Modern Project “Jazz At The Bottom Line”

of tradition utilizing of the internationally acclaimed “The Modern Jazz Tuba Project is exceptional by any standard. Rich Matteson arrangements catch fire, the horns the Matteson-Phillips TUBAJAZZ flex like alto on a trip, the rhythm section and tuba as lead CONSORT in the mid-1970s. The cooks, even the tortuous ‘Blue Rondo A La Turk’ fails to stop instruments in jazz. MJT Project is an outgrowth of the progress of these consummate musicians. In competent hands the ballads are always going to be warm and graceful, This tradition started these traditions. but add the beautifully written section backgrounds and you in the late 1940s with Utilizing the talents of three immediately appreciate that these are classic sounds. There “the ” outstanding jazz euphoniumists— is no novelty value here, this is a marvelous jazz project and you’d be wise to seek it out. and the collaboration Billy Huber and Barry Green of —John Killoch of Mainlybigbands.com between Nashville and Marcus Dickman and Bill Barber on of Jacksonville, Florida—and The Modern Jazz Tuba Project a number of recordings arranged balancing the low end with tubists is a ten-piece modern jazz group by , and was extended Joe Murphy and Winston Morris consisting of professional jazz through the 1950s by Harvey of Tennessee and Richard Perry musicians, primarily based Phillips (the Sauter-Finegan of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the in Nashville, Tennessee. The Orchestra, Gil Evans, etc.) and MJT Project explores the best in MJT Project has produced two Don Butterfield (, jazz tuba literature. The rhythm critically acclaimed recordings , section personnel are all first-call (Live at the Bottom Line Heartdance and others). Nashville-based musicians who Music HDM 1090 and Favorite By the late 1950s, have performed and Things Heartdance Music HDM bands were actually Watch for a clinic by recorded with just 1120). The group has presented fronted by tubists The Modern Jazz about everybody in performances at the Great such as Ray Draper Tuba Project at the the music business American Brass Band Festival (with “sideman” TBA Convention/Clinic with Steve Willets in Danville, Kentucky, the U.S. !) and this summer. on keys, Paul Army Band Tuba Conference in Red Callender. In The MJT Project is Binkley on , Washington, D.C., the Midwest the late 1960s tubist produced by Jim Ferguson on International Band and Orchestra Howard Johnson R. Winston Morris bass and Bob Mater Clinic in Chicago, the International began his work and Joe Murphy. on drums. Tuba Conference, and state music with the Gil Evans Repertoire for conferences in Tennessee, Florida Orchestra and with blues artist Taj this new and exciting group ranges and Texas and other jazz venues. Mahal, which led to the formation from lush ballads to uptempo The Modern Jazz Tuba Project of the first jazz tuba ensemble, bebop, and everything in between. presents an exciting new approach “Gravity,” in 1968. Famous jazz The group is available for festivals, to contemporary music. With six euphoniumist Rich Matteson, conferences, club engagements, low brass instrumentalists and a along with tubist , and other appropriate venues. For four-piece rhythm section, the MJT continued exploring ensemble more information, visit their web Project builds upon over fifty years possibilities through the formation site at www.mjtproject.com.

21 Bandmasters Review • March 2005 Texas Bandmasters Association