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Saturday, December 20, 2008

James Pugh ~ BHS '68

Our James Pugh has had a distinguished career as a freelance trombonist, composer, and educator. His playing crosses all boundaries. He has been recorded in small-group jazz improvisational settings with such artists as Joe Lovano, David "Fathead" Newman, and André Previn. He has recorded classical chamber music with Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble as well as the chamber music of Paul Bowles, Irwin Bazelon, and Ben Johnston. He has been a featured soloist on Grammy-Award winning recordings with Woody Herman and has recorded large orchestral works with the Eos, Concordia, St. Luke's, and 92nd Street Y Orchestras. Jim is well known for his musical integrity, inspiring improvisation, virtuosity, and all-encompassing versatility.

In NPR's year-end round-up of the Best of 2008, trombonist James Pugh’s new recording X-Over Trombone of three jazzy concertos stands out on top.

3 comments:

Charles said...

William Purvis began his study of the French horn as an elementary school student at Butler. At 13, he was playing in the horn section of the Butler Symphony.

Anonymous said...

December 15, 2008
Red House Productions-
For Immediate Release:
In National Public Radio’s year-end round-up of the Best of 2008, trombonist James Pugh’s new recording of three genre-bending concertos stands out on top. Named in NPR’s list of Best Classical CDs of 2008, X-Over Trombone is lauded by Performance Today host Fred Child who declares Pugh’s playing “amazing,” (http://tinyurl.com/trombonetop10).
X-Over Trombone (Albany Records, TROY926) features Pugh’s own Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, which pulls pop influences into an orchestral setting. Nathaniel Shilkret’s vivacious jazz orchestral score for trombonist Tommy Dorsey is also on the disc, and rounding out the collection is an intriguing work by conductor and composer Jeff Tyzik.

Pugh pours his heart and soul into these three extraordinary compositions, and Tyzik leads the incomparable Colorado Symphony on this recording of innovative and ground-breaking music.

A recipient of the Recording Academy's Virtuoso Award, Pugh is well known to industry insiders as the supreme sideman; superstars across the musical map from Yo-Yo Ma to Barbra Streisand to Steely Dan have featured his trombone wizardry in the studio and on the stage. Pugh has over 4000 recording sessions to his name and he is also an important figure in pedagogy, notably holding the title of Distinguished Professor of Trombone at University of Illinois. Another recent recording project, The Holly and the Ivy with the Montclair Citadel Band (Koch International KCH 7753) garnered the following praise from
World of Brass, "James Pugh displays the type of artistry possessed by only the very best players of any instrument. . ."(Kenneth Crookston).

Plans for 2009 include a trombone and harp duo project with harpist Emily Mitchell featuring music from Debussy to Schnyder; jazz concerts and workshops in Australia and New Zealand; and a tour with Steely Dan.

X-Over Trombone is available through Amazon.com or directly from Albany’s website,
AlbanyRecords.com. More information is available on-line at www.redhouseproductions.com.
To schedule an interview or to request a promotional copy of X-Over Trombone, please contact Gail Wein at (202) 744-2472 or ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com.

Anonymous said...

I ran in to Jimmy in L.A a few years back.Hes a true master of his instrument, a bit similar to Wynton Marselis in that he can play at a high level in both the jazz and classical idioms which is nearly impossible to do. A true gentleman as well.