Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort
Encyclopedia
Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort is a US big band
scored
for low brass instruments – trombones, euphoniums, and tuba
s – performed by artists who are renowned in jazz or classical or both.
and Harvey Phillips
in the fall of 1975 during a T.U.B.A. Conference at Chadron State College
in Chadron, Nebraska
. Phillips wanted to do something different for the First International Brass Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, the following June and suggested to Matteson that they form a group of three euphoniums and three tubas
with rhythm section
to debut there. Matteson enthusiastically agreed and immediately recruited trombonist Ashley Alexander and guitarist Jack Petersen
. The third euphonium player for the debut performance John Marcellus
; the pianist was Steve Harlos; the bassist and drummer were from the Bobby Lewis Band (Chicago). Phillips then recruited the other Tubists, Daniel Perantoni and R. Winston Morris
. Rich wrote several arrangements. Phillips said that he'll never forget the first rehearsal and the wide grin on Matteson's face; It works, it really works!
The Tubajazz Consort was a hit in Montreux. And, in February 1978, at the Adelaide Festival in Australia
in February 1978, Tubajazz Consort was well received. After the festival, Tubajazz performed for capacity audiences in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, where the group played at the Sydney Opera House
and set attendance records at a well-known local jazz club — "The Basement."
of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc., a New York not-for-profit corporation founded by Harvey Phillips
in 1977 and is based in Bloomington, IN. The trademark
was registered November 19, 1996, at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
scored
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
for low brass instruments – trombones, euphoniums, and tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
s – performed by artists who are renowned in jazz or classical or both.
History
The idea was conceived by Rich MattesonRich Matteson
Rich A. Matteson, was an American jazz artist, collegiate music educator, international jazz clinician, big band leader, and jazz composer/arranger...
and Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips was a professor emeritus of the , Indiana University, Bloomington and dedicated advocate for the tuba.-Biography:Phillips was a professional freelance musician from 1950 to 1971, winning his first professional...
in the fall of 1975 during a T.U.B.A. Conference at Chadron State College
Chadron State College
Chadron State College is a four-year public college in the Nebraska State College System in Chadron, Nebraska. The college is located in the northern part of the Nebraska Panhandle, in the Pine Ridge area....
in Chadron, Nebraska
Chadron, Nebraska
Chadron is a city in Dawes County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,851 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dawes County. Chadron is the home of Chadron State College....
. Phillips wanted to do something different for the First International Brass Congress in Montreux, Switzerland, the following June and suggested to Matteson that they form a group of three euphoniums and three tubas
Tubas
Tubas or Toubas is a small Palestinian city in the northeastern West Bank, located northeast of Nablus, a few kilometers west of the Jordan River. A city of over 16,000 inhabitants, it serves as the economic and administrative center of the Tubas Governorate. Its urban area consists of 2,271 dunams...
with rhythm section
Rhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
to debut there. Matteson enthusiastically agreed and immediately recruited trombonist Ashley Alexander and guitarist Jack Petersen
Jack Petersen
Jack Petersen was a Welsh boxer, who held the British heavyweight boxing title on two separate occasions.-Early life and career:...
. The third euphonium player for the debut performance John Marcellus
John Marcellus
John Marcellus is a trombone musician and teacher. He is currently Professor of Trombone at The Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, and past Chair of the Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Department. In addition to his trombone teaching responsibilities at Eastman, Dr...
; the pianist was Steve Harlos; the bassist and drummer were from the Bobby Lewis Band (Chicago). Phillips then recruited the other Tubists, Daniel Perantoni and R. Winston Morris
R. Winston Morris
South Carolinian Ralph Winston Morris , known for his signature "soul patch", is the professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. He is editor of The Tuba Source Book and the Euphonium Source Book...
. Rich wrote several arrangements. Phillips said that he'll never forget the first rehearsal and the wide grin on Matteson's face; It works, it really works!
The Tubajazz Consort was a hit in Montreux. And, in February 1978, at the Adelaide Festival in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in February 1978, Tubajazz Consort was well received. After the festival, Tubajazz performed for capacity audiences in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, where the group played at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
and set attendance records at a well-known local jazz club — "The Basement."
Trademark
Tubajazz is a trademarkTrademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc., a New York not-for-profit corporation founded by Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips
Harvey Phillips was a professor emeritus of the , Indiana University, Bloomington and dedicated advocate for the tuba.-Biography:Phillips was a professional freelance musician from 1950 to 1971, winning his first professional...
in 1977 and is based in Bloomington, IN. The trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
was registered November 19, 1996, at the US Patent and Trademark Office.