We are excited to announce that NYJO are hosting a Mingus Big Band Masterclass during their weeklong residency at Ronnie Scott’s on Thursday 17th April – the masterclass will be led by Mingus Big Band MD (and bassist) Boris Kozov and one of the band’s brilliant trombonists, Conrad Herwig.
The session will dive into the intricacies of Charles Mingus’ music, and include both horn and rhythm sectionals, as well as the chance to play the music of Mingus as a big band.
This masterclass is open to all NYJO Emerging Professionals plus any other 18–25-year-old jazz musicians from the wider musical community who love Mingus’ music and want to learn more about big band playing – if you have a friend who would like to join in with this opportunity, please share the sign-up form with them!
Boris Kozlov, bassist, is a two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, composer and arranger.
Currently serving as a bassist, arranger and musical director for Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra, as well as leading his own projects, he has also been a first-call bassist for such important jazz acts as Manhattan Transfer, Michael Brecker, John Blake, Ray Barretto’s ‘New World Spirit’, Lew Tabackin, David Kikoski, Alex Sipiagin, Jean-Michel Pilc and many others. Currently teaches at Syracuse University, NY.
Conrad Herwig, The New York jazz trombonist has recorded 28 albums as a leader, receiving four Grammy nominations. He has also been voted #1 Jazz Trombonist three times in the DownBeat “Jazz Critic’s Poll” and nominated for “Trombonist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association on numerous occasions.
In constant demand as a sideman, Herwig has performed with Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, and Joe Lovano (featured as a soloist on Lovano’s GRAMMY Award winning 52nd St. Themes CD). In the Afro-Caribbean genre he has toured with legends such as Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, and Michel Camilo. He is a longtime member of the Mingus Big Band (where he has served as musical director and arranger including on the 2011 GRAMMY- winning Live at the Jazz Standard CD). In other big band settings Herwig has also performed and/or recorded with Clark Terry, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis & Quincy Jones, and the Gil Evans Orchestra.