James Zeller's back in town; let's put on a show.Byline: Carolyn Lamberson The Register-Guard Jazz trombonist James Zeller likes to get back to his hometown a couple of times a year. While a family visit is the primary reason for his trek from New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. to Eugene, he once again has found some time to play a gig. Zeller will bring together a group of his old friends and colleagues for a show Saturday at Luna. He had a good time last summer when he played at Luna, he said. A few of the same musicians will be back. "It went very well, I think. We rehearsed a lot for it,' he said of last summer's gig. It was a little bit of luck, he added, that many of those musicians were back in town at the same time he was. "This show should be cool, too," Zeller said. `The guitar player, Mike Denny, he's going to be on it. He plays a lot in Eugene.' Also on board is double bassist Renee Cruz. Zeller plans to round up at least one more musician, if not two, for Saturday's gig. Zeller is a 2000 graduate of South Eugene High School South Eugene High School is a public high school located in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It was founded as Eugene High School around 1900, and was located at Willamette Street and West 11th Avenue in a brick building that later served as Eugene's city hall. . Back in his school days, he studied with Ron Bertucci of the Eugene Symphony The Eugene Symphony is an American orchestra based in Eugene, Oregon. Its home venue is the Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. Approximately 22,000 people attend Eugene Symphony's classical and pops concert performances each year. and played in the University of Oregon's Lab Band II. The trombonist then moved to New York City, where he enrolled in the New School University jazz program. He studied with musicians such as Charles Tolliver Charles Tolliver is an American jazz trumpeter and composer. Self-taught, he was first influenced by Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard. After graduating from Howard University (in pharmacy) he came to prominence in 1964, playing and recording with Jackie McLean. , Buster Williams Charles Anthony Williams (born April 17, 1942 in Camden, New Jersey) is an American jazz bassist. Williams has gained prestige among jazz musicians as a solid supportive player. , Cecil Bridgewater, Reggie Workman Reginald "Reggie" Workman (born June 26, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist. He was a member of jazz groups led by Gigi Gryce, Roy Haynes and Red Garland. and Joe Chambers. He also was selected to perform with Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (b. October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter and composer. He is among the most prominent jazz musicians of the modern era and is also a well-known instrumentalist in classical music. He is also the Musical Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. and the Lincoln Center Lincoln Center New York’s modern theater complex. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1586] See : Theater Jazz Orchestra for an event honoring the year of the drum and the work of drummer, vibraphonist and pianist Chambers. And before his graduation from the New School in 2004, he was named to Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, an artist-in-resi- dency program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The Marsalis gig happened because of sheer luck, Zeller said. He'd been in Chambers' class, and he wasn't sure he'd impressed his teacher all that much. `He's a little bit morose' Zeller said. `He'll say things after a song like, `That wasn't very good and I really don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how to tell you to make it better, so let's just go on to the next tune.' ' `After class, he'd say things to me like, `James, you sound like you don't understand har- mony.' ' But one day, Chambers called asking if he was free for a couple of dates. Zeller was, and Chambers said he'd call back with the details. Chambers phoned a few weeks later asking if Zeller played bass trombone trombone [Ital.,=large trumpet], brass wind musical instrument of cylindrical bore, twice bent on itself, having a sliding section that lengthens or shortens it and thus regulates the pitch. The descendant of the sackbut, it was developed in the 15th cent. . Zeller said he `sort of' played bass trombone; he owned one, but mostly he played tenor. Chambers said fine, and again, that he'd call back again with more details. Weeks passed, and Zeller still knew little about the show. About a month before gig, Chambers called again. "He said, `You play bass trombone, right? Because this is a serious gig.' `And I said, `Yeah, Joe. I told you I play bass trombone. What's the deal with the gig?' ' Zeller recalled. `He said, `It's at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.' And I didn't say much. I said, 'Oh, wow, I'll be ready for it.' Then I started practicing bass trombone every day.' Zeller still primarily plays tenor trombone. He's been a member of Supersound, a big band headed by drummer Charlie Persip, since 2003. His career goals include recording, band- leading and more. But first things first. `The goal is to become a good trombone player,' Zeller said, `and I have a long ways to go.' CONCERT PREVIEW James Zeller When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Luna, 30 E. Broadway How much: $7 cover CAPTION(S): James Zeller is a 2000 graduate of South Eugene High who has recently been under the tutelage TUTELAGE. State of guardianship; the condition of one who is subject to the control of a guardian. of some jazz giants in New York City. Still, he's modest about his talent. `The goal is to become a good trombone player,' he said, `and I have a long ways to go.' |
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