The contemporary Tuba player must be well versed in several genres of music today. Dorian Parreott II has demonstrated this ability through his continuing Jazz, Dixie, Broadway, and Classical performances. Dorian has performed in the New York jazz community with the monstrously creative super group called “the Next Legacy Orchestra.” This group contained members of saxophonist/composer David Murray’s Big Band, which Dorian Parreott was a part of for a few years. Dorian also toured jazz festivals in Europe and the Middle East with composer and saxophonist Henry Threadgill along with his world renowned “Very, Very Circus.” He also appears on one of Henry’s many albums, Too Much Sugar for a Dime, on Axiom Records. Dorian has also performed on Ethnomusicology 3, a Justin-Time Records recording with Grammy Nominated trumpet player, Russell Gunn. Recently, Dorian has performed on stage with such greats as Howard Johnson’s tuba jazz ensemble Gravity, Dave Bargeron, Bob Stewart, James Spaulding, Hilton Ruiz, David O’Rourke Ensemble, Oliver Lake, Lou Soloff, Frank Foster, Mary Wilson, Curtis Fuller, Benny Russell, and many more. Mr. Parreott has even played with the Fun Factory Performers in Morocco, Africa for a birthday party at the request of His Majesty, the late King Hassan V.
Dorian, being classically trained as well, has performed with the Scott Joplin Orchestra in Houston, Texas, and was invited to play with the 75th Anniversary National Black Arts Festival Orchestra in Dallas, Texas under the direction of Leslie Dunner, at the time the associate conductor of the Detroit Symphony. Dorian performed as a substitute in the pit orchestra for Broadway’s RAGTIME the Musical for two year. He also participated in several New Jersey groups including the Eastern Wind Ensemble, Monmouth Symphony and the Garden State Philharmonic in which he has performed as a soloist for both orchestras. Dorian can be heard on PBS, on several Children’s Albums, at local churches, and in concert series with the Top Brass Quintet and the Dixie 6. Over the past few years, he has performed on trombone and tuba in various projects featuring New Jersey Rocker, Glen Burtnik. Dorian is currently developing a new sound with his own creation, Hot Air, which performed at the Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival.
Mr. Parreott graduated Trenton State College in 1988 with a Performance and Music Education degree and recently received his Masters in Educational Administration. He is currently seeking a Masters in Music Performance as well as a degree in Mathematics. Dorian has taught for 25 years in NJ schools, most recently North Plainfield High School where he continues to emphasize jazz education and is proud of several students who have carried on the tradition as jazz educators. He studied classically with the late Dr. David Uber of the New York Brass and Metropolitan Opera, and Donald Butterfield of the NBC Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, Charles Mingus Band, and Maynard Ferguson Band. Dorian accredits Bob Stewart of Brass Fantasy and Howard Johnson of the Gil Evans Big Band, and his father/musician/band director, Dorian Sr., as a very large influence personally and professionally on his choice of direction in the music field.
