The Trombone Corner The Brass Ark & Bob Reeves Brass

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Jim Nova, 2nd trombonist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
About Jim Nova
James Nova joined the Grammy award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2009 as second/utility trombone. In 2012, Nova made his solo debut with the PSO, performing Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra. Prior to that, he was a member of the Utah Symphony Orchestra where he served eight seasons as assistant principal/second trombone. 
Since 2012, James Nova has found a new passion in multitrack recording, also known as "overdubbing." Overdubbing is a process by which a musician records all the parts of a piece of music one by one and layers the recordings on top of each other to create a full ensemble. Nova has released dozens of stunning and virtuosic tracks of his own challenging arrangements of exciting repertoire for trombone choir. The arrangements employ many different trombones: contra bass, bass, tenor, small tenor, alto, and even soprano trombones!
James Nova has had a lifelong love of John Williams’ film scores and in December of 2017, he released a new overdub album for trombone choir, A Fall from Light to Dark. Through the chosen moments of John Williams’ masterful scores, this album musically chronicles the rise and descent of Anakin Skywalker as he transforms into Darth Vader. Truly a one-man show, this album’s transcriptions, playing, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering were all done by Nova himself.
James Nova has always been passionate about music education. When not on stage at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony, he can be found at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University where he is adjunct trombone faculty, as well as the brass coach of the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras. Given their widespread popularity, Nova’s recordings are playing an impactful role in inspiring the next generation of musicians and budding recording artists and he is frequently invited to teach outside the region. Since 2012, he has completed more than 85 visits to prominent festivals (such as the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, and the Korea Trombone Festival, among others) and reputable educational institutions (such as the Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School of Music, and New England Conservatory, among others) as the featured artist and educator in concerts, masterclasses, and clinics.
James Nova studied with Glenn Dodson at the Curtis Institute of Music followed by study with Norman Bolter at the New England Conservatory of Music. While in Boston, Nova played regularly with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Orchestra, including recordings and television broadcasts as both principal and second trombone. 
James Nova is an S.E. Shires Artist and performs on his signature line of Greg Black Mouthpieces.
For more info, visit jimnova.com or hear his recordings at soundcloud.com/jimnova

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview John Sebastian Vera and Nick Schwartz, trombonists and podcast hosts of The Trombone Retreat.  After you listen to this episode, head on over to The Trombone Retreat feed for the second half of this episode.  You can come see us at Booth #271 at the TMEA Convention, February 8th thru 10th, 2024 in San Antonio Texas.
 
About John Sebastian Vera
John Sebastian Vera, a native of Texas, became the principal trombonist of the Pittsburgh Opera in 2010 and also joined the River City Brass as principal Trombone in 2015. He is also professor of trombone at Duquesne University and faculty member at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he teaches a course on Music Entrepreneurship and Digital Media as well as coach chamber music.
In addition to the Pittsburgh Opera, Mr. Vera has played with the symphonies of Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo, Kennedy Center Opera House, Malaysian Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Vermont, Harrisburg, Charleston, American Ballet Theatre, and Orquesta Sinaloa de las Artes in Mexico amongst others. 
He began his studies with Jon Bohls in Texas and continued his education at Southern Methodist University where he studied with John Kitzman of the Dallas Symphony. He then spent a year studying with Ed Zadrozny as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron, and finished his graduate work in New York City at the Mannes College of Music studying with David Finlayson and James Markey of the New York Philharmonic.    
In 2011, he spent the summer in Haiti volunteer teaching and performing in the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite as well as the Ecole de Musique Dessaix Baptiste which became one of the more profound experiences of his life.  
A dedicated chamber musician, he also was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Guidonian Hand Trombone Quartet in which he played from 2008-2014. With the quartet, John performed over 100 concerts and gave master classes all over the country. Heralded by the New York Times for their "expertly played performances" they have been recipients of numerous national grants which have enabled them to commission countless composers to create new and innovative works for four trombones.  In 2014 was the premiere of River of Fundament, a movie by film artist Matthew Barney, in which John recorded for and acted in along with the quartet. 
Mr. Vera can also be heard on the HBO documentary The Words that Built America as well as on euphonium in the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A House Divided as well as many commercial and video game soundtracks as well as James Markey’s solo release, “On Base”.
John is an Artist for Edwards Instruments and resides in Pittsburgh.  His favorite musicians include Sigur Ros, Radiohead, the Books, and Efterklang. When he can get away from the trombone he most enjoys basketball, traveling and reading about psychology and social science.  Check out his podcast he hosts with Nick Schwartz called the Trombone Retreat available everywhere you download your podcasts. Follow him on Instagram @js.vera.
 
