On Monday evening
February 27, 2006 Mike Vax, world
class trumpet
player played a Big Band Jazz concert
with the East Texas Jazz Orchestra.
To say the concert was a success
would be an understatement. Everyone
present, including the musicians,
thought it was one of the best concerts
ever presented in the East Texas
area.
The concert was sponsored by Tyler Junior College, American Band Instrument Service, and the Getzen Band Instrument Corporation. It was held at Wise Auditorium on the Tyler Junior College Campus.
Mike Vax has played lead and solo trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Clark Terry Big Bad Band, and the U.S. Navy Show Band. He has also performed and/or recorded with such greats as Art Pepper, Al Grey, Freddy Hubbard, Gene Krupa, John Handy, Don Ellis, Don Jacoby, Louie Bellson, Joe Williams, Anita O’Day, Barbara McNair, the Four Freshmen, The Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, The Navy Commodores, The Army Blues, The Army Jazz Ambassadors, The Air Force Falconaires, the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band, and the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans.
He has appeared
as guest lead trumpet
and soloist with symphony pops
orchestras around the United
States, as well
as the All-American Collegiate
Orchestra at Disneyworld. He
has toured extensively
in Europe, Scandinavia, South
America and Japan.
As a recording musician, he has performed on more than 75 albums, including 20 under his own name.
Currently he is leading his own groups: The Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra, The Mike Vax Big Band (featuring alumni of the Stan Kenton Orchestra), TRPTS (Trumpets), The Great American Jazz Band, and the Mike Vax Quintette and Sextette.
Mike has done workshops and concerts in over 2000 elementary and junior high schools, high schools, colleges and universities all around the world, over the past 35 years. He is very active as a clinician and soloist in both the classical and jazz idioms.
Song List For This Performance Take the “A” Train |
MEDIA AND EDUCATOR QUOTES ON MIKE VAX “ Mike Vax’s future is assured because of his driving desire to express himself and to lead.” Stan Kenton “ As a clinician, I would have to rank Mike Vax in my top 5, and that is after having over 50 artist clinicians during my tenure at Northern Illinois University. Every time Mike has worked with a band of mine, they are not only better musicians, but finer human beings too.” Ron Model, 25 years as NIU Jazz Director MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL-REVIEW OF THE NEW OAKLAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA:” An especially exciting new band that is fast becoming one of the best in the nation. Leader Mike Vax’s solo on ‘Vax Attacks,’ a number written for him by Lennie Niehaus, was one of those magic moments when the atmosphere crackled and everyone looked at each other as if to say ‘Where’d this guy come from? Is he for real?’ Even just one or two choruses like that for your hundred and fifty dollar ticket, you figure you got your money’s worth.” Robert Tate and Nina Hodgson Jazz Now Magazine “Best trumpet: Mike Vax, an alumnus of the Kenton Band, who plays every style with a bright cutting edge, throwing in bop riffs here and there.” (From the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee) Herb Caen, San Francisco Chronicle “ A true professional hornman, he knows his instrument inside and out, but never lets technical considerations overrule musical ones.” Rhodes Spedale, New Orleans Magazine “Mike Vax is without question the finest clinician that we have ever had and we hope to work with him again.” Frank DeMiero, Dept. of Music Education; Program Manager; Edmonds, WA School District “ Not only was Mike Vax’s playing superb, but his comments as clinician were right on target and greatly aided our young jazz musicians.” Alex B. Campbell, Coordinator for Music Ed. Jefferson Co. Public Schools, Denver, CO “ Mike Vax’s reputation preceded him, and his clinic and performance matched everything expected.” Lt. R. Van Hoose, Commanding Officer Armed Forces School of Music “ Mike Vax made at least one young man in the audience melt into his seat in a lump of disbelief.” Daytona Beach Morning Journal Daytona Beach, FL “ Lead trumpeter Vax can handle anything the varied and challenging Kenton repertoire demands.” Downbeat Magazine “ Mike Vax plays trumpet the way you have to play in order to hold down the lead chair with Stan Kenton.” Jon Hendricks, San Francisco Chronicle “…… a tremendous player!” Crescendo Magazine, London, England MIKE VAX IS A GETZEN INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTIST |