Henry Wolking

A trombonist and prolific, highly diverse composer who recently retired from The University of Utah’s School of Music after nearly 40 years as Director Of Jazz Studies, Henry Wolking has found creative inspiration in writing for almost every imaginable type of large and small ensemble in classical and jazz music. His prodigious orchestral output includes symphonies, fantasies, and an overture as well as eight concertos featuring various soloists such as jazz quartet, trombone, flute, heckelphone, bassoon, contrabassoon, two pianos and horn. Major music outlets have published more than a hundred of his jazz and brass chamber ensemble works. His catalogue of orchestral, band and jazz ensemble works also is offered through his own company, Wolking Music Publication, (wolkingmusicpublications.com). Over 50 of his jazz big band and small ensemble works are currently available from Ejazzlines (ejazzlines.com). This is his second PARMA recording. His first, CROSS CONNECTION was released on the Navona label in March of 2013. It has received glowing reviews and features “Gone Playin’ for clarinet and string orchestra, and his string quartet, “The Old Gypsy”.

A native of Orlando, Florida, Wolking enjoys bringing complex, sometimes seemingly disparate mixes of compositional elements to music that becomes easily approachable for listeners who appreciate its sincere, fresh cosmopolitan character. The gifts of polyrhythms, melodic chorales, and unmistakable grooving inflections of jazz are treated with the same deep sense of artistic integrity and respect as are fanfare motifs, classic musical forms such as waltzes and tangos, the folk sounds of Central and Eastern Europe, and Afro-Cuban rhythms that infuse his various works. He also composed the theme music for the International Sports Broadcasting in connection with the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah.