Kevin Whalen
10.01.08 | Recent Trip to Dave Monette's Shop
As many of you may know, I play a unique instrument, a Monette Prana 3 Bb trumpet that was custom built for me in 2006 by the folks at the David G. Monette Corporation. Having not been there since April 2005, I made a special trip out to their shop in Portland, Oregon last week to have the horn cleaned, adjusted, and tweaked. I had a great time visiting with Dave Monette and Dean Comley and came away with the trumpet playing better than ever and with a few terrific new mouthpieces!
Check the 'photos' section for a picture, and visit www.monette.net for more info on the instruments. Many thanks to everyone at Monette!
07.20.08 | Two Recent Recording Projects
I've recently been involved in two exciting recording projects!
Art Bouton, Professor of Jazz and Saxophone at the University of Denver, recently recorded a series a pieces for alto flute, and I was fortunate to play on one of these tunes. Commissioned by Art and DU, composer and saxophonist Wil Swindler wrote an original titled "Patriot" for the session. Players on the session included Peter Sommer, Dana Landry, Erik Applegate, Todd Reid, Dawn Kramer, April Johannson, and Jason Johnston.
In July, I took part in a recording project headed by guitarist Ryan Fourt featuring many of his originals and arranged standards. The two sessions, producing nearly 20 tracks, will be made into a CD for release sometime next year. The sessions featured Russ Kirchener, Ben Waters, Shilo Stroman, and Dustin Drews.
Stay tuned for info on both projects...
01.14.08 | Teaching Jazz Trumpet at the University of Northern Colorado
I have recently become adjunct faculty at the University of Northern Colorado teaching Applied Jazz Trumpet lessons. I am very excited and fortunate to have the opportunity to teach jazz trumpet at UNC and look forward to working with several undergraduate and graduate students this semester!
11.26.07 | 9th+Lincoln Jazz Orchestra CD Release Party!
Please come check out the 9th+Lincoln CD Release Party for 6pm and 8pm shows at Dazzle Jazz Club in Denver. Led by Tyler Gilmore, the band will feature some of the finest jazz musicians in Denver and performances of contemporary original compositions and arrangements by Tyler and Wil Swindler. This WILL be and exciting and unique show! I've been looking forward to this performance since we laid down the tracks back in June! Click on the link to the right for more info.
10.27.07 | Wil Swindler Elevenet Performance!
Come check out the Dazzle Jazz Club premier of Wil Swindler's Elevenet this coming November 1 for 7PM and 9PM sets. I'm very excited about this performance both because of the great people with which I'll be playing and because of the great music that Wil has prepared for the group. Wil's music has the sound of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans famous nonet recordings but with a decidedly modern influence. It's definitely rare to hear or play 11-piece jazz in Colorado! Visit www.jazz11.com or click on the link below for more info.
Musicians include:
Wil Swindler, alto and soprano saxophones, woodwinds
Peter Sommer, tenor saxophone
Art Bouton, flute and alto flute
April Johannesen, bass clarinet and clarinet
Al Hood, trumpet and flugelhorn
Kevin Whalen, trumpet and flugelhorn
Tom Ball, euphonium and trombone
Jason Johnston, French horn
Dana Landry, piano
Erik Applegate, bass
Matt Amundson, drums
09.14.07 | UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival Line-Up
The line-up for the 2008 UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival is finally set!
Thursday, April 24, 2008:
-Take 6 + Northern Colorado Voices
Friday, April 25, 2008:
-Slide Hampton w/ UNC Jazz Lab Band I + Ron Carter / Jim Hall Duo
Saturday, April 26, 2008:
-Chris Potter's Underground Quartet + Jazz Festival All-Stars
08.02.07 | Back on the road with the Glenn Miller Orchestra for the next 3 weeks.
I'll be back with the GMO for 11 dates over the next 3 weeks. If you're in the Northeast or the midwest, click the link below for show details. We'll be playing shows in and around New York City plus dates in Indianapolis, Detroit area, Niagra Falls, Milwaukee, and a few places in between. I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends and am working on getting psyched up for the bus. I'll be back in Colorado on August 26 just in time for the 9th+Lincoln Orchestra show at Dazzle.
07.02.07 | New Job! - Managing Producer of the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival
I recently accepted a position at the University of Northern Colorado as the Managing Producer of the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival. For those not familiar, this is the one of the largest educational jazz festivals in the United States and is host to over 200 school groups as well as evening concerts featuring some of the most prominent names in jazz. My other duties at UNC, for now, will include coordinating the guest artist series and coordinating the UNC Jazz Camp. I'm very excited to start work in this position and am looking forward to beginning my career outside of school!
06.17.07 | 9th+Lincoln Orchestra Video @ Dazzle
This video was recently posted on YouTube of the 9th+Lincoln Jazz Orchestra from May 27th at Dazzle in Denver. I'm playing the flugelhorn solo on 'Music For Prose' by Wil Swindler. Click on the 'Launch Related Site' Link below.
