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Chris Washburne

Chris Washburne is one of those rare musicians whose musical activities cross many styles and cultural borders. From early in his career he refused to be pigeon-holed as just being a jazz or classical player, but instead has continually pursued a diverse path. Chris is currently freelancing as a studio musician and performing trombone, bass trombone, tuba, didjeridu and percussion with various classical, jazz, rock and Latin groups in New York City. He also tours extensively with various groups and has concertized throughout the North America, Europe, Asian, Africa, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Chris received his Bachelors of Music in classical trombone performance from the University of Wisconsin where he studied with William Richardson, Richard Davis and Les Thimmeg. In 1988, he completed a Masters degree from the New England Conservatory in Third Stream Studies where he studied with John Swallow, Ran Blake and Bob Moses. He was the winner of the 1988 New England Conservatory Graduation Concerto Competition. He spent two months living in Zambia in 1985, studying the traditional music of that region, and in 1993, received a Mellon Fellowship to travel to and explore the rich musical traditions of Cuba.

In 1999 he completed his Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology at Columbia University. He is currently Associate Professor of Music and Found Director of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance Program at Columbia University in New York. He has published numerous articles on jazz, Latin jazz, and salsa. He is author of the book “Sounding Salsa: Performing Latin Music in New York” (2008) and editor of the book “Bad Music” (2004).

He has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Justin Timberlake, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Marc Anthony, Celine Dion, Anthony Braxton, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, the Bang On A Can All-stars, David Byrne, Bjork, Muhal Richard Abrams, Gloria Estefan, They Might Be Giants, Chico O’Farrill, Don Richols, John Cale, Grady Tate, Baba Olatunje, Leslie Uggams, the Smithereens, Ray Barretto, Roscoe Mitchell, Jackie Byard, Danilo Caymmi, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Dinosaur Annex directed under Gunther Schuller, Walter Thompson, the SEM Ensemble, Freddie Cole, Lawrence “Butch” Morris, among many others.

He leads his own highly acclaimed groups SYOTOS and NYNDK and is a member of FFEAR (Forum for Electo-Acoustic Research).

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Album Review

Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble: Elegy for Thelonious

Read "Elegy for Thelonious" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Pianist Frank Carlberg has been exploring the music of Thelonious Monk for some time, most specifically on his large group album, Monk Dreams, Hallucinations, and Nightmares, (Sunnyside, 2017). This new album has Carlberg returning to the large ensemble format for more Monk investigations, but this time approaching the work in a more splintered and abstract fashion. He does not simply interpret familiar Monk tunes. He writes compositions and arrangements which stitch Monk riffs and ideas into new fabrics, ...

5
Album Review

Frank Carlberg Large Ensemble: Elegy for Thelonious

Read "Elegy for Thelonious" reviewed by Mark Corroto


There was a sardonic saying circulating a few years ago that observed, “It's Frank Sinatra's world, we just live in it." While that was a backhanded compliment, tailoring it to the subject of this large ensemble recording, we would call it a commendation. Pianist, composer, and conductor Frank Carlberg is telling us, “It's Thelonious Monk's world, and (thank god) we live in it." Carlberg has been a disciple of Monk for decades, recording his music in a piano trio format ...

Album Review

Chris Washburne: Rags And Roots

Read "Rags And Roots" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Dopo l'intrigante rilettura latina di alcuni classici del rock (Low Ridin', Zoho 2015) il trombonista Chris Washburne rilegge la musica afroamericana degli esordi, prendendo in considerazione il ragtime e il jazz di New Orleans. Washburne non è solo un trombonista e un multistrumentista ma un etnomusicologo laureatosi prima al New England Conservatory e poi alla Columbia University (dove oggi insegna). Da anni è un apprezzato autore di saggi e articoli sul jazz e la musica latina. Per questo ...

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Album Review

Chris Washburne: Rags And Roots

Read "Rags And Roots" reviewed by James Nadal


The year 1917 stands out in music history, for that was the year of the first jazz recording, (Livery Stable Blues by Original Dixieland Jass Band) and marks the death of ragtime pianist/composer Scott Joplin. To commemorate these events, and the century that ensued, trombonist Chris Washburne takes a musical exploration back through time on Rags And Roots, revealing the connections and contributions of not only America, but Haiti, Cuba, Mexico, and Brazil, in the early development of jazz.

