The Trombone Corner – Details, episodes & analysis

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Steve Suminski, Los Angeles and Bay Area studio musician and freelancer.

About Steve:

Steven Suminski is an active freelance and studio trombonist in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Areas. He currently serves as Guest Principal Trombone with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and holds posts as Principal Trombone with Symphony San Jose, Opera Santa Barbara and the Riverside County Philharmonic.

Steven has appeared with many premier ensembles in the area, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Santa Barbara Symphony, Long Beach Symphony and Los Angeles Master Chorale. 

As a studio musician he has recorded for film and television projects working with composers such as John Williams, Christophe Beck, Michael Giacchino, James Newton Howard, Ludwig Göransson and countless others.

Passionate about chamber music and performing new works, he is a member of the acclaimed Modern Brass Quintet and is a founding member of the award winning group Brass Pacifica, currently working for the educational division of the Music Center of Los Angeles.

Steven began playing trombone at the age of nine, eventually moving to Los Angeles to study music performance at the University of Southern California. Currently he lives in the Los Angeles area and maintains an active teaching studio at Riverside City College.

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Joseph Alessi, principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic.

About Joseph Alessi:

Joseph Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic in the spring of 1985. He began musical studies in his native California with his father, Joseph Alessi, Sr. As a high school student in San Rafael, California, he was a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony before continuing his musical training at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to joining the Philharmonic, Mr. Alessi was second trombone of The Philadelphia Orchestra for four seasons, and principal trombone of L'Orchestre symphonique de Montreal for one season. In addition, he has performed as guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall led by Pierre Boulez. Mr. Alessi is an active soloist, recitalist, and chamber music performer. In April 1990 he made his solo debut with the New York Philharmonic, performing Creston's Fantasy for Trombone, and in 1992 premiered Christopher Rouse's Pulitzer Prize- winning Trombone Concerto with the Philharmonic, which commissioned the work for its 150th anniversary celebration. His most recent appearance with the Philharmonic as soloist was in performances of the Tan-Dun Trombone Concerto in March of 2024. Mr. Alessi also has appeared as soloist with the New York Philharmonic in performances of concerti by Kazimierz Serocki, Bramwell Tovey, William Bolcom, Chick Corea, and William Grant Still. Composed especially for Mr. Alessi, he performed the world premiere of the Chick Corea Trombone Concerto with the Säo Paulo Symphony Orchestra in August of 2021.

Joseph Alessi has recorded and performed extensively with five prominent trombone quartets; The New York Trombone Quartet resulting in the only recording of Bartok's 4th String Quartet, Aries Trombone Quartet, Four of a Kind Trombone Quartet, the World Trombone Quartet, and Slide Monsters Trombone Quartet.

Other solo engagements have included the New Japan Philharmonic, Nagoya Philharmonic, Gulbenkian Symphony, Costa Rica Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, Orchestra of Teatro Bellini, Mannheim National Theater Orchestra, Hauge

Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, and the Colorado, Nashville, Alabama, Santa Barbara, Syracuse, and Puerto Rico symphony orchestras. Mr. Alessi has also participated in numerous festivals, including the Festivale Musica di Camera in Portogruaro, Italy; Cabrillo Music Festival; Swiss Brass Week; and Lieksa Brass Week in Finland. He was featured in the 1997 International Trombone Festival in Feldkirch, Austria, and the International Meeting of Brass Instruments in Lille, France.

In 2002 Mr. Alessi was awarded an International Trombone Association Award for his contributions to the world of trombone music and trombone playing, and in 2014, was elected President of that association.

Mr. Alessi is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School; his students now occupy posts with many major symphony orchestras in the U.S. and internationally. As a clinician for the Eastman-Shires Instrument Co., he has also given master classes throughout the world and has toured Europe extensively as a master teacher and recitalist. He has performed as soloist withseveral leading concert bands, including the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own), and the U.S. Marine Band (President's Own). 

