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SJMO Home |
Concerts and Events |
History |
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Meet the SJMO
The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra (SJMO) was founded in 1990 with an appropriation from the U.S. Congress in recognition of the importance of jazz in American cultural and its status as a national treasure. The orchestra, led by Artistic and Musical Director, David N. Baker, serves as the orchestra-in-residence at the National Museum of American History, Division of Cultural History. The orchestra re-creates big band jazz as its composers and arrangers intended it to be played, stripping away intervening changes and alterations. The SJMO has rediscovered old classics, premiered new discoveries, and more recently has begun premiering new works. Composed of 18 musicians drawn from across the United States, the orchestra plays authentic and compelling performances of the music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, and many other masters. The SJMO presents free weekend concerts to visitors and residents of the nation's capitol, educational workshops, tours nationally and internationally, and offers its own radio series, "Jazz Smithsonian," heard on more than 88 public radio stations across the United States and in six nations.
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra
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Artistic and Musical Director
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Mr. Baker served on the National Council for the Arts; he was elected to the Down Beat Jazz Education Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2000, David Baker was awarded the American Jazz Masters Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts, joining the company of distinguished artists Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Benny Carter, Sarah Vaughan, and Horace Silver. He has more than 65 recordings and 400 articles to his credit. In 2001, he received the Smithsonian's James Smithson Bicentennial Medal for his distinguished contribution to elevating the nation's appreciation for one of America's greatest national treasures - Jazz. He has received the Indiana Historical Society's Living Legacy Award, and was chosen as Chair of the Faculty for the Stean's Institute for Young Artists- Program for Jazz at the Ravinia Festival. Mr. Baker is currently President of the International Association for Jazz Education.
Executive Producer
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Kennith R. Kimery in 1980 began his music career as a drummer/percussionist after graduating from high school in Germany. He returned back to the U.S. in 1981 to further his studies at San Diego State University in music and continued to perform around San Diego in a variety of musical settings which included engagements with Charles McPherson, Peter Sprague, Bob Magnusson and Barney Kessel. In 1993, he relocated to Washington, D.C. and was invited to become part of the Smithsonian's jazz program; first in the capacity of Assistant Program Coordinator for the Jazz Oral History Program, then as Associate Producer for the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and in August 1999 was selected as the Producer of the orchestra. He has been involved in many jazz related programs as a performing musician, clinician, coordinator of Jazz Masterworks Editions publications program, and project director at the Smithsonian for Essential Jazz Editions, a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Library of Congress.
Reeds
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Shannon LeClaire played lead alto in David Baker's Indiana University Jazz Ensemble. In 1993, she was awarded a full fellowship to the Aspen Music School Jazz Program, directed by Paul Jeffrey. Shannon is currently on the faculty staff of the Woodwind Department at the Berklee College of Music.
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Randy Salman is currently professor of woodwinds and director of jazz studies at DePauw University and serves on the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops. He has performed professionally with Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Bobby Shew and Tony Bennett.
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Charlie Young is a professor of music at Howard University. He was a featured soloist with the Virginia Beach Symphony and has recorded with his own quintet, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Bobby Thomas band, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the East Coast Saxophone Quartet. Young has also performed in concert with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Rosemary Clooney and James Moody.
Trumpets
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Lennie Foy, a frequent performer with the Nashville Symphony Pops Orchestra, has worked with Sir Roland Hanna, Oscar Peterson, and Al Jarreau. He is director of jazz studies at Middle Tennessee State University.
