Rob Teehan: A Love Story
The Heavyweights at Grossman's
First off that title is a joke, merely a play on words with a reference to one of Rob’s many blogs. Now that that’s cleared up, Rob is an amazing human being. He’s a local tuba player and composer that I met a few years back in the Dark Park Brass band. He was walking bass lines on a little F tuba. Classically trained and new to playing improvised music, from the start Rob really stuck out as someone who wanted to play this music correctly.
I’m writing this as Rob has been nominated for a Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year for his “Dreams of Flying” . In fact the winner is being selected tonight in St. Johns, so if you get the chance, send good vibes Rob’s way. You should also check out Rob’s awesome website here http://www.robteehan.com/ He’s living the life and blogging frequently about it and his informed writing is a treat.
Just being nominated for this award, especially given Rob’s age is a huge accomplishment. There are very few people who have a command of Jazz/American Popular music and European Classical forms. I can think of a few brass players and upright players who have a passable command of both languages with someone like Wynton Marsalis being a rare exception. The thing is, these types of music come out of an extremely different cultural frying pan. European music comes out of an imperialistic system, and that’s reflected in a music where the composer and conductor are by FAR the most important people, leaving an orchestra of skilled craftsmen to produce the music that other’s have created. Jazz and good American popular music come out of a freer more democratic system where, everyone is bringing something to the table, and has to have the good taste to know how to fill in their own role most appropriately.
That’s why someone who composes European music and plays American music is an anomaly. It’s strange given the fact that Jazz is spontaneous composition, and the more tools you have in your toolbox, the more interesting your improvised music is going to be, that there aren’t more people like Rob Teehan. I’ve been trying to think of people who’ve written European classical music and can play Jazz, Andre Previn? Wynton Marsalis (but his orchestral works are really Americana, an extended canvas for Jazz)? Can you think of anyone?
Anyways I’ve talked too much. Come out and check The Heavyweights at Grossman’s Tavern May 17th were Rob will be laying down funky bass lines, conversing over popular song forms, and climbing on tables while playing sousaphone. Also you can check out the start of our myspace page at www.myspace.com/theheavyweightsbb but check back again, because we’re gonna have all the cool stuff soon.
