The Water Gap Brass was founded in 1983 and delights audiences with a vast repertoire of styles from all musical eras. The quartet was formed through mutual performing interests and each member's connection to the lovely Delaware River village of Delaware Water Gap, PA, home of several accomplished musicians and site of an annual arts festival each September. The group is comprised of conservatory-trained performers/teachers who are active in the major music markets of New York and Philadelphia and has performed at well-known festivals such as Musikfest, Mayfair, and the Spring Hill (FL) Concert Series. Each year the Water Gap Brass records brass accompaniments for major educational publishers of choral works such as Waring Enterprises and Alfred Publishing for international distribution. Their library contains over 400 titles, allowing them to tailor each performance situation appropriately with chamber classics, opera excerpts, ragtime, Dixieland, jazz, American popular song, patriotic and religious selections. Their flexibility has enabled them to perform for formal concerts, wedding services, wedding receptions, church services, special religious occasions, concerts in the park, conventions, business receptions, and holiday gatherings such as Christmas season and St. Patrick's Day.

Members:

Ken Brader III, trumpet/flugelhorn

Patrick Dorian, trumpet/flugelhorn

Rick Chamberlain, trombone/euphonium

Jim Daniels, bass trombone/tuba

In addition to their individual accomplishments, the Water Gap Brass members all perform with the Jazz Artists Repertory Orchestra (JARO) and the resident ensemble for the Celebration of the Arts (COTA) jazz and arts festival: the COTA Festival Orchestra (a.k.a. the Phil Woods Big Band). They can be heard on the 1998 Grammy-nominated CD Celebration! featuring Phil Woods and the COTA Festival Orchestra on the Concord Jazz label (CCD-4770-2). Performances with the Phil Woods Big Band include one week at the famed Blue Note jazz club in New York City in August 1998 and major international jazz festivals in Norway (Oslo), Wales (Brecon), and France (Marciac) in August 2000. Each performance was also a national radio broadcast.

They are also on the compact disc The Reasons for Christmas Project (2003) with renown artists Bob Dorough and Phil Woods with the Vicki and Eric Doney Band. This recording is a collection of music by outstanding Pocono area musicians, produced through the support of the community to assist homeless families. Money and awareness raised through this project will benefit PATH (Pocono Area Transitional Housing - a local 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization). PATH provides temporary housing and support services to homeless families with children so that they will be able to have a home of their own. The project reflects the many gifts of the Pocono community.

For Information About Performances:

E-mail: chamby@ptd.net
Phone: (570) 688-8543
 

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