HOUSTON TROMBONE PLAYER THOMAS HULTÉN
DEBUTS ON CD “SLIDE SIDE,”
TO BE RELEASED BY TIERRA STUDIOS ON OCTOBER 19, 2009
Trombonist Thomas Hultén debuts with Slide Side, a collection of ten original tunes and three jazz standards, set for release by Houston’s Tierra Studios on October 19, 2009.
“To be able to realize one’s musical visions with full artistic freedom is every musician’s dream,” says Hultén. “I’m really excited about this album, and I feel that we’ve accomplished our goal: world-class jazz, written and produced in Houston, Texas.”
Hultén is joined on the recording by his Houston-based ensemble consisting of pianist Pamela York, guitarist Mike Nase, bassist David Craig, and Joel Fulgham on drums. Slide Side is augmented by local jazz greats such as Dennis Dotson, former Woody Herman trumpeter and Warren Sneed, Director of Jazz Studies at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
“You can really hear the years of experience these musicians have when you listen to the songs,” says engineer Glenn Wheeler. “Getting to record the talent this group brought to the studio was truly a pleasure.”
Slide Side also features orchestral backing for Hultén and his ensemble on several selections. Strings were arranged by Daniel Kramlich and conducted by producer Dr. Robert Linder.
“When Thomas sat down at the piano and played me a few phrases from a number of his original tunes, I knew he had something special to say–through his musicianship,” says Dr. Linder. I thought, “WOW! What a combination–a fabulous trombonist that can write and arrange great tunes! ”
Thomas Hultén started playing trombone at the age of ten in the local Salvation Army Band in his hometown of Katrineholm, Sweden. After completing his military service with the Swedish Army Band in 1984, he studied trombone performance at the Gothenburg Conservatory with Ingemar Roos as his primary teacher. After graduating, he won a position with the Bohus Big Band, one of Sweden’s two professional big bands.
Since moving to Houston in 1997, he has performed with Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, Patti Austin, Johnny Mathis, Michael Bolton, the Moody Blues, the Temptations, the Four Tops and the O’Jays. He performs regularly with the Houston Symphony, the Houston Ballet, Theatre under the Stars, and the Houston Grand Opera, of which he was recently named principle trombonist.
Slide Side is the latest album in a series of jazz releases that features prominent Houston jazz musicians, produced by Tierra Studios. The first CD in the series is No Worries, featuring saxophonist Larry Slezak, available on iTunes and at http://www.larryslezak.com.
For more information, contact Larry Murphy at 713-686-1953 or lmurphy@tierrastudios.com.
