JazzFresno, the Fresno County Public Library, KFSR 90.7 FM, and the Woodward Park Friends of the Library will host a free, in person and open to the public Jazz at the Library presentation on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Woodward Park Regional County Library located at 944 E. Perrin Ave. (Champlain & Perrin), Fresno, CA 93720.

Title: Bob Brookmeyer’s Compositional History

Brief Description: 

This presentation will cover an overview of Bob Brookmeyer’s compositional methods across his lifetime. His writing style can be broken into three periods: Pre-1977, Post-1977, and Post-1983. The presentation will attempt to provide concrete musical examples and details from each period, as well as a few select performances from each.  

Player info: 

Bob Brookmeyer (1929-2011) was an influential American jazz musician, composer, arranger, and educator, primarily known for his work as a valve trombonist and a significant figure in the development of modern jazz. 

Brookmeyer began his musical career in the 1940s, playing in various big bands, including those led by Claude Thornhill and Stan Getz. He gained prominence in the 1950’s as a member of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, where his innovative approach to the trombone and his skills as an arranger made a significant impact on the jazz scene.

Throughout his career, Brookmeyer collaborated with many renowned jazz musicians, including Clark Terry, Thad Jones, and Mel Lewis. He also led his own groups and recorded numerous albums as a bandleader, showcasing his distinctive compositional style and improvisational prowess.

Outside of his performing career, Brookmeyer was deeply involved in jazz education. He taught at institutions such as the New England Conservatory and the Thelonious Monk Institute, mentoring and inspiring generations of young musicians.

Brookmeyer’s musical contributions extended beyond traditional jazz boundaries, as he experimented with various styles and approaches, incorporating elements of classical music and avant-garde jazz into his work. His compositions and arrangements are noted for their sophistication, harmonic richness, and inventive use of orchestration.

Bob Brookmeyer’s legacy in jazz is characterized by his adventurous spirit, technical mastery, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of the genre. He remains revered as one of the most innovative trombonists and arrangers in the history of jazz music.

Brief Presenter Bio: 

Andrew Watkins-Alcocer, DMA, is a trombonist and educator with a background in both performance and composition. Raised in Fresno, California, his passion for music was nurtured from a young age, leading to him pursuing an undergraduate degree at California State University, Fresno, followed by a master’s and doctorate at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. As a performer, Alcocer was named “Outstanding College Trombonist” by the Reno Jazz Festival in both 2017 and 2018 and was a part of the “Outstanding Trombone Section” of the inaugural Jack Rudin Jazz Championships at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2020. 

As a composer, Alcocer earned the Global Music Award’s silver medal for his piece “Soliloquy,” as well as their bronze medal for his arrangement of “Storm,” and was recently selected to take part in masterclasses for the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers. Upon graduating from Eastman with his master’s, he was also awarded the “Ray Wright Award,” named after the founder of the school’s jazz department. In addition to his individual accomplishments, Alcocer has performed with various notable ensembles, including the Dave Rivello Ensemble, Rochester Innovation Jazz Orchestra, BIOdance, the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, Rumba 32, and the Yosemite Symphony Orchestra. As a composer his work can be heard internationally by various ensembles, artists, and on radio stations in countries such as Italy, Germany, Australia, and China.

Alcocer currently serves as Instructor of Music at both Clovis Community College and Reedley College and has held positions with the University of Rochester as an Instructor of Music Theory, and as the Director of the Eastman Jazz Workshop Ensemble. His responsibilities encompass teaching, mentorship, and providing engaging learning experiences for his students.