Early Work
Jesse began studying classical piano at age seven, and, at age nine joined his elementary school’s concert band as a trombonist. When he was ten, he was a finalist in a nation-wide talent competition; winning for his spit-fire piano rendition of Count Basie’s Jumping at the Woodside. His numerous accomplishments in high school include District Concert Band, Regional Concert Band, All-State Jazz Ensemble, Fred Waring’s U.S. Chorus, National Honors Jazz Band, District Chorus Instrument Ensemble, and the John Philip Sousa Memorial Concert Band…all on trombone.
During his junior year in high school, he became a member of the East Stroudsburg University Jazz Ensemble. He was piano accompanist for District Chorus as well as the high school chorus, and, for five consecutive years, he was pianist for the Celebration of the Arts Festival COTA Cats (a big band founded by Grammy Award winner Phil Woods). Famous guest artists with the Cota Cats included David Liebman, Manny Album, Al Cohn, Hal Crook, Urbie Green, and Phil Woods. The band, directed by Pat Dorian, appears each year at the COTA Festival in Delaware Water Gap, PA.
As a student at East Stroudsburg University, Jesse played trombone in the Concert Band and Brass Ensemble, and piano in the Jazz Ensemble. Notable artists that Jesse has performed with in this Jazz Ensemble include Clark Terry, Lew Tabackin, Freddie Hubbard, Al Grey, Urbie Green, Phil Woods, David Liebman, Benny Carter, and Jimmy Heath. As a trombonist, Jesse was selected two years in a row for the Inter-Collegiate Concert Band. Among the awards Jesse has received are a full scholarship Berkless College of Music, scholarship to Clark Terry’s Jazz Camp, The Celebration of the Arts Commission, East Stroudsburg University Music Department, and a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music.
At age 17, Jesse won the National Downbeat Student Award for “best extended composition and arrangement” with his original Half & Half. He has since written many other arrangements for big band as well as small groups. Blues for Dad, written for his father, legendary jazz trombonist Urbie Green, was performed by the COTA Cats at the 1989 COTA Jazz Festival. In 1992, Jesse recorded his debut CD Lift Off for Chiaroscuro Records with Paul Rostock on bass, Bobby Durham on drums, and featured guest Joe Cohn on guitar.
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Famous quotes containing the words early and/or work:
“On the Coast of Coromandel
Where the early pumpkins blow,
In the middle of the woods
Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
Two old chairs, and half a candle,—
One old jug without a handle,—
These were all his worldly goods:
In the middle of the woods,”
—Edward Lear (1812–1888)
“It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an occupation then, and a most exhausting one. Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen.”
—Jerome K. Jerome (1859–1927)