Antonio Underwood

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Born: July 7, 1960 Primary Instrument: Tuba

Since leaving the Yale School of Music in 1987 as a Tuba Major (Classical), Antonio Underwood has been a member of the two-time Grammy Award winning McCoy Tyner Big Band, featuring such artists as: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Savion Glover, Diane Reeves, and Slide Hampton. Playing in all the major jazz venues throughout the world.

Tony began his career playing in NYC clubs (Lush Life, Sweet Basil’s, Village Gate, The Vanguard, the Greenwich House, The Public Theatre, Alternate Museum, etc) and festivals (JVC, South Seaport, etc.) at the age of nineteen.

In addition to being a featured performing with Jazz Legend the late Max Roach, Tony has shared the stage with some of the greats as Jerry Gonzalez, Julius Preister, Delfeayo Marsalis, Bob Belden, Christian McBride, Cecil Taylor, Cecil Bridgewater, Vincent Herring, Joshua Redman, Javon Jackson, the late Lester Bowie, John Faddis, Charlie Haden, Eddie Henderson, Billy Harper, John Zorn, Steve Turre, Virgil Jones, the late John Stubblefield, Joe Lavano, Howard Johnson, the late Ray Draper, Muhal Abrahams, the late Leroy Jenkins, the late Julius Hemphill, Henry Threadgill, Andrew Cyril, the late Fred Hopkins, the late Ed & David Townsend, and many more.

Tony has been a cast member of Juan Darien by Academy Award Composer Elliot Goldenthal and Tony Award Winning Director Julie Taymor, as well as a regular in the Tony award winning play, Jelly’s Last Jam, featuring the late Gregory Hines. His other off-Broadway performances include, “One Mo’ Time” and “Further Mo’“.

Tony is a George Lucas scholar to the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at USC. He studied extensively with the late Dr. Norman “Buddy” Baker (Disney studios).

Tony’s composition and orchestration credits include recordings by Be Be Winans (Atlantic Records), Terry Dexter (Warner Bros.), John Purcell (Pony Canyon, Japan), The World Saxophone Quartet (Justin Time Records, Canada), Debut CD of Anthony Montgomery, (Universal/Germany), etc. Owner of his own published material (380), brass quartets published by TAP Music (Iowa), and Jazz compositions published by ENJA Music, Germany.

Film scoring credits included: Rumbling of the Earth (Filmmakers Library) and Shadows of the Dead (Horizon Entertainment).

Awards:

Grammy with the McCoy Tyner All Star Big Band and others.

Last Updated: December 7, 2009

”Tonight, you played your @$$ off!”

-The Late Max Roach (Live Recording at the Blue Note Jazz Club, NYC, 1999)

“I’ve known Tony for over 19 years… I am sure the world will be benefited greatly by his wonderful musical talent, because he is definitely ready.”

-Dr. Eddie Henderson

“Flexible and outstanding on his instrument. Nobody plays like him.”

-McCoy Tyner

“After twenty-eight years as composer and director at Disney Studios, I rarely see young artists with talent such as his called to my attention.”

-The Late Dr. Norman ”Buddy” Baker (Disney Music Director)

“Tony Underwood is not only a technical virtuoso, he has the creativity and passion of a true artist. Not all great sidemen can make the switch to center stage but Tony is the exception. It's his turn to take the spotlight.”

-Producer Jerry Stucker

“Tony Underwood stretched out across a sweet rich territory not usually covered by the tuba.”

-Roberta Penn, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“It takes a lot to tame out-of-towners talking through music at a jazz club, but the drummer Max Roach, playing at the Blue Note did it with the tune ”God Bless the Child”, and had it performed by the tuba player Antonio Underwood. It was quiet and exquisite, and even the drunks took notice that something special was happening.”

-Peter Watrous, New York Times

“Gifted, ambitious and creative, and most importantly, he is determined to make a place for himself in the world of music as an artist and teacher.”

-Willie Ruff (Yale University)

Tony Underwood Tuba Mirum Tone East Music 2008 Save Our People Uba Dance A Child Is Born When You Keep It... Low To The Ground People Make The World Go Round Moon River Pattin' Tuba My True Lover The Dead See Straight No Chaser God Bless The Child Tuba Featuring: Dr. Eddie Henderson-Trumpet Jerry Stucker-Guitar/Producer Josef Mikal Buchanan-Vocals/Spoken Word Gary Brown-Bass Paul Van Wageningen-Drums Rober Quintana-Percussion

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Primary Instrument:
Tuba

Location:
West Toluca Lake, CA

Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students

Credentials/Background:
TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS/ CLINICS/ MASTER CLASSES - Guest Instructor for the History of Jazz program at California State University, o Monterey Bay, California, November 1997 - Guest Lecturer for MBA course in Music Scoring taught by noted entertainment Lawyer, David A. Braun, Esq., at the University of Southern California, 1996 - Music Clinician at the Bergen, Hunterdon, and Somerset County Teen Arts Festivals, New Jersey, 1994 - Director of the Percussion program at Janis Dismus Middle School and Dwight Morrow High School, in Englewood, New Jersey 1991-1994, (Assisted) 1997-1998 - Performed concert/clinic on the Art of Ensemble Performance with the New Brass Ensemble (Los Angeles) at the University of Massachusetts, Williams College, Williamstown, MA and Pomona College in California, 1989 - Teaching Fellow, The History of Jazz, Yale University, College of Music 1985-1987 - Teacher of Math and Music History for the Better Chance Program at the College of New Jersey, Fall 1980- May 1983

Clinic/Workshop Information:
In the process of developing.

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