($25-$35 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows | 16+) World-renowned trombonist Bob McChesney makes his Century Room debut, joined by acclaimed vocalist Calabria Foti for an unforgettable evening of jazz. Known for his virtuosic technique and dynamic improvisation, McChesney brings his celebrated artistry to the stage alongside Foti’s captivating voice.
Calabria Foti (voice) Bob McChesney (Trombone) Angelo Versace (piano) Scott Black (bass) Arthur Vint (drums)
From Baltimore, Bob McChesney began playing trombone in the fourth grade through his public school music program and has since become a world-renowned trombone soloist and leading authority on trombone pedagogy. Renowned for his smooth, lightning-fast technique and mastery of jazz harmony, McChesney has distinguished himself as one of the pre-eminent trombone soloists in the world. Primarily self-taught, he developed a unique approach to slide-trombone articulation known as “doodle tonguing” and authored Doodle Studies and Etudes, considered a definitive resource on the technique and widely acclaimed by trombonists and music educators around the world. His virtuosic performance of “The Carnival of Venice” with the Idaho Falls Symphony led to a recording with pianist Alan Steinberg that has surpassed three million views on YouTube.
A prominent figure in the Los Angeles recording and studio scene, McChesney has built an extraordinary career performing on film and television scores and recordings for artists including Barbra Streisand, Shakira, Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, Neil Young, Chicago, Keb’ Mo’, Jessie J, Trisha Yearwood, Olivia Newton-John, Hanson, Horace Silver, Joey DeFrancesco, and Randy Waldman. He can be heard on Grammy-winning albums including Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, Diana Krall’s When I Look in Your Eyes, Arturo Sandoval’s Dear Diz, and Bob Florence’s Serendipity 18. Equally at home in the big-band, jazz, and orchestral worlds, McChesney has served as lead trombonist for ensembles led by Patrick Williams, Bob Mintzer, Chris Walden, Bill Watrous, and others, and was a long-standing member of the Bob Florence Limited Edition big band. His orchestral work includes performances with the Long Beach Symphony and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, as well as extensive work on motion-picture scores.
Beyond his performing career, McChesney is a sought-after jazz educator and clinician whose influence extends throughout the United States and Canada. He has been a featured artist and educator at major music conventions and festivals, including the International Trombone Festival and Jazz Education Network, and was featured on the cover of the International Trombone Association Journal in 2018. He has held teaching positions at California State University, Northridge and California State University, Long Beach, and continues to teach privately. Celebrated composer Lalo Schifrin captured McChesney’s artistry perfectly: “Bob McChesney is a virtuoso and has the gift to bring us the joy of music at the highest level.”