The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" hosted its annual Eastern Trombone Workshop March 16 through 19 in Brucker Hall on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
"The Army Band has run this festival for over 20 years," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Branagan, assistant chairman of the Eastern Trombone Workshop.
"It has become the largest national trombone workshop."
In four days there were three concerts, 20 recitals, five competitions, four master classes, three group warm-up sessions and three days worth of exhibits where players could get the latest music and instrument accessories at the JBM-HH Community Center.
One recital entitled "Master Sgt. Harry Watters and Friends," showcased original works by Watters who is currently in the band.
They also played a few older pieces such as "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)," popularized by Frank Sinatra.
Watters of the U.S. Army Band Brass Quintet and Ceremonial Band and his friends Sgt. Maj. Tony Nalker, piano, Master Sgt. Steve Fidyk, drums and Staff Sgt. Regan Brough, bass - all members of the U.S. Army Band Army Blues performed a few of his original songs that evoked both happiness and sorrow.
"Two important senses we have are sound - how a song can bring us right back to the lowest and happiest point in our lives - and the sense of smell," said Watters when he introduced his song "The New Horizon."
"Whenever I play this tune I always think of the sun setting and the smell of the salt air, it just takes me back there immediately," said Watters who wrote the song while at a beach.
This happy upbeat fun song was followed by a more serious subject matter - the ninth ward in New Orleans. The song "Lower Ninth" was premiered by the U.S. Army Band Swamp Romp at this year's Jazz Education Network Conference.
Thinking of the devastation in the ninth ward with a tune in his mind, Watters wrote this song to evoke a feeling of sorrow.
"Harry Watters is an incredible trombone player; he does things on the trombone I've never heard anybody else do," said Brough.
"For me, as a young student, as an aspiring bass player, when I went to this big international bass convention I heard and saw the bass played in ways I never thought possible," said Brough. "It was really inspiring and I think that's what these kinds of workshops do for everyone that comes to them."
The workshop, previously held at Towson University and the U.S. Navy Band before making a permanent home in Brucker Hall with the U.S. Army Band, attracts a plethora of trombone players each year.
Featured artists came from San Francisco to San Antonio to Kalamazoo and Boston. Two performers even flew across "the pond" to be here: Stefan Schulz of the Berlin Philharmonic and Professor Brett Baker from Salford University in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.
Although more colleges attended the conference to watch, Louisiana State University Trombone choir, Po'Boys Brass Band from the Eastman School of Music, the university of Northern Colorado Trombone Choir, West Texas A&M University Trombone Choir and The Michigan State University Trombone Choir to name but a few were represented at this year's workshop.
Christopher Steele and Curry Hackett, both juniors at Howard University in Washington D.C., agreed the American Brass Quintet recital on March 17 was really good.
"I learned some things during the master class Brett Baker taught yesterday. He was teaching a few things about extending your range, upper and lower register - that was really helpful," said Hackett.
"Practice and seek advice from anybody and everybody," said Steele when asked what advice he would give to his fellow trombone players back at Howard.
The trombone is suited for a variety of music including jazz, classical, crossover hybrids by jazz and jazz players who have played in the orchestra, said Sgt. 1st Class Sam Woodhead, chairman of Eastern Trombone Workshop, and U.S. Army Band Concert Band trombone player.
Last summer "the International Trombone Association presented the Eastern Trombone Workshop with a presidential award," said Woodhead. They received the award "for being a great festival resource for trombone players.
"Everyone's really enjoying it. They are really pleased with the guests we were able to get here," said Woodhead.
"I have learned a tremendous amount from pretty much every [performer] that has come here."
For those who could not attend this year's workshop, next year's conference takes place March 21 to 24, 2012.
For those that already know they can't attend, the performances will be broadcasted live in audio and/or video format on the U.S. Army Band website: www.usarmyband.com/.
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