Big Band Blowout next Thursday, May 22nd! This is your opportunity to see our special guest, Elliot Mason from THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NY as well as our talented musicians! Not many tickets remain so get them now! Feel free to invite family and friends. It’s going to be a GREAT night of jazz!
Biography
Elliot Mason (Trombone), born in England. He began trumpet lessons with his father at age four. At age seven, struck with an overwhelming curiosity in his father’s trombone, young Mason soon switched his focus from the trumpet.
As an eleven-year-old, Mr. Mason was already performing as a trombonist in dance halls, theaters, clubs, and pubs, covering all styles of music but concentrating primarily on jazz and improvisation. At fifteen, he won the national Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Soloist (under 25) Award and was featured at John Dankworth’s Wavendon Jazz School. Entering alternate age categories the next year, Elliot and his brother Brad, as the Mason brothers, won the national competition a second time and by age sixteen, Mr. Mason left England to join his brother at the Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts on a full tuition scholarship where he met and studied with Hal Crook and Phil Wilson, among others.
In 1994, Mr. Mason won the prestigious Frank Rosolino Award for outstanding trombone performance abilities, and was invited to perform at the International Trombone Workshop. At eighteen, he won the ITW ‘s Under 29 Jazz Trombone competition, as well as the Slide Hampton Award in recognition of outstanding performance abilities from Berklee. After graduating from Berklee in 1996, Mr. Mason moved to New York City, where he distinguished himself as a respected and highly in demand trombone and bass trumpet player.
In 2007, Elliot Mason was invited to become a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, directed by Wynton Marsalis. While continuing to perform with the JLCO, Mr. Mason co-leads the Mason Brothers Quintet with his brother Brad.
In 2011, Mr. Mason was asked to join NYU’s faculty as a jazz trombone instructor within their extensive Jazz Studies Program.
Mr. Mason joined the faculty of Juilliard School of Music in 2016, as their jazz trombone instructor/studio class facilitator.
Mr. Mason is endorsed by B.A.C. musical instruments, he is currently playing on his own signature series line of custom trombones.
Elliot Mason’s career includes performances with the Count Basie Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, Toshiko Akiyoshi Orchestra. Mr. Mason has also performed with Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Natalie Cole, Queen Latifah, Jessica Simpson, Shirley Bassey, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett, Bobby Hutcherson, Ahmad Jamal, Chucho Valdes, Chano Dominquez, Randy Brecker, Carl Fontana, Bill Watrous, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Chris Potter, Joe Zawinul, Mike Stern, Hiram Bullock, Airto Moreira, Marcus Roberts, Matt Garrison, Antonio Sanchez, Tim Hagans, Cyro Baptista.
Quotes
“Elliot’s unbelievable as a trombonist, there’s unworldly facility, virtuosity and clarity in his playing, he can sing a melody out from the trombone; it’s like a human voice the way he plays it” – Wynton Marsalis
“Setting the bar for jazz trombone, redefining the parameters of brass playing in it’s purest sense, and taking that aspect of his art into new realms too”
Randy Brecker “Elliot Mason has to be one of the most important trombone/bass trumpet voices in modern music to emerge. He truly transcends the instruments he is undoubtedly already so supremely proficient in mastering to a level where I wasn’t even aware it was trombone or a bass trumpet. To me, that’s greatness. In Elliot you experience everything, from the most profound lyricism right over to the most intense, vital and truly electrifying. A most compelling, moving and exhilarating musician of today” –
Gary Husband – “Elliot brings innovation, imagination, intelligence, fire and fierce swing to the trombone” – Michael Brecker
Recent Discography
Sofija Knezevic – Sofijazz
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Black, Brown & Beige
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Rock Chalk Suite
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Sherman Irby’s Inferno
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – The Music of Wayne Shorter
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Jazz for Kids
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Una Noche Con Ruben Blades
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Big Band Holidays II
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Swing Symphony
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Sherman Irby’s Inferno
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Jazz and Art
Elliot Mason & Cre8tion – Before, Now & After
Sherman Irby & Momentum – Cerulean Canvas
The Mason Brothers Quintet – Efflorescence
Ted Nash Big Band – Presidential Suite (2017 Grammy for Best Large Ensemble)
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Handful of Keys
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – The Music of John Lewis
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Big Band Holidays
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – The Abyssinian Mass
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Live in Cuba
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Portrait in Seven Shades
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – Vitoria Suite
The Mason Brothers Quintet – Two Sides, One Story
Esperanza Jazz – Esperanza has three high performing and exciting big bands, with all bands scoring and placing near the top in annual competitions and festivals. With entertaining and powerful performances, Esperanza Jazz I Band has played at such prestigious events as the Essentially Ellington Competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, Charles Mingus High School Competition at Manhattan School of Music in New York City, Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, and Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, CA! Sneak Peak “Parallel to Harlem” from Esperanza’s Jazz I 2023 LISTEN HERE
Bernardo Yorba Jazz Band – BYMS hard working jazz students rehearse and audition for a spot in this group and meet during zero period! In addition to our annual Big Band Blowout concert, Bernardo Yorba Jazz Band performs at Jazz Festivals, including the Aztec Jazz Festival this season, as well as, Knott’s Berry Farm & Disneyland.
The Big Band Blowout, EEU Signature Concert experience, features our professional musician mentor in collaboration with the talented students of Esperanza High School and Bernardo Yorba Middle School.
The Concert Program
Business Ads for Program Partners
Each year, local businesses participate in our Esperanza Jazz concert experience by purchasing advertising space in our Big Band Blowout Program. EEU offers a vibrant community of more than 400 members and all EEU members proudly support program partners who support the EEU. Consider that Big Band Blowout Program Ads can fit any marketing budget with high quality ads starting at less than $100. All proceeds from our Program Ads directly support the entire music program at Esperanza High School. For details about advertising in Big Band Blowout 2025 Concert Program, you can download the Business Ad PDF. To learn more about Sponsorship Packages, go to Sponsor EEU HERE. This 20+ year tradition is one of our big fundraisers and its success depends on you.
Pay for Program Ads with EEU PayPal Button
There’s an option to use credit or debit card secured via PayPal. Be sure to include Name of Payer on the above form/s.
Big Band Blowout Volunteers
| Volunteers for: | ||
| Contacting Prior Sponsors | ||
| Distributing Concert Posters | ||
| PAC Lobby Set Up | ||
| Event Day Ticket Sales | ||
| Will Call Check-In | ||
| Event Day Door Check | ||
| Green Room Set Up |
If you are interested in volunteering for this year’s Big Band Blowout concert, please consider getting involved with Event Day Activities. Students are welcome to volunteer for Community Service hours too.
If you plan to watch the concert, please help out with Contacting Donors & Sponsors. Contacting Sponsors is not cold calling, because the EEU has great community partners. We truly appreciate the time you spend reconnecting with our valued community partners each year. For more information about our outreach programs, checkout 2025 Sponsorship Guide.
Please email the Big Band Blowout Coordinator with interest or questions at: bigbandblowout@ehseu.org.
Thank You to All Our Big Band Blowout Guest Artists!
2025 – Elliot Mason
2024 – Marcus Printup
2023 – Sherman Irby
2022 – Vincent Gardner (Trombone)
2021 – Terrell Stanford (Trumpet)
2019 – James Carter (Sax)
2018 – Wycliffe Gordon (Trombone)
2017 – Jeff Jarvis (Trumpet)
2016 – Bob Sheppard (Sax)
2015 – Francisco Torres (Trombone)
2014 – Chuck Findley (Trumpet)
2013 – Sal Lozano (Alto Sax)
2012 – Andy Martin (Trombone)
2011 – Jeff Clayton (Sax)
2010 – Wayne Bergeron (Trumpet)
2009 – Eric Merienthal (Sax)
2008 – Harry Watters (Trombone)
2007 – Sal Lozano (Sax/Woodwinds)
2006 – Bill Liston (Sax/Woodwinds)
2005 – Wayne Bergeron (Trumpet)
2004 – Andy Martin (Trombone)
2003 – Alex Iles (Trombone)
2002 – Bruce Babad (Sax/Woodwinds)
2001 – Bill Liston (Sax/Woodwinds)
2000 – Willie Murillo (Trumpet)
1999 – Bill Liston (Sax/Woodwinds)