In addition, he has performed with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, and has recorded with jazz greats, J.J. Johnson and Steve Turre. Mr. Alessi's discography includes many releases on the Summit record label, including the Trombonastics, and a disc with New York Philharmonic Principal Trumpet Philip Smith entitled Fandango; he also recorded New York Legends on the Cala label. His live recording of the Rouse Concerto with the New York Philharmonic can be heard on Volume II of the recent release, An American Celebration, on New York Philharmonic Special Editions, the Orchestra's own recording label. Mr. Alessi was invited by the International Trombone Association to record a solo disc of newly composed works, which was distributed to the Association's membership of 5,000 trombonists. in early 1999 and is now available as Beyond the End of the Century through Summit Records. His recording of George Crumb's Starchild on the Bridge record label, featuring Mr. Alessi as soloist, won a Grammy Award for 1999– 2000. Other recordings featuring Mr. Alessi are with the Canadian Brass (Sony Classical and Philips Records). Further information about Mr. Alessi can be found on his website, www.slidearea.com. Mr. Alessi plays exclusively on a Shires- Alessi model trombone.

 

As a conductor, Mr. Alessi has conducted the Juilliard Trombone Choir, the Danbury Community Orchestra and the New York Concerti Sinfonietta in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and will conduct the World Doctor's Orchestra in November of 2025. 

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!  

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.

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Ed Neumeister, commercial and jazz trombonist from Oakland, California.

About Ed:

As a trombonist, composer-arranger and bandleader, Ed Neumeister is a musician's musician. Saxophone star Joe Lovano has valued Neumeister as a colleague for some four decades, praising him as a conductor of "infectious flair" as well as "a soloist of deep expressive passion." Another renowned saxophonist, Dave Leibman, simply dubbed him "one of the best trombonists in the business." Neumeister has five decades of experience on both sides of the Atlantic as an artist and an educator. Raised in the Bay Area, he was professional musician by his mid-teens. He backed such iconic vocal stars as Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan there, performed in various symphony orchestras, and collaborated with Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia as well as such jazz notables as Jerry Granelli. Moving to New York City in 1980, Neumeister worked in the Duke Ellington Orchestra as both player and arranger for 15 years; he was simultaneously playing in the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, earning a Grammy nomination in 1992 for his arrangement of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square." In 2000, Neumeister moved to Austria to serve as a professor for 17 years at the University of Music in Graz. He wrote for various jazz bands while in Europe and performed extensively, along with composing classical chamber pieces and largescale concert works. Following a stint scoring films in Los Angeles, Neumeister returned to the New York area where he has been active as an educator, currently teaching at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School, New York University and City College of New York, as well as William Paterson University in New Jersey. As a leader, Neumeister has recorded nine albums, ranging from large ensembles to small groups to solo trombone. He has released many of them via his own label, MeisteroMusic, including his latest: 3 for the Road, presenting his trio with vocalist Jay Clayton and the late pianist Fritz Pauer. The current version of that trio includes Gary Versace on piano. Another Neumeister gem is Suite Ellington, an album showcasing his arrangements for an all-star sextet of works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn; recorded in 2010 for Austrian Radio, Suite Ellington was hailed by Jazz Weekly as "a great tribute and intro to the world of Ellingtonia." Neumeister's new working small band is a New York quartet featuring the trombonist alongside Versace, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Tom Rainey. 

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Jeff Reynolds, the Bass Trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1969-2006.

About Jeff:

Jeffrey Reynolds was born in Ohio, but spent most of his life in Southern California. A graduate of California State University at Long Beach, he was the bass trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic starting in 1969.  His major teachers were Robert Simmergren and Roger Bobo, with help from Robert Marsteller, Tommy Johnson, and Byron Peebles. His orchestra experience includes the symphonies of Long Beach, Downey, Debut, American Youth, Orange County, San Francisco Ballet, San Diego, and Saint Louis. Chamber music experience includes the Summit Brass, the California Brass Quintet, L.A. Brass Society, the Los Angeles Brass, the Hollywood Trombones, L.A. Philharmonic Institute, and the Ojai Festivals.

 

 

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Nicholas Daley, a freelance and session trombonist in Los Angeles.

