The award winning Manhattan Brass, currently in its 16th season, is best known for its innovative programming, dynamic performances and commitment to educating audiences of all ages about live music and the brass idiom. The coming season will see the release of two recordings of recently commissioned works, concerts focusing on the music of American composers, and national touring. Members of the Manhattan Brass include legendary trumpeter Lew Soloff and virtuoso bass trombonist David Taylor; the ensemble is an amalgam of individual musicians, each bringing to the ensemble their unique experience and vision. Comfortable in every genre from Gesualdo to jazz, the quintet is intent on taking brass ensemble playing to another level and bringing their audience with them. In addition to its standard repertoire, the quintet places an emphasis on dynamic programming and on the commissioning and performance of new works, especially those which integrate new or unique styles into the repertoire. Throughout its history the quintet has commissioned and premiered the works of a wide range of composers, including jazz greats Wynton Marsalis and Paquito D' Rivera.

The quintet has been featured on National Public Radio's "Performance Today", has appeared as featured artists in recital on Japanese network NHK-TV's "The Classical Hour", won or placed in numerous competitions, and educated hundreds of thousands of eager young minds in educational workshops and masterclasses.

The quintet's members are New York area freelance musicians - performing in a wide variety of settings in and around New York and around the world. In any given week, one may see members of the MB performing in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, jazz clubs throughout the city or in Broadway pits. MB's members are involved in multiple projects of their own as well; this diversity gives the MB a varied style that reflects performance experience which, if amassed, would total over 100 years.

In 1994 the Manhattan Brass designed educational programs for violin prodigy Midori's non-profit educational program. Since then, the quintet has expanded its educational programs and currently performs concerts and clinics all over the country, collaborating with honored organizations including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Aspen Music Festival & School and the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

For 2008, the MB celebrates CD releases, new programs, tours and more recordings. Look for the first of three CD releases -- "BRASS" -- a collective recording of Daniel Schnyder's brass music, featuring Manhattan Brass as well as concertos for both David Taylor and German trumpeter Reinhold Friedrich, backed up by Absolute Ensemble and the NDR Orchestra. This recording is now available and will be followed by releases -- The Music of David Dzubay; Summer 2008 on Bridge Records and again on ENJA Records early next year.