The Journal

Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: LifeStyle

Neumeister

"If you think of the influential trombonists in the last 30 years, Ed is one of the major players," said James Martin, one of the two directors of the Webster Big Band and adjunct music professor.


Both the Webster Big Band and Mini Big Band had a chance to play with renowned composer and trombonist Ed Neumeister at the Donald O. Davis Memorial Jazz Endowment Concert April 16 in the Winifred Moore Auditorium. Both bands played a variety of jazz pieces for about 120 people.


Concert proceeds were donated to the Donald O. Davis Memorial Jazz Endowment Scholarship. Drew Davis, a 1994 jazz studies alumnus, started the scholarship fund the same year he graduated in his father's memory. Because they were unable to raise enough funds, no scholarship was awarded in 2007.


Michael Parkinson, chairman of the music department and director of the Big Band and Mini Big Band, said they hope to award a scholarship in 2008. The scholarship is given to a jazz studies student. Parkinson and Paul DeMarinis, associate music professor, choose the recipient.


Neumeister currently teaches jazz trombone at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria. His arrangement of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square" received a 1992 Grammy nomination, which the Big Band played. Neumeister is well-known in the music community for arranging and de-arranging composed music.


"It's twisting the music," Neumeister said about de-arranging. "It's like taking a baby doll and ripping off the arm, legs and the head and putting them together in some strange configuration."


Neumeister played and directed the bands at the concert. The same day, he taught two clinics for Webster music students. He directed students and went over techniques. Many Webster students said they benefited from receiving instruction and critique.


"It was my favorite concert of my career," said Big Band tenor saxophonist Mike Smith, a senior jazz studies and music technology major. "(Neumeister) kicked my butt in the clinics. (The clinics) were very good, but hard. I valued them a lot."


Another Webster student, Derick Tramel, a sophomore jazz technology major and member of the Big Band and Mini Big Band, said he enjoyed playing with Neumeister and in the concert.


"I had a lot of fun," said Tramel, a baritone saxophonist. "It was some of the hardest music that I ever played."

Continued...

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