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Album Review

Chris Washburne & The SYOTOS Band: Low Ridin'

Read "Low Ridin'" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Originals, Latin classics, and the occasional standard appear on this outfit's five previous albums, all of which were released on the Jazzheads imprint. But a new day has dawned with Low Ridin', as venerable trombonist Chris Washburne and his smoking Latin ensemble arrive at a new label--Zoho Roots--and take a new tack, delivering a program of Latin-ized Classic Rock songs. Almost all of the material presented here, save for saxophonist Ole Mathisen's “SYOTOMON," should be familiar to ...

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Album Review

Chris Washburne and The SYOTOS Band: Fields Of Moons

Read "Fields Of Moons" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Keeping a band afloat in today's world is no easy feat. Keeping a band in business with a weekly jazz gig for twenty straight years borders on the impossible. Trombonist Chris Washburne has managed to make both happen, while juggling a busy performing career, studio work and teaching commitments at Columbia University, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Fields Of Moons was created to showcase the softer side of his long-lived SYOTOS Band, but the music still has ...

197
Album Review

Chris Washburne and the SYOTOS Band: Fields Of Moons

Read "Fields Of Moons" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Latin jazz is typically characterized by its passion and rhythms. For the past twenty years, trombonist Chris Washburne has been leading his SYOTOS band through the fervor and the pulse of Latin jazz. His home cooked meals are featured every week in New York City. His band, SYOTOS, has released four prior discs, the most recent being The Land Of Nod (Jazzheads, 2006). While those discs tended to be red hot burners, Fields Of Moons turns down the ...

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Performance / Tour

Chris Washburne & SYOTOS Playing Acid Mambo Jazz Celebrating 24-Years Together! November 9 & 10 at SMOKE

Chris Washburne & SYOTOS Playing Acid Mambo Jazz Celebrating 24-Years Together! November 9 & 10 at SMOKE

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Chris Washburne & SYOTOS Playing Acid Mambo Jazz Celebrating 24-Years Together! Smoke, November 9 & 10 2 Night Engagement! Chris Washburne & SYOTOS celebrate their 24-years together as a band with two hot nights November 9 & 10 at Smoke. November 9 & 10 3 Sets: 7pm-9pm-10:30pm Smoke Jazz & Supper Club 2751 Broadway New York, NY 10025 Phone: 212-864-6662 Band Members: Chris Washburne: ...

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Performance / Tour

Chris Washburne & SYOTOS CD Celebration Tour Begins July 29 At Smoke!

Chris Washburne & SYOTOS CD Celebration Tour Begins July 29 At Smoke!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Chris Washburne & SYOTOS kick off their CD Celebration Tour with special guest Brazilian piano virtuoso Andre Mehmari on July 29 at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club. July 29 at 7:00pm Smoke Jazz & Supper Club CD Release Gig! 2751 Broadway, NYC 10025 Additional Dates Thursday, July 30 The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College - Spiegeltent 2015, Annandale-On-Hudson, New York, 8PM. Friday, July 31 The Catskill Jazz Factory ...

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Performance / Tour

Chris Washburne & Syotos at Subrosa on May 19th at 8pm

Chris Washburne & Syotos at Subrosa on May 19th at 8pm

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Acid Mambo!! New CD Low Ridin' Featured on NPR & WBGO—Climbing Jazz Week Charts Low Ridin'—the debut CD of Chris Washburne & The SYOTOS Band for ZOHO—has been creating a buzz, being featured on WBGO's “Radar" preview spotlight and on the NPR Music homepage. On the most recent Jazz Week chart, the release has climbed from #207 to #23 in just a couple of weeks! The band makes their first jny: New York City appearance since the release at Subrosa ...

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Recording

Acid Mambo! Chris Washburne & Syotos - New Release "Low Ridin'"

Acid Mambo!  Chris Washburne & Syotos - New Release "Low Ridin'"

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

April 14 - CD Release Low Ridin' on ZOHO This debut CD of Chris Washburne & The SYOTOS Band for ZOHO showcases Latin Jazz instrumental versions of 1960s and 70s Classic Rock songs—called Acid Mambo by its musicians. Afro-Latin jazz on a psychedelic trip! Zeppelin, Hendrix, the Doors etc.—meet Tito Puente! The band's name “SYOTOS" is a word coined by Chris Washburne in 1992, created as an acronym for “See You On The Other Side"—a term which has ...