About Nicholas Schwartz
Nicholas Schwartz has a diverse career performing across North America, Europe, and Asia. After studying at The Juilliard School with then New York Philharmonic bass trombonist Don Harwood, he moved to San Francisco where he began freelancing throughout the Bay Area.
 Since 2010, he has been the principal bass trombonist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra. He has also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra, the New York City Opera,  Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, The Malaysia Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Adam Woolf, trombonist and sackbut specialist from the UK. Meet us at the SoCal Trombone Day on January 20th, 2024 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut CA, or see us at Booth #271 at the TMEA Convention, February 8th thru 10th, 2024 in San Antonio Texas.
About Adam Woolf
For many years Adam Woolf enjoyed a full-time career as a performing musician working with the very best classical music ensembles, festivals and orchestras around the globe. He complemented this by teaching at world-leading institutions around Europe. as professor of Historical Performance and Baroque Trombone at London's Royal Academy of Music, The Conservatoire of Utrecht, Royal Conservatoire of Brussels and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Adam is proud to have had a part in the development of many fantastic musicians in today's classical music scene.
As a performer, Adam played with top orchestras in the world of period-instrument performance, notably as first trombone with Sir John Eliot Gardiner's English Baroque Soloists, a member of His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, and the Caecilia-Concert. Alongside this, he continued playing the modern instrument with London-based ensemble Mardi Brass and other groups. His love of jazz and contemporary music led to the creation of new compositions and experimental projects.
Adam has recorded over 100 CDs and DVDs, among which he am proud to count two solo projects, Songs Without Words and The Food of Love. Songs Without Words was the first full length CD to focus on the trombone as a solo instrument exclusively in music from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Alongside his output of recordings, some of which are available via this website, he also published various books which focus on historical performance practise on the trombone, also available here.

The Trombone Corner Podcast is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass and The Brass Ark.  Join hosts Noah and John as they interview Megumi Kanda, Principal Trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. 
About Megumi Kanda
Megumi Kanda, Principal Trombone of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 2002, is an internationally acclaimed performer, teacher, and author.   
Megumi has performed as a soloist across the United States, Europe, and Asia, including with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Pershing’s Own Army Band, the US Army Field Band, and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. She has been a featured guest artist at many trombone workshops and festivals, including the International Trombone Festival and the American Trombone Workshop.
Megumi has appeared as guest faculty at numerous music institutions, including the New World Symphony, National Youth Orchestra of the USA, and Interlochen Arts Academy, and has given master classes and recitals across the US, Europe, and Asia.
In April 2006, Megumi was recognized by the Arion Foundation in Tokyo, Japan as one of the most influential Japanese classical artists. She has also received a Certificate of Commendation from the Consul General of Japan at Chicago in recognition for distinguished service contributing to the friendship between the United States and Japan. Megumi was named a 2017 Woman of Influence in the category of education by the Milwaukee Business Journal. In 2020, she was named the recipient of the International Trombone Association Award, which recognizes the highest level of creative and artistic output.
Megumi’s first book, The One Hundred, a collection of orchestral trombone excerpts with accompanying commentary, was published in August 2015 and is a resource widely used by aspiring young trombonists around the world. Her second book, Trombone Unlimited, a comprehensive method book, was published in 2020.
As a JVC/Victor Entertainment artist, Megumi recorded three solo albums: Amazing Grace, Gloria, and Mona Lisa. She also can be heard on Magnifique Live, a live recording of Megumi and other JVC artists in the August 2005 performance at Takemitsu Hall in Tokyo’s Opera City.
Megumi is proud to be a Greenhoe performing artist.
Podcast Credits
Theme Music: The Trombone Choir Arrangements of Jay Friedman, Vol. 1 Audio Engineer – Preston Shepard  Cover Art – Frank Gladstone Podcast Hosts - Noah Gladstone & John Snell

This episode of the Trombone Corner is brought to you by The Brass Ark and by Bob Reeves Brass. Join hosts Noah Gladstone and John Snell as they talk with trombonist Dr. Brett Baker.
Brett Baker is viewed internationally as a leading performer and educator. He is passionate about encouraging composers to write pioneering new repertoire and is one of the most recorded brass soloists. 
Previously Brett was Programme Leader of the Musical Arts Degree at the University of Salford, and is now Marketing Lead for Denis Wick Products, and continues as an Ambassador for Michael Rath Brass Instruments, as well as long serving soloist and Principal Trombone of the Black Dyke Band. 
He is a Past Chair and Past President of the British Trombone Society and increasingly works as a conductor and adjudicator in festivals and competitions. 
Brett has commissioned many trombone solos with both wind and brass band accompaniment. In 2020 he won the ITA Presidents Award for services to the International Trombone Association were he has featured regularly as a soloist.

Coming from a musical family, trombonist Andy Martin launched his career while still in his teens. His technique and virtuosity quickly established him on the Los Angeles music scene. As an instructor, Martin has influenced countless young players. He has appeared at many colleges and universities throughout the country as a guest artist and clinician.
A world-class jazz musician, Martin is featured as leader or co-leader on twelve albums. These albums showcase his collaboration with other top jazz artists such as the late Carl Fontana, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, and Eric Marienthal. He has also collaborated as a sideman with jazz greats such as Stanley Turrentine and Horace Silver. Martin had a long association with British bandleader and jazz promoter Vic Lewis, and was the featured soloist on many of Vic’s CDs.
Martin is well known for his work as a lead player and featured soloist with virtually every big band in L.A. Martin is the lead trombonist and featured soloist with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, the lead trombonist and soloist for The Tom Kubis Band, and was a featured soloist for the Bill Holman Big Band for 15 years. He has appeared in bands led by Jack Sheldon, Louis Bellson, Quincy Jones, Matt Cattingub, Bob Curnow, Patrick Williams, and Sammy Nestico, among others.
Martin has long been one of L.A.’s most prominent trombonists for commercial recordings, television and motion picture soundtracks and live theater. He has contributed on albums for many popular artists, including the Pussycat Dolls, Coldplay, and Michael Bublé. His television credits include the Grammys, the Emmys, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Martin has been the lead trombonist on television shows Dancing With The Stars and American Idol, and has appeared regularly on the soundtracks of major television series such as Family Guy, American Dad, and King of the Hill. His motion picture credits span the soundtracks of over 150 major films.