...MIKE LEE AND NEW TRICKS CONTINUED

MIKE LEE AND NEW TRICKS

In addition to Lee on tenor and Chubb on trumpet, New Tricks features the stellar rhythm section of Kellen Harrison on bass and Shawn Baltazor on drums. These young musicians are known for their compelling groove as individuals and when working together. The name “New Tricks” was first used by Lee to describe the band for a booking at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, NJ in 2006. It’s original meaning was more about the rhythmic and harmonic devices the band employed, but soon the banter on the gig was about Lee’s somewhat more (ahem…) “veteran” status. So, the “New Tricks” had their “Old Dog” and the name stuck.

This summer (2009) New Tricks has released their first, self-titled CD. It features four Ted Chubb Originals, six tunes by Mike Lee and Charlie Parker’s “Ah-Leu-Cha.” Their CD release tour was a great success musically and created a bit of “buzz” about the band with feature stories, interviews and reviews from many sources.

"They're a young and noble bunch of jazz warriors ready for battle. The proof lies within this hip session, based on crisp arrangements, resonant soloing and a tight-knit line of attack.”
- Glenn Astarita, Modern Jazz

Saxophonist Mike Lee

Mike Lee’s musical career has taken him many places musically and around the world. From the mid to late 80’s he resided in Brooklyn, New York where developed his musical concepts with many associates and mentors. This period of creative inspiration was highlighted by his lessons with Joe Lovano and his musical collaborations with his then roommate, Dave Douglas.

Inspired by the wealth of information these associations gave him, he returned to Cleveland to assimilate this material. This was a productive time musically. Along with constant practicing this period was punctuated by gigs with Marcus Belgrave, Bobby Watson, Geri Allen, Joe Lovano, Rosemary Clooney, Marlon Jordan, Johnny Coles and touring as a member of the Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd.

In 1993 Lee resumed residency in New York City and flourished on the the jazz scene playing on numerous occasions with The Village Vanguard Orchestra (Formerly The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra) the Maria Schneider Orchestra (with whom he was featured in Maria’s CNN profile) and the Bill Mobley Big Band with which he performed and recorded along side acclaimed pianists James Williams, Harold Mabern and Mulgrew Miller. He has appeared around town with small groups which include New York musicians such as guitarists John Hart and Ron Affif, bassist Ron McClure, and drummer Eliot Zigmund.
Two of Mike’s compositions were selected among the top five in the 1997 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and BMI International Jazz Composers Competition. He was a member of Joe Lovano’s “Celebrating Sinatra” touring ensemble. His critically acclaimed CD, Above the Battleground, Consolidated Artists Productions (CAP), featuring Tim Hagans on trumpet, Tim Horner on drums, Matt Ray on piano and Ben Allison on bass was released in 1998. My Backyard (Omnitone) released in 2000. Both albums received very high praise from trade publications.

Beginning in the late 90’s, Mike became a very in-demand Jazz Educator and guest soloist. He has toured the United States and Europe since then, performing with local rhythm sections and presenting clinics at over 100 universities and schools. The past few years have found Mike continuing his musical pursuits while raising a family and digging deep roots in the Northern New Jersey/New York jazz community. His musical associations have flourished while interacting with other jazz musicians residing in the area. Musical encounters with Bruce Williams, Cecil Brooks III, T.S. Monk, Billy Hart, Andy McKee, Geri Allen and Christian McBride have made this a satisfying period in his musical development.

Ted Chubb

Originally from Ashtabula Ohio, Ted grew up in a household surrounded by music. He began playing the trumpet at the age of 10 but did not become serious about his instrument until his discovery of jazz at 15. Ted's passion for jazz led him to pursue music at the Ohio State University. During this time Ted became involved in the professional jazz scene and performed with Midwest jazz legends Gene Walker and Bobby Floyd. He also toured regionally and abroad with the Afro-Rican ensemble.

In 2003, Ted enrolled in the graduate program at Rutgers University in New Jersey to study with master trumpet teacher William Fielder. While at school Ted became involved in the NYC jazz scene playing with artists such as Cecil Brooks III, Bruce Williams, Brad Leali, Jerome Jennings, Kyle Kohler, Billy Hart, Alvester Garnet, and Kenny Davis. Ted has appeared on ABC’s Nightline news with the Cecil's Big band, and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” performing with “Jersey Boys”. Ted has appeared at jazz festivals across the globe in Austria, Switzerland, France, and St. Lucia. In 2006 Ted was a participant in The Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center.

Ted is currently freelancing in NYC and focusing on his own projects. Ted is an active educator and teaches private lessons, ensembles, and workshops. He is on faculty at the Montclair State University Jazz Connections workshop each August. Since 2006 Ted has been on the road with the First National Tour of the Tony award winning Broadway show "Jersey Boys".