Renowned Trumpet Player Ken Brader Will Direct, Perform With Jazz Ensemble Tonight

In a rare Lehigh Valley performance, renowned trumpet player Ken Brader will perform solos at the Lafayette Jazz Ensemble’s annual spring concert 8 p.m. today at the Williams Center for the Arts.

Free and open to the public, the event is sponsored by the music department.

Considered one of the country’s top trumpet players, Brader is performing extensively with the Jazz Ensemble for the first time in his decade of directing it. He is lead trumpet and soloist with the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra, a frequent performer in Philadelphia and New York venues, and recently played principal trumpet on NFL Films’ symphonic recordings for national broadcast. Brader has traveled internationally as assistant musical director, featured soloist, and lead trumpet with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He has played with Chuck Mangione, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and many of the world’s leading jazz performers.

Brader, who also teaches trumpet at Lafayette, will solo in the second half of the concert on “A Night in Tunisia” by Dizzy Gillespie; “My Funny Valentine,” arranged by Mark Taylor; “There Will Never be Another You,” featuring graduating seniors Brandon Cochenour, Chris Michaud, and Dan Miller, along with sophomore Dave Mitchell on vocals; “I Can’t Get Started” by Vernon Duke, a trumpet solo made popular by Bunny Berigan, with Brader’s own ending cadenza; and “Just Friends” by Rob McConnell, a big band arrangement that features the ensemble.

The evening will begin with “This is for Albert” by Wayne Shorter, arranged by Phil Burlin; “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” by Charles Mingus, arranged by Rob Holmes; “High Maintenance” by Gordon Goodwin; “Decoupage” by Hank Levy; and “Powder Keg” by Jeff Jarvis.

“The Jazz Ensemble played at Experience Lafayette Day, which was a nice exposure for the group to next year’s incoming class,” says Brader. “The audience response was very enthusiastic.”

Legendary pianist, conductor, and composer Peter Nero took Brader as his personal lead player to the Grand Teton Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyo., for the Fourth of July last year. He was featured soloist last May at Phillipsburg High School with the Starburst Orchestra, a big band comprised of some of the best musicians in New York City. He has played as a member of the ensemble at Lincoln Center in New York and was featured soloist in Texas in October 2001.

Brader’s experience includes work on CDs that have won Grammy Awards, concerts in 30 countries as well as major symphony halls and jazz clubs in the United States, and continuing performances with the City Rhythm Orchestra. He was a member of the band performing at the most recent Republican National Convention.

“A lot of my professional playing is transferable to what I do at Lafayette,” says Brader, who received his degree from Eastman School of Music and directed the University of Rochester Jazz Ensemble. “I tell the jazz band about something that happened on a gig I played that week that can help them with their performance.”

In July 1998, Brader performed at several major international jazz festivals on the 23-day tour of eight European countries as a member of the Phil Woods Big Band. Brader performed as lead trumpet on the CD Live at Carnegie Hall — The 50th Anniversary Concert by Patti Page, which won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance. He also was lead trumpet and soloist in the nationally broadcast PBS TV special “Songs of Johnny Mercer” with Johnny Mathis and Melissa Manchester.

Brader’s ability to share his own performance excellence has brought individual achievement for students taking private lessons. The Pennsylvania All-State Jazz Band, which fields only four or five trumpet players, typically includes two of his students. Several years ago, Brader’s students took all four trumpet positions. His students also have taken the lead trumpet position in successive years in the All-State East Jazz Band, which draws from a 12-state area.

The ensemble:

• Saxophones — Jon Glick ’05, a mechanical engineering major from Hamden, Conn., lead alto (and flute); Beth Ponder ‘04, a biochemistry major from Collegeville, Pa., alto (and flute); Ryan Collins ‘03, a chemical engineering major from Whitehouse Station, N.J., tenor; Jack Furlong ’05, a music major from Hopewell, N.J., baritone; Chris Michaud ’03, a double major in art and music from Millerton, N.Y., tenor; Mike Fragassi, lead alto;
• Trombones — Ken Mease, lead; Mike Beatrice ‘04, an A.B. engineering major from Mahwah, N.J.; David Glasser ’06 of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Dave Mitchell ’05, a double major in music and economics & business from Bear Creek, Pa., bass;
• Trumpets — John Sutton, lead; Vince Pettinelli, assistant lead; Rob McEwen ’05, a computer science major from Morgantown, Pa.; Steve Bayer ’04, a neuroscience major from Doylestown, Pa.; Bill Berry; Ryan Morrow;
• Bass — Dan Miller ’03, an electrical and computer engineering major from East Amherst, N.Y;
• Piano – Brandon Cochenour ’03, an electrical and computer engineering major from Lower Burrell, Pa.;
• Guitar — Steve Nesbit, associate professor of mechanical engineering;
• Drums — Chuck Cooper

Lafayette’s jazz ensemble is led by noted trumpet player and conducter Ken Brader, who has played lead trumpet with Chuck Mangione, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and other top jazz performers.