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Jim
Pugh (MySpace: jimpughtrombone) is
a distinguished trombonist, composer, and educator. The inspiring
virtuosity and wonderful versatility he has demonstrated
during the course of his career has caused Jim to be often
honored as the "musician's musician".
Whether he is performing as a concerto soloist in a symphonic
setting, recording and touring with legendary artists in
the fields of classical, jazz, & rock, or bringing forth
his own exciting new compositions that expand the role of
brass in contemporary music, his creativity knows no
boundaries.
In the beginning...
Jim began studying piano at age five and trombone at age ten.
After attending Duquesne University and graduating from the Eastman
School of Music, Jim toured extensively with the Woody Herman
Band and with Chick Corea before deciding to settle
down and make New York City his home.
As a performer and recording artist...
Jim became New York's top-call freelance trombonist for film
scores, records, and music for television and radio advertising:
over the past thirty-years he has lent his special talent
to more than four thousand recording sessions.
His trombone can be heard in collaboration with leading
classical and popular artists and orchestras such as Yo-Yo
Ma, Steely Dan, Eos, Concordia, St.
Luke’s Orchestra, André Previn, Paul
Simon, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Michael
Jackson, Madonna, Pink Floyd, and Frank
Sinatra.
Jim has been called on to add his sound to feature film
soundtracks including A League of Their Own, When Harry Met
Sally, and Meet Joe Black; and on hit Broadway
cast recordings City of Angels, Fosse and Victor/Victoria.
In 2003 Jim “re-premiered” the Nathaniel Shilkret: Trombone
Concerto to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall with Skitch
Henderson and the New York Pops Orchestra.
This mid-twentieth century masterpiece, originally written
for Tommy Dorsey, will be heard in its first totally accurate
recording, along with Jim's own Concerto for Trombone and
Orchestra, on his up-coming new CD.
Jim Pugh is the only recipient of the National
Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Virtuoso Award for Tenor
trombone, awarded after being voted Tenor Trombone MVP by the
New York recording community for five years.
As a
composer...
Jim's original music and arrangements can be heard on National
Public Radio, in film scores, on "jingles", and
on record. His composition, Lunch with Schrödinger's
Cat, received a Lincoln Center premier in 1989 by Marin
Alsop and the Concordia Chamber Orchestra. Jim
premiered his Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra in
May 1992 with the Williamsport Symphony. It received
its New York premier in March 2000 with Joseph Alessi as
soloist and Leonard Slatkin conducting the New
York Philharmonic. A founding member of the Graham
Ashton Brass Ensemble, several of Jim’s compositions
can be heard on their recent CD entitled The Graham Ashton
Brass Ensemble Plays The Music of James Pugh and Daniel Schnyder,
available on the Signum label.
As an educator...
Jim is currently on faculty at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. In the past he has taught at SUNY-Purchase
College, the University of the Arts (Philadelphia) and at New
York University. He appears frequently at schools throughout
the country as a guest artist/clinician. Many of these clinics/concerts
are made possible through the help of the Edwards Instrument
Co.
In the field of instrument development...
Jim has been involved with the development of the Edwards small
bore tenor trombone and has worked closely with Dave Monette
in the development of the Monette TS11 and TS 6 small
shank tenor trombone mouthpiece. He endorses both of these products
and plays Edwards trombones and Monette mouthpieces
exclusively. |
