Young Sounds
Review: Young Sounds of Arizona at the Musical Instrument Museum
By Patricia Myers
The spring concert by The Young Sounds of Arizona’s two bands and a combo was performed for a near-capacity audience on June 1st at the Musical Instrument Museum in north Phoenix.
Continue ReadingInterview: Lee Hauser, drummer in Young Sounds of Arizona
By Patricia Myers
Lee Hauser, a recent graduate of Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, who has been playing drums since the fifth grade, will be pursuing university jazz studies for his lifetime profession. Lee, 18, started out playing drums for rock and funk music, then learned about jazz in a high school band.
Continue ReadingInterview: Alex Price, trumpeter in Young Sounds of Arizona
By Patricia Myers
Trumpeter Alex Price started classical music lessons in the second grade. He loved playing piano and clarinet in school bands, and switched to trumpet in the seventh grade.
Continue ReadingAuditions for Young Sounds being held May 9 through June 8
Auditions are underway for Young Sounds of Arizona, created in 1971 by the Professional Musicians of Arizona, Local 586 of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), to provide further training, performing opportunities and artistic growth for young Arizona musicians ages 14 to 19.
Continue ReadingInterview: Emily Ruth, bassist, The Young Sounds of Arizona
By Patricia Myers
Emily Ruth, bassist in one of The Young Sounds of Arizona’s two bands, had an early start in music performance: She first played toy percussion instruments around the house with her sister and brother. She wanted to be a rock drummer until she heard the sound of an upright bass in elementary school.
Continue ReadingYoung Sounds of Arizona at the Phoenix Center for the Arts
By Patricia Myers
The two youth jazz bands of Young Sounds of Arizona performed a satisfying concert of solid section work and strong soloists on March 5 before a near-capacity audience at the Phoenix Center for the Arts.
Continue ReadingInterview: Jacob Franklin-pianist, Young Sounds of Arizona
By Patricia Myers:
Listening to recorded jazz is an important element of learning to play better, says Jacob Franklin, 17, pianist for the 7:00 Band of Young Sounds of Arizona. “I studied classical music starting when I was 7, and my grandfather had a jazz record collection that I listened to with him.
Continue ReadingArmand Boatman Trio and vibraphonist Jim Cooper at Musicians Hall
By Patricia Myers:
The sparkling piano style of Armand Boatman combined with the flashing mallets of longtime Chicago-area vibraphonist Jim Cooper in a quartet setting on Nov. 4 at the Musicians Hall in Phoenix. From the opening lilt of “Almost Like Being in Love” to the closing Latin-flavored “Datura,” both sets were a satisfying mix of standards and originals.
An interview with Andrew Gross: Young Sounds of Arizona assistant director
By Patricia Myers:
Tenor saxophonist Andrew Gross knows what it’s like to be a student-member of the Young Sounds of Arizona big bands: He was in the bands in 1995-96, before enrolling in the jazz studies program at Arizona State University.
Riffs: Music News from Out and About
By Patricia Myers:
The metro-Phoenix jazz community is supporting the DwyerStrong Benefit from 3 to 7 pm Sunday, Nov. 23, with top local artists giving their talent and time to help raise funds for medical costs related the treatment of Danny Long’s grandson, a 16-year-old leukemia patient.