Born: September 22, 1976 Primary Instrument: Trombone
Internationally regarded as cutting-edge trombonist and a renown producer, composer, orchestrator and “arranger of the first-class” (Harvey Siders, JazzTimes), Doug Beavers has earned a Grammy® for his work on Eddie Palmieri’s Listen Here (2006) and has performed, toured and recorded with Eddie Palmieri (La Perfecta II, Ritmo Caliente, Listen Here), Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney (Sentimental Journey, The Last Concert), Hillary McRae, Brian Culbertson, Mingus Big Band, and Pete Escovedo, and many others.
His most recent release, Two Shades of Nude (Origin Records), has drawn wide critical acclaim and has currently peaked at #50 on the Jazzweek national radio jazz chart. The recording, featuring a modern jazz nonet, has drawn a wealth of notable critical reviews from Downbeat and Jazztimes magazines. His previous studio production, Jazz, Baby! (2007, Origin Records), was dedicated to young fans of big band swing and received radio airplay in the US and was also reviewed extensively by national jazz publications.
Currently based in New York City, Doug Beavers continues to exercise his firm belief in musical advocacy. He has recently established the Harlem School of Contemporary Music and Recording Arts, enabling urban students of New York City to study their specific brand of urban jazz, salsa, hip-hop and rock through a program of formal music training. Students then carry this education into the recording studio, adopting the recording arts and contributing to professional recording sessions on-site at the Harlem School's state of the art recording arts facility.
He has taught previously as an adjunct professor of music at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA and continues to maintain his post as professor of jazz trombone at California State University, East Bay via interactive media teleconferencing.
“For the efforts of Mr. Beavers, the new millennium finds me truly grateful” Eddie Palmieri - Liner Notes from “La Perfect II”
“Beavers is only 31 - a mere infant in jazz speak - but he's already accomplished more than some jazz musicians do during entire careers”. Jim Harrington - ANG Newspapers
“A new star is emerging with his trombone in his heart and salsa dura in his soul.” Jesse “Chuy” Varela - Latin Beat Magazine
“La Perfecta II was born from the chance opportunity of Doug Beavers' diligent effort to recover the music that had long since been retired. Mr. Beavers' brilliantly transcribed the original compositions of La Perfecta. For the efforts of Mr. Beavers, the new millennium finds me truly grateful.” — Eddie Palmieri, liner notes from La Perfecta II
”La Perfecta II carries the repertory movement into Latin dance music, with the old “trombanga” arrangements transcribed by the trombonist Doug Beavers. The concert at Carnegie Hall reunited Eddie Palmieri with Ismael Quintana, who sang with the original La Perfecta. Mr. Quintana brought fevered passion to lovers' pleas like “Verdad Amarga”. For that song, Mr. Beavers had transcribed one of Barry Rogers' original trombone solos for the horn section (two trombones and trumpet), a reminder of how much modernist daring Mr. Rodgers had brought to the group.” — Jon Pareles, New York Times
Jazz, Baby!
Origin Records
2007
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Primary Instrument:
Trombone
Location:
Jersey City, NJ
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
At core of Doug Beavers' musical concept lies the belief that
one's teachings and experiences in the "real world" of music
must be propagated so that advancement in the art itself is
possible. Based on this belief, Doug Beavers has gained a
reputation as being a music educator with a direct, concise,
and intuitive delivery that excites all within attendance and
encourages listening ears of all levels to focus in on the
material at hand.
To this end, the following innovative programs have been
developed to introduce students to musical concepts that
were introduced to Doug by way of real-world musical
situations, in a multitude of genres. These ideas have been
translated into the common language that is used in today's
musical education and will be conveyed to the student by way
of masterclasses or more interactive clinics.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Festival Adjudicator & Clinician
Thorough deconstruction and reconstruction of students’
performance at the College, High School, or Intermediate
school levels.
Studio Jazz Trombone
Tone Quality
Harmonic Application and treatment as related to the
trombone
Jazz Agility Exercises
Studio Jazz Arranging
Historical Perspective and Analysis of the greats—Nelson
Riddle, Gil Evans, Sammy Nestico
Arranging in the Modern Era— modern harmony and voice-
leading
Sibelius & Finale 2010 as applied to jazz arranging, reducing
playback dependency
Recording Strategies for Professional Environments
Strategies learned “in the trenches” that will encourage
success during recordings
Sight-reading with tips and strategies
Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean Programs*
*Can be tailored and administered to high school,
undergraduate and graduate levels.
Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean Masterclass
Historical background and chronology—from religious chants
to modern era recordings
Roles of the instruments utilized in the idiom with audio and
written examples
Survey of rare and unreleased recordings, with analyses and
transcriptions
What is Clave? - a Workshop
Identifying and improvising in and out of clave
Improvising off the dominant chord to achieve a maximum
degree of tension and release
Composing and arranging Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean
music—a Clinic
Historical chronology of master composers and arrangers of
the idiom
Survey and analysis of the great arrangers within the idiom,
with audio and transcribed examples
Maintaining clave throughout the length of the composition or
arrangement
Common and effective harmony and voice-leading within the
idiom
