Mario Escalera

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mario Escalera (* around 1950 in Cuba ; † December 1, 2017 ) was an American jazz musician ( tenor saxophone , clarinet , flute , composition ), band leader and music teacher who was active in the New York music scene.

Live and act

Mario Escalera first emigrated to Puerto Rico and finally came to the United States via Canada. He received his bachelor's degree from Empire State College and Excelsior College, followed by a master's degree in music education from Columbia University . He had lessons in composition and arrangement with Manny Albam , in improvisation with Kenny Dorham and Bobby Capers , and in flute playing with Paul Dobler and Marty Barto.

He was active as a musician in New York's jazz scene from the 1970s and was a member of the Local 802 musicians' union. In the course of his career he played in jazz combos and big bands , from 1976–81 in Jaki Byard ’s Apollo Sompers , in 1978 with Ray Draper , in the following years with the Contemporary Composer's Orchestra (1982–84), with Doc Wheeler (1985–87) and 1991–93 with the Nancy Bank Orchestra; he also worked as musical director for Screamin 'Jay Hawkins and director of the New Muse Big Band. From 1990 to 2001 he directed the Bronx River Jazz Orchestra. Escalera released several albums under his own name, Didn't Know (2003), Blue Mondays , Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat (1981, with Oliver Beener , Clifford Adams , Bob Neloms , Reggie Workman , Art Jenkins ) and Ballads, Boleros & Blues Vol. 1/2 (1990), with Onaje Allan Gumbs , Phil Bowler, and Wade Barnes ; the latter both received a positive review in All About Jazz , which highlighted Escalera's compositional skills and soulful playing.

As a member of the Brooklyn Repertory Ensemble , Escalera was involved in the 2006 album Pragmatic Optimism . a. with James Zollar , Vincent Chancey , Kiane Zawadi , Ratzo Harris and Wade Barnes. In 2007 he presented an album of the same name with The Blues River Jazz Orchestra , with original compositions and jazz standards such as " If I Should Lose You " and " My Foolish Heart ". In the field of jazz he was involved in seven recording sessions between 2000 and 2006. He taught at New York institutions (including museums) from 1978, including as Adjunct Professor 1982-84 at Manhattan Community College and 1987-97 at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, most recently improvisation and woodwind instruments at the New School Jazz & Contemporary Music Degree Program.

Discographic notes

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Mario Edscalera Requiem. Local 802, May 5, 2018, accessed May 18, 2018 .
  2. ↑ a b portrait
  3. ↑ Ellitott Simon: Mario Escalera Times Two. All About Jazz, July 11, 2004, accessed March 6, 2018 .
  4. ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed March 6, 2018)
personal data
SURNAME Escalera, Mario
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician and music teacher
DATE OF BIRTH around 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH Cuba
DATE OF DEATH 1st December 2017