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Performance / Tour

Acid Mambo: Chris Washburne & Syotos at Winter Jazzfest (Carroll Place) on January 10 -

Acid Mambo: Chris Washburne & Syotos at Winter Jazzfest (Carroll Place) on January 10 -

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Chris Washburne & SYOTOS will present a sneak preview of their forthcoming release at this year's Winter JazzFest in New York City. It's what they call “Acid Mambo!" Think Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Neil Young and Lou Reed meet Tito Puente! Afro Latin jazz on a psychedelic trip! “SYOTOS plays with fire and erudition!" —New York Times JANUARY 10, 2015 Carroll Place 157 Bleecker Street New York, NY Saturday, January 10, 2015 ...

Performance / Tour

Ole Mathisen/Chris Washburne's FFEAR @ Smalls Jazz Club NYC June 30, 2012 - 7:30PM

Ole Mathisen/Chris Washburne's FFEAR @ Smalls Jazz Club NYC June 30, 2012 - 7:30PM

Source: Two for the Show Media

FFEAR CD launch party for new Jazzheads Records release 'Mirage.' Ole Mathisen/Chris Washburne's FFEAR @ Smalls Jazz Club NYC June 30, 2012 - 7:30PM Tony Moreno/Ole Mathisen/Chris Washburne/Per Mathisen Ole Mathisen has established himself as someone with a unique voice both as an instrumentalist and as a composer. He has worked on close to 100 CD releases, composed several movie and television scores. He is the leader of Ole Mathisen ZERO- SUM, co-leader of FFEAR, and a member of Chris Washburne's SYOTOS, Alex ...

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Performance / Tour

Chris Washburne and SYOTOS Returns to Smoke in NYC on 2/29/12

Chris Washburne and SYOTOS Returns to Smoke in NYC on 2/29/12

Source: Two for the Show Media

We are pleased to announce that SYOTOS will be returning to Smoke Jazz Club for a one night engagement on Wednesday, February 29. Celebrate the bissextile year with some deep Latin grooves! We will have Claudette Sierra featured on vocals. SYOTOS is: Chris Washburne—trombone Ole Mathisen—sax Yeissonn Villamar—piano Leo Traversa—bass Vince Cherico—drums Cristian Rivera—percussion Sets at 7, 9, and 10:30PM Smoke is at 106th and Broadway. Reservations at ...

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Radio

The Jazz Session #264: Chris Washburne

The Jazz Session #264: Chris Washburne

Source: AAJ Staff


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Performance / Tour

Chris Washburne and the Syotos Band Live in Washington D.C. - August 8th, 2010.

Chris Washburne and the Syotos Band Live in Washington D.C. - August 8th, 2010.

Source: Two for the Show Media

Chris Washburne and the SYOTOS Band will be performing a special concert entitled “A Different Flavor: Latin Jazz at the Apollo" on Sunday, August 8, 6PM to 7PM, as part of Millennium Stage programming at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The concert is sponsored by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in association with its exhibition, Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment and celebrates the ...

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Interview

Latin Jazz Conversations: Chris Washburne (Part 4)

Latin Jazz Conversations: Chris Washburne (Part 4)

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz

Once a musician matures into an intelligent and experienced artist, they have several choices about the purpose behind their music. Their musical output could simply be a way to connect with the public, making them dance or causing an emotional reaction. They might dig deep inside their identity and creatively blend together musical pieces, constructing an artistic reflection of their inner personality. They could look at the world around them and see a need for action, turning their music into ...

“SYOTOS plays with fire and erudition!" —New York Times

“Chris Washburne is a young talent most deserving wider recognition." —Howard Mandel, Jazz Critic for Downbeat and Village Voice

“Chris Washburne is a superior hard bop player..." —Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

“Trombonist Chris Washburne... an excellent player..."—Ben Ratliff, New York Times

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Elegy for Thelonious

Sunnyside Records
2024

buy

Rags And Roots

Zoho Music
2017

buy

Low Ridin

Zoho Music
2015

buy

Low Ridin'

Zoho Roots
2015

buy

Fields Of Moons

Jazzheads
2010

buy

Videos

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