed his Master's degree at Rutgers University and studied film scoring with Don Sebesky. Michael is also a graduate of Anthony Robbin's Mastery University.

Following stints as lead trumpet with the Machito Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Michael became the musical director of Blue Note Record's "young lion" group, Out of the Blue (OTB). He recorded four albums for Blue Note with this group before disbanding to join the Horace Silver Quintet.

In addition to Horace's group, Michael has toured and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, McKoy Tyner, Gerry Mulligan, Joe Zawinul, Slide Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, George Gruntz, Bob Mintzer, Steve Turre, Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, Tom Pierson, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Charles Mingus Orchestra, Benny Carter, the Gil Evans Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra.

Michael has also been a key performer in Latin Jazz since his days with Machito. Michael has performed and recorded with Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Chico O'Farrill, Ray Barretto, Daniel Ponce, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Paquito D'Rivera, Bebo Valdez and Michel Camilo (including a screen appearance in the motion picture "Two Much"). Michael is featured in the highly acclaimed documentary on contemporary Latin Jazz “Calle 54” as both performer and commentator. Michael served as staff arranger and trumpet soloist for the legendary innovator of salsa, Mario Bauza and his Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Michael has composed and arranged scores for Joe Henderson’s Grammy winning Big Band album, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, The Charles Mingus Orchestra,Tito Puente, Mario Bauza, Slide Hampton and the Jazz Masters Orchestra, Paquito D'Rivera and the United Nation Orchestra, the UMO Orchestra of Finland, the NDR Big Band of Hamburg, Germany, the WDR of Cologne, Germany, the Danish Radio Big Band, the Andalucia Latin Jazz Big Band, the Heineken Jazz Festival Orchestra in Puerto Rico, the Granada Big band, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Ray Barretto's New World Spirit. Michael has also arranged music for the film Bossa Nova.

Michael has performed classical and contemporary classical pieces with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Naumburg Orchestra, the Jupiter Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Composer's Guild, the Garden State Chamber Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, the National Symphony of the Dominican Republic, and the contemporary classical ensemble "Secret Cosmos." Michael has recorded the Daniel Schnyder Trumpet Sonata on the Koch Schwann label and has recorded two solo classical albums for MM1.

Michael has been active in music education throughout his career. Michael has held positions on the faculties of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Rutgers University, The New School for Social Research, Bloomfield College, Manhattanville College, and the New Jersey Summer Arts Institute. Michael is currently Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in New York City.

Michael has given numerous clinics in music performance, composition, and music business in the United States and abroad. These have included the Oberlin Conservatory (3), the Eastman School of Music, Georgia State University, Moorhead State University, Duke University, Georgia Southwestern State U., Southwest Texas State U., the University of Central Florida(2), University of South Florida, Princeton University, Long Island University, for the Disney Corp., the 1999 and 2003 IAJE Conventions, the New Jersey Teen Arts Festivals, Long Island BOCES, and in Jazz Life Magazine of Tokyo, Japan.

Our performance at the Bistro will begin at 7PM, and tickets will be on sale at a later date via MetroTix.

Stay tuned!

Old Webster Jazz Festival

2007-08-10T17:14:00.000-04:00

Here are the details on Jazz I's Old Webster Jazz Festival performance:

*Date: Saturday, September 15
*Time: 6-7PM
*Location: Allen Street Stage (next to Cookie's)

I will publish a list of music and circulate a demo CD for Jazz I students.

Be there!

Second Annual Jazzy Joy Auction

2007-06-12T15:37:00.000-04:00

November 16, 2007 is the official date for the second annual Jazzy Joy Auction to benefit the WGHS bands. Last year's auction was an immense success, and we're looking to expand our operations in 2007. I'm currently contacting potential guest artists, and please contact me at cole.kevin@mail.webster.k12.mo.us with any contributions.

WGHS Bands at Busch Stadium June 20

2007-03-31T17:59:00.000-04:00

Be sure to get your tickets ASAP for our first trip to Busch III. The 2006 and 2007 marching bands will perform 'God Bless America' during the 7th inning stretch.

Ticket sales will be limited, so make sure you return forms and checks to Kevin Cole or Julie Burchett.

Back from NYC

2007-03-29T18:41:00.000-04:00

We'll, we're back. We had a GREAT time, and I think we accomplished all of our goals.

Perhaps the (new) highlight of our trip happened just hours before we left, as we enjoyed the world-renowned MINGUS DYNASTY. Conrad Herwig (trombone), Vincent Herring (alto), Wayne Escoffrey (tenor), and Donald Edwards (drums) among others were SPECTACULAR. Most of our musicians agreed that the performance alone would have been worth the cost.

I personally want to thank all participants (and parents at home, without whom we wouldn't have had many students...) who made the trip such a success. We wouldn't continue to have these opportunities without the support, maturity, and continued progressive thinking of our members.

Sunday and Monday highlights

2007-03-26T22:17:00.000-04:00

Salutations from Gotham.

Sunday was obviously highlighted by a tremendous performance with the great Bob Mintzer. Bob had many great things to say about the bands during our clinic, ("are these kids all from one school?") and our concert was extremely well received by a very sophisticated audience.

Group #2 took in an outstanding show by the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Latin Group at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club, and we all enjoyed an outstanding guided bus tour of Upper Manhattan and Harlem.

Monday's highlights were many: Our day began with a terrific clinic with composer/arranger/performer Michael Mossman, who is perhaps best known as the lead trumpeter with the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Orchestra. Mike led the bands through a couple of tunes apiece, offering tips on everything from the practice room to the performance hall.

After lunch and an on-your-own stroll through Central Park, students toured Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. We then ate dinner and enjoyed a performance at perhaps the coolest venue in the world, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. (Proudly serving Pepsi.)

We've got one more day here before our long busride home.

Saturday in NYC

2007-03-25T00:40:00.000-04:00

Webster jazz students spent Saturday taking on NYC as tourists. We enjoyed our visits to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and we finally got out and stretched our legs on a walk from the South Street Seaport (Fulton and South) all the way up through Chinatown, Little Italy, SOHO, and Greenwich Village.

After a short bus ride, half the group attended a concert by 'The Final Four' at Birdland, while the rest viewed the spectacular sights from atop the Empire State Building.

Tomorrow is a very big day for our musicians, as we will join tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer in clinic and concert. Be sure to follow the link at left to Bob's website to read his list of credits and recordings.

Live from New York...

2007-03-23T23:35:00.000-04:00

Folks, we're in New York. We've enjoyed our first day here, highlighted by our clinics with Tom 'Bones' Malone. Tom talked to students about everything from instrument/accessory selection to professionalism and preparation.

Our trip here was long but uneventful, and our commute is interesting and loaded with terrific views. For many of the students who haven't been to NYC before, it must seem like we're in a foreign country-traffic, architecture, and people like we seldom see.

I'll update the blog daily, so be sure to check in each morning.