Originally from St. Paul, MN, Nicholas Daley is an active freelance trombonist in the greater Los Angeles area where he regularly performs with a diverse collection of ensembles ranging from orchestras to jazz, salsa and pop bands, while playing recording sessions for video game, television and movie scores. Noted performances include playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, Broad Stage Celebrity Opera Recitals, MUSE/IQUE, Pasadena Master Chorale, Pete Myers Orchestra, Frank Stallone, Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars, Buddy Rich Band, Disneyland Band and early music ensembles Tesserae, San Diego Bach Collegium,Tenet and Dark Horse Consort.

Nicholas attended Oberlin Conservatory to study with James DeSano, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree. Subsequently, he moved to Los Angeles, attending the University of Southern California for a Master of Music degree. He maintains a private teaching studio in addition to work with the Oakwood Brass Outreach Project, Harmony Project, and Idyllwild Arts Academy.

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Jim Nova, 2nd trombonist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

About Jim Nova

James Nova joined the Grammy award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2009 as second/utility trombone. In 2012, Nova made his solo debut with the PSO, performing Henri Tomasi's Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra. Prior to that, he was a member of the Utah Symphony Orchestra where he served eight seasons as assistant principal/second trombone. 

Since 2012, James Nova has found a new passion in multitrack recording, also known as "overdubbing." Overdubbing is a process by which a musician records all the parts of a piece of music one by one and layers the recordings on top of each other to create a full ensemble. Nova has released dozens of stunning and virtuosic tracks of his own challenging arrangements of exciting repertoire for trombone choir. The arrangements employ many different trombones: contra bass, bass, tenor, small tenor, alto, and even soprano trombones!

James Nova has had a lifelong love of John Williams' film scores and in December of 2017, he released a new overdub album for trombone choir, A Fall from Light to Dark. Through the chosen moments of John Williams' masterful scores, this album musically chronicles the rise and descent of Anakin Skywalker as he transforms into Darth Vader. Truly a one-man show, this album's transcriptions, playing, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering were all done by Nova himself.

James Nova has always been passionate about music education. When not on stage at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony, he can be found at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University where he is adjunct trombone faculty, as well as the brass coach of the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras. Given their widespread popularity, Nova's recordings are playing an impactful role in inspiring the next generation of musicians and budding recording artists and he is frequently invited to teach outside the region. Since 2012, he has completed more than 85 visits to prominent festivals (such as the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, and the Korea Trombone Festival, among others) and reputable educational institutions (such as the Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School of Music, and New England Conservatory, among others) as the featured artist and educator in concerts, masterclasses, and clinics.

James Nova studied with Glenn Dodson at the Curtis Institute of Music followed by study with Norman Bolter at the New England Conservatory of Music. While in Boston, Nova played regularly with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, including recordings and television broadcasts as both principal and second trombone. 

James Nova is an S.E. Shires Artist and performs on his signature line of Greg Black Mouthpieces.

For more info, visit jimnova.com or hear his recordings at soundcloud.com/jimnova

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview John Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz, trombonists and podcast hosts of The Trombone Retreat.  After you listen to this episode, head on over to The Trombone Retreat feed for the second half of this episode.  You can come see us at Booth #271 at the TMEA Convention, February 8th thru 10th, 2024 in San Antonio Texas.

 

About John Sebastian Vera

John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010 and also joined the River City Brass as principal Trombone in 2015. He is also professor of trombone at Duquesne University and faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he teaches a course on Music Entrepreneurship and Digital Media as well as coach chamber music.

In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Mr. Vera has played with the symphonies of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo, Kennedy Center Opera House, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Vermont, Harrisburg, Charleston, American Ballet Theatre, and Orquesta Sinaloa de las Artes in Mexico amongst others. 

He began his studies with Jon Bohls in Texas and continued his education at Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman of the Dallas Symphony. He then spent a year studying with Ed Zadrozny as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron, and finished his graduate work in New York City at the Mannes College of Music studying with David Finlayson and James Markey of the New York Philharmonic.    

In 2011, he spent the summer in Haiti volunteer teaching and performing in the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite as well as the Ecole de Musique Dessaix Baptiste which became one of the more profound experiences of his life.  

