Features

 

Jazz & Beyond Homepage

 

Festival details page

 

Festival schedule and links

Festival schedule
(printable PDF, up-to-date)

 

Mad Hatter Garden Party at the Governor's Mansion - Aug. 1

 

Speakeasy Dance Party - Aug. 9

 

Bill Watrous Concert and Trombone Master Class - Aug. 11

 

Festival sponsors

 

Jazz & Beyond

 

MHJB Homepage

 

The Mile High Jazz Band is proud to present legendary trombonist Bill Watrous in concert and in a master class on Monday, Aug. 11, at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., Carson City. These events are part of the "Jazz & Beyond: Carson City Music Festival," which runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 17 and features over 40 events, mostly in the downtown Carson City area.

CONCERT:
The concert is at 7:30 p.m. The Mile High Jazz Band will accompany Mr. Watrous on the first half of the program. On the second half of the program he will be accompanied by Bill Hecht on piano, Hans Halt on bass, and Andy Heglund on drums. Hecht is a staple of the regional jazz scene, as are Halt and Heglund, who are on the music faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno. Admission to the concert is $15. Tickets are available at Play Your Own Music in the Carson Mall, may be ordered online from the festival website at JazzCarsonCity.com, or may be purchased at the door.

MASTER CLASS:
The trombone master class with Bill Watrous is from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m., at the Community Center. Local trombonists were invited to work with Mr. Watrous on their trombone technique, jazz improvisation, and other musical skills. This is a great opportunity for the public to learn by observing these lessons up close. The master class is open to the public and is free. It is funded, in part, by For the Love of Jazz (FTLOJ).

Bill Watrous is a master technician on the trombone and is generally considered a bop-oriented player. He is known for his clean sound on up-tempo songs and ballads. His first solo album, "In Love Again," featured his ballad playing and was the first in a long discography featuring his work as a leader and as a sideman. Sought after for studio work, he performed or recorded with several famous bandleaders including Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, and Quincy Jones, as well as fellow trombonists Kai Winding and Carl Fontana. He was with the house band for the Merv Griffin Show from 1965 to 1968. In the 1970s he created his own group, Manhattan Wildlife Refuge, which he renamed Refuge West when he moved from the east coast to southern California. He now lives in Los Angeles and is on the faculty of the University of Southern California.

Information about "Jazz & Beyond" can be found at JazzCarsonCity.com. "Jazz & Beyond" is supported by Mile High Jazz Band Assoc., Carson City, and the Nevada Commission on Tourism. This will be the only performance by the Mile High Jazz Band in August, but the band generally performs on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the rest of the year. For more information, call the Mile High Jazz Band at 775-883-4154, or visit the web site: MileHighJazz.com.

Photo of Bill Watrous courtesy of John Dugan.

Tickets for the concert are available online at ActivityTicket.com, where you can use a credit or debit card. Just click on the "BUY NOW" button below. Tickets are $15. You may also call 775-883-4154 for tickets or obtain them at The Purple Avocado at 904 N. Curry St. and Play Your Own Music in the Carson Mall, (cash or check only).
Use the "Buy Now" button to order your tickets at ActivityTickets.com.

Click here for CarsonNow.org article about Bill Watrous' masterclass and concert on Monday, Aug. 11.