The Trombone Players

Walt Frasier - Trombone

Walt was born in Newark, NJ, but moved immediately to San Diego, CA, then Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, WA until he was ten. Then followed seven years in the Newark NJ area, followed by seven years in the Philadelphia, PA area. He moved to Maryland in 1972.

Walt started out playing the violin in 4th grade but unfortunately, or fortunately for the Olney Big Band, his high school did not have an orchestra. So, when he got to the ninth grade an uncle, who played with the Coast Guard bands in New York City during World War II and loved Big Band music, gave him an old trombone he had in his attic. The high school Walt attended did not provide for music lessons either, but he was determined to play. On his own, he learned about the bass clef and the seven positions of the trombone. Walt even wrote the positions on top of the notes for a few years and to this day he has never had a trombone lesson.

In 1962 Walt learned to play a baritone bugle and performed with the Woodsiders Drum and Bugle Corps of Newark, NJ. Their theme that year was “big band”. The Olney Big Band plays a number called “Jungle Drums”, which he had not heard in 44 years.

When Walt attended Villanova University, they had a small band and enough trombones so he decided to try his hand at the cornet. One of his uncle’s sons had a trumpet and he taught Walt the fingerings, but no formal training there either. One marching season at Villanova Walt tried the sousaphone, but he could not get used to the large mouthpiece and the bass clef fingering. He marched up and down the field, horn swinging nicely, but not much was coming out of it.

When Walt got married in 1970 his wife (intentionally, he thinks) picked an apartment that was not near any organized band. It was not until 1976 that he began playing trombone again and this is only because his wife gave him one for Christmas. Guess she loves him after all. Walt had no lip and had forgotten the positions, but nevertheless, hejoined the Browningsville Cornet Band (BCB). A few years later, when one of the first trombonists took a leave of absence to recuperate from a finger he had severed while slaughtering hogs, Walt was moved up to first trombone. This encouraged him to practice more than he ever had before, so much so that his wife kept reminding him that he was married and had three small children. In 1987, the BCB needed a director. Walt took an evening conducting course at Montgomery College the year before and managed to lead the band for 13 years. This band has been in continuous existence since 1884, and Walt was its 11th director. He still plays with BCB when he can.

Other important bands that Walt has played with over the years include: Montgomery Village Band; the Village Jazz Band, and the Rockville Concert Band. Walt has a degree in mathematics and is an actuary and a software developer at his day gig. But Walts other love is being on the water. he bought a small sailboat in 1993, graduated to a 30-ft Catalina, and, for the last five summers he has had a 46-ft powerboat. Go to band or go boating, this is what he is often trying to decide during good weather.

Chris Koepke - Trombone

Chris loves playing in the Olney Big Band because the band loves the music so much. The gigs are a blast for the musicians, dancers, and listeners. He was born in Plymouth, Michigan in the Detroit area. His formative years (the 1970s) were spent growing up in Michigan playing with the Plymouth Centennial Park High School Symphonic, Jazz, and Marching bands. Because of the great program in Plymouth, Chris had the honor of playing at the Midwestern Band and Orchestra Conference and also to be part of the band that won First Prize at the Ohio State University Jazz Festival.

During those years, Chris also played lots of Sousa Marches with the Plymouth Community Band and many wind symphony compositions with the University of Michigan Youth Band, and the All-State Band at Interlochen. If you’re looking for a great summer vacation where you get to hear fabulous young musicians, Chris recommends heading to Northern Michigan and stopping by the National Music Camp at Interlochen.

Chris has since played in multiple groups at Michigan State University, a fusion band headed by Michael Mills in New Haven Connecticut, the University of Pennsylvania Jazz Band, and several big jazz bands in the Baltimore area, including the Columbia Jazz Band. If you want to listen to some great accessible jazz that occasionally features the trombone, Chris recommends: 1) any of Toshiko Akiyoshi’s big band/orchestra CDs, if you can find Tales of a Courtesan, definitely get it; 2) anything by Steve Turre, he has great musical sensitivity; and 3) Conrad Herwig’s The Latin Side of Miles.

Chris has a bachelors from Michigan State University and a Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in Communications. he directs communication research and ad campaigns for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs for the United States government. He’s happily married and has one daughter.

Alexander Leishman - Trombone

The first time Alexander heard a baritone horn at an assembly in fourth grade, he knew that he wanted to play that wonderful sounding instrument. He enjoyed playing it in the elementary school band and knew that he wanted to continue his music education. Alexander played through middle school and in high school, where he became even more immersed in music. As a freshman at James Hubert Blake High School, he became very involved in the music program. In fact, before my freshman year even started, he was learning how to march at band camp. This year (2007-2008), as a senior, he became the Field Commander of the marching band.

Blake High School also has a jazz ensemble, and Alexander always aspired to be a member. He found out that if he ever wanted to be a member of the jazz ensemble, he would have to learn to play the trombone. So, he rented a trombone and started lessons, and it was only a matter of time until he had become proficient at the instrument. It was not hard for him to learn because a trombone is very similar to a euphonium. Learning to play the trombone landed him a spot in the All County Honors band and the Eubie Blake Jazz Ensemble.

Alexander started playing in the Olney Big Band his sophomore year when Dave Schumer told him that they needed a trombone player. At first, he had a bit of trouble sight-reading the charts, but as time went on, he became a better jazz musician. One thing that makes his experience in the band unique is that he is at least a decade younger than every other musician (sorry guys). Many people may see this as a bit odd, but he thinks that it is a great experience, being able to learn from more seasoned musicians. He feels the players in the band are not only talented, but kind and accepting as well. He has learned much about music in the Big Band era and hopse to learn even more from the wisdom of the band members.

One very important person in the band is Rip Rice. He welcomed Alexander into the band and has been a great friend ever since. Rip has supported him in his endeavors and encouraged him in many ways. The Olney Big Band is a great band with great people and Alexander feels privileged to be a member of the group and do his part to help the music live on.