A dedicated chamber musician, he also was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Guidonian Hand Trombone Quartet in which he played from 2008-2014. With the quartet, John performed over 100 concerts and gave master classes all over the country. Heralded by the New York Times for their "expertly played performances" they have been recipients of numerous national grants which have enabled them to commission countless composers to create new and innovative works for four trombones.  In 2014 was the premiere of River of Fundament, a movie by film artist Matthew Barney, in which John recorded for and acted in along with the quartet. 

Mr. Vera can also be heard on the HBO documentary The Words that Built America as well as on euphonium in the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided as well as many commercial and video game soundtracks as well as James Markey's solo release, "On Base".

John is an Artist for Edwards Instruments and resides in Pittsburgh.  His favorite musicians include Sigur Ros, Radiohead, the Books, and Efterklang. When he can get away from the trombone he most enjoys basketball, traveling and reading about psychology and social science.  Check out his podcast he hosts with Nick Schwartz called the Trombone Retreat available everywhere you download your podcasts. Follow him on Instagram @js.vera.

 

About Nicholas Schwartz

Nicholas Schwartz has a diverse career performing across North America, Europe, and Asia. After studying at The Juilliard School with then New York Philharmonic bass trombonist Don Harwood, he moved to San Francisco where he began freelancing throughout the Bay Area.

 Since 2010, he has been the principal bass trombonist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra. He has also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Opera,  Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, The Malaysia Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival, and Classical Tahoe.  Follow him on instagram @basstrombone444

 

About Third Coast Retreat

The Third Coast Trombone Retreat is an 7-day trombone immersion welcoming talented college, high school, and amateur trombonists from across the country to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan.  

The Retreat takes place in the charming small town of Montague, MI. Truly an escape from the distractions of everyday life, the festival is nestled in a dense forest along the coast where happening across roaming deer is a common occurrence. The Retreat utilizes facilities all over the town from churches to coffee houses to historic barns to the beach.  We will perform not only for ourselves, but for the community.

A fulfilling life of being a musician does not simply begin and end with winning an orchestral or teaching position. Mastering the instrument is only the first step.  Being an artist in the 21st century requires discovering one's unique voice and finding new ways to present the art-form to communicate and contribute to society.  

Core to the retreat will be guest artist and faculty recitals, topical master classes including personal finance, performance anxiety and wellness as well as private lessons, orchestral section seminar, ensemble coachings, a trombone choir, a mock orchestral audition, and much more. In addition to the performance elements, the curriculum is expanded to include a talks about career-building, faculty bonfire Q&A, discussions on the mental approach to auditions and performances, wellness, meditation, and more.

 

 

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Adam Woolf, trombonist and sackbut specialist from the UK. Meet us at the SoCal Trombone Day on January 20th, 2024 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut CA, or see us at Booth #271 at the TMEA Convention, February 8th thru 10th, 2024 in San Antonio Texas.

About Adam Woolf

For many years Adam Woolf enjoyed a full-time career as a performing musician working with the very best classical music ensembles, festivals and orchestras around the globe. He complemented this by teaching at world-leading institutions around Europe. as professor of Historical Performance and Baroque Trombone at London's Royal Academy of Music, The Conservatoire of Utrecht, Royal Conservatoire of Brussels and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Adam is proud to have had a part in the development of many fantastic musicians in today's classical music scene.

As a performer, Adam played with top orchestras in the world of period-instrument performance, notably as first trombone with Sir John Eliot Gardiner's English Baroque Soloists, a member of His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, and the Caecilia-Concert. Alongside this, he continued playing the modern instrument with London-based ensemble Mardi Brass and other groups. His love of jazz and contemporary music led to the creation of new compositions and experimental projects.

Adam has recorded over 100 CDs and DVDs, among which he am proud to count two solo projects, Songs Without Words and The Food of Love. Songs Without Words was the first full length CD to focus on the trombone as a solo instrument exclusively in music from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Alongside his output of recordings, some of which are available via this website, he also published various books which focus on historical performance practise on the trombone, also available here.