The Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) announced its schedule of shows and events for Sept. 8-14 in New York City. Dave Douglas founded FONT 15 years ago when he was given a month of shows to curate at Tonic and Roy Campbell, Jr. suggested that he focus on trumpet players. The festival has grown every year with dynamic programming at various venues around New York City.
This year Douglas invited his colleagues Keyon Harrold, Stephanie Richards and John Blevins to assist with the programming and curation. Included in the slate of shows is a world premiere of new music from Harrold, plus performances featuring other trumpeters such as Marquis Hill, Jonathan Finlayson, Jason Palmer and Igmar Thomas.
This year’s festival has a theme of IMPACT and will present its Award of Recognition to trumpeter/arranger/big bandleader Charles Tolliver in a special event at the New School on Sept. 10. “Everyone in this year’s programming, most notably Keyon Harrold, cites Charles Tolliver as a primary inspiration,” said Douglas in an email to JT. “In terms of creative self-determination and artistic independence, Charles has been at the forefront for decades. He exemplifies what we all aim for.”
Douglas went on to reflect on the evolution of the festival. “As a community of musicians involved with the trumpet, FONT Music has grown and transformed with each new influx of talent and ideas, and with each successive reexamination of the instrument’s majestic history,” he explained. “These are rocky times for arts organizations, and I’m proud that FONT carries on supporting engaging, original, and pioneering work across genre, gender, ethnic, and community boundary lines.”
Schedule:
Friday, September 8 8:30 pm $20
High and Mighty Brass Band and Slavic Soul Party @ The Stone at New School’s Glassbox Theater, 55 W 13th St., New York, NY
Saturday, September 9 8:30 pm $20
[email protected] @ The Stone at New School’s Glassbox Theater, 55 W 13th St., New York, NY
Dave Douglas Presents: 15 Years of FONT Music with Stephanie Richards, Keyon Harrold, Marco Blaauw, and others.
Sunday, September 10 5:00 pm FREE
FONT Award of Recognition to Charles Tolliver @ The New School, 55 West 13th Street, New York, NY
Panel Discussion on Creative Self Determination for Musical Artists with Charles Tolliver, Dave Douglas, Keyon Harrold, Meghan Stabile.
Monday, September 11 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm $30, Student $20
Tuesday, September 12 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm $35, Student $20
The Flow Anthology @ Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola
Curated by Keyon Harrold with Marquis Hill, Igmar Thomas, and Leron Thomas.
World premiere of new music by Keyon Harrold, funded by FONT Music’s Roy Campbell, Jr. Commission.
Wednesday, September 13 7:00 pm $10
Visionaries Night 1 @ ShapeShifter Lab, 18 Whitwell Pl, Brooklyn
Music for Wing Walkers + FONT Music featuring Oskar Stenmark Quartet, Danny Gouker’s Signal Problems, and the Wing Walker Orchestra featuring Jonathan Finlayson.
Thursday, September 14 7:00 pm $10
Visionaries Night 2 @ ShapeShifter Lab, 18 Whitwell Pl, Brooklyn
Music for Wing Walkers + FONT Music featuring Allison Phillips Trio, Jason Palmer Quintet, and the Wing Walker Orchestra featuring Jason Palmer.
You can find more information about FONT at its website here.
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In video interview with JazzTimes, Dave Douglas talks about the creation and development of FONT:
Originally Published
