Alan Raph
Alan Raph (born July 3, 1933, in New York City ) is a bass trombonist, composer, arranger, and conductor who founded and conducts the Danbury Brass Band. He has recorded with many popular musicians and for television, movies, and ballet. He was for many years on first call with most New York City recording studios. Life. Raph was born in New York City to Marion McGuire and Ted Raph. His father was a jazz trombonist in the 1920s and 1930s. Raph married Theresa Capp on October 5, 1957. They had two children. In 1978 he married musician Mary Ann  O'Connor with whom he has a daughter. Education. Raph graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. He then studied at Teachers College Columbia University where he received a Masters of Arts degree. He has studied privately with Nadia Boulanger, John Mehegan, Simon Karasick, and Gabriel Masson. Professional career. He was a charter member of the American Symphony Orchestra for which he played the bass trombone. He was for many years the bass trombone player on first call with most New York City recording studios. He has performed under the direction of Leopold Stokowski , with the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band and the Chamber Brass Players. As a freelance trombonist, he has recorded albums with artists including Quincy Jones, Don Sebesky, Philip Glass, the NBC Opera Company, Eugene Ormandy, Paul Whiteman and his Palais Royale Orchestra, the Ballet Bolshoi Theatre, Diana Ross, Lena Horne and Mel Torme. He has also recorded music for many movies and television shows including "Sesame Street", "The Cosby Show", "Name That Tune", "The Godfather", "The Producers", "Midnight Cowboy", "Hamburger Hill", "Bananas", "Kundun", "Fog of War", "Secret Window", and "Taking Lives". He was a professor at the Teachers College of  Columbia University in New York City, as well as instructor and associate professor at Queens College of the City University of New York. He is the founder, music director, and conductor of the Danbury Brass Band, for which he has composed and arranged many pieces. The ensemble is composed of trumpets, cornets, French horns, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas. The band has performed abroad in Australia, Bermuda, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. He has composed for the Joffrey Ballet Company. He also arranged several songs for the Broadway musical Rockabye Hamlet (1976). Raph is a member of ASCAP. Raph is known  for his low range playing. He was awarded the Most Valuable Player award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Discography. With J. J. Johnson With Lee Konitz With Gerry Mulligan With Jerome Richardson