Kelly Rossum - "Free Jazz and the Trumpet - Kelly Rossum Clinic" By James Olcott

With pianist Darin Pantoomkomol (Thailand), bassist Alexander Serguencko (Russia), and drummer Vyacheslav Shumilov (Russia), 33-year old trumpeter Kelly Rossum (USA) began his talk on free jazz with a six-minute, totally improvised collaboration demonstrating the use of sound, harmony, and time to striking musical effect.

Rossum’s lecture explained his concepts on the use and the beauty of free jazz. “It is a ‘Community of Collaboration’ with all members of the ensemble, with each member able to play and communicate in a way that simply does not happen in any other kind of music. You can play, at that moment, anything that enters your mind.”

But it must always be musical, he emphasized.

Rossum discussed free jazz’s historical roots (with demonstrations of Don Cherry and Lester Bowie), described its basic elements, its use in teaching, and, in what was probably the most fun for the audience, various performance techniques one can employ in free jazz, going beyond the realm of normal sounds into what he calls “contemporary techniques.” These can include lip bends, pitch manipulation, and half valve usage. This can progress to “extended techniques,” such as tone disruption and vocal sounds, and even “extreme techniques,” including percussion effects.

Rossum’s easy style of communication and clear joy in dealing with the idiom made what could have been a very esoteric and dry subject very enjoyable and informative.

James Olcott, reporter

International Trumpet Guild

Kelly Rossum at the Bangkok Conference 2005

Read this article at the ITG website

Read about more information on the Bangkok conference

"Free Jazz is the ultimate expression of one’s own creativity. Like any other musical form, there are guidelines and goals for a successful performance. Improvisation is at the center of this art, as well as excellent listening skills, both of which are critical to any jazz style. There will be a brief history of the trumpet’s use in free jazz and a musical demonstration of applicable techniques.” – Kelly Rossum



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