San Francisco Bay design firm, imajinnWEST and Pittsburgh native, Dr. Nelson Harrison have given 'birth' and the coming out party is the International Association of Jazz Educators' Convention in NY this week. 'Betto is the alter ego designed by Principle Djinn Carl Lewis and spawned by the veteran trombonist of the Count Basie Orchestra's pocket trombone.
The trombetto is a one-of-a-kind brass instrument conceived in 1980 by Dr. Harrison. Fitted with a trombone mouthpiece, which gives it the timbre of a velvety-rich French horn/fluglehorn combination, the final version was commissioned then custom-crafted in 1990 by Ted Weir. Presently with a Regents' Lectureship at University of California, Santa Cruz on whole-brain jazz and creative writing, Nelson lectures on The Metaphysics of Music.
With four days of music clinics, performances, media and products that brings together music legends, 'young Turks' and aficionados of Classical American Music by the thousands, the thirty-four year old IAJE Convention is the perfect event to premiere the character.
In the two-year collaborative process between musician and artist positiong all of the elements from form and colors to the consequent legalities was not an easy feat. The intent has been to create a vehicle that captures the attention of the populace and educates, especially youth, to the rich heritage of Classical American Music and its impact and value in the world. In the technological coming of age of the Jazz musician the presence of Jazz and Latin artists needs to be as visible and multiplatform as the Pop icons. This was the underlying reason in establishing the JazzIcons. “We at imajinnWEST are extremely enthused at the potential of the JazzIcons. As we step forward with this concept for Classical American music artists I see the ability to re- capture a segment of the marketplace that is visually-oriented by creating vehicles to engage the imagination of our youth.", stated Mr. Lewis.
The trombetto is a one-of-a-kind brass instrument conceived in 1980 by Dr. Harrison. Fitted with a trombone mouthpiece, which gives it the timbre of a velvety-rich French horn/fluglehorn combination, the final version was commissioned then custom-crafted in 1990 by Ted Weir. Presently with a Regents' Lectureship at University of California, Santa Cruz on whole-brain jazz and creative writing, Nelson lectures on The Metaphysics of Music.
With four days of music clinics, performances, media and products that brings together music legends, 'young Turks' and aficionados of Classical American Music by the thousands, the thirty-four year old IAJE Convention is the perfect event to premiere the character.
In the two-year collaborative process between musician and artist positiong all of the elements from form and colors to the consequent legalities was not an easy feat. The intent has been to create a vehicle that captures the attention of the populace and educates, especially youth, to the rich heritage of Classical American Music and its impact and value in the world. In the technological coming of age of the Jazz musician the presence of Jazz and Latin artists needs to be as visible and multiplatform as the Pop icons. This was the underlying reason in establishing the JazzIcons. “We at imajinnWEST are extremely enthused at the potential of the JazzIcons. As we step forward with this concept for Classical American music artists I see the ability to re- capture a segment of the marketplace that is visually-oriented by creating vehicles to engage the imagination of our youth.", stated Mr. Lewis.
For more information contact imajinnWEST.
