All posts by Jennifer

Holiday Shopping 2020 Edition

Welcome to Jen’s 2020 Holiday Shopping Guide

The first section is for those looking to buy gifts, the second is for those looking to donate to worthy causes.

REJANO PRACTICE MUTES

The newest mute to hit the market and receiving RAVE reviews, the Rejano practice mutes are made by David Rejano, principal trombonist of the LA Phil. They solve the problems that other practice mutes have – heavy weight, unstable pitch, excessive resistance or a not-quiet-enough sound. These are 3D printed and made with the player in mind. All they care about is the player being able of having a great practice time experience, regardless if they are playing on a Practice Mute. I ordered mine – not a sponsor! And if you use the code INTUNE, you get David Rejano’s new CD FREE! CLICK HERE TO ORDER

 

ROBINSON’S REMEDIES
(I’m an endorser – use my link so they know I sent you!)
I’m not playing a lot of gigs these days but I decided to go back to school so I am practicing a lot. That means the chops can get beat up. I like to use this after I practice heavily. I’m fresh as a daisy the next day! Think of it as an ice bath for your lips! AND THEY ARE OFFEREING BOGO! Buy one product, any product, get the same product FREE. Buy three, get three free!! Treat yo face! CLICK HERE TO ORDER 

SHERIDAN GET-A-GRIP

If you or someone you know plays the trombone a lot, chances are that they need one of these. The Sheridan Get-A-Grip will help with all the left-hand troubles we trombonists have from hours of holding our instruments. It is especially helpful for heavier bass trombones.  No scratching or screws to hurt your trombone.  They just slip on and off. They are aluminum, with thicker foam cushioning and are each covered with hand-sewn deerskin. Not a sponsor, just a fan! Click here to purchase $55 

 

EXTENDABONE

P1033444editA special tool for short-armed and younger trombone players, Extendabone is the creation of my friend Nikki Abissi. Extendabone is a slide extension handle. It’s simple and ergonomic design let everyone play trombone! Click here if you’d like to see how it works. They also have NIFTY Holiday long sleeved T-Shirts! Shop | Extendabone

 

MARCUS BONNA CASES
If you really want to splurge, check out JLandress Brass‘s sale on Marcus Bonna cases. These are the gold standard of gig bags in my opinion and I have never seen them priced so low. Limited quantities so if you don’t see what you like, please let them know! Shop JLandress Brass!

 

 

This is my favorite find this year! A bass trombone blanket. Who DOESN’T need one of these???? First, click on the product and put one in your cart, then click on the link below to get $15 off. That should work!
 
 
 
 


BONEGASM MERCH!
Bonegasm 1 HoodyI’m sure you’re saying to yourself, “Self, where can I get some super spiffy Bonegasm swag?” Look no further! We have t-shirts, hoodies, water bottles and coffee mugs for purchase on Society6. They keep most of the money in exchange for me not having to order a ton of product but I do get a tiny percentage of any sales. Check out the Merch by CLICKING HERE!

If you want something I don’t have, email me!

 

 

DONATE HERE!

Local 802 AFM - The world's largest local union of professional musicians.

The Local 802 Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) provides critical assistance to hundreds of musicians in times of crisis a year. Since 1967, the ERF has been the place professional musicians can turn to for help in emergency situations. Our members have been DEVASTATED by the pandemic. Please help them here. 

Image result for actors fund logoThe Actor’s Fund COVID-19 Emergency Relief
Since March 18, 2020, The Actors Fund has distributed more than $16 million in emergency financial assistance to 13,838 people in our industry. This money is helping people cover basic living expenses, such as food, essential medications, utilities and more. 

MUSEhttps://museonline.org/donate/
MUSE is committed to creating diversity within the music departments of the theatre industry by providing access, internships, mentorships, and support to historically marginalized people of color. MUSE is a project of Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP), a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. All donations for MUSE are 100% tax deductible. 

 

BONEGASM TURNS 1 TODAY!!

BONEGASM TURNS 1 TODAY!!

Our album turns one TODAY! I cannot believe the reception it’s had. In the last year, we hit #18 on the Billboard Jazz Charts, we were voted one of the top 50 albums of the year by Jazz Times, a couple of us made the 2019 Downbeat Magazine Reader’s Poll and I tied with Wycliffe Gordon (WTF?) for the third favorite trombonist in the 2019 JazzTimes Expanded Critics Poll. My FACE was on a middle eastern magazine. My name was even on a magazine cover! It’s hard for me to accept all this stuff and I do not for one second think I did any of this by myself. 

My band – Nate, Alan, Mike, Evan, Don and my dear John – has carried me on their musical shoulders. Grateful does not begin to describe how I feel towards them. My only hope is that I can repay them by making more awesome music. I hope you’ll join us on our musical adventures!  Speaking of musical adventures…

BONEGASM GOES WEST IN APRIL!!
That’s right! My incredible group of four intrepid trombone players is teaming up with a handpicked Bay Area rhythm section for a couple gigs. We will be in San Jose on 4/23 at Art Boutiki and in Berkeley on 4/24 at the California Jazz Conservatory. I know it’s been too long so MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

ORDER BONEGASM!

