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Celebrate Black History Month with UNI Jazz Trombones

It’s time to celebrate people like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Langston Hughes, Ella Fitzgerald, Oliver Nelson, Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Jesse Owens – Black History Month is here!

Join IPR in celebrating this annual observance by tuning in on Friday, February 1st at noon and Saturday, February 16th at 8 pm for a special broadcast featuring the UNI Trombone Studio’s performances in IPR’s Studios, under the direction of UNI’s Dr. Anthony Williams.

The UNI Trombone Studio brought two top-notch ensembles to perform live in IPR’s Studios. The Trombone Octet is the studio’s premier ensemble, made up of the top trombonists chosen by audition. The group performs traditional trombone choir music as well as music written specifically for eight trombones. UNI Jazz Trombones, UNI’s premier jazz ensemble, has been performing since 2014. This ensemble showcases UNI’s top jazz trombonists and their unique talents.

The Trombone Octet performed Spirituals, made up of the following pieces:

Amazing Grace

Swing Low

Down By the Riverside

The UNI Jazz Trombones performed the following jazz charts:

Stolen Moments                               Oliver Nelson

Epistrophy                                           Thelonious Monk

What is This Thing Called Love    Cole Porter

Milestones                                          Miles Davis

Cantaloupe Island                           Herbie Hancock

Members of the Trombone Octet include:

  • Thomas Mortenson
  • Michael Stow
  • Collin Krukow
  • Jason Andriano
  • Obediah Bauer
  • Jack Dunning
  • Chris Copeland (bass trombone)
  • Josh Piering (bass trombone)

UNI Jazz Trombones members are:

  • Thomas Mortenson
  • Collin Krukow
  • Michael Stow
  • Augustus Geiger
  • Josh Piering (bass trombone)
  • Rhythm section:
    • Obediah Bauer, piano
    • Isaac Schwartz, drum set
    • Michael Gedden, bass

Be sure to tune in to IPR Classical on Friday, February 1st at noon and Saturday, February 16th at 8 p.m. to hear this special Black History Month performance from UNI’s Trombone Studio.

For more information on the studio, visit https://www.unitrombones.com/

Listen below to the UNI Jazz Trombones’ performance of Slide Hampton’s arrangement of Yesterdays and the Octet’s performance of the poignant spirituals Nobody Knows and Were You There?

unitromboneoctetspirituals.mp3
Listen to the UNI Trombone Octet perform spirituals here.

Jacqueline Halbloom is a Sr. Music Producer and Classical Music Host