Speak low
Jonathan Pugh has been a Conn-Selmer trumpet and cornet recording artist and clinician since 1982. As a child he became hooked on the idea of being a trumpet player while standing by his father's side as the director of the Wenatchee Youth Circus Band. Jonathan started on the cornet in seventh grade and became the first chair player in both concert and jazz bands from junior high through high school.
After graduation he was sought after by legendary jazz saxophonist Don Lanphere. Under Lanphere’s guidance he ultimately became his featured soloist for 30 years. Jonathan earned his BA in Music Education from Central Washington University and followed with an MA in Music Education at the University of Washington. He has recorded multiple solo albums as the Jon Pugh trio and as the featured soloist on many Lanphere recordings for Hep Jazz Records.
Jonathan also had the honor of meeting and studying with the “King of Brass” - Claude Gordon for a time as well. He taught as an award-winning Junior High Jazz and Band director for 25 years and currently performs all over the greater Seattle area. He is a highly sought-after public speaker and is well-known for his talks on improvisation and how it not only relates to music, but to daily life.
***PERFORMANCE REVIEWS***Musician visits Pinehurst Elementary By KELSEY SAINTZ Staff writer PINEHURST — Two elementary schools worth of children saw what could be described as a rare sight in the Silver Valley Wednesday — Jon Pugh, a trumpet/cornet soloist, played a concert and provided a mini jazz lesson. Pinehurst Elementary School and Canyon Elementary Science Magnet School were his audience. “Jazz is really America’s music,” he said. “It was born here.” He’s currently visiting Moscow as a clinician for the University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. Part of the festival is the Jazz in Schools program, in which famous musicians perform at rural schools in the Inland Northwest.
see JAZZ,
JAZZ from A1
“Exposure to jazz music needs every opportunity it can get,” Pugh said. “When invited (to perform), it’s a huge honor.” The Wenatchee, Wash., native currently lives in the Seattle area and has been a recording artist and clinician since 1982. Pugh was accompanied by a small jazz ensemble consisting of a drummer, guitarist and electric bass player. Together, the group gave students a short jazz lesson — using a rubber chicken, a mini football and a stuffed Curious George doll. The 12-bar blues is
made up of three chords, Pugh said. Each item signified a different chord; loosely, a chord is any harmonic set or two, three or more notes that are played at the same time. Using a plastic fork as a pointer, Pugh would motion to the rubber chicken to have the ensemble play that chord, or the mini football, which caused them to play a slightly different chord. Then, the group played a song aptly named, “George’s Football Chicken Blues,” using the chords they had just become familiar with. By the end of the concert, the musicians had the students snapping along with the beat and wiggling on their seats.