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Altin Sencalar

Hailed by Stereophile Magazine for “sound[ing] like 21st-century grandchildren of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding” (with his co-bandleader Chris Glassman) and praised by the International Trombone Associations Journal for his “virtuosity [and] melodic and harmonic mastery,” Altin Sencalar is in high demand across the country as a performer, educator, and composer.

Altin began his studies at Texas State University, where he studied with Freddie Mendoza. While attending Texas State University, he gained entrance into the thriving Austin music scene and began emerging as a new talent. Altin moved to Austin, TX, and attended the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music, where he studied under the tutelage of Andre Hayward. He became a fixture in the Austin music scene after being named a “2017 Top 10 Austin Music Awards Horn Player” and recording his debut album, “Introducing Altin Sencalar.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree from the Butler School of Music, he was given the opportunity to travel as a soloist with the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra to the Montreaux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz festival, and Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, France. Altin then attended Michigan State University as the Graduate Assistant to Michael Dease and Rodney Whitaker, where he pursued his Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies. While at Michigan State University, Altin co-founded “The Sencalar/Glassman Quintet,” which has been the recipient of over $3,000 in funding from the East Lansing Arts Commission and MSU Running Start. This grant gave the quintet members the opportunity to tour East Lansing elementary schools and use their knowledge of jazz to educate the young students and provide them with a new potential artistic and creative outlet.

Altin has also gained international and national recognition through numerous competitions and awards. Such honors have come from Yamaha, The American Trombone Workshop Jazz Competition solo divisions, International Trombone Association’s Jazz Solo – Carl Fontana Competition and J.J. Johnson Competition, the Kai Winding Trombone Ensemble Competition, Texas State Trombone Symposium Michael Rath Jazz Solo Competition, Downbeat Student Music Awards, and the International Tuba-Euphonium Association Rich Matteson Jazz Euphonium Competition, among others.

As an active performer, Altin has shared the stage, toured, and/or recorded with DeeDee Bridgewater, Rodney Whitaker, Christian McBride, Michael Bublé, Dafnis Prieto, Ulysses Owens Jr., The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, The Velvalletes, Ne-Yo, Big Sean, and many others. He has also recorded for several motion pictures including Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, My Little Pony: The Movie (2017 release), and others independent films.

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4
Album Review

Altin Sencalar: In Good Standing

Read "In Good Standing" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


In many ways, In Good Standing is a jazz aficionado's dream. Trombonist, composer, and arranger Altin Sencalar's inaugural disc as a leader for Posi-Tone encourages granular, analytical consideration. It is worthwhile to pause and think about the details of inspired performances, ponder the efficacy of Sencalar's original compositions and interpretations of gems penned by jazz giants, and contemplate the numerous examples of his band's esprit de corps. Conversely, it would be a shame to only concentrate on these things and ...

2
Album Review

Something Blue: Personal Preference

Read "Personal Preference" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Marc Free produced the second edition of Something Blue to encourage “a wider audience of new listeners" to jazz by presenting “a focused program of concise performances to provide maximum enjoyment." These goals are congruent with Free's trust in his artists. The eleven tracks of Personal Preference do not smack of compromise or a nebulous artistic focus. Free has assembled a band of players with ties to the label who boldly stride through the bop/hard bop/post-bop continuum, utilizing elements from ...

3
Album Review

Kerry Moffit: What Goes Around Comes Around

Read "What Goes Around Comes Around" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Kerry Moffit's reputation in trumpet circles preceded him long before this recording. Like so many “you ought to hear this guy" types, one discounts friendships, hangs, boosters, and all the rest. Moffit, however, is “as advertised." There are quite a few people with underground reputations. Moffit's should be above ground. Listening to him, you might think, “ok, Tom Harrell," but then nobody is Tom Harrell except Tom Harrell. So, you are stuck for superlatives. As a player and composer, Moffit ...

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Album Review

Kerry Moffit: What Goes Around Comes Around

Read "What Goes Around Comes Around" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


The karmic reference of the subtitle of this recording gives the impression that there's a surprise lurking somewhere in trumpeter/composer/arranger Kerry Moffit's jazz bag of tricks. The album, Moffit's first release after his spending decades starring in a U.S. Air Force band, is a superb presentation of jazz classics and originals. With this fine offering the perfect circle is formed--old and new, flowing in both directions. Moffit and crew launch things tastefully vintage with a cool take ...

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Album Review

Sencalar/Glassman Quintet: Realization

Read "Realization" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Altin Sencalar and Chris Glassman were classmates in graduate school at Michigan State University (MSU) where they were both trombonist MIchael Dease's proteges. When they decided to release their debut, the exciting Realization, their mentor produced the record, contributed a tune and made a guest appearance on the opening track. For this bop-based session Sencalar and Glassman recruited a band of both up-and-coming and established musicians. The result is a very cohesive quintet/sextet which effortlessly, and with supreme ...

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“Sencalar and Glassman sound like 21st century prodigy grand children of Jay and Kai.”

— THOMAS CONRAD; STEREOPHILE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020 EDITION

 

“On a whole, it is difficult not to be impressed by Altin Sencalar’s writing and playing.”

— SCOTTA YANOW- JAZZ HISTORIAN & JOURNALIST, DOWNBEAT, JAZZTIMES, ALL ABOUT JAZZ

 

 

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Personal Preference

Posi-Tone Records
2023

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Between The Bars

Posi-Tone Records
2023

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In Good Standing

Posi-Tone Records
2023

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Altin Sencalar Octet...

Altin Sencalar
2022

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What Goes Around...

Turning Circles Music
2021

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Reconnected

Next Level
2021

buy

Realization

From: Realization
By Altin Sencalar

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