Stray Horns Play Mingus at California Jazz Conservatory

In honor of the 98th birth anniversary of bassist-composer Charles Mingus, the Stray Horns will present new arrangements of his music. Mingus was a master at making a modest sized ensemble sound like a big band. Arranged and conducted by David Slusser, the Stray Horns follow his lead with only 5 horns, bass and drums. Compositions will include Fables of Faubus, Reincarnation of a Lovebird, Pithecanthropus Erectus, Haitian Fight Song, Theme for Lester Young and others.

Band Members and Instrumentation

David Boyce - tenor sax
Sheldon Brown - alto sax
David Slusser - baritone and soprano sax...

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In honor of the 98th birth anniversary of bassist-composer Charles Mingus, the Stray Horns will present new arrangements of his music. Mingus was a master at making a modest sized ensemble sound like a big band. Arranged and conducted by David Slusser, the Stray Horns follow his lead with only 5 horns, bass and drums. Compositions will include Fables of Faubus, Reincarnation of a Lovebird, Pithecanthropus Erectus, Haitian Fight Song, Theme for Lester Young and others.

Band Members and Instrumentation

David Boyce - tenor sax
Sheldon Brown - alto sax
David Slusser - baritone and soprano sax
Henry Hung - trumpet
Mary Fox - trombone
Dan Seamans - bass
Greg German - drums

Artist/Group Bio(s)

David Slusser is a musician and sound artist residing in Oakland since 1977. He continues to work at Skywalker Sound in Marin County in the film sound profession. He has worked often as a music editor for directors Francis Coppola, George Lucas (1993 Emmy for Sound Editing) and David Lynch, with whom he has co-composed music for his films. On his own he has composed for documentaries and public radio, as well as his jazz group Rubber City, co-founded with the late Ralph Carney. His sound design is in the collections of both the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, though heard far more often in 90s television commercials. He began an association with composer John Zorn in the mid 80s, touring and contributing to recordings. Two prizes in the 1999 Julius Hemphill Composition Awards went to Slusser, including First Prize for jazz orchestra.

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