Originally published in encore magazine on January 27th, 2010.
No matter what it is we do for a living, it always feels great to receive a little recognition from our peers. For UNCW music professor Jerald Shynett, the recognition comes in the form of a Grammy-Award nomination for arranger Vince Mendoza, for his arrangement of the song “Slings and Arrows.” Shynett performs on the track as a member of the highly regarded jazz group, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. “The nomination has been well-received here on campus—almost as much attention as I got when I wrote some music for ‘One Tree Hill’ last year,” he told encore last week during an interview. “I have been congratulated almost to death over the past few weeks, which is a good thing. I was promoted to Associate Professor and granted tenure this month, so that’s also a good thing. Unfortunately, I am still making the same money.”
Although he may be tongue-in-cheek regarding his salary, he certainly isn’t about his art and his contribution as a trombonist in Chuck Owen’s ensemble. The group’s Grammy-Award nominated track comes from their latest album, The Comet’s Tail: Performing the Compositions of Michael Brecker, a tribute record to the late jazz saxophonist and composer, who ironically passed away around the time the songs were being recorded. For Shynett the timing of his passing made the project especially pertinent.
“The process took about a year to complete; we did half in the fall of 2006 and the rest in the following spring,” he said. “The Jazz Surge was slated to perform with him in spring 2007, but he passed away shortly before, giving the project a whole new meaning. We as musicians are inspired and influenced by the artistry of Mike Brecker, so, personally, for me it was not hard to dig a little deeper for this recording session.” A UNCW faculty member for over 10 years, Shynett began his career as a freelance trombonist, composer and arranger in Florida, where he performed with artists such as Chick Corea, Slide Hampton, Randy Brecker, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, The O’Jays, Ray Charles and many others, including Chuck Owen, whose home base is in central Florida. Although his life and faculty position keep him rooted in North Carolina, Shynettt continues to perform and record with the Jazz Surge whenever possible, an association that brings him professional joy and pride.
“This is the Surge’s fourth CD, and I would like to add that the musicianship in this group is very high,” he informed. “I am a big fan of this group and really proud to be part of something bigger than myself. We have done many concerts in central Florida, so playing live is really our thing. There are very little overdubs in all of the Surge recordings; most of the music you hear is live. The band does two or three takes of every composition, and the best one is chosen from that pool. Every take is damn-near perfect, and ultimately Chuck Owen (the boss) chooses—he’s the real driving creative force behind this ensemble.”
Athough the actual recipient of the Grammy-Award nomination is arranger Vince Mendoza, it’s the brilliant musicianship of Shynett and his colleagues that allow for such recognition to even take place. If it wasn’t for their artistry, camaraderie and inspired contribution to the legacy of Michael Brecker, “Slings and Arrows” would not have secured its place as one of the year’s Best Instrumental Arrangement(s). For Shynett the nominated song is just one piece of a larger tapestry that he says shows some of the best in today’s jazz, and it deserves all the recognition currently being bestowed.
“My personal opinion of this album is that I would buy it even if I was not a proud member of this band,” he noted. “The writing is sublime, the playing is inspiring, and the guest soloists are some of the movers and shakers in the contemporary jazz idiom. Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge have been making beautiful music for almost 15 years, and I am elated that the band is finally getting its due. In these harsh economic times, we as artists really struggle to find our place in the world. The Grammy nomination gives us hope and some mild encouragement.”
Twitter Updates
It's my pleasure to know this person! I really, really liked His speeach at the last of your post Adrian most especially this part, "he writing is sublime, the playing is inspiring, and the guest soloists are some of the movers and shakers in the contemporary jazz idiom" Good job!