New Arts Jazztet
The New Arts Jazztet (NAJ) has long been regarded as southern Illinois' premier jazz group, regularly presenting an engaging selection of original works, forged in the energy of neo bop and the eclecticism of contemporary jazz. With its edgy sound, the group — saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass and drums — convincingly helps to move the music into the 21st Century.
The NAJ’s club dates have included Cincinnati’s Blue Wisp, Chicago’s Pops for Champagne, and other nightspots around the Midwest; its concert, clinic and festival engagements have comprised a number of universities and other performance venues throughout the Heartland. The group has appeared with several prominent jazz artists, and performed as part of a live statewide television broadcast, Arts Across Illinois: CenterStage (2004), at WTTW/Channel 11, Chicago. The New Arts Jazztet was recently selected for inclusion in the Illinois Arts Council’s 2007-09 Artstour Artist Roster. Each spring, the group presents a formal all-original concert as part of the Southern Illinois Jazz Festival, and is a featured ensemble at the Southern Illinois Music Festival each summer.
The New Arts Jazztet, along with the duo, FourOnSix, is recorded on the album, Darkness Into Light, a release by NAJ bassist, Phil Brown. His upcoming release, Bright Side, features the NAJ.
The New Arts Jazztet is in residence at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where its members are School of Music faculty.
Dick Kelley, saxophones
Originally from Decatur, Illinois, Dick Kelley is currently Instructor of Saxophone at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He was previously on faculty at Indiana State University. Along with just recently joining the New Arts Jazztet, Mr. Kelley has performed with the likes of Kenny Werner, Dick Oatts, Glenn Wilson, Antonio Hart, Rufus Reid, Jim Pugh and Chip McNeill, among others. This fall, Dick can be heard on two new releases with the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band and Latin Jazz Ensemble. Most notably Dick has studied with Chip McNeill, Ron Bridgewater, Perry Rask, Dick Oatts and Glenn Wilson in the jazz arena.
In addition to his jazz experience, Mr. Kelley remains actively involved in the classical saxophone world. He has appeared at several conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance, the United States Navy Band Symposium and the World Saxophone Congress. Some of his classical saxophone teachers include Perry Rask, Paul Bro and Debra Richtmeyer.
Mr. Kelley completed him BM in Music Performance at Millikin University. He received his MM in Music Performance from Indiana State University. Currently, Dick is completing his DMA in Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Bob Allison, trumpet/flugelhorn
Bob Allison, originally from Memphis, Tennessee, is Associate Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has also taught at Millikin University and the Latvian National Conservatory, in Riga, Latvia. Besides fulfilling his teaching duties, he is active as a performer in the classical and jazz idioms. Dr. Allison is a founding member of the New Arts Jazztet. He is a former winner of the International Trumpet Guild's Jazz Improvisation Contest, and has performed in England, Latvia, and Sweden. Dr. Allison also has performed with jazz artists, James Williams, Cal Thomas, Willie Thomas, and Stanley Clarke. He has also been a frequent featured soloist with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Allison received most of his training at the University of Illinois, where he was a student of Ray Sasaki, David Hickman, and Mike Tunnell.
Tim Pitchford, trombone
Tim Pitchford is a native Floridian. He is Instructor of Trombone at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and joined the New Arts Jazztet in 2007. As a professional trombonist, Dr. Pitchford has performed with Joe Williams, Maureen McGovern, Arturo Sandoval, The Manhattan Transfer, John Pizzarelli, Patti Austin, Byron Stripling, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and many others. He has recorded on several Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated albums and numerous independent and commercial recordings. He is a member of the Kai Winding Award-winning Piedmont Trombone Society, a jazz trombone ensemble from Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Pitchford received a B.M. from the University of North Florida, an M.M. from Georgia State University, and a D.M.A. from the University of Miami. Until recently, he performed throughout North, Central, and South America with K.C. and the Sunshine Band. More information can be found at www.TimPitchford.com
Mel Goot, piano
Pianist Mel Goot was born in San Diego, and spent his early years in Mexico City. Self-taught, he was still a teen when he played his first professional job and record date with the Teddy Picou Quartet. Mel later attended San Diego State University, where, for 4 years, he was the top pianist with the award-winning SDSU Jazz Ensemble. Following college, he gave jazz history presentations and jazz improvisation clinics at San Diego and Los Angeles area schools under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Mel Goot has appeared at various national and international festivals, including Monterey, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Reno, San Felipe, Borrego Springs, and Tijuana. He has performed with artists such as Charles McPherson, Mark Dresser, Nathan East, Hollis Gentry, Daniel Jackson, Luis Gasca, Cal Tjader, Poncho Sanchez, John Heard, Carol Kaye, Dee Dee McNeil, Kevyn Lettau, Peter Sprague, Jaime Valle, Abraham Laboriel, Leon Pettis, Bobby Shew, and Dave Valentin. Mel has also performed with big bands behind Solomon Burke, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Steve Allen.
