Bill Ohashi
New York City, NY | Established. Jan 01, 1964 | INDIE | AFM
Music
Press
What Know/Ojos de Rojo/ Ernie's Tune/Fantasia/Ugetsu/Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum/
Bill Ohashi-tbn.,arr., David Schnitter-Ten-sax.,Richard Vitale-tpt., Harris simon-pno, Lynn Seaton or George Kaye-bs., Mike Clarke or Drory Mondlak-drums
Here we have a date of a trombonist that covers severeal decades of Creative Music. Bill Ohashi plants his music in the fertile fields of 'Art Blakey & the Jazz messengers'. Five of the six tracks are written by players who worked with Buhana. The sexter that the trombonist has assembled & features several strong soloists & they really light into the music. Lee Morgan's "What Know", opens the program & gives everyone a chance to blow. Ohashi has a somewhat rougher-edged, but extremely melodic tone. Richard Vitale's trumpet crackles while David Schnitter's tenor saxophone has a nice heft to it. The front line trade 'fours' with the drummer, Mike Clark & they really get into the spitit. Joe Henderson's, "our Thing" is pushed into high gear by Drory Mondlak's fine drumming. The tiltle tune shows the group in a more harmonic mode. The one ballad in Frank Lacy's, "Ernie's Tune" & the blend of Schnitter's tenor playing the melody & Ohashi's tronbone counterpoint is a nice touch, with the tenor solo that follows being quite lovely. Basically, "Fantasia ?ugetsu", is a "blowing-seession", packed with concise solos.
Upon careful listening, one can hear the musician's respect for the music * the tradition. - Cadence Records & Distributors
What Know/Ojos de Rojo/ Ernie's Tune/Fantasia/Ugetsu/Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum/
Bill Ohashi-tbn.,arr., David Schnitter-Ten-sax.,Richard Vitale-tpt., Harris simon-pno, Lynn Seaton or George Kaye-bs., Mike Clarke or Drory Mondlak-drums
Here we have a date of a trombonist that covers severeal decades of Creative Music. Bill Ohashi plants his music in the fertile fields of 'Art Blakey & the Jazz messengers'. Five of the six tracks are written by players who worked with Buhana. The sexter that the trombonist has assembled & features several strong soloists & they really light into the music. Lee Morgan's "What Know", opens the program & gives everyone a chance to blow. Ohashi has a somewhat rougher-edged, but extremely melodic tone. Richard Vitale's trumpet crackles while David Schnitter's tenor saxophone has a nice heft to it. The front line trade 'fours' with the drummer, Mike Clark & they really get into the spitit. Joe Henderson's, "our Thing" is pushed into high gear by Drory Mondlak's fine drumming. The tiltle tune shows the group in a more harmonic mode. The one ballad in Frank Lacy's, "Ernie's Tune" & the blend of Schnitter's tenor playing the melody & Ohashi's tronbone counterpoint is a nice touch, with the tenor solo that follows being quite lovely. Basically, "Fantasia ?ugetsu", is a "blowing-seession", packed with concise solos.
