Brian Nadeau
|
207-944-7274 |
|
|
Trumpet
It all began as a three year old dragging an antique cornet around the house and honking away. Brian Nadeau began playing trumpet in jazz combos and big bands as a performer and soloist at the age of seven in 1974. His first gig was with Don Doane at the Bridgeway Restaurant in South Portland. At age 12 Brian was asked to be a special guest on the Milton Berle Show at Lakewood Theater. Mr. Berle, impressed with the young Nadeau’s talent, said “you’re a coming star”! Early on, arrangements were created for Brian to perform with the Al Corey Big Band as an elementary school musician. Mr. Nadeau has played with the Corey Band for most of his life. For the past 15 years he has been the lead trumpeter. Mr. Corey selected Brian to be his successor to lead the big band which has a 60 year history. When Mr. Corey passed away in 2003 Brian became the band’s sole leader.
Mr. Nadeau is an in demand brass instructor and big band phrasing clinician having studied with Wayne Bergeron, Jim Manley and Stan Mark (all of whom played for Maynard Ferguson). His clinics focus on the breathing and embouchure techniques that contribute to efficient and enhanced mastery of the instrument.
Performances include: solo performance of the National Anthem for the Boston Celtics in 1985,
Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon live on WCVB TV in Boston, a performance with Jerry Auerbach of NBC’s “Law and Order” who sang with Mr. Nadeau’s band, and a big band contractor for “Late Night’s” Conan O’Brien when he visited Bangor. Brian has also appeared at the Press Room in New Hampshire as a featured soloist, and has performed with many groups as lead trumpeter, including Portsmouth’s Seacoast Big Band, the Mt. Washington Hotel Big Band, Maine’s Bellamy Jazz Band, Shrine Circus Band, Bo Winiker Band from Boston, MA, the Gene Krupa Big Band, New Trad Septet, the Blue Hill Brass, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, and many more. Previously he played in pit orchestras for the following shows: “The Music Man”, “Cabaret”, “Mame”, “Brigadoon”, “Guys and Dolls”, and “Bye, Bye, Birdie”. Recent show appearances include The Manhattan Transfer Christmas show in 2004 in which he was lead trumpet and featured soloist. In 2000 he played lead trumpet for the Leslie Gore show.
Most recently, Nadeau brought world renowned trumpeter Wayne Bergeron to Maine for the first time to give a clinic to area musicians and perform in concert with Mr. Nadeau’s big band. A duet featured the two trumpeters playing in tribute to the late Maynard Ferguson on “Maynard and Waynard”. Ferguson and Bergeron recorded this selection on “Plays Well With Others”, Mr. Bergeron’s latest CD. Another recent engagement included playing for Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) and family last July at his Blue Hill residence.
Current musical projects include Mr. Nadeau directing the Queen City Big Band, a group of talented community musicians from all walks of life in the Bangor area. This group has been rehearsing and performing under Nadeau for eight years. Many area schools utilize his expertise in teaching jazz phrasing and style and many have placed in the top three at state jazz festivals as a result. It’s notable that in 1998 Mr. Nadeau auditioned for and was offered the lead trumpet chair of the Glenn Miller Orchestra led by Larry O’Brien. However, around that time he met his love and future wife Lanissa, a music educator in Brewer, and decided to stay home and make music a part time hobby. Brian and Lanissa celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in December of 2008.