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Tom Williams, a native of Baltimore, Tom Williams has led a sparkling and varied career since he began studying trumpet and drums as a child. His talent was recognized at an early age by many, and he began working steadily on both trumpet and drums while still a high school student. After matriculating at Towson State University, Tom joined the renowned Duke Ellington Orchestra, under the direction of Mercer Ellington, with whom he played the national tour of the Broadway smash "Sophisticated Ladies", also touring Japan with the road company. In 1987 he enlisted in the US Army Band and became a featured soloist in the "Jazz Ambassadors", and the "Army Blues". In 1991 Tom was a finalist and second place winner in the first "Louis Armstrong International Trumpet Competition" sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute. A versatile performer, Tom has played in the show bands of Pattie LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Frankie Valli, Liberace, Anita Baker, Mel Torme, The Temptations, Sid Caesar, Natalie Cole, Joe Williams, Harry Connick Jr., Lena Horne, The Four Tops, and Rosemary Clooney, to name a few. He has appeared at numerous jazz festivals and venues throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States with artist such as Donald Brown, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Gary Bartz, Hank Jones, Philly Joe Jones, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Frank Foster, Tommy Flanagan, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Slide Hampton, Ben Riley, Larry Willis, Art Taylor, Milt Jackson, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Marlena Shaw, Barry Harris ,Grady Tate, and Steve Turre. Tom has recorded with Rob Bargad, Gary Bartz, Donald Brown, Antonio Hart, Jimmy Heath, The Heath Brothers, Larry Willis, Steve Wilson and Keter Betts. On trumpet as a leader, Tom has recorded two CDs, "Introducing Tom Williams", and "Straight Street", on the CrissCrossJazz label. As a drummer, Tom has performed with Curtis Fuller, Javon Jackson, Kenny Drew Jr., Gloria Lynn, Geoff Keezer and leads his band InterPlay, which has recorded "First Time" and recently released "Pick Up The Pieces" on the JazzScapes label.
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Joe Wilder's illustrious history includes performances with Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, and others. He spent sixteen years on the staff of the American Broadcasting Company and has recorded with Benny Carter, Lena Horne, Oscar Brown, Jr., Kenny Clarke, and Hank Jones. Of his many recordings Alone with Just My Dreams and No Greater Love, released on Benny Carter's Evening Star label, are his favorites.
Trombones
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Sam Burtis has been in New York since 1969 as a freelance musician, composer, arranger, and teacher. He has performed with Charles Mingus, Deodato, Tito Puente, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Gil Evans and others. Burtis also played under conductor Gunther Schuller on the recording of Charles Mingus's Epitaph. To learn more about Sam Burtis visit his website www.samburtis.com.
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Bill Holmes is a member of the U.S. Army Blues Band. He has performed with Arturo Sandoval, Gladys Knight, Cab Calloway, and the Fairfax Symphony. Bill has studied trombone with Al Grey, Milt Stevens, and Fred Linge, and teaches at the Music & Arts Center in Arlington, VA.
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Brent Wallarab has performed with and arranged for such musicians as Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, The Manhattan Transfer, Illinois Jacquet, Benny Carter, Wynton Marsalis, and J.J. Johnson. He has transcribed jazz orchestrations for the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. To learn more about Brent Wallarab visit his website www.bwjo.org.
Piano
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Russell Wilson is currently the principal pianist of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Sinfonia, and has accompanied artists such as Mel Tormé, Richard Hayman, and Cab Calloway. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in music from Memphis State University. He is also on the faculties of the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Guitar
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Royce Campbell has released 15 CD's as leader or co-leader and has appeared as a sideman on over 30 others. 7 of Royce's last 8 CD's have made the national jazz airplay charts including 3 top 10's. Royce was the guitarist for Henry Mancini for 19 years and also toured with R&B legend Marvin Gaye in the 70's. He has performed with many great jazz artists including Mel Torme, Cleo Laine, Eddie Harris, Eddie Daniels, Mose Allison, Gerry Mulligan, James Moody, Joe Williams, Groove Holmes, Jack McDuff, Ray Brown, Sarah Vaughn, Dave Brubeck, Urbie Green, Fred Hirsch, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Cobb, Keter Betts, and Ken Poplowski.
Drums
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Chuck Redd made his international debut on drums with the Charlie Byrd Trio in 1980. His most noteworthy performances include a recital at the White House with Barney Kessel, concerts at Carnegie Hall with Mel Tormé, and a tour with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Africa. He recently released his first compact disc as a vibraphonist, Stomp, Look & Listen, on the Concord Jazz label. To learn more about Chuck Redd visit his website www.chuckredd.com.
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