Bill Ohashi's experience as a prolific and well-heeled trombonist in the New York City and international jazz, chamber classical, show and latin fields is extensive, giving his leadership qualities focus and his musical concept and intelligence order and definition. Bill's arranging style and watchfull direction give 'The Bridge Sextet & 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 early on, like Willie Clon, 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 Orch., Charlie Mingus, Paul Buterfield Blues Band, Eddie Kendricks & the Tempations, Gil Evans & Franki Valli & the Four Seasons. Bill's versatiliy stems at it's sorce from this exposure to exeptional, broad-based music taught at Julliard, Mannes College, U. of Penna.,Berkley Schoolof Music & bandstands in NYC, New England & the southern corridor, giving Bill opportunities to teach at NYC's Third St. Music School, Henry St. Settlement, Boy;s Harbor,, New England Conservatory. Metropolitan School of Music & 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 Electrid Circus), Carla Bley ('Upsuge,' 'Blue Wave Studio), George Cables/Lenny White/Billie Cobham (Slug's) and Art Blakey's Messengers (All Over).
After educating himself & paying his dues in road bands, still retaining a burning desire to play on the NY scene as a professional, Bill found himself getting his steady salaries mainly from more commercial pop bands & contracting 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 OJays& Stevie Wonder. Helping contract & play at Rock-galas at Madison Square Garden-NYC, as well as an ocassional Broadway Show ('Man of La Mancha', the Wiz, Starlight Express, Ain't Misbehavin'), or steady, good-paying Latin-Salsa Orhestras like Hector Lavoe, Larry Harlow or 'Chocolate'& Celia Cruz, kept Bill real busy for twenty yearsor so. His experience in clubs, concerts, recordings and traveling began to expand Bill's creative arranging and improvistional skills as the assignments became more plentiful & challenging; (Gil Evans, Cuck 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 move to the west caost & a short hiatus from playing, the legendary Ray Charles wisely gave Bill the opportunitry to join his band on the road for about a year, bringing Bill back into the working music scene, to subsequently tour Europe three times with Lionel Hampton, playing around NYC, & begin his own record label, EAR Records, Inc.. His current, exciting & intriguing project is his new baby, Latin-Jazz Sextet, " Mambo-Jazzi" which represents a true fusion of all Bill's musical experiences, tastfully mixing the Latin & Jazz genres. It's spicy & danceable Latin-Rythms with its compeelling, strong solos give this new ensemble the promise of much sought after sounds, with a flavorful & interesting, evocative, music panorama for the future.
Websites
http://www.earrecords.com
http://www.sonicbids.com/jazz/billohashimambojazzi/
http://groups.yahoo.com/boppers/froup.html
http://www.gigmasters.com/jazz/billohashimambojazzi/
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