Since 1995, Mel has served as pianist with the New Arts Jazztet. He remains active performing both as a solo artist and as a pianist with various other groups and artists.
Phil Brown, bass
A native of Amarillo, Texas, Phil Brown is currently Associate Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies, as well as Coordinator of Music Business at Southern Illinois University. He joined the New Arts Jazztet as bassist in 1991.
Notable among the many jazz artists with whom Mr. Brown has performed are Pepper Adams, Lockjaw Davis, Herb Ellis, Steve Gadd, Red Garland, Dizzy Gillespie, Tom Harrell, Delfeayo Marsalis, Mark Murphy, and Clark Terry.
He has also served as a clinician and adjudicator at a number of national and area jazz competitions, camps and festivals, most recently the University of Louisville Jazz Week.
Mr. Brown earned his graduate degree in music education at North Texas State University, where he was a member of NTSU's highly acclaimed jazz ensemble, the One O'Clock Lab Band. His undergraduate degree in composition was completed at Northwestern University. Mr. Brown's bass teachers have included Lawrence Hurst, Ringwalt Warner, Evan Tonsing, Warren Benfield and Edward Rainbow. He studied composition with M. William Karlins and with Luciano Berio.
Mr. Brown’s recent writing efforts have produced almost 3 dozen originals for the New Arts Jazztet. In 2003, the Illinois Arts Council honored him for his work and commitment within the arts with an Artist Fellowship Award in music composition. Mr. Brown has released two recordings, with a third on the way.
Additional information is available at www.acaldera.com
Ron Coulter, drums/percussion
Ron Coulter is currently Lecturer of Percussion Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and adjunct Instructor of Percussion at John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL. In 2006, Ron became an Educational Endorser with the Promark Corporation, and Black Swamp Percussion.
Mr. Coulter has been a free-lance percussionist since 1997, performing in a wide range of musical situations from marching percussion to live electronica. As a performer, he has toured nationally and internationally appearing in 41 U.S. states and most major cities in Canada and Japan. In addition to his work with the New Arts Jazztet, which he joined in 2005, Mr. Coulter has performed with such artists as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Four Aces, Donadi, Sean Jones, Al Martino, Julia Rich, the Gaylords, Galen Abdur-Razzaq, Marvin Stamm, Joanne Brackeen, Chuck Mangione, Sony Holland, Maria Schneider, Sandy Duncan, Beat Kastley, Nick Hilscher, Steve Lippia, Dick Johnson, Marvin Hamlisch, Rapture 7, the Rum Runners, and Christina Fontanelli, among many others.
Current interests in interdisciplinary collaboration and non-idiomatic improvisation have led to the creation of the Southern Illinois Improvisation Series (SiiS), organizing Fluxusconcerts, and collaborative projects with artists specializing in performance art, video, and spoken word. As a composer, Mr. Coulter has created more than 90 original compositions for acoustic and electro-acoustic mediums. Originally from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, Ron Coulter earned M.M. and B.M. degrees in Percussion Performance from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. His principle drum set teachers include Dr. Glenn Schaft, Tony Leonardi, John Riley, and Fred Morris.
For New Arts Jazztet booking information, please contact a caldera entertainment at 618/549.8051 or through www.acaldera.com