Tom Ball: News/Blog

Now accepting new private students for 2010-2011 year in Denver area.

Email to Thomas.Ball@du.edu

Study Jazz Trombone (and euphonium)at University of Denver Lamont School of Music
Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees in Jazz and Commercial Music
http://www.du.edu/ahss/schools/lamont/index.html

Playing in the trombone section with the Christian McBride Big Band at the Aspen Snowmass Jazz festival! Date is June 26th.

Summer is shaping up to be a pretty busy schedule in spite of our economy.
Doing a lot of salsa gigs with local bands such as: Conjunto Colores, La Candela, Sabor De La Calle, and Orchesta La Brava. Also gigging with the Motet, Legacy Jazz Orchestra, 9th and Lincoln Orchestra, and other groups from time to time. Not much chance to play the euphonium, all trombone, except on August 2nd, where I'll be featured with the Air Force Falconaires Jazz Band at the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute.
I continue to teach privately in Denver and write high school band/orchestra curriculum for Denver Public Schools during the day.

CONCERT wednesday February 24
7:30 pm
Hamilton Hall
Lamont School of Music
Univeristy of Denver

Just finished recording with the 9th and Lincoln Orchestra featuring the compositions of Tyler Gilmore and the fine playing of Cuong Vu on Trumpet.

Here is a sample of upcoming CD project

Untitled Ballad Take 1

It's done! I graduated this semester with a Doctor of Arts Degree from the University of Northern Colorado.
Major was Trombone Performance and Pedagogy, secondary emphasis Jazz Pedagogy
Dissertation: A Trombone Handbook for the Secondary Jazz Ensemble Director

YEAH!

Scheduled to record with Fred Hess for second big band CD in January, and 3 other large jazz ensemble recording projects including the follow up CD with the 9th and Lincoln Orchestra.

After taking 2 months off to complete my dissertation for a doctoral degree, I'm back to gigging. I'm playing lead trombone every monday with The Legacy Jazz Orchestra at Herbs Bar from 7:30-10pm. It features some of Denver's best musicians and there's no cover charge!

taking September off from regluar performing to work on other things.

Now Download the Practice Drones directly here:

Drone Practice ZIP

Recorded this week with Denver Trumpeter Derrek Banach for upcoming CD.

Unfortunately, the award winning Fishleather Jacket CD is currently out of print. There is no timetable for a reprint at this time. Tracks are available only for download. See Itunes or other similar vendors

After finishing recording almost a year ago, my 2nd CD Project is finally starting post-production. look for sneek-peeks of tracks to be uploaded in the next few months!

I've added links to some of my musician friends I work with frequently. Give them a visit at my links.

Recording this week-
lead trombone for Fred Hess Big Band recording session. Great line up of local talent including Ron Miles, Al Hood, Dominic Lali, to name a few.

Fred Hess: http://net.indra.com/~fhmusic/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hess

Performed on July 7th at the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute (http://www.mendezbrassinstitute.com/) with great line up of jazz musicians including:
Jason Carder - trumpet(http://www.jasoncarder.com/html/about.php), Brad Goode - trumpet(http://www.bradgoode.com/), Al Hermann - trombone(http://www.concentric.net/~Pvb/ahermann.html), Dave Hanson (http://www.du.edu/lamont/DavidHansonBiography.html), Ken Walker -bass, Mike Marlier - drums

Just returned from performing at the 2008 International Tuba Euphonium Conference that was held in Cincinnati. I performed a set of originals in an evening concert in tribute to the late Rich Matteson. Marc Dickman, Jun Yamaoka and myself then jammed together at the after-hours jazz session.
The "Three Tenor Tubas" strike again!

Looking for investors to help with remaining prodution costs who will receive executive producer credit for new CD. All of the recording is done and we are in the production stage. Contact me at thmsbal(at)earthlink(dot)net or Ben Makinen at www.benmakinen.com.

Featured artists will be:
Dana Landry, piano
Andy Nevala, piano
Erik Applegate, bass
Ben Makinen, drums/percussion
Wil Swindler, Alto sax
Greg Gisbert, trumpet
Dave Rajewski, trumpet
Grace Snow, cello

This CD will feature 8 original jazz and Latin jazz compositions.

The stage is set for the follow-upto the award winning Fishleather Jacket jazz euphonium CD. Recording is scheduled for mid-May and will be a quick turn around for a June Release. At this time, the other players are a secret but are all top notch!
Sorry, probably no trombone this time but eventually I will do a trombone CD!

had a really fun gig backing up the great trombonist John Fedchock with the 9th and Lincoln orchestra last weekend. Pics and video of Fedchock here:
www.9thandlincoln.com

I was invited to perform at the 2008 International Tuba Euphonium Converence in Cincinnati and I have accepted the invitation!

Website: http://www.iteaonline.org/ITEC2008/index.php

It's past time for a follow up project to the Fishleather Jacket CD. As University of Denver Lamont School of Music faculty, I have access to the studio!!!
I'm currently writing new music and am hoping to include more musicians and more abitious arrangements. either that or do a duo album... haven't decided...

I've been busy with many things and have neglected this blog/journal badly.
I'm now gigging with three different jazz projects in Denver including the Ninth and Lincoln Orchestra -www.9thandlincoln.com, Wil Swindler's Elevenet -www.jazz11.com, and now with Chie Imaizumi's band -www.thousandpictures.org.
Still playing with ONDA as well -www.ondalive.com. Also am appearing with the DU Lamont Jazz Faculty at thier concerts. All this while holding down day job teaching music in public school and teaching about 10 private students per week!!