Trombonists Altin Sencalar & Chris Glassman- Recent graduates of Michigan State University’s’ prestigious Jazz Studies program. Educators, freelance musicians, and now recording artists are set to bring the sound of the two-trombone quintet to the forefront of jazz. Originally inspired by the legendary JJ Johnson & Kai Winding trombone quintet, the two have combined forces and reinvented the sound with the use of guitar, piano, tenor trombone, and bass trombone. Their album, “Realization” is available on every streaming platform as of January 17th, 2020. The quintet began touring Michigan during the week of January 19th as part of their “2020 Realization” spring/summer tour. The group started the tour at UrbanBeat in Lansing and continued at, Jazz Tuesday’s at Moriarty’s Pub and Grill, Cadieux Café, Blue Llama Jazz and Supper Club, performed a masterclass at Ohio State University and will be appearing as featured artists at Big Rapids Festival of the Arts, the 2020 Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival, the 2020 American Trombone Workshop, and concluding their tour at the 2020 Brevard Jazz Institute as artists in residence.
The producer of the record, legendary trombonist, Michael Dease, member of David Sandborn, Christian McBride Big Band, and Associate Professor of Jazz Trombone at Michigan State University served as a mentor for both Sencalar and Glassman. The two leaders said, “Dease served an important role as the producer by giving his guidance and advice in and out of the studio helping shape the album and make the music sound as it should.”
The album was recorded at Solid Sound Co. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The album consists of six originals by Sencalar and Glassman as well as fresh interpretations of five jazz standards. The album also features former Jazz at Lincoln Center bassist, Rodney Whitaker, a guest appearance by producer, Michael Dease, and award-winning young musicians, Addison Frei, Nathan Borton, and Zachary Adleman. It features arrangements from veteran musicians such as Steve Davis, Jason Hainsworth, Randy Napoleon, and rising star, Joseph Herbst. “Realization” embodies the trials and moments of catharsis that emerging musicians experience.
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About the Sencalar/Glassman Quintet:
The Sencalar/Glassman Quintet is comprised of tenor trombonist, Altin Sencalar and Bass Trombonist, Chris Glassman. The two met during their graduate degree course work at Michigan State University. Together the two have been finalists or winners in every jazz trombone competition as well as sidemen for Christian McBride, Ulysses Owens, Rodney Whitaker, Rene Marie, Steve Wilson, Etienne Charles, Dafnis Prieto, The Jonas Brothers, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Big Sean, Ne-Yo, and many others. The group has also appeared at the 2019 Detroit Jazz Festival, 2018 Lansing Jazz Festival, the Elephant Room in Austin, TX, and curated the 2019 “Welcome Home” Tour through an educational outreach program as grant recipients of the FY19 East Lansing Arts Commission and the Michigan State University Running Start grant. http://www.sencalarglassmanquintet.com