05.04.07 | Selected to Audition for US Navy "Commodores" Jazz Ensemble
I've been selected to audition for the Jazz/Section trumpet opening in the United States Navy Band "Commodores" Jazz Ensemble. This group is the premier jazz ensemble in the Navy and is stationed in Washington D.C.. The competition at this stage should be tough; I just hope I can keep up! The audition is May 17th in Washington D.C..
UPDATE:
I made it to the final round of 3 candidates in the audition in D.C. but, unfortunately, was not chosen for the position. The audition was a great experience, and I got to play a variety of solos with the Commodores for about 25 minutes!
04.23.07 | 9th and Lincoln Jazz Orchestra To Record
The 9th and Lincoln Jazz Orchestra will record its first CD in early June. The disc will be a compilation of some of the band's more popular pieces, featuring arrangements and original compositions by leader Tyler Gilmore, trumpet player Brad Goode, saxophonist Wil Swindler, and others. I've been lucky enough to play with this great group of Colorado musicians since its inception about a year ago, and I'm looking forward to what should be a great CD. Check back for updates or clink on the link for more info!
04.13.07 | UNC / Greeley Jazz Festival
The UNC / Greeley Jazz Festival is coming up from April 19 - 21 here in Greeley, Colorado. I'll be playing with Lab I and Combo I on a number of concerts. Here's the lineup:
Thursday:
(7:30 Concert, Monfort Hall, UCCC)
M-Pact
Kevin Mahogany w/ UNC Jazz Lab Band I
Friday:
(7:30 Concert, Monfort Hall, UCCC)
UNC Jazz Combo I
Geoffrey Keezer Trio
Bob Mintzer w/ UNC Jazz Lab Band I
Saturday:
(12:00 - Hensel Phelps Theater, UCCC)
UNC Jazz Combo I
(7:30 - Monfort Hall, UCCC)
Jazz Festival All-Stars under the direction of Gene Aitken
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Visit www.ucstars.com or call 800-315-2787 for tickets!
04.05.07 | Masters Recital Approaching!
My Graduate Recital for my M.M. Degree in Jazz Studies will be given this coming Wednesday, April 11 at 6:15 PM. It will take place in Studio B (Frasier 90) of Frasier Hall on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado. Stop by if you have the time. It should be fun!
Here's the musicians:
Matt Roehrich, tenor
Nick Grzenda, alto
Ben Haugland, piano
Adam Trachsel, bass
Cody Loucks, drums
Here's the tunes:
Joy Spring - Clifford Brown
Poses - Rufus Wainwright (arr. Douglas)
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart - Duke Ellington (arr. Whalen)
No Idea - Kevin Whalen
Move - Denzil Best (arr. Whalen)
Darken My Door - Ron Miles
Esperanca - Vince Mendoza (arr. Whalen)
Hope to see you there!
03.17.07 | Snowed Out of NTC!
That's right, the weather wasn't cooperative in D.C. when I tried to fly out to compete in the National Trumpet Competition, and I wasn't able to get another flight until the following Monday. Oh well, the weather's been great in Greeley, and I can definitely use the rest!
01.18.07 | Finalist in The National Trumpet Competition
I have been selected as a finalist in the Jazz Division of The National Trumpet Competition for a second consecutive year. The finals round of the Jazz Division will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2007 in the Harris Theater on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. My two competition pieces will be "Inner Urge" by Joe Henderson and the traditional tune "Dear Old Stockholm".
In addition, I will be performing in the semi-finals of the trumpet ensemble division with The UNC Trumpet Ensemble. This performance (time TBA) will take place on Thursday, March 15 at the same location.
12.13.06 | Graduate Jazz Recital Date Set
My graduate jazz recital date has finally been set (at least for now), and it is going to take place on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 6:15 PM in Studio B (Frasier 90) of the Music Building at The University of Northern Colorado. I know it's a long way off, but I thought I'd get the word out now.
10.28.06 | New Trumpet!
I just received my new Monette Prana 3 Bb trumpet. This is my dream horn, and I can't wait to really learn how to play it. Click on 'photos' to see a few pictures.
10.19.06 | UNC Jazz Lab Band I to perform with James Carter
UNC Jazz Lab Band I will be performing with the world renowned saxophonist James Carter as a part of the North American Saxophone Alliance 2006 Region II Conference. Show time is 8:00 PM at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley, Colorado.
09.05.06 | Off the Road / Back in Greeley
I'm finally back from my 18 week tour of the US and Canada with The Glenn Miller Orchestra. It was a fun ride, and I learned a lot about music and myself on the road. I'm glad to be back at UNC to finish my M.M. in Jazz Studies.
08.29.06 | UNC Jazz Lab Band I to Play at IAJE in New York City
UNC Jazz Lab Band I was selected to perform at the International Conference of The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) in New York, New York. This conference is significant because it is the largest gathering of jazz community in the world each year. The band will be playing at 3:00 PM on Friday, January 12, 2007 at The Hilton New York Hotel and Towers off Times Square.
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