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John Fedchock Swings at Old Dominion University

By Mark Robbins
May 7, 2023
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Frank Sinatra said: "My greatest teacher was not a vocal coach, not the work of other singers, but the way Tommy Dorsey breathed and phrased on the trombone." Sinatra could have easily been describing John Fedchock on the trombone. Since beginning his career with the Woody Herman Orchestra in 1980, Fedchock has become one of the finest, if not the finest, trombonist performing today.

The multi-nominated Grammy Award trombonist is no stranger to the Tidewater area. It was almost 25 years to the day when Fedchock first came to Old Dominion University to lead clinics and perform with the ODU jazz choir, jazz combo and jazz orchestra. Since then he has come back for more clinics and performances with the John Toomey Trio either at the Attucks Theater or the now defunct Havana Nights.

It was during a three night run at Havana Nights that the two albums, Reminiscence (Summit Records, 2018) and Fluidity (Summit Records, 2015) were recorded and where most of the material for this concert came from. Backed by pianist and head of jazz studies at ODU John Toomey, bassist Jimmy Masters (Toomey and Masters are both on the two albums) and drummer Emre Katari, the quartet performed two 45 minute sets and the audience wanted more. The following are photos from the show.

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John Fedchock with the John Toomey Trio

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