Home » Jazz Articles » Take Five With... » Take Five With Jay Vonada

89

Take Five With Jay Vonada

Take Five With Jay Vonada
By

Sign in to view read count
Meet Jay Vonada:
Trombonist Jay T. Vonada, of Aaronsburg Pennsylvania, had his debut CD, Jammin', released on Tuesday July 22, 2008. His latest CD, Red Pajamas, was released in January of 2012 and features trombone, organ and drums.

Vonada attended Mansfield University in the fall of 1993, studying jazz improvisation with Dr. Michael Galloway for one year and jazz arranging for one semester. He was lead trombonist and featured soloist with the Mansfield University Jazz Band for four years, where they performed at the PMEA, MENC, and placed third at the Villanova Jazz Festival in 1994. Jay played with saxophonist Bob Mintzer at the Mansfield University Jazz Festival, and also performed with Mansfield alumni Neil Slater, who was the director of the One O'clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas. In 1999, Jay won a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music.

Since leaving College, Jay has performed at his high school with the jazz band, in the pit orchestra for Penns Valley High School from 1999-2001, for the Bald Eagle Area High School from 2002-2004, for Singing On Stages production of Dream Girls in 2006, Oliver in 2007, Apple Tree and Barnum in 2009, and Oliver and Hairspray in 2010. He was also trombonist with the Valley Jazz Orchestra from 2004-2007, and trombonist with Jazz Innate, an octet, from 2003-2005.

Jay was also the lead trombonist with the Keystone Society of Swing Big Band from 2001-2006, He plays in a trombone quartet called Trombone Chowder, and a five trombone and rhythm section jazz group, Slide Zone. He also played in a jazz sextet, Liquid Jazz, playing original music and standard tunes.

Currently he plays in a quartet of trombone, guitar, bass and drums and in a big band, Zeropoint, playing the solo trombone book. He also has smaller groups, a jazz trio of trombone, organ, drums that has played at Lewisburg Live, Raystown Lake Amphitheater, and South Hills Business School Summer Concert Series. He has a duo of trombone and guitar, or trombone and keyboard called J-Mac that has played throughout the centre region including many nursing homes and assisted living communities. Jay has also had the privilege of playing with vocalist Catherine Dupuis, pianist Russ Kassoff, bassists Martin Wind, Jay Anderson, David Finck and Jay Leonhart, and drummers Tim Horner and Dennis Mackrel at the Jazz PA Festival from 2005-2010.

Instrument(s):
Trombone.

Teachers and/or influences?
Roger Boob, Jack Miller, Stephen McEuen, Michael Galloway, J.J. Johnson, Carl Fontana, Curtis Fuller. Ray Anderson. Frank Rosolino, Conrad Herwig, Slide Hampton.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...
I knew I wanted to be a jazz musician when I took an improvisation class my sophomore year of college and heard a J.J. Johnson recording.

Your sound and approach to music:
My music is very strong in melody and rhythm. To me they go hand-in-hand with each other. Harmonic content is also important but for me melody is the key.

Your dream band:
David Hazeltine: piano; Peter Washington: bass; Kenny Washington: drums.

Road story: Your best or worst experience:
Coming from a gig in Waynesboro PA in the Fall of 2011. This when the floods were bad in certain areas. We did the gig and decided to come home through Harrisburg PA. Only problem was that every road out of Harrisburg was closed. Probably should have notice that when we were coming into Harrisburg and it was like where the heck is everybody. We ended up backtracking and going home the way we came.

Favorite venue:
Actually I do many nursing home and assisted living community gigs and for the most part everyone really appreciates what you do. The piano is always provided and you usually leave with a feeling of satisfaction that you could put a smile on someone's face.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?
Carl Fontana, The Great Fontana.

It has everything I mentioned in another question. Melody, rhythm and great vibe.

The first Jazz album I bought was:
J.J. Johnson, The Eminent J.J. Johnson Vol. 1 & 2.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?
Music is to be shared with people. It is not about competition. It is not about being better than someone else. Like I said above, if you can make someone happy for that hour or two that you perform, that is what it is all about.

CDs you are listening to now:
Dexter Gordon, Biting The Apple (Steeplechase); Johnny Griffin & Matthew Gee, Soul Groove (Collectables); Nils Wogram, Sturm und Drang (Cavi-Music); Russ Kassoff, Bird Fly By (RHK Jazz); Bennie Green, Swings The Blues (Blue Moon).

Desert Island picks:
Carl Fontana, The Great Fontana (Uptown Records); Conrad Herwig, Hieroglyphica (Criss Cross); Wayne Shorter, Night Dreamer (Blue Note); Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness (OJC); Jackie McLean, Swing Swang Swingin' (Blue Note).

How would you describe the state of jazz today?
I don't know how to answer this.

I am from a very rural area in PA and my goal is to try and bring this art form to an area that is steeped in country & western and rock 'n' roll. There are some very inspirational jazz artists living in this area and if this is the case for every other region in the US then I think it is a good state.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?
You have to expose it to young people. I am playing for the elder folks who do appreciate this music. Now granted I'm not going in there and playing "Giant Steps." You have to know your audience and do realize that a major part of your job is entertaining. You can find a balance between the creative and entertaining. It is a challenge but can be done.

What is in the near future?
I just finished my new album, Red Pajamas, and was recently featured on a local TV show. In the late summer/early fall I will be recording a one-hour radio broadcast of jazz musicians, celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Palmer Museum on the campus of Penn State University.

Hopefully and round of summer concerts in the park and various festivals in Pennsylvania will be part of the schedule as well.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:
I worked in a factory for 11 years full-time so probably something in that field. I worked in shipping and receiving for a majority of that time.

Photo Credit

Courtesy of Jay T. Vonada

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Jazz article: Take Five with Saxophonist Nick Stefanacci
Jazz article: Meet Tubist Jim Shearer
Take Five With...
Meet Tubist Jim Shearer
Jazz article: Take Five With Pianist Olivia Perez-Collellmir
Jazz article: Take Five With Bassist / Composer Jakob Dreyer

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.