BONEGASM, THE ALBUM

Out February 1, 2019 on Sunnyside Records

Bonegasm features music by up and coming artists like Sara Jacovino, Nate Mayland and Edward Perez as well as Grammy veterans like John Fedchock, Alan Ferber and Jim McNeely.

ORDER the physical copy AND digital download on BANDCAMP

ORDER on AMAZON

ORDER on iTunes (but sadly no liner notes or solo lineup)

Listen to Stellar now from our debut recording. LISTEN HERE

 

Come hear us celebrate our first Bonegasm release
Thursday, March 14 from 6-8 at Silvana

Lots of upcoming shows to announce!
Stay informed by following us on Facebook!

Trombones: John Fedchock, Alan Ferber, Nate Mayland
Bass trombone and vocal: Jennifer Wharton
Piano: Mike Eckroth 
Bass: Evan Gregor
Drums: Don Peretz

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Here is a peek inside the project!

Jennifer Wharton's Bonegasm Promo Video

Holiday Shopping with Jen

HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH JEN!

Happy Holidays to everyone. If you have a brass player in your life, here are some last minute gifts to consider to complete your holiday shopping. But always remember, the best gift is the gift of your attention. Spend time with the people you love this holiday season, gifts or not!

BUT FIRST….

Can y’all do me a solid and consider signing up for my newsletter? Beginning in 2019, I’ll send out an email just once a month with gigs and other fun stuff.

And I’ll let you know how you can preorder my album, BONEGASM. CLICK HERE to subscribe!

 

Robinson’s Remedies

This stuff is made with unicorn tears and rainbows. Just kidding. But it does have arnica in it which is basically magic sauce for weary brass player chops. You can put it on and immediately play. I personally use Robinson’s Lip Renew every single day when I have a lot of playing to do.

CLICK HERE to buy Robinson’s Remedies.

This Holiday Season spend $30 or more you can use the code XMAS2018 and get 20% off!

Disclaimer: I am an endorser of Robinson’s but prior to that I was just a HUGE FAN.

Continue reading Holiday Shopping with Jen

Nicole Abissi – This is Only the Beginning

Nicole Abissi 
The world-class trombonist talks about her experience navigating motherhood while freelancing in New York City.


Nicole
Abissi has some serious trombone “street cred”. She’s performed and held positions in several big orchestras like Alabama and Colorado Symphony as well as being a member of two touring brass groups. And like me, her husband is pretty good at the trombone. Nikki is married to Colin Williams, associate principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic. They reside in Inwood, what we call “Upstate Manhattan” with their sons, toddler Christopher and newborn Alexander.  Continue reading Nicole Abissi – This is Only the Beginning

Issue of Donating Your Time

THIS IS A FRIENDLY PSA…

Musicians get asked to perform at benefits for free a lot. Many times, we are promised a very official sounding piece of paper that says we donated our time and told we use said paper for a tax deduction.

That is wrong.

You cannot deduct these donated services. I’ve checked with musician accountant extraordinaire, Dave Roth of Roth Finance, and I’ve consulted the tax code. No matter what anyone tells you, YOU CANNOT DEDUCT YOUR TIME. Continue reading Issue of Donating Your Time

Destructive Tendencies in Playing and Practicing

I am guilty. I confess. Most days, I hate how I play. It’s been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. I have realized that it isn’t a healthy attitude and though it does occasionally rear it’s ugly head, I thought I might share how I learned to deal with it. 

 

SURVIVING

We can all recognize that negative self talk is detrimental to progress. The first step to surviving and moving past these thoughts is compartmentalizing them. Take the negative thought when it occurs and put it away – you are going to revisit it later. Continue through your practice/rehearsal/gig as normal. You don’t want to be that person on a live gig who screws up and then draws attention to yourself further with a look on your face or a gesture of frustration. 
 
When you are done, examine these thoughts. Your initial reaction might have been negative but what can you learn from your mistake(s)?  I can now make mistakes and move on pretty unscathed on live gigs but I’m still working on this while practicing. 

Continue reading Destructive Tendencies in Playing and Practicing

A Product I Love!

In November, I was lucky enough to have a busy couple months in front of me. I had been perusing Facebook when Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Kenny Rampton popped up. His post was praising a product I’d never seen before. 

Robinson’s Lip Renew

 

 

Let me begin by saying that I am not being paid to endorse this***. These opinions are my own. 

Robinson’s Remedies was founded by Ken Robinson, a trumpet player that had a cold sore problem. He set about to create a product that would help folks with cold sores but ended up with a product that all wind instrumentalists can use. It decreases swelling and absorbs quickly – so quickly that you can play immediately after applying it. No wax, no mess and it smells and tastes pretty good!

I used Robinson’s while playing  multiple Radio City Christmas shows a day on consecutive days a few times a week and my lips weren’t nearly as swollen as they should have been. Honestly, for as much as I was playing, I should have been in much worse shape. To give you a better idea…

My triathlon coach has a saying that describes this gig:

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

The holidays are usually very physically demanding for brass players. Many players have ways of dealing: good hydration (alcohol or water), aspirin, arnica, rest….the list goes on. 

I feel comfortable recommending Robinson’s Lip Remedy as the newest addition to your arsenal. Go forth and blow!

***When I wrote this post, I was not endorsed by Robinson’s Remedies. As of 2019, I have been endorsed by them.