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Brad Felt

For over 35 years, Brad Felt (1956-2011) worked to advance the role of both the Tuba and Euphonium as front-line improvising instruments in the idiom of modern jazz. As a product of the fertile Oakland University jazz program if the mid '70's, Mr. Felt went on the receive two fellowships for composition and performance from the National Endowment For The Arts and a creative artist grant for composition from the Michigan Council For The Arts. In addition to working in the Detroit area, he led and co-led groups which have performed at such venues as The Hollywood Palace, Yoshi's At Jack London Square, and Pearl's of North Beach. Brad twice toured Europe as a featured soloist with Howard Johnson's Gravity (including The Barbican Centre in London, and The Fabrik in Hamburg, and many of the top festivals and performance spaces in Germany, Austria, and France) and played Germany's prestigious Moers New Music Festival with Detroit's Kenn Cox & The Guerilla Jam Band. His two CDs as a leader - Exordium and First Call - were released to critical acclaim. Brad Felt performed with Ellis Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Dave Liebman, Hank Jones, Jerry Gonzales, Bennie Maupin, Frank Foster, Thad Jones, Annie Ross, Jon Faddis, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and many others. Mr. Felt taught applied improvisation at The University of Toledo and led The Brad Felt Nuquartet and The Brad Felt Nuquartet Plus.

Awards

Finalist, Hennessy Cognac Jazz Search (1989) Creative Artist Grant for Jazz Composition, Michigan Council for the Arts (1989) Best Jazz Tuba Player, Southeast Michigan Jazz Association Jazz Association Poll (1990) Individual Artist Fellowship for Jazz Performance, National Endowment for the Arts (1990) Individual Artist Fellowship for Jazz Performance, National Endowment for the Arts (1995) Certificate of Appreciation – Outstanding Service to Jazz Education – International Association of Jazz Educators, Toronto (2003)


Tags

3
Album Review

Brad Felt: The Dana Sessions

Read "The Dana Sessions" reviewed by Kyle Simpler


Although jazz music continuously evolves, many of its performers stick to a fairly traditional set of instruments. There are plenty of recordings featuring saxophones, trumpets, pianos, or guitars, but how often do you see a jazz record featuring a euphonium? Brad Felt's The Dana Sessions: Duets With John Dana, showcases the possibilities of this often overlooked instrument. Brad Felt developed an affinity for jazz at an early age. His parents had an extensive jazz record collection, which launched ...

250
Album Review

Brad Felt Nu Quartet Plus: First Call

Read "First Call" reviewed by John Barron


Veteran Detroit jazz musician Brad Felt has been championing the role of the euphonium and tuba as front-line instruments for over thirty years. Felt has an extensive sideman résumé, having performed with notable artists such as Roy Brooks, Martha Reeves and Howard Johnson's Gravity. First Call is an introduction to Felt's progressive jazz ensemble Nu Quartet Plus, featuring saxophonist and longtime musical associate Steve Wood.

Felt composes with an intriguing playfulness, building on rhythmic motifs and cleverly engaging euphonium and ...

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33

Obituary

Two Losses to Detroit Jazz: Bess Bonnier and Brad Felt

Two Losses to Detroit Jazz: Bess Bonnier and Brad Felt

Source: JazzStage Productions

One of the great and unusual combinations of jazz voices hereabouts was the big-horn/little- horn thing that Steve Wood|| and {{Brad Felt had going at least since the '80s, with Steve on sax (especially the relatively small soprano) and Brad on tuba or euphonium, romping through tunes like “Second Balcony Jump," a Jerry Valentine composition from the Billy Eckstine band. (Steve and Brad liked to give credit where it was due like that.) Steve sent out an e-mail Thursday afternoon ...

"The man (Brad Felt) does blow a mean and impressive tuba" - Jim Dulzo, The Detroit News "Brad Felt, a young musician reaching for the moon...working his way through the world of jazz...and he's doing a good job of it. For Brad, every moment with his tuba comes from the heart." - Jerry Stanecki, TV-2 First News "(Mr, Felt is) producing art of the highest order" - Michigan Governor James Blanchard "Tuba player Brad Felt is phenomenal. Brad's articulation on the tuba would put most trumpet players to shame." - Jimmy Wilkins, JWCF News "Detroit has it's own champion of the big horn (specifically the double b-flat tuba): Brad Felt" - Michael G

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Dana Sessions: Duets...

DartBlef Records
2021

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First Call

Launch Control
2010

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Exordium

D Flat Records
1995

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Videos

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