Upon careful listening, one can hear the musician's respect for the music * the tradition. - Cadence Records & Distributors
Discography
JAZZ / BLUES / R & B / ROCK
1. "TOM PIERSON" by trom Pierson's Recording Orch. CD & Tapes/Applause Records, Inc.-#APCS 1014
2. "THE KEEPER" by Bill Ohashi Albums & Tapes/Aldelphi Records, Corp.-AD-7842
3. "GALAXY DUST" by Carlos Franzetti (feat. Lew Soloff & George Young) CDs, Albums & Tapes/Inner City Records*Division of MMO Music Group)-IC-1113
4. "MR. FOSTER" by Al Foster-(feat. Tom Harrel, Bob Berg, Ron Carter, 'Onaje' Allen Gumbs, Bob Mintzer & comp. by Miles) All Media Sony-Nippon Columbia-#YX 7399ND
5. "MANHATTAN SPECIAL" by Teruo Nakamura (featuring Herbie Hancock, Art Webb, Shiro Mori, Carter Jefferson & Lani Groves) Polydor-@PD-1-6119-also 'Song of the Birds' in Japanese Polydor K.K.# MKF-1014
6. "DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY" by Jermaine Jackson All Media/Arista-#AST-9875
7. "GET UP & GET DOWN" by Tony Vitale all Media/TON-MAR Records-#TM123
8. "MOTHER NIGHT" by Mother Night (featuring Gary Pribek Comp. & Arrgmt. by Bill Ohashi) Albums & Tapes/Columbia-#KC-31304
9. "CHAMELEON" by Franki Valli & the Four Seasons All Media/Motown records, Inc.-#MW-108-1A
10. "THE HIT MAN" by Eddie Kendricks All Media/Tama Records, Inc.-#T6-33851
11. "CAN YOU FEEL IT?" by Ray Baretto (featuring Barry Finnerty, Todd Anderson, Cliff Carter, Eddie ‘Gua-Gua' Rivera, Richie Morales, Neil Stubbenhaus, Googie Coppola & Cissy Houston) all Media/Atlantic Records Co.-# CD-19198
12. "MOSTLY BLUES" by Lionel Hampton MNS /records, Corp.-#MHC-312314-T
13. "COPLAND SPECIAL" & "MAKE MY HOME WHERE I HANG MY HAT" by Johnny Copland (feat. Arthur Blythe, Joe Rigby et.al) All Media/Rounder Records ("Cpl'd..Spc'l."*Winner of JC Handy Blues Award-1981) #R-2025 & Rounder Records-#R2030
14. "CHEVERE" by Jorge Dalto (featuring stars galore) All Media/United Artists Records-#UA-LA-671-G
15. "RAW SUGAR" by Kenny Brawner & Brawner Brothers. Albums & Tapes/Unite Artists-Pyramid Records-#UA-LA 928-H
16. "The Jazz Orchestra" by Thad Jones-Mel Lewis (featuring Jon Faddis, Jow Farrel, Jerry Dodgion, Jerome Richardson, Randy Brecker et. al.) Solid State-SS-947004002A
17. "THE ALEXANDER REVIEW" by Mark Diamond All Media / Fania-Vaya Records, Inc.-#VS-46
18. "FOR YOU" by Eddie Kendriks TAMA Rec.-Motown Records, Corp., #t6-335S1
19. Johnny Ortiz "JOHNNY ORTIZ Y TAIBORI" - Trombonist Bill Ohashi feat. With Luis 'Perico' Ortiz, Tito Nieves, Ray Anerson, Hector Zruela, Aldalberto Santiago
20. Various Artists "Blues Masters, Vol. 17: More Postmodern Blues" - Trombone-Ohashi
21. Various Artists "Texas Blues Guitar" - Trombone-Ohashi
22. Johnny Copeland "When the Rain Starts Fallin'" - Trombone-Ohashi
23. Johnny Copeland "Texas Twister" - Trombone-Ohashi
24. Johnny Copeland "Make My Home Where I Hang My Hat" - Trombone-Ohashi
25. Johnny Copeland "Copeland Special" - Trombone-Ohashi
SALSA LATIN-JAZZ
1. "GURARE" by Gil Lopez & 'Guarre' All Media/ Tito Rodriguez Records (TR Records, Inc.-#TR-129
2. "LA SALSA y CHARANGA" BY Wayne Gorbea & 'Conjunto' Salsa All Media/Disco Int'l.-#DIS-LT-1003
3. "EL'CLAVO'" by Rey Reyes All Media/Criollo Records -#C-472
4. "LOS REBELDES" by Frankie Dante Albums & Tapes/ Cotique Records-#JMCS-1102
5. "TAIBORI" by Johnny Ortiz(feat. Tito Nieves & Ray Anderson-& Myself %>}) Albums & Tapes/Fania Records-Series0798 # JM-00456
6. "SALSA SANTERA" by Nando Ramos &'Santero' (featuring. Myself & Keith O'Quinn PLAYING 'J & K-Like Trombone Arrangments', with Jimmy Sabater, Joey Patstrana & Victor Venegas -Rythym, Paquito Pasot-Arranger) Albums & Tapes/Orfeon Rec's-#12-1082
7. "EL BARDO" by Miguel Poventud All Media/Orfeon Rec's._#LP-E16H-5126
8. "Close Encounters of the Latin Kind" by Julio Gutierrez (Arr. by Julio & Carlos Franzetti)-NEON Records, Inc.#NLP-103
9. "VIVA ZAPATA" by Milt Zapata (My 1st Album-1965) Albums & Tapes/Speed Records-#SM-107/SS-107
Photos
Bio
Bill Ohashi's is a prolific and well-heeled trombonist from New York City with extensive experience with international jazz, Latin, R & B, rock, blues, as well as, chamber classical. Bill's arranging style and watchful direction give 'The Bridge Sextet and the new "Mambo Jazzi" their characteristic sound, all of which stems from Bill's many influences from his years of associations with such important groups.
