Jazz…Spontaneous…Never Ordinary…Completely Genuine…Made in America…Enjoyed Worldwide
Upper School Jazz Band Concert
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ridgway
“A Tribute to the Trumpet”
St. Louis Blues W.C. Handy, Arr/Michael Sweeney
RJ Maunton-trumpet, Nate Boyer-Rechlin &Michael Allen-trombone
Phil Riley-guitar, Garrett Wells & Matt Edwards-saxes
Ben Portner-vibes, Mr. Nick Drozdoff-trumpet
Bohemia after Dark Performed by Brian Ward Oscar Pettiford
Big John’s Special Horace Henderson, Arr/David Berger
RJ Maunton-trumpet, Garrett Wells-alto sax
Peter Carnesciali & David Ritter-trumpets
Mystic Traveler Michael Sweeney
Nate Boyer-Rechlin, Michael Allen & Reed Brumm-trombone
Emily Bartelstone-alto sax, Ron Douglas-tenor sax
Stewart Hoffmann & RJ Maunton-Trumpet, Matt Edwards-tenor sax
Ben Portner-vibes, Phil Riley-guitar, Cassy Gerber-drums
~The Brian Ward/Ben Portner Duo~
Moon River Henry Mancini
Minority Gigi Gryce
Tenderly ~With Guest Artist Nick Drozdoff~ Walter L. Gross & Jack Lawrence
~The Jazz Band~
The Fool on the Hill Lennon & McCartney, Arr/Mark Taylor
RJ Maunton-flugelhorn, Brian Ward-bass, Ben Portner-Vibes
Broadway Byrd, McRae, Woode, Arr/Mark Taylor
Featuring the trumpet section
RJ Maunton, Stewart Hoffmann, Peter Carnesciali, & David Ritter
Mr. Nick Drozdoff-trumpet
The Chacha What Gotcha Michael Philip Mossman
Nate Boyer-Rechlin & Michael Allen-trombone, Garrett Wells-alto sax,
Matt Edwards-tenor, Brian Ward-bass, Phil Riley-guitar, Ben Portner-vibes,
Stewart Hoffmann & RJ Maunton-trumpet,
Nick Drozdoff-trumpet
Maria Featuring Nick Drozdoff Arr. Don Sebesky (as played by Maynard Ferguson)
If The Shew FitsFeaturing Nick Drozdoff Frank Mantooth
Nick Drozdoff(Principia US ‘71 )is leading a double life, and has been doing so for as long as he can remember. While he majored in Electrical Engineering (graduating from Washington University with a BSEE), he continued his music studies playing trumpet in churches and big bands in the Saint Louis area. After settling in Chicago to work at Motorola he began playing in churches & rehearsal bands around the Chicago area. He ultimately quit his job as a junior design engineer to pursue a career as a free-lance studio musician.
In 1980, he was offered the job of playing second trumpet on Maynard Ferguson’s band. Drozdoff accepted and stayed on the road for most of 1981.
After leaving the road, he settled into a free-lance career spanning more than 14 years. Drozdoff, in addition to running his own music contracting business, played in a free-lance capacity for the Ojays, the Temptations, The Spinners, Sammy Davis Junior, Rosemary Clooney, Bill Cosby, John Denver, Dennis DeYoung of Styx, Melissah Manchester, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme, Fred Rogers, the Lawrence Welk All Stars, Bob Newhart, Frankie Avalon, Diahann Carroll, Gladys Knight and the Pips, to name only a few of the acts that came through requiring his services. He has also worked with members of the Chicago Symphony.
After Drozdoff completed his first master’s degree, a MM in Classical Trumpet from Roosevelt University, he changed the entire direction of his musical life. He closed his contracting business to re-direct his work into that of sideman. He also began a gradual transition from lead player to jazz soloist. He also took on a day gig: that of high school physics teacher. Thus his double life returned.
Drozdoff has built his own private studio, thus tapping his engineering background. He is now composing and arranging music for his own independent label. The duality of his life has found a harmonious resting place at New Trier High School, where he teaches high school physics by day. By night he is a regular denizen of local jazz clubs and the free-lance music scene, playing between 100 and 150 gigs a year. Drozdoff had a new CD releasedin 2006, “No Man Is An Island.”
Jazz Band Personnel
Saxes
Emily Bartelstone^,2
Garrett Wells^,1
Matt Edwards (US ’08)
Ron Douglas ^,1
Bryce Mehring~,1
Corey Thornton (US ’05)
Trumpets
RJ Maunton*,4
Stewart Hoffmann~,3
Peter Carnesciali^,2
David Ritter#,1
#Freshmen
^Sophomores
~Juniors
*Seniors
Trombones
Nate Boyer-Rechlin~,3
Michael Allen#,1
MJ Douma*,2
Reed Brumm^,2
Guitar
Philip Riley*,2
Piano
David McClelland#,1
Bass
Brian Ward*, 4, “D”, “S”
Years in Jazz Band
1,2,3,4
District Jazz Band “D”
State Jazz Band “S”
Drums & Percussion
Cassy Gerber~,3
Rachel Bailey*,2
Josh Benson~,1
Director
Martha Stitzel
Assistant Director
Mike Griswold
Percussion Coach
Keith Evans
Technical Director
Dwight Oyer
Thanks to :
Ben Shipman of
AVA Audio Video
Associates, Inc.