Nathan Tanouye | Trombone
An alumnus of UNLV, Nathan Tanouye holds a Bachelor of Music degree with dual concentration in applied trombone and jazz studies. He also holds a Master of Music degree in trombone performance from Texas Tech University.
As a freelance trombonist, he has worked with artists such as Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, The Temptations, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Donny & Marie Osmond, Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Alicia Keys, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Weird Al Yankovic and Kanye West. In addition, Tanouye has been the Principal Trombonist in the Las Vegas Philharmonic since 1998 and has performed on the Las Vegas Strip in shows such asHairspray, The Producers, and Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers. Since 2005, Tanouye has performed and recorded with Las Vegas’ premier horn band, Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns, a 15-piece band for which he also writes and arranges.
As a composer, he has written works for many different sizes of ensembles, ranging from jazz trio to symphony orchestra and has received commissions from numerous groups including the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Tanouye has also done extensive work as an arranger and orchestrator for names like Human Nature, Bette Midler and Celine Dion. He also regularly writes for and directs the 34-piece Las Vegas Jazz Connection, which has recorded four CDs of his compositions and arrangements.
Currently, Tanouye holds the position of Associate Professor of Jazz and Commercial Music as well as Studio Trombone at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is Trombonist for Celine Dion and Lady Gaga’s Jazz & Piano show.
MUSIC
"Remembering Russ"
As a tribute to Russ Freeman, arranger/composer Nathan Tanouye and the Las Vegas Jazz Connection, with vocalists The Cunninghams and Martin Nievera, have produced this album of some of Freeman’s finest work.
An added bonus is Tanouye’s lyrical tribute to Russ, “Peace For Russ”, featuring soloist Bobby Shew-a piece and a performance that awakens the deep feeling of loss from no longer having this giant musica talent among us. Also, Tanouye has put together a barn-burning arrangement of “One On One” from the Shelly Manne and Russ Freeman CD “One On One”, and with the good graces of Contemporary, Russ’s original solo has been interpolated into this track between an outstanding foray by Phil Wigfall and a highly inventive solo by drummer John Abraham.
To cap everything off, the band literally roars. “Music Is Forever” was written by Russ and Annie Ross as a remembrance of all their contemporaries. It is dedicated to Monty Budwig whose loss created the song.
