Ever since I can remember, I've been surrounded by the sound of brass instruments. Hardly a surprise, since everyone in my family played them; my father cornet & alto horn, my mother euphonium and my brothers cornet. Even my uncles, aunts and cousins played them. In fact, my first lessons were from my dad. Later I was fortunate enough to play in great brass sections, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, The Mingus Big Band, The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, George Gruntz Concert Band and many others. I worked with three of the premier brass groups in the world of jazz, Howard Johnson Gravity, Slide Hampton's World of trombones and Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy. All of them were unique, incredible learning experiences for a bass trombonist, tuba player and arranger. They say as an artist you spend your career trying to get back to your roots and I guess that's true in my case. Brass Carnival has instrumentation similar to a Salvation Army brass band with Latin percussion. Its focus is on various kinds of carnival music, painted on a Jazz canvas. Tribute! Is a smaller group that pays tribute to my many influences. It’s comprised of trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, mallet percussion and drums. In addition, my partner in life, crime and practically everything else, Renée Manning contributes two vocals (and wrote one excellent ballad!) in her own inimitable fashion. A veteran of Mel Lewis Orchestra, George Gruntz and our own Funk and Jazz projects, she’s simply one of the best all around vocalists you’ll ever hear. Earl McIntyre Brass Carnival Personnel: Trumpets: Seneca Black*, James Cage III*, Stanton Davis, Lew Soloff; Flugelhorn: Jim Seeley, French horn: Vincent Chancey*, John Clark, Mark Taylor Trombones: Danny Hall*, Andy Hunter, Earl McIntyre; Euphoniums: David Bargeron*, Joe Daley, Greg Erickson Tuba: Howard Johnson (F), Bob Stewart (C); Percussion: Joe Gonzalez, Roland Guerrero, Victor See Yuen; Drums: Vince Cherico *lead players Conducted By David Amram Tribute! Personnel: Trumpet: Kenny Rampton; French horn: Vincent Chancey; Trombone: Sam Burtis; Tuba & Bass Trombone: Earl McIntyre; Vibraphone & Tambourine: Warren Smith; Drums: Vinnie Johnson