Professor of Music Thomas Erdmann had an article published his 295th peer-reviewed article.
Professor Thomas Erdmann, Music Department Professor Emeritus, had an article published in the June 2023 issue of The International Trumpet Guild Journal.
The article, “Brad Goode: Really Improvising Instead of Reciting Material,” is about the trumpeter, bassist, drummer, composer and arranger, Brad Goode.
Regarding Goode, JazzTimes’ Doug Ramsey wrote, “Goode’s interval leaps, fragmented phrases, squeezed arpeggios, slurs, smears and other applications of his advanced technique may be partly for fun, but in that exercise in fractured tempo, his whimsical bits and pieces combine with those of the rhythm section to form a sensible abstract-expression. He has internalized the profound harmonic lessons of Gillespie and Parker and applies them in a very personal way.” In Goode’s adopted city of Chicago, the critics are also overwhelmed. The Chicago Sun-Times wrote, “(Goode) has transcended the standard-issue solutions and copycat technique that characterize so many players of his generation.” The Chicago Tribune was more concise, simply calling him, “The lyrical genius of the trumpet.” Downbeat noted, “Goode juxtaposes the lyrical with the angular, fireworks with introspection and virtuosity with understatement.” It is, however, jazz historian Mark Gridley who sums Goode up best writing, “Tired of hearing trumpet clones of Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard? Want a cliché-free style? Try the fresh style of Brad Goode. It’s got power and swing, tenderness and depth.” Truer words are rarely written.
While born in Chicago, Goode spent his high school years in East Lansing, Michigan. A Bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Kentucky was followed by a Master’s degree in bass performance from DePaul. Trumpet study, however, never stopped. Following Kentucky, while living in Chicago, Goode spent five years driving back-and-forth to Bloomington, Indiana to study with Bill Adam. It was the professional jazz gigs starting while still in high school, such as trading fours with Cat Anderson on a concert at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp as just one example, which helped develop Goode’s style. Mentorships included trumpeter Red Rodney, who helped Goode learn, “the goal is to sing the music through one’s instrument,” and multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan. A pivotal experience was meeting and working with saxophone legend Von Freeman, who became Goode’s “hero.” Later Clark Terry helped Goode build his chops back up after some lip problems, resulting in another close mentor relationship. Terry also passed on the secrets of doodle-tonguing, which Goode has mastered.
Today Goode leads his own band featuring saxophonist Ernie Watts, and has toured and recorded with Von Freeman, Red Rodney, Eddie Harris, Ira Sullivan, Curtis Fuller, Jack DeJohnette, Ernie Krivda, Eddie Johnson, Rosemary Clooney, Barrett Deems and the Woody Herman Orchestra. Furthermore, Goode is now in the bands of Sinatra-styled multi-platinum selling crooner Matt Dusk, and West African drummer Paa Kow.
All of this, however, isn’t enough for Goode as he’s also dedicated his life to passing on his abundance of knowledge. Currently on the faculty at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Goode teaches jazz improvisation and jazz history, has a jazz trumpet studio and conducts ensembles. He also teaches middle and high school students through the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, is on the faculty of the Jazz Trumpet Consortium, directs a summer jazz camp at CU, and serves as the Musical Director for the Conference on World Affairs. Previous teaching appoints include The American Conservatory of Music, The University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Cuyahoga Community College, and New Trier High School. Proof of his pedagogical capabilities is seen in the great number of Goode’s students who have gone on to great playing careers of their own.