Ira John Rapson, III (born February 4, 1953, Gary, Indiana, died July 21, 2021, Iowa City, Iowa)[1] was an American jazz trombonist and educator.
Rapson began on piano at age five before switching to trombone. He studied at Westmont College, graduating in 1976, then took his MA in composition at California State University. Rapson taught at Westmont from 1980 to 1990, concurrently playing in Los Angeles with Vinny Golia (1979–1990). He also worked with Tim Berne (1980, 1986), Walter Thompson (1980), Bobby Bradford (1986–1990), and John Carter (1988–1990). He worked extensively as a leader with noted West Coast jazz players. His sextet, active from 1982–1985, included Golia, Wayne Peet, Alex Cline, and Roberto Miguel Miranda; his octet, active from 1985–1990, had Golia, Cline, Ken Filiano, John Fumo, Kim Richmond or Steve Fowler, and Bill Roper as members. He also led a trio in 1986-1987 with Golia and Miranda.
Rapson moved to the East Coast in 1990, studying at Wesleyan University, where he received his doctorate in ethnomusicology.[2] He played with Anthony Braxton in 1992 and worked with Ed Blackwell (1990–1991), Jay Hoggard (1990–1992), and Allen Lowe (1991–1992). He again led a sextet from 1992-1999 with Braxton, Bradford, Peet, Roper, and Cline. In 1993 he became a faculty member of the University of Iowa School of Music, where he was director of jazz studies and conductor of the school's Johnson County Landmark jazz band. He led his own big band in 1994, the OftENsemble, and formed the Oddball Trio Plus Trombone in 1996 with Steve Grismore.
Gary W. Kennedy, "John Rapson". Grove Jazz online.
April 20, 2023
john, rapson, born, february, 1953, gary, indiana, died, july, 2021, iowa, city, iowa, american, jazz, trombonist, educator, rapson, began, piano, five, before, switching, trombone, studied, westmont, college, graduating, 1976, then, took, composition, califor. Ira John Rapson III born February 4 1953 Gary Indiana died July 21 2021 Iowa City Iowa 1 was an American jazz trombonist and educator Rapson began on piano at age five before switching to trombone He studied at Westmont College graduating in 1976 then took his MA in composition at California State University Rapson taught at Westmont from 1980 to 1990 concurrently playing in Los Angeles with Vinny Golia 1979 1990 He also worked with Tim Berne 1980 1986 Walter Thompson 1980 Bobby Bradford 1986 1990 and John Carter 1988 1990 He worked extensively as a leader with noted West Coast jazz players His sextet active from 1982 1985 included Golia Wayne Peet Alex Cline and Roberto Miguel Miranda his octet active from 1985 1990 had Golia Cline Ken Filiano John Fumo Kim Richmond or Steve Fowler and Bill Roper as members He also led a trio in 1986 1987 with Golia and Miranda Rapson moved to the East Coast in 1990 studying at Wesleyan University where he received his doctorate in ethnomusicology 2 He played with Anthony Braxton in 1992 and worked with Ed Blackwell 1990 1991 Jay Hoggard 1990 1992 and Allen Lowe 1991 1992 He again led a sextet from 1992 1999 with Braxton Bradford Peet Roper and Cline In 1993 he became a faculty member of the University of Iowa School of Music where he was director of jazz studies and conductor of the school s Johnson County Landmark jazz band He led his own big band in 1994 the OftENsemble and formed the Oddball Trio Plus Trombone in 1996 with Steve Grismore Contents 1 Discography 1 1 As leader 1 2 As sideman 2 ReferencesDiscography EditAs leader Edit Bu Wah Nine Winds 1986 Bing Sound Aspects 1990 Dances amp Orations Music amp Arts 1996 Water and Blood Nine Winds 2001 As sideman Edit With Vinny Golia The Gift of Fury Nine Winds 1982 Compositions for Large Ensembles Nine Winds 1984 Deeba Dah Bwee Nine Winds 1985 Facts of Their Own Lives Nine Winds 1988 Pilgrimage to Obscurity Nine Winds 1989 With others 7X Tim Berne Empire 1980 Stardate Walter Thompson Dane 1980 Headless Household Josef Woodard and Dick Dunlap HH 1987 New Tango 92 After Astor Piazzolla Julius Hemphill and Allen Lowe Fairhaven 1991 Mental Strain at Dawn A Modern Portrait of Louis Armstrong Doc Cheatham and David Murray Stash 1992 4 Ensemble Compositions 1992 Anthony Braxton Black Saint 1993 As director Been There Done That University of Iowa Johnson County Landmark John Rapson director self production 1995 A Mingus Among Us University of Iowa Johnson County Landmark John Rapson director self production 1996 References Edit Obituary Iowa City Press Citizen July 23 2021 Retrieved September 11 2022 Programs Office of Community Engagement Gary W Kennedy John Rapson Grove Jazz online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Rapson amp oldid 1109710089, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
