Wachet auf! a brass trio (cornet, trombone and tuba) playing what they feel, when they feel it. Music making in a grand tradition.
Wachet auf! may or may not play tunes you know. Mostly they'll play tunes even they don't know because they'll be making them up on the spot. That is what these guys like to do and they have a ton of experience doing it. Bradford, Roper and Vlatkovich have played together in numerous groups led by themselves and others (John Rapson, Vinny Golia). Now they've decided to eschew all ancillary elements and let the pure brass blare. Their sets will take you on a trip through the blues, free jazz, maybe a little rock or even latin jazz. Who knows?
Bobby Bradford is the venerable elder of the ensemble, having played most notably with Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, John Carter, David Murray and Charlie Haden. William Roper has sidelined with the Luckman Jazz Orchestra, Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Cleveland, Wadada Leo Smith, Horace Tapscott, Glenn Horiuchi and Fat & F**ked-up. Michael Vlatkovich has performed with a wide array of singers and instrumentalists including Peggy Lee, Brian Setzer, Bryan Adams, Gerry Hemingway, Rob Blakeslee, Rich Halley, among many others.
All three have led their own units over the years and are represented on a jillion recording projects.
August 27, 2006, the premiere performance of Wachet auf! takes place at 2:00 PM at Pasadena's Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103. Admission is $10.00 for adults, free for children (or kids, if you are a goat) under 12.
For booking information contact:
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William Roper is a Miraphone artist and plays Warburton mouthpieces.