Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer Brad Goode

• 1 Goose Chase 08:48
• 2 Snake Charmer 08:36
• 3 Just a Thought 08:04
• 4 Ornithology 05:49
• 5 Pentacles 03:52
• 6 Cabin in the Sky 05:01
• 7 Hypnotic Suggestion 06:50
• 8 I Can't Forget About You 11:27
• Total Runtime 58:27

Info for Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer

Over his 20 albums and four decade career, Brad Goode has displayed a wildly adventurous musical aesthetic to go along with his singular virtuosic voice on trumpet. With The Snake Charmer, Goode now brings those qualities into this debut of his big band. First featuring his polytonal system of harmony on his 2008 release, Polytonal Dance Party, Goode has only expanded on it in the albums since, with this big band representing its concept and possibilities at a most vivid and dynamic level. With his inspired band of Denver-area colleagues up to the task, Goode creates a soundscape that revels in the joy of present, past, and future.

"Never sacrificing the sparkling sense of wonder that's characterized his sound from the beginning, Goode's music also reflects maturity and sureness borne of hard-won experience." (JazzTimes)

"Brad Goode possesses a profound artistic vision, channeling it into compositions where he shapes his sonic universe. His works elevate orchestral sections, magnify instrumental solos, and provide themes that invite creative exploration. This album is decidedly not for everyone; yet, those with a broad musical lexicon will recognize its codes and savor the depth of its artistry. Goode honed his jazz skills in the time-honored tradition of apprenticeship, a path he followed into his thirties. During these formative years, he toured and recorded with luminaries such as Von Freeman, Red Rodney, Eddie Harris, Ira Sullivan, Curtis Fuller, Jack DeJohnette, Ernie Krivda, Eddie Johnson, Rosemary Clooney, Barrett Deems, and Woody Herman’s orchestra, among others." (Thierry De Clemensat, PARIS MOVE)

Brad Goode, trumpet
John Lake, trumpet
Sean Applebee, trumpet
Emily Hartrampf, trumpet
Hugh Ragin, trumpet
John Gunther, alto saxophone
Camden Johnson, alto saxophone
Carl Shultz, tenor saxophone
Jonas Shofler, tenor saxophone
Alexandra Loran, baritone saxophone
Sam Griffith, trombone
Grayson Stewart, trombone
Jack Bendure, trombone
Joanna Griffith, trombone
Victor Mestas-Perez, piano
Tim Wendel, guitar
Eddie Ness, bass
Paul Romaine, drums
John Davis, conductor

Brad Goode
A multi-instrumentalist and composer who performs on trumpet, bass and drums, Brad Goode is recognized as a unique stylist with a highly creative approach to improvisation. He has recorded on dozens of jazz albums, including 18 as a leader for the Delmark, Sunlight, SteepleChase and Origin labels. He is a dedicated educator, with many of his students enjoying successful music careers.

Brad began playing violin at age 4, switching to rock guitar at age 8. He later earned a BM degree in classical trumpet at the University of Kentucky, and an MM degree in bass at DePaul University. His trumpet teachers include Vincent DiMartino, Byron Baxter, Clark Terry, Chris Gekker and William Adam. He studied bass with Larry Gray, Donald "Rafael" Garrett, Carroll Crouch, and Eddie DeHaas.

Brad learned Jazz through the time-honored system of apprenticeship. His participation in this tradition was extensive, lasting well into his thirties. During his apprenticeship years, he toured and recorded with the bands of Von Freeman, Red Rodney, Eddie Harris, Ira Sullivan, Curtis Fuller, Jack DeJohnette, Ernie Krivda, Eddie Johnson, Rosemary Clooney, Barrett Deems and the Woody Herman Orchestra, among others.

Brad led his own combo in Chicago from 1985 until 1998, including a twelve-year stint as leader of the house band at the Green Mill. As a Cultural Ambassador for Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago, he led jazz groups on tours of Asia and the Middle East. He was named one of the most influential Chicagoans of the 1980s by the Chicago Tribune, who credited him as a “major catalyst in the revitalization of the Chicago jazz scene.”

Brad’s work as a musician has taken many forms. As a freelance musician, he has performed extensively as a first trumpeter for big bands, salsa groups, symphony orchestras, musical theatre productions, and commercial recordings. As a soloist, he is equally comfortable playing Traditional Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Fusion, Free Jazz, Klezmer, Pop, and Classical, possessing a memorized repertoire of hundreds of songs in each genre. He is active as a bassist as well, in a variety of contexts. Brad currently tours with the bands of Canadian vocalist Matt Dusk and West African drummer Paa Kow, and with his own quintet featuring legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts.

As an educator, Brad’s desire to help musicians succeed is his primary focus. He combines experience as a seasoned performer with a passion for study and research, and he offers a thoughtful perspective to his classes and private students. He is recognized as a master teacher of brass technique, and is an authority on rehabilitation and recovery from injury in brass players. He teaches jazz history to performers from the perspective of a performer, utilizing in-depth musical analysis. Brad’s philosophy on the teaching of improvisation is unique, formed by his own learning experiences outside of academia. He has presented lectures internationally on the need for a reconsideration of jazz pedagogy methods, and teaches courses on jazz pedagogy to graduate students and educators. He believes in the value of jam sessions as learning environments, and runs weekly sessions for students to learn by playing with pros.

.Brad Goode has served on the faculties of The American Conservatory of Music, New Trier High School, Cuyahoga Community College, The University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, The Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts and The University of Colorado, where he is currently Associate Professor of Jazz Studies, and serves as the Musical Director for the Conference on World Affairs.

Brad makes frequent appearances as a soloist and clinician at colleges and high schools. He is an artist for XO Brass Instruments, for whom he is currently designing an Artist Model trumpet.

This album contains no booklet.