Bill’s early experiences included working with Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Machito, and great jazz & pop leaders such as Slide Hampton, Bruce Fowler (Frank Zappa), Ray Charle's Big Band, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Charlie Mingus, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Eddie Kendricks & The Temptations, Gil Evans, Franki Valli & The Four Seasons.
Bill's versatility stems from exposure to exceptional, broad-based music taught at Julliard, Mannes College, U. of PA, Berkley School of Music, and bandstands in NYC, New England and the southern corridor. This in turn, gave Bill opportunities to teach at NYC’s Third St. Music School, Henry St. Settlement, Boy’s Harbor, New England Conservatory, Metropolitan School of Music and others.
In formative years, Bill was making jam sessions in NYC with such well-known jazz-legends as Kenny Dorham (Minton's & NYU), Roy Eldridge (Small's Paradise, Bowman's Showplace), Charlie Mingus (East Village Inn, Jazz Loft), Jack DeJohnette / Joe Henderson (The Dom), Jaki Bayard (The Electric Circus), Carla Bley ('Upsurge' & 'Blue Wave Studio), George Cables / Lenny White / Billie Cobham (Slug's) and Art Blakey's Messengers (All Over).
After educating himself and paying his dues in road bands, Bill still retained a burning desire to play on the NY scene as a professional. He found himself getting steady salaries mainly from more commercial pop bands; Bill contracted with backing orchestras for popular artists such as Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Marvin Gaye, The Spinners, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Jay & the Americans, The O’Jays & Stevie Wonder; helping contract and play at Rock-galas at Madison Square Garden-NYC; an occasional Broadway Show ('Man of La Mancha', the Wiz, Starlight Express, Ain't Misbehavin'); or steady, good-paying Latin-Salsa Orchestras like Hector Lavoe, Larry Harlow or 'Chocolate' & Celia Cruz, keeping Bill Ohashi real busy for twenty years or so.
His experience in clubs, concerts, recordings and traveling began to expand Bill's creative arranging and improvisational skills as the assignments became more plentiful and challenging; These included Gil Evans, Chuck Israels, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, The Band, Yoko Ono, James Taylor, Chico O'Farril, Joe Farrel/Elvin Jones & subs on "Saturday Nite 'Live'', to name a few.
After a brief to move to the west coast and a short hiatus from playing, the legendary Ray Charles wisely gave Bill the opportunity to join his band on the road for about a year, bringing Bill back into the working music scene; Bill subsequently toured Europe three times with Lionel Hampton, playing around NYC and began his own record label, EAR Records, Inc.
Bill Ohashi’s Latin-Jazz Sextet, “Mambo-Jazzi“ represents a true fusion of all Bill's musical experiences, tastefully mixing the Latin and Jazz genres. It's spicy and danceable Latin-Rhythms with compelling, strong solos give this ensemble the promise of much sought after sounds, with a flavorful and interesting, evocative, music panorama for the future.
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