Denton, Texas is not usually considered the center of the trombone universe, but for five days in May, one would have been hard pressed to find another locale with so many talented players. Trombonists from near and far converged on the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex to participate in the largest trombone festival in history.
ITF2002 began with the finals of the ITA Competitions. 2002 was the first year with the "competition" format, but judging by the popularity of the new system, it will not be the last. These competitions made for an exciting start to the festivities. Special thanks go to the numerous companies that sponsored this event with instruments, accessories, music, and cash prizes.
The “official” start of ITF2002 was at 1:30, as the University of North Texas Trombone Choir took the stage for the opening concert. Of special interest were the Vegas-style 76 Trombones and the world premiere of Simon Wills’ Street Song Variations. Festival director Tony Baker did a wonderful job as soloist on Joseph Spaniola's Crossroads.
At 3:00, participants had a choice of events – Harry Watters’ discussion on the “Effective Use of Practice Time” or a concert/clinic by the Dallas Symphony low brass section. John Kitzman’s rapport with the audience marked the beginning of an interesting trend of the Festival. Every concert, clinic, and masterclass had a laid-back, natural feel. The performers’ engaged the audiences; as a result, the gap between those on stage and those in the audience was greatly reduced.
Bones Apart presented a concert at 4:30. This female trombone quartet from Great Britain mesmerized the crowd with their skill and musicality. Although one might think that an all-female group is a novelty, this ensemble shattered that notion. It was obvious that this group’s novelty was their ability to make great music. Look for a clip of their performance of Stars and Stripes Forever soon.
When most people think of Texas, they think of cowboys, horses, and good barbecue. Cowboys showed up later in the week, unfortunately without horses. The barbecue made a strong showing early in ITF2002 at “Barbecue Carnaval.” This outdoor event was extremely popular among attendees, and not just because of the free food. The Paraiba Trombones de Brasil provided the mood music, and the mood was festive. These guys could go for hours, and they would have if Rhythm and Brass wasn’t ready to perform at the brand-new Murchison Performing Arts Center at 8.
The evening concert opened with a mass trombone choir from the University of North Texas. Conducted by Vern Kagarice, the group premiered a piece written specifically for ITF2002 by UNT alumnus Jim Kazik. Titled Trombones! Trombones!! Trombones!!!, this work is another in a long line of great trombone music by the composer.
After the 40 UNT trombonists were herded off the stage, the main event was ready to amaze the audience. Rhythm and Brass is not your typical brass quintet. In fact, their music cannot be placed in any single category. They perform classical, jazz, and popular music at a very high level all the while staying true to each style. They opened with Bach’s Contrapunctus I from The Art of the Fugue, played Ellington’s Caravan, numerous Beatles tunes, and ended with Pink Floyd. This group’s flexibility and excitement made the opening concert a memorable event.
For those trombonists that didn’t want to go to bed early, the Radisson hotel offered a venue for “Late Night Jazz.” Thursday night’s performers were Slide Tradition with special guests Jiggs Whigham and Harry Watters. As I am a member of this group, I don’t want to go on too long about what I thought of our performance. We had a good time, and the audience was wonderful. However, I can rave about Jiggs Whigham’s classy rendition of Lament and Harry Watter’s incredible solo abilities on Crescent City. It was a pleasure to have these guys perform with our group.
If the festival had only been one day, I am sure everyone would have gone home satisfied. Fortunately, we still have four days to cover. It only gets better.
