Ian Carey

"I dig Ian Carey. He's a trumpeter with a clean, clear sound who understands that there are listeners at the other end of recordings. On his new album, you hear Ian's tender sound on the horn and his passion for harmony. Deep down, Ian's a romantic traditionalist, and his reverence for velvet simplicity and heart-touching tones is evident. When the music on this album hits your ear, you want to hear more. It's a strange sensation. All of the songs on the CD except one (Just Friends) were composed by Ian, and all clearly were carefully thought through to maximize warmth and gentle urgency

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"I dig Ian Carey. He's a trumpeter with a clean, clear sound who understands that there are listeners at the other end of recordings. On his new album, you hear Ian's tender sound on the horn and his passion for harmony. Deep down, Ian's a romantic traditionalist, and his reverence for velvet simplicity and heart-touching tones is evident. When the music on this album hits your ear, you want to hear more. It's a strange sensation. All of the songs on the CD except one (Just Friends) were composed by Ian, and all clearly were carefully thought through to maximize warmth and gentle urgency. Fortunately, Ian's quintet is of the same mind... I can't stop playing this CD." - Marc Myers, Jazzwax.com "Carey's self-deprecation in his liner notes would have you believe that he's not much of a trumpet player. It depends on what you mean by playing. True, there's not a double high C anywhere on the album and no jet-speed series of gee-whiz chord inversions. Let's settle for good tone, lyricism and contiguous ideas that lead somewhere. Carey and his young sidemen are in tune with one another, in every sense. In Adam Shulman he has a pianist who understands Bill Evans and in Evan Francis an alto saxophonist to keep an ear on." - Doug Ramsey, Rifftides "Getting his inspiration from the source, [Carey] plays with a real feel and understanding of what it's all about. A trumpeter that knows how to give the rest of his ensemble some, he's one of those cats you don't really know that can load the deck with originals and not scare you away. Certainly a welcoming release, he shows he has everything it takes to go the distance and delight us all the way... this is clearly the real deal." - Midwest Record, 2/8/10 "The album title speaks to some broader point about how Carey wants to tell his own story and create his own landscape ... That's not exactly high-concept, but it definitely befits the material. Of the album's nine tunes, eight are originals, and many have a tricky format... Of course, Carey's band is the real payoff. Arkin is the consummate 'good pocket player.' Shulman and bassist Fred Randolph help solidify the rhythm section, while Francis and Carey skate through melodies overhead. They're strong enough as a unit to take a weird idea and give it shape — or context." - Rachel Swan, East Bay Express "Carey rocks on trumpet and flugelhorn, displaying a crisp technique and warm musicality. All (except for #5) are original compositions, and they showcase his sharp style and the tightness of his band, all of whom get a chance to shine through ample solos." - KZSU Zookeeper, Stanford University

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Primary Instrument

Trumpet

Location

San Francisco

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Ian Carey has been a private music instructor for over twenty years, and has been a visiting instructor at Stanford University and The Jazzschool at California Jazz Conservatory. He is currently accepting students of all ages and levels for lessons in the following areas: TRUMPET, including jazz or classical focus. Ian's background includes studies with noted trumpet performers and educators including Vincent Penzarella (of the New York Philharmonic), the late Laurie Frink (New York trumpet guru and student of the legendary Carmine Caruso), John McNeil (author of The Art of Jazz Trumpet andFlexus), Jay Rizzetto (of the San Francisco Ballet and Opera), Larry Engstrom (of the Reno Philharmonic) as well as noted jazz performers Cecil Bridgewater (of the Max Roach Quintet, Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie), Tom Peron (Jessica Williams, Peron/Spangler Quintet), and Charles Tolliver (Jackie McLean, McCoy Tyner)

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Primary Instrument

Trumpet

Location

San Francisco

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Ian Carey has been a private music instructor for over twenty years, and has been a visiting instructor at Stanford University and The Jazzschool at California Jazz Conservatory. He is currently accepting students of all ages and levels for lessons in the following areas: TRUMPET, including jazz or classical focus. Ian's background includes studies with noted trumpet performers and educators including Vincent Penzarella (of the New York Philharmonic), the late Laurie Frink (New York trumpet guru and student of the legendary Carmine Caruso), John McNeil (author of The Art of Jazz Trumpet andFlexus), Jay Rizzetto (of the San Francisco Ballet and Opera), Larry Engstrom (of the Reno Philharmonic) as well as noted jazz performers Cecil Bridgewater (of the Max Roach Quintet, Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie), Tom Peron (Jessica Williams, Peron/Spangler Quintet), and Charles Tolliver (Jackie McLean, McCoy Tyner). IMPROVISATION & HARMONY. Ian has taught improvisation to students of a variety of instruments as well as vocalists. His approach focuses on a combination of ear training, harmonic instruction, the study of jazz as language, and an emphasis on practical applications in real musical contexts. His background includes studies with a diverse group of master improvisers including Reggie Workman (who performed with John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk), Billy Harper (Art Blakey, Gil Evans), Joanne Brackeen (Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson) and Andrew Cyrille (Cecil Taylor, Charlie Haden). COMPOSITION & ARRANGING. Ian is a jazz composer whose works have earned praise from Downbeat ("harmonically pleasing compositions... ★★★★½") and NPR ("the work of a musician pursuing his own thoughtful, painterly vision"). He was the recipient of a 2013 grant from San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music's Musical Grant Program. His approach to composition instruction focuses on developing the student's compositional ear, on the study of counterpoint (with emphasis on contemporary applications), and on ways of avoiding clichés and conventions in favor of fresh approaches. His background includes studies with notable composers and arrangers including Maria Schneider (multiple-Grammy-award-winning director of the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra), Bill Kirchner (composer, author, editor, The Oxford Companion to Jazz), and Henry Martin (Rutgers University, winner, National Composers Competition). “Ian Carey is an extremely knowledgeable musician and composer who I hold in the highest regard. In the two and a half years that we have been working together I have found Ian to be an attentive, responsive teacher; he has many strategies to try and adapts his approach to meet my needs and abilities. I especially appreciate Ian's ability to provide a context and rationale for the exercises he designs, tying them back to my goals and helping me feel I am moving forward on the right path. I wholeheartedly recommend Ian Carey!" —Molly, vocal improvisation & composition student

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