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o many music enthusiasts, The Four Freshmen need no introduction. Starting as college students in 1948, the young group won fame with their renditions of “Graduation Day,” “Poinciana,” “Day by Day” and “It’s a Blue World.” Stan Kenton played a major role in advancing the early career of The Four Freshmen, and their unique sound strongly influenced other vocal groups, such as Manhattan Transfer, Take 6 and the Beach Boys. Now, more than 65 years later, the names and faces have changed a few times, but the harmony and legendary sound of The Four Freshmen continue to fascinate audiences worldwide. Today’s Four Freshmen ensemble is considered by many to be the greatest jazz vocal group of all time. The current quartet consists of highly educated, musically diverse young men who provide their own accompaniment. They not only preserve the Freshmen sound, they enhance it with their youth, vitality and talent, giving new treatments to the Great American Songbook.
They continue to tour worldwide with sold-out audiences, sharing their unique brand of magnetism, stage presence and approach to the Freshmen standards.
Bob Ferreira
B Photo courtesy of Thomas Nguyen, Thomas.chron@gmail.com
ob Ferreira, with his world-class bass voice and drumming ability, brings a combination of charisma and coordination to the performances while maintaining a warm relationship with the audience. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, Bob moved with his family to the Seattle area when he was young. He began drum lessons in high school and vocal training a year later when he joined the symphonic choir and vocal jazz ensembles. Bob attended Edmonds Community College in Washington, where he sang with the regionally renowned vocal jazz ensemble “Soundsation” under the direction of Kirk Marcy. After two years of performing with that group and one year playing drums in the alternate vocal jazz lab, Bob transferred to Central Washington University to major in music education. In 1992 he was approached by his former instructor, Kirk Marcy, to audition for The Four Freshmen, and he was invited to join the group. When he isn’t touring with the Freshmen, he lives in Las Vegas. Ferreira cites Mel Tormé, Mark Murphy and Chet Baker as his vocal influences. His drummer inspirations have come from Jeff Hamilton, Mel Lewis, Jimmy Cobb, Philly Joe Jones, Buddy Rich, Shelly Manne, Max Roach and Roy Haynes. Jazz artists he enjoys listening to for inspiration are Julie London (all time favorite female vocalist), Kenny Burrell (favorite jazz guitarist), Art Pepper and Clifford Brown.
Brian Eichenberger
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usical versatility and creativity describe Brian Eichenberger, who not only performs as lead vocalist and guitarist, but has updated many of The Four Freshmen standards with his arrangements. Brian was raised in Apple Valley, Minnesota and was introduced to jazz harmonies with his high school vocal group. He studied harmony at Phil Mattson’s School for Music Vocations in Creston, Iowa. In 1996 The Four Freshmen were looking for a new member to play bass and sing the second part. Following an audition and a strong recommendation from his former teacher, Phil Mattson, Eichenberger got the job. A few years later, he changed to lead singer, one of only three lead singers in the Freshmen’s history. In his free time, Brian is also a songwriter. He has recently released a CD with ten of his original songs. His musical influences include Sting, Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder.
Vince Johnson
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uality, details, and eloquent versatile coordination are what Vince Johnson brings to his music. Throughout his career as a musician/singer he maintains the utmost respect for solid musical concepts and artistry. Born in San Luis Obispo, California, Vince grew up mesmerized by music and loved every minute of all the musical organizations in which he participated. Over the course of his career he has sung vocals and played bass, trombone, piano, drums/percussion and guitar. More recently he has been developing quite a reputation as a whistler. Vince’s influences range from bassists Ray Brown, John Clayton and Edgar Meyer, to vocalists Take 6, vocalist/pianist/arranger Harry Connick Jr., drummer Jeff Hamilton, musical mastermind Brian Wilson, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Vince received his Bachelor of Music in Performance from Cal State Long Beach, and his Master of Music in Jazz Studies from USC, all the while working with many incredible educators, musicians, and singers within the Southern California scene. He joined The Four Freshmen in 1999.
Curtis Calderon
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urtis Calderon has been developing his considerable skill with the trumpet since he was eleven years old. His lively interludes bring contemporary sophistication to the traditional Freshmen arrangements. The last to join the current group (in 2001), Curtis brings spontaneity and wit to the performances while singing second voice. He also plays the flugelhorn. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, he won first chair in the Texas All-State Jazz band his senior year in high school. After graduating, Curtis traveled throughout the world with various bands from the modern day Glenn Miller Orchestra to the Hoagy Carmichael Centennial band. Three years before Curtis joined the Freshmen, the other members had seen him perform in San Antonio at a Riverwalk Jazz Club. When their current trumpet player decided to retire from the group, Curtis was called. His musical influences include Chet Baker, Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder. Outside of his Freshmen performances, Curtis has produced a CD called “Lost Soul: A Tribute to Chet Baker.� In his free time, he also performs at jazz clubs around the San Antonio area.
Songbook
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he current group has produced several CD projects including: “In Session,” “Live In Holland,” “Snowfall,” “Live from Las Vegas” DVD and CD, and “Four Freshmen and Live Trombones.” Among their songs are: After You’ve Gone And So It’s Over Angel Eyes Candy Day By Day Day In, Day Out Easy Street Every Time We Say Goodbye Fools Rush In Give Me The Simple Life Graduation Day Guilty How Can I Tell Her How Do You Keep The Music Playing? I Could Have Told You So If I Had You Indian Summer In This Whole Wide World Invitation It Could Happen To You It’s a Blue World It’s All Right With Me I Wish I Knew Laura Little Girl Blue
Mam’selle Polka Dots And Moonbeams Poinciana Rain Route 66 September Song Skylark Somebody Loves Me Something’s Gotta Give Speak Low That Old Feelin’ The Day Isn’t Long Enough The Star Spangled Banner Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring There Will Never Be Another You We’ll Be Together Again You Made Me Love You You Stepped Out Of A Dream Young And Foolish You’ve Changed You’ve Got Me Cryin’ Again
The Four Freshmen style has been responsible for over 50 albums, 70 top selling singles and six Grammy nominations. Voted as Downbeat Magazine’s Vocal Group of the Year Gordon Garrett, President of the Sarasota in 2000 and 2001 as well as Vocal Jazz Club, presents the 2010 Satchmo award Group of the Year for 2007 by Jazz to The Four Freshmen. Times magazine, they received the acclaimed “Satchmo” award in 2010 from the Sarasota Jazz Club.
Photo courtesy of Richard Obney
Awards
Stay Connected Fan-based • The Four Freshmen sound is unique, and so is the Four Support Group Freshmen Society (FