Author Archives: Stephen Nutt

Personal Memories by Jim Self

I had a 60 year relationship with the late, great Roger Bobo. Many words have been written about his life and extraordinary career — including Steve Oberheu’s book of his life, “Pirate Songs and Love Songs”.  So, not to repeat that stuff, I will try to relate my personal moments, feelings, opinions and experiences with him.

My first knowledge of Roger was in the late 60’s, when I heard his 1^st Solo album “Roger Bobo Plays the Tuba“.  It blew me away! I was studying with Harvey Phillips in New York then. Harvey was the most prominent tuba soloist in the world at the time. Then Roger shook up the tuba world. That LP stretched the tuba technique, range and energy level to its extremes...

   A Memoir

This is my 4^th travel memoir this year. Each one required music performance and teaching. After 2 ½ years of COVID I am making up for lost time. 

The Amigos met up a Newark Airport for our flight to Lisbon. A glitch in the plane made us 4 hours late—but we did go that night. 

For several years now Portuguese tuba virtuoso Sergio Carolino has hosted a low brass festival/academy called Gravissimo in his hometown of Alcobaca.  He has often invited me to be a guest artist but, because it was held in late August, it always conflicted with the beginning of the Los Angeles Opera season—and I was unable to participate. This year he scheduled it in late July...

A Memoir

This week I travelled to Washington, DC to play in the Alumni Band celebrating 100th Anniversary of The United States Army Band. For many of the recent years they have had alumni bands, but I was never able to make it due to work conflicts. But the 100th only happens once and I was able to go. It was especially encouraging to know that Dan Perantoni and Chester Schmitz would be there too. We were in the concert band together in the mid 60’s, during the Viet Nam War. 

I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 3 1/2 years in January 1965 with a Music Education degree. But mid-year there were no decent jobs available. Just by chance I went to a TUSAB concert in Harrisburg...

Pennsylvania 2022 

Memoir

I just finished one of the most rewarding weeks of my life in southwestern Pennsylvania. I was invited to be an Artist in Residence at my alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania — more than two years ago. It was postponed twice due to Covid but finally happened this week. I am from the area and am a Distinguished Alumnus of the school. Because I had a relationship with the River City Brass Band in Pittsburgh and its conductor, James Gourlay, I made an agreement with them to do professional audio/video recordings of two of my challenging compositions for Brass Band, “Tour de Force” and “Flying Circus”. I think the RCBB is one of the finest in the world and have special understanding of my complex rhythmic music...