Born: January 25, 1964 Primary Instrument: Trumpet
Trumpeter Alan Hood hails from the small upstate New York town of Pumpkin Hook and has been performing music for over 30 years. Mr. Hood toured the world with the Phil Collins Big Band, appearing at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals and New York City's prestigious Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He is among featured soloists on the band's live compact disc recording “A Hot Night in Paris,” on the Atlantic jazz label and appears on well over two dozen other jazz, commercial and classical recordings. Appearing with the orchestras of Woody Herman, Glenn Miller and Harry James, and performing on stage with Ray Charles, Doc Severinsen, Natalie Cole, Manhattan Transfer, Arturo Sandoval, the Richie Cole Alto Madness Orchestra, the Summit Brass, Jon Faddis, Conte Candoli, Clark Terry, Curtis Fuller and Wynton Marsalis, to name just a few, has rewarded Alan with an array of irreplaceable memories and a well spring of professional experience.
Dividing his career between performing and teaching full time at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music as Associate Professor of Trumpet, Al directs the Lamont Jazz Ensemble and performs extensively with Lamont's artist-in-residence ensembles, the faculty brass quintet, Aries, and the faculty jazz combo, the Climb. Al hosted the highly acclaimed 2004 International Trumpet Guild conference at the Lamont School of Music and is currently the host and a faculty member of the annual esteemed Rafael Méndez Brass Institute, featuring the world-renown Summit Brass. As a freelance trumpeter he continuously performs and records in and beyond the Colorado region with the Denver Brass, the Ken Walker Jazz Sextet, the Aries Brass Quintet and Conjunto Colores. Alan has just released his first solo CD recording project which features the arranging talents of Dave Hanson in various settings for trumpet, rhythm section, strings, sax, flute, oboe and French horn.
Prior to his 1999 appointment with the University of Denver, Alan taught jazz trumpet and musicology at the University of Miami while pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in jazz performance. Mr. Hood holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Music degree from Northern Illinois University, and has taught music at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Richmond in Virginia. His trumpet mentors include Vince DiMartino, Ron Modell, Ray Crisara, Howard Rowe and the late Gil Johnson. As a clinician, Al has enjoyed working and performing with students from such places as the University of Minnesota, Western Michigan University, Indiana University, Pittsburg (KS) State University, East Tennessee State University, Wichita State University, Centre College, Cumberland College, University of Northern Colorado and Nagoya University of the Arts in Japan, to name a few. He has performed and has made presentations at the International Trumpet Guild conference, the International Association of Jazz Educators conference, the National Trumpet Competition, the Colorado Music Educators Association conference and at the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors conference. He has also served as a judge for the National Trumpet Competition, the International Trumpet Guild, the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Competition and at many Colorado and national jazz festivals.
A leading authority on the life and work of jazz trumpet legend, Clifford Brown, his doctoral research topic, Al has to his credit several published articles on Brown and has been invited to present his findings at international conferences. Dr. Nick Catalano's recent biography of Clifford Brown, published by Oxford University Press, showcases Al Hood's major contributions as chief research consultant and primary interviewer. His research will be utilized in a forthcoming documentary on Brown and he has been consulted by Jazz at Lincoln Center's Education Department for assistance with their new Brown exhibit that is now a part of the Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame.
Al enjoys sharing time with his wonderful daughter Kyrié and exploring life, travel and photography with his wife Jennifer.
Awards:
AWARDS: * Host of the 2007 Rafael Méndez Brass Institute, University of Denver, 2007-present * Host of the First Annual Rocky Mountain Trumpet Festival, University of Denver, 2006 * Host of the 29th annual International Trumpet Guild conference, University of Denver, 2004 * University of Denver Office of Multicultural Affairs Grant, Jon Faddis, guest performer, 2000 * Northern Illinois University Graduate Teaching Award, 1991 * Downbeat magazine’s Student Music Awards: “Outstanding Musician,” 1990 and 1992 * Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble “Outstanding Member,” 1990 * O. Helton Acres Memorial Scholarship for Academic Achievement, 1989 * University of Kentucky Orchestra Concerto Competition Winner, Concerto by Henri Tomasi, 1988 * Aspen Music Festival, Jazz Performance Fellowship, 1987Primary Instrument:
Trumpet
Location:
Aurora, CO
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
* Private Teacher of Trumpet (1985-present): Rates are $60 per hour; by appointment only
* University of Denver: Lecturer of Trumpet (tenure track), 1999 to present
* Associate Professor of Trumpet (with tenure)
* Responsibilities: Trumpet Studio and master class, Freshman Theory and Ear Training (1999-2002), Faculty Brass Quintet and Jazz Combo, Brass Pedagogy, Small Ensemble Coaching, Mentoring and the Lamont Jazz Ensemble (2002-present)
* University of Miami: Semester Lecturer in Applied Performance (Studio Music and Jazz) and Musicology and Jazz Brass Coordinator (Administrative), 1997 to 1999
* Responsibilities: Jazz Trumpet Studio, Evolution of Jazz, Evolution of Rock, Jazz Band III Jazz Brass Forum, and Applied Trumpet
* University of Miami: Doctoral Teaching Assistant in Jazz, 1994 to 1997
* Responsibilities: Jazz Trumpet Studio, Evolution of Jazz, Big Bands, Combos, and Improvisation Class Assistant
* University of Richmond, Virginia: Visiting Instructor in Trumpet and Jazz, 1993 to 1994
* Responsibilities: Trumpet Studio, Jazz Band, Jazz Appreciation, Pep Band, Jazz Combos, Jazz Theory, and Brass Ensemble
* University of Texas: Assistant Instructor in Trumpet and Jazz, 1992 to 1993
* Responsibilities: Applied Trumpet, Jazz Combo, and Jazz Appreciation
* Northern Illinois University: Graduate Teaching Assistant in Jazz, 1989 to 1991
* Responsibilities: Jazz Band III, Music Appreciation, Jazz Theory, and Applied Trumpet
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Al Hood is available for performances, clinics, master classes and soloist engagements at very modest rates. Partial assistance may be provided by Conn-Selmer, Inc. Please contact Al by phone at (303) 587-7590 or email him at ahood@du.edu for further information. His specialties include jazz and classical trumpet performance, trumpet pedagogy, Clifford Brown and jazz history, improvisation and jazz ensemble direction.
Al has recently appeared at Western Michigan University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Texas-El Paso, Texas State University-San Marcos, Oklahoma City University, Bethel College, Indiana University, East Tennessee State University, Cumberland College, Centre College, the University of Northern Colorado, Texas Christian University, Wichita State University, Yakima Valley Community College, Pittsburg State University, Florida International University, North Dakota State University, Nagoya University of the Arts (in Nagoya, Japan) and at numerous Colorado high schools and middle schools. He has also been invited to present clinics at the National Trumpet Competition in Fairfax, VA, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors Conference and at the Colorado Music Education Association Conference in Colorado Springs, CO.
Al has also judged for the National Trumpet Competition (live jazz and preliminary Solo Master's), the International Trumpet Guild (preliminary jazz rounds) and for the 2007 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Competition (preliminary round). He also has judged for a number of jazz festivals throughout Colorado and the nation.
