The IAJE Crosses the Border

Jack Bowers

Senior Contributor since 1997

A former newspaper writer / editor who has been writing about big-band Jazz for more than fifteen years.

Recent articles (1,749 total)

Published: February 1, 2003

One of the members of Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble, trumpeter Orbert Davis, has been named a “Chicagoan of the Year” by Chicago magazine for his “MusicAlive!” program, which uses music as an avenue to help educate inner-city children. Davis was honored with six other Chicagoans last month in a ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel. The trumpeter’s most recent CD, Priority, released last April, has been doing well, moving into the Top 10 on the National Radio list of most-often-played new releases. Davis has also written music for films (including Tom Hanks’ Road to Perdition ), and his Concerto for Jazz Quartet and Orchestra was performed in October by the Fox Valley Symphony.

A Few More Notes

Germany, whose Jazz scene is one of Europe’s most active, has formed the Federal Jazz Association (what a great idea!) to bring together the various groups involved in the music — musicians, concert promoters, record labels, journalists, educators — with an eye toward expanding its influence beyond the country’s sixteen federal states to the national and international levels. The FJA plans to follow the pattern established in Scandinavia to broaden public funding and support for Jazz organizations within the various countries. We wish them well.

And finally . . . you simply can’t keep a good man down. John Fedchock, whose prized King 2B+ trombone was stolen three years ago at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (the model had been discontinued in 1989), got together with King trombones last year to help them recreate the legendary horn. As a consultant on the project, Fedchock gave his input from the perspective of a professional musician, helping to make the design as close to his vintage horn as possible. As a result, Fedchock is once again playing a King 2B+ (and no doubt keeping a watchful eye on the trombone case as well). “John’s advice,” says King brass product manager Fred Powell, “was the key to bringing back one of the all-time great trombone designs — The King 2B+.”

That’s great news, and I’m happy that things worked out for John, but to be honest, he sounds as good to me on any horn he plays.

That’s it for now. Until next month, keep swingin’!