John Rutherford is one of Detroit's leading freelance trombonists. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan after two years of study at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He received his Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University. John spends his summers as artist-in-residence at the Bay View Music Festival in Petoskey, MI. He has also held teaching positions at the University of Toledo and Albion College.
John has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Michigan Opera Theatre, and the Toledo Symphony on many occasions. He has served as guest principal trombonist of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. He has performed abroad with the Jerusalem International Symphony, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Palermo, Sicily, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and most recently at the Santo Domingo Music Festival in the Dominican Republic.
An active chamber musician, John has performed with the Detroit Chamber Winds, the Boston Chamber Ensemble, is a member of the Michigan Chamber Brass, and a founding member of the Motor City Brass Quintet. He has recorded with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet), for Sony Classical as part of the Silk Road Project. With the Silk Road Ensemble, John has toured a large part of North America, including performances at Carnegie Hall.
On the other side of the spectrum, John performs with many of Detroit's leading jazz ensembles. He performs on tenor trombone, bass trombone, and tuba for the pit orchestras at many of Detroit's theatres. He is lead trombonist with the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra and Ed Nuccilli's Plural Circle. He has played in backup bands and orchestras for artists including Ray Charles, Jimmy Heath, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, George Russell, Terence Blanchard, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, Debbie Gibson, Clarence Clemens, the Four Tops, the Temptations, the Fifth Dimension, and Dennis DeYoung of Styx. He has recorded for radio and television commercials at studios in Detroit and Los Angeles and is a voting member of the Grammy Association. John uses Audio Technica microphones and Robert Keely modified Mello Wah and Boss DD3 effects pedals.
BRASSJAR MUSIC includes groups produced and managed by John: the Motor City Horns, the Motor City Brass Quintet, The Great Lakes String Quartet, the Little German Band, and the Motor City Jazz Orchestra. Visit http://www.brassjarmusic.com for more info.
What's up john! Thanks for the love and support. We just wanted to remind you that our exclusive EP Let Go is coming out TUESDAY. Pre-order it now and we'll hook you up with a bonus gift
It can be so tempting to just go through the motions sometimes... especially when you're living a dream... or (in the oh too common scenario) dreaming about chasing your dreams while chasing the means to acquire them... or the next best thing... or maybe just anything…
Yes, I know that we are tried and tired, notwithstanding all the hope that's been goin' around. Yes, I know that we are searching for an intangible something meaningful to do... the next stage in human evolution maybe… revolution... but without the circles.... hoping to enjoy that sacred cycle in the pursuit of happiness.
...how about finishing what we've started?
Each one: get up, and make it happen; be your own Obama.
It was so nice to meet you last night at the Cadieux Cafe. Would love to come check out one of your shows sometime. I've heard fantastic things about The Motor City Horns.Even caught a little bit of a promo for the new CD coming out soon on YouTube. Sounded GREAT! Are your shows ever listed on your site? All the best. Kathleen THE GROOVE COUNCIL
