Bruce Hering Quintet

Lee Morgan tribute.

media release: Bruce Hering, trumpet and flugelhorn | Chris Behrens, piano | Peter Mathistad, saxophone  Francis Deck, bass | Jim Huwe, drums,

Lee Morgan | A cornerstone of the Blue Note label roster prior to his tragic demise, Lee Morgan was one of hard bops greatest trumpeters, and indeed one of the finest of the '60s. An all-around master of his instrument modeled after Clifford Brown, Morgan boasted an effortless, virtuosic technique and a full, supple, muscular tone that was just as powerful in the high register. His playing was always emotionally charged, regardless of the specific mood: cocky and exuberant on up-tempo groovers, blistering on bop-oriented technical showcases, sweet and sensitive on ballads. In his early days as a teen prodigy, Morgan was a busy soloist with a taste for long, graceful lines, and honed his personal style while serving an apprenticeship in Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers. .  sadly, he would not live to continue his musical growth; he was shot to death by his common-law wife in 1972.

Bruce Hering | trumpet/leader, is a retired music educator originally from Eau Claire, WI. He spent most of his 32-year career teaching in the Eau Claire School District. He currently enjoys playing in the Madison Jazz Orchestra, leading the Dimensions In Sound Jazz Ensemble and playing at Zu Zus Cafe jam sessions. He serves as a jazz clinician for Jazz at Lincoln Center.  Bruce led his jazz bands to eight of the national Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival finals in New York at Jazz at Lincoln Center: seven times with Eau Claire Memorial and one time with Eau Claire North High School. The guest artists Herings bands have been in concert with include Maynard Ferguson and His Big Bop Nouveau, The Art Blakey Legacy Jazz Messengers, DIVA, Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra; and as guest soloists, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Ed Shaughnessy, Wycliffe Gordon and many members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra including Victor Goines, Marcus Printup, and Seneca Black.

Chris Behrens |  Chris is a jazz clinician and has been the rhythm section coach for the WMEA State Honors Jazz Ensemble. He is director of bands at Beloit High School where he leads concert, jazz, and pep bands as well as many various other ensembles. His jazz bands travel and perform far and wide and have made it to the national finals of Essentially Ellington many times, including this year once again.

Peter  Mathistad | Peters recent performances include gigs with the Madison Jazz Orchestra as well as numerous small group performances in the area. In his free time, Peter composes and arranges music for big band and small groups.

Francis Deck | Francis studied classical cello through high school, then switched to the double bass, developing an outgoing, collaborative jazz style. Since moving to Madison in 1997, he has played with many local groups and artists, including Kurt Lang, Dave Stoler, Michael BB, Doug Brown, Harmonious Wail, Swingtime Music, and others. He has been a member of the Madison Jazz Orchestra for more than 10 years, and has appeared on stage at the Isthmus Jazz Festival, Behind The Beat, and Jazz At Five.

Jim Huwe | Jim has performed with jazz vocalist great Dianne Schuur, saxophonist Richie Cole, jazz singer Connie Evingson and even played an opening show for the legendary blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He has worked with the finest Midwestern musicians doing jazz, big-band, pop, folk and Latin music. Jim has worked as a drummer, clinician and teacher in the U.S. and in Thailand (2000-2002). While in Thailand he taught and delivered a national drum-set contest champion in June of 2002.