New Arts Jazztet
The New Arts Jazztet has long been regarded as southern Illinois' premier jazz group, regularly presenting an engaging selection of original works, forged in the energy of neo bop and the eclecticism of contemporary jazz. Drawing inspiration from Gerry Mulligan’s pianoless quartets, the group—saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass and drums—moves this format both musically and technologically, into the 21st Century.
The NAJ’s club dates have included Cincinnati’s Blue Wisp, Chicago’s Pops for Champagne, and other nightspots around the Midwest; its concert, clinic and festival engagements have comprised a number of universities and other performance venues throughout the Heartland. The group has appeared with several prominent jazz artists, and performed as part of a live statewide television broadcast, Arts Across Illinois: CenterStage (2004), at WTTW/Channel 11, Chicago. The New Arts Jazztet was recently selected for inclusion in the Illinois Arts Council’s 2007-09 Artstour Artist Roster. Each spring, the group presents a formal all-original concert as part of the Southern Illinois Jazz Festival, and is a featured ensemble at the Southern Illinois Music Festival each summer.
The NAJ, along with the duo, FourOnSix, is recorded on the album, Darkness Into Light, a release by NAJ bassist, Phil Brown. His upcoming release, Bright Side, features an earlier edition of the group.
The New Arts Jazztet is in residence at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where its members are School of Music faculty.
Members
Tyler Kuebler, woodwinds/MIDI
Tyler Kuebler is originally from Agoura Hills, California, and is currently Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Music Theory, and Director of Jazz Ensemble I, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He joined the New Arts Jazztet in 2005.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kuebler has had the opportunity to perform and record with some of the biggest names in jazz and popular music, including David Liebman, Maynard Ferguson, Jerry Bergonzi, Julio Iglesias, Clark Terry, Paul Anka, the Brecker Brothers, Gerry Mulligan, Bobby Caldwell, Slide Hampton, Sammy Figueroa, and Rosemary Clooney, to name a few.
As Lead Tenor Saxophone with the world renowned USAF Airmen of Note, he traveled the world promoting jazz and American music through concerts and educational outreach clinics.
Dr. Kuebler earned his B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the One O’Clock Lab Band. The University of Miami conferred his D.M.A. Throughout his education, Dr. Kuebler has studied with such influential teachers as Jim Riggs, Neil Slater, Gary Keller, Whit Sidener, Dan Haerle, Ronnie Miller, John Mosley and Shuichi Komiyama.
He maintains an active performance schedule in a variety of musical styles, including jazz, classical, and commercial music. Dr. Kuebler’s commitment to education extends beyond his duties at SIUC, and he remains active as a guest artist and clinician at universities throughout the United States, and as a teacher at various summer music camps.
For the latest information on Tyler Kuebler’s upcoming performances and activities, please visit www.TylerKuebler.com
Bob Allison, trumpet/flugelhorn
Bob Allison, originally from Memphis, Tennessee, is Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has also taught at Millikin University and the Latvian National Conservatory, in Riga, Latvia. Besides fulfilling his teaching duties, he is active as a performer in the classical and jazz idioms. Dr. Allison is a founding member of the New Arts Jazztet. He is a former winner of the International Trumpet Guild's Jazz Improvisation Contest, and has performed in England, Latvia, and Sweden. Dr. Allison also has performed with jazz artists, James Williams, Cal Thomas, Willie Thomas, and Stanley Clarke. He has also been a frequent featured soloist with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Allison received most of his training at the University of Illinois, where he was a student of Ray Sasaki, David Hickman, and Mike Tunnell.
Tim Pitchford, trombone
Tim Pitchford is a native Floridian. He is the new trombone instructor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and joins the New Arts Jazztet in Fall 2007. As a professional trombonist, Dr. Pitchford has performed with Joe Williams, Maureen McGovern, Arturo Sandoval, The Manhattan Transfer, John Pizzarelli, Patti Austin, Byron Stripling, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and many others. He has recorded on several Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated albums and numerous independent and commercial recordings. He is a member of the Kai Winding Award-winning Piedmont Trombone Society, a jazz trombone ensemble from Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Pitchford received a B.M. from the University of North Florida, an M.M. from Georgia State University, and a D.M.A. from the University of Miami. Currently, he performs throughout North, Central, and South America with K.C. and the Sunshine Band. More information can be found at www.TimPitchford.com
Phil Brown, basses
A native of Amarillo, Texas, Phil Brown is currently Associate Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies, as well as Coordinator of Music Business at Southern Illinois University. He joined the New Arts Jazztet as bassist in 1991.
Notable among the many jazz artists with whom Mr. Brown has performed are Pepper Adams, Lockjaw Davis, Herb Ellis, Steve Gadd, Red Garland, Dizzy Gillespie, Tom Harrell, Delfeayo Marsalis, Mark Murphy, and Clark Terry.
He has also served as a clinician and adjudicator at a number of national and area jazz competitions, camps and festivals, most recently the University of Louisville Jazz Week.
Mr. Brown earned his graduate degree in music education at North Texas State University, where he was a member of NTSU's highly acclaimed jazz ensemble, the One O'Clock Lab Band. His undergraduate degree in composition was completed at Northwestern University. Mr. Brown's bass teachers have included Lawrence Hurst, Ringwalt Warner, Evan Tonsing, Warren Benfield and Edward Rainbow. He studied composition with M. William Karlins and with Luciano Berio.
Mr. Brown’s recent writing efforts have produced over two dozen originals for the New Arts Jazztet. In 2003, the Illinois Arts Council honored him for his work and commitment within the arts with an Artist Fellowship Award in music composition. Mr. Brown has released two recordings, with a third on the way.
Additional information is available at www.acaldera.com
Ron Coulter, drums/percussion
Ron Coulter grew up in Hermitage, Pennsylvania and earned his B.M. and M.M. degrees in percussion performance from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. His primary study has been with Dr. Glenn Schaft, Feza Zweifel, John Riley, Tony Leonardi, Fred Morris and Nina DeCiancio.
Mr. Coulter is a free-lance percussionist, performing and composing within musical settings ranging from electronica to the marching percussion idiom. As a drum set performer, he has toured internationally with the Glenn Miller Orchestra appearing in 41 U.S. states and most major cities in Canada and Japan. Additionally he has performed with such artists as The Four Aces, Donadi, Sean Jones, Al Martino, Galen Abdur-Razzaq, Dominick Farinacci, The Gaylords, The Cornerstone Trio, and Christina Fontanelli.
Currently Mr. Coulter is the Instructor of Percussion Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he teaches applied percussion lessons, percussion techniques, the Marching Saluki Drum Line, the SIUC Percussion Ensemble, and performs with the New Arts Jazztet, which he joined in 2005.
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