New Tricks CD Cover. Artwork by Rob Henke
Hey, summer is quickly coming to a close. For the last seven weeks, I’ve been on the road or teaching/directing camp full time or on vacation with my family. I’m completely out of my routine, but seriously recharged and ready to hit the ground running. This is one of those moments in life when choices seem clearer. It’s a good time to shed old habits and pick up new ones. It’s goal setting time. But before I do, I’d like to look back at a great summer. The New Tricks tour in July was transformational. It’s a real band and Ted Chubb and I are making big plans to keep this band working. Please check out our new website: newtricksjazz.com or better yet, buy the CD at CDBaby.
It was a great summer for teaching. Birch Creek was out of sight this year. Since my son, Julian started doing the camp last year, it’s become an even more joyful experience for me. We brought Anthony Orji along with us on bari-sax and bass clarinet and that added even more excitement for me as a music educator. We have so much fun with the students and then we get to play concerts with a tremendous big band every night.
Michele Rosewoman's Composition Class at Jazz Connections
Jazz Connections Summer Workshop at Montclair State is harder in a way for me because I’m co-director and never let up for three weeks, but it’s so rewarding. The students this year were the strongest to date and they were very high-character students as well. With the recent “graduates” of our program now assisting the faculty and the tremendous concentration of young talent at the camp I honestly believe this one of the strongest aggregation of young talent anywhere.
