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John Hines

John Hines has one of the top trombone professionals in and around the Denver and Tucson areas for the past twenty five years, and is now achieving recognition in his new home market, Daytona/Orlanda, FL.

“Hines plays his ax with prime advanced harmonic ideas, certainly with liquid phrasing, & an attendant voice-like, yet abstract sound. His robust & bright sonority interacts with ease with his group as he deftly weaves his wonderful web of solo artistry.”

— George w. Carroll, The Musician's Ombudsman, April 2004.

After studying under Ray Smith (Brigham Young University) in Provo, Utah, he played with the internationally known big band, Synthesis, including opening for Gerry Mulligan's big band at the 1988 Montreux Jazz Festival, and for Carlos Santana at the 1988 Antibes Jazz Festival outside Monte Carlo, France. After building a successful career in advertising and technology marketing, he picked up his playing pace when he moved to Denver in 1993. While still doing it on the side, he plays professionally for several orchestral and jazz groups in and around the Denver area, including frequent performances with his own Hines DeVine Jazz, with his accomplished wife/vocalist, Donna DeVine.

Until 2020, John and Donna co-led the acclaimed Denver Jazz Orchestra, and played with many local Denver-based bands, including the outstanding What's Cookin'? Big Band, the O-Tones Brass Band, The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, John Akal's Ultraphonic Orchestra, and various salsa and show bands. He played for the 2003 Colorado Chorale performance of 'The Secret Garden,' and enjoys playing and composing for music theater. He was an active supporter of the Colorado Jazz Workshop for several years, primarily under the tutelage of trumpet virtuoso Hugh Ragin, and is involved with several efforts to bring more jazz to Denver.

In 2004, John was signed to the Capri Records label, and released his first major CD, 'In The Pocket,' which was met with significant critical acclaim. The title song, an original by Hines, is currently a finalist in the 2005 International Songwriter Competition in the Jazz category. John was also a featured ensemble player and soloist on the 2005 CD release, 'Pag's Groove,' by composer/arranger/pianist Michael Pagan (also under the Capri Records label).

In November, 2005, John was selected to perform with the KUVO 20th Anniversary All-Star band, with Hugh Ragin, Paul Romaine, Phil Urso, Kenny Walker, Eric Gunnison, and others, which opened for visiting artist Marian McPartland.

After forming Hines DeVine Jazz in 2006, John and Donna built a powerful musical brand that bridged the gap between straight-ahead jazz and modern pop and R&B, drawing in a larger, younger audience. Together, they recorded and released the album 'You & I,' with the title song being an acoustic cover of the Lady Gaga tune which has become a crowd favorite. The original Latin-flavored tune, 'Cabo Morning,' was nominated for AllAboutJazz.com's 'song of the week' - April, 2015. And John's arrangement of Hank Levy's big-band tune, 'Decoupage,' into an 8-part trombone + Latin rhythm feature is nothing short of striking.

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99
Album Review

John Hines: In The Pocket

Read "In The Pocket" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


A debut recording is always interesting. John Hines’ first is by and large a good debut, except for a couple of awkward moments where he gets heavy handed and congeals his playing. This happens on “In a Sentimental Mood,” which is weighed down by the tack he takes. Sentiment need not be down in the dumps. And on “Central Park West,” his first solo does not ignite the thread. It is now time for the goodies.

The blues ...

99
Album Review

John Hines: In The Pocket

Read "In The Pocket" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


In the Pocket is a straight-ahead trombone album from John Hines. The majority of this group is from the Denver, Colorado area. Hines shows a good mix of nine standards, jazz standards and original tunes from keyboardist Michael Pagan.

The opening title track, written by Hines, typifies the session with a bright melody line. Hines has a resounding delivery that would have been welcome on any of the late 1950s sessions at Blue Note or Prestige studios. On ...

113
Album Review

John Hines: In the Pocket

Read "In the Pocket" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The title tune on trombonist John Hines' In the Pocket had me mulling over comparisons with—of course—the late trombone master J.J. Johnson. And I felt that where Mr. Johnson romanced the listener, charmed the ears with subtle sweet somethings, John Hines' approach was more like a sermon—an upbeat, life-affirming, straightforward exhortation. A fine, driving piece of mainstream jazz.With tune two, the classic “I Could Write a Book," I knew something not just good, but really special was happening. ...

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“Hines plays his ax with prime advanced harmonic ideas, certainly with liquid phrasing, & an attendant voice-like, yet abstract sound. His robust & bright sonority interacts with ease with his group as he deftly weaves his wonderful web of solo artistry.”

— George w. Carroll, The Musician's Ombudsman.

According to Ann Braithwaite:

“Hines' trombone voice is striking in its tonal clarity, and he never succumbs to mawkishness. Hines has an attractive musical personality that's shaped by familiarity with his instrument in the jazz past and present. His articulate lines suggest those of Curtis Fuller, the renowned Jazz Messenger and Count Basie sideman, in their pleasing melodic disposition. Hines's musical ideas draw on swing and bebop but also on jazz from present times; contemporary trombonists Steve Turre and Robin Eubanks would join older players Slide Hampton and Bob Brookmeyer in approving of what results from his creative thought. The colors and accents Hines tucks into the flow of each of [his] tracks keep the flow of the music constantly riveting to the ears. Glad to say, first-rate musicianship goes hand in hand with the carefully managed emotion at the core of his playing.”

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Emergence

Hines DeVine Jazz Records
2020

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You & I

HinesDeVine Jazz Records
2015

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In the Pocket

Unknown label
2004

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You & I

Hines DeVine Jazz Records
2004

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John Hines In the...

Capri Records
2004

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You & I

Self Produced
0

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Decoupage

From: You & I
By John Hines

You & I

From: You & I
By John Hines

Cabo Morning

From: You & I
By John Hines

Serenade To A Cuckoo

From: You & I
By John Hines

Cabo Morning

From: You & I
By John Hines

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