Summary of Qualifications
* Performer on Alto, Bass and Soprano Flutes; Soprano, Alto, Baritone
and Tenor Saxophones; Sarrusophone and Bass Clarinets.
* Woodwind Restorer, Consultant and Music Teacher.
* Talented professional musician, widely traveled and proficient
international performer and recording session player in Jazz, Pop
and Classical music.
* An experienced private music instructor and music historian conducting
numerous public and private workshops on historic and antique wind
instruments.
* A designer of wind instruments with hands-on expertise in modern
and vintage instrument making, restorations, revisions and custom
keywork.
Selected Accomplishments
1998: Demonstration of historic and antique wind instruments at
the James Carter “At Home Conversin’ with the Youngsters” workshop.
1991: Soloist on Sarrusophone “Rhapsody Español” with the Cleveland
Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Vladimir Ashkenazi.
1986: Named curator of the Curt Guckert Instrument Collection that
spans his lifetime of designing and building musical instruments.
This collection is made available for musician workshops within
universities.
1986: Memorial recording for Ruhi Su in Cologne, Germany.
1986: Frankfort, Germany- Frankfort Institute, NAMM trade show.
Presented trombone slide design and won the NAMM award for best
trombone design.
1980: Design of saxophone mouthpieces and necks, woodwind acoustical
research and design of woodwind tone hole placement with Kurt Guckert
for the Conn Manufacturing Co.
1970-1980: Guest performer on several live radio broadcast of the
Larry Smith Show, WHQK Chicago.
1979: Performer in the Governor State University Band under the
direction of Billy Howell which received three band performance
awards at the “Notre Dame Jazz Competition.”
1978: “Women in Jazz” Northwestern University, Chicago IL. Best performance
award “Downbeat Magazine” with Diane Ellis.
Professional Work Experience
1991-Present:
* Restoration of modern and vintage instruments at workshops in
Detroit and Chicago. Owner of Dreamsinger Horns. Numerous private
music students as well as music instructor at the Jerry Lux Studios
and the Flute Specialist of Royal Oak, MI.
* Workshops on antique and historic instruments include- Wayne State
University “Bands, Winds, Brass and Percussion.” Yearly workshops
with Tim Holmes at Wayne State University. “Saxology” with James
Carter, “ Playing Professionals- Wind Instrument Restoration.”
* The Real Tones with Vaughn Klugh Jazz
* performances and workshops in the Metro Detroit area. Currently
doing business as Yavawinds.
* International tours include Ollie Woodson’s 2000 Motown European
tour with the Temptations. Three world tours (1998-1999-2000) with
Dennis Edwards and the Temptations.
* Local performances include several appearances at the Detroit
(Montreau) Jazz Festival with various featured artists. Beans Bowles
“Resurgence” and Department of Parks and Recreation “Tribute to
Beans”at Hart plaza. Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation
summer concert series 1999-2002. “The Motown Review” with the Johnny
Trudell Band at Waterford, High School (2003).
* Performed at local clubs and private venues with the following
groups- II-V-I Orchestra, Joe Vitale Swing Band, Joe Hunter Trio,
Gentlemen of Swing, Mimosa Classical Quintet, Prevos Brothers Greek
Orchestra, Bob Hopkins Orchestra, Teddy Harris New Breed Be-Bop
Society, Martha Reeves, and Ladies in Jazz.
* Recordings include “ The Oliologist” Word Jazz (2003), “Mimosa,”
Toledo, Ohio, Room With A View Productions (1996), Northwinds Improvisors,
Hot House, Chicago, “Rhapsody Español” Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.
* Guest Artist with Mwata Bowden at Candlestick Maker and Velvet
Lounge, Chicago, Illinois.
* Guest artist at "Cherokee Jazz and Blues Festival" in Cherokee,
Iowa, January 2006
* Producer and Performer at Special Jazz and Motown Performance
at Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, Michigan
* "John Coltrane Festival", Bloomington, Indiana, 2006
1981-1990:
* Toured as a performer in the United States and Europe. Played
with the Milton Marcus trio, Tom Nehre Orchestra and the Sonny Boyer
Group in Los Angeles, the Ed Blackwell and Steve Smith’s Experimental
Music Group and Carl Berger’s Creative Studio Orchestra.
* Traveled in Europe and played with various Dixieland groups in
Münchengladback, Cologne and Amsterdam.
* Workshops conducted for Manfred Schmeltzer- repair workshops,
tone production, mouthpieces and antique wind instruments in Münchengladback,
Germany. Conducted radio broadcast show at WHPK- University of Chicago.
* Consultant, instructor, and instrument repair technician for the
following companies throughout the 1980's- in Chicago Kagan and
Gaines, Joe Calli, Sid Sherman Musical Instrument Co., Carl Fisher
Music, Inc., Oak Park IN., Austin Music Center, Woodstock, N.Y.,
Musicians Horn Service, Brass Woodwind Wonderland.
1971-1980:
* Music director for the Travel Light Theater Orchestra, Chicago,
The University of Illinois Dance Band and Gene Ammon’s House Club,
“Toast of the Town.”
* Performed and recorded with the African Highlife Dance Band, Oscar
Sulley, Sun Ra Orchestra, Lee Roland’s Big Band, Ron Dewar, Bridgewaters,
Jack McDuff, Bob and Von Freeman, Rafel Garret and the Supper Club
tour with the G. Lynn Road Show.
* Recordings include Nicolas Tremulos (1977), Two albums for Christine
Lems folk Jazz (1971and 72) and dozens of recording sessions at
the Delmark Studios in Chicago, IL.
* Workshop and teaching assignments include- Chicago Board of Education,
Marshall High School, Chicago Park District, youth program, University
of Chicago Laboratory School, Creative Music Studio (NYSU) Newpaltz,
N.Y., Chicago Safari House.
* Band instrument repair apprentice at Clarence Boess Instrument
Repair, Chicago, Ill (1971-79) and certified in woodwind repair
by Allied Inc. Elkhorn, WI (1973).
Education
* Baritone Saxophone understudy with Dr. Beans Bowles and Dr. Teddy
Harris
* University of Chicago- Radio Broadcasting
* Creative Music Studio (NYSU) Newpaltz, Bachelor of Arts in Music
* Berklee College Boston, MA.
* Allied Music Corporation, Elkhorn, WI
* Master in Music, Music History and Education at Lacrosse University
Professional Affiliations
*American Federation of Musicians *American Musical Instrument Society
*International Jazz Record Collectors
*Member New Breed Be-Bop Society Band- Dr. Teddy Harris *Coalition
of Musicians, Artists, Craftsmen and Scientists *Association for
the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Chicago, Illinois