Big Band Album Recording

I’m recording a big band album!

A long time coming, this project is the result of my many years of music and life for me. From my time of study at the University of Oregon with Steve Owen, to a brief mentorship with Buddy Rich writer John LaBarbera, through several big band shows and over 3 hours of original music, I’m overjoyed this album will feature some truly wonderful friends and colleagues such as Steve Owen (Professor Emeritus, UO), Paul Krueger (Director of Jazz Studies, UO), Miki Sasaki (Professor of Trumpet, UO, Canadian Brass) Matt Ingman (Ed Palermo Big Band) and so many other fantastic musicians from the Pacific Northwest. Stay tuned to meet the full band! Our studio time summer of 2025 will be an absolute blast!

The album will feature movements of a suite I wrote over a few years ago, detailing the experience of a practice called apophaticism, essentially meaning knowledge by way of negation. Although it feels like a cliche to touch on our divided world and country, caring deeply about important matters in life can also make it difficult to see and hear those that are different from us. The practice of Apophatic mediation, though doesn’t ask one to compromise a necessary sense of right and wrong, does enable one to see those around them through the lense of love and understanding. You can listen to the Nathan Poehlke Jazz Ensemble here: nathanpoehlke.com/music

If you’d like to contribute to this work and the perpetuation of big band music here are a few things you can do:

Donate! ($0-$5000+)

As you may imagine, getting 17 world class musicians shoved into a studio to play some very difficult music takes a lot of time and money! From players, to food and lodging, to travel, to studio time, to mixing, etc., things add up! Your financial contributions make a huge difference in showing the players the amount of respect they deserve. Any donation of $20 or more gets you a free copy of the album and a special donation of $1000 or more will secure your name, if desired, on a special list of sponsors in the album liner notes, PLUS an invitation to visit our studio during the recording session!

Sponsor a Videographer! ($1000 only)

If desired, your single donation of $1000 can be made directly towards hiring a videographer and producing a video for our studio time! Just write “Video” in your donation for a special mention in our credits.

Come see a show! (Tickets $20)

We’ll be playing a fundraising event at the Jazz Station on April 11 where you’ll get to hear newly composed music, some old favourites from the NPJE book, and hear a little bit more in person about the album and the inspiration behind the suite. See https://thejazzstation.org/get-tickets/upcoming-shows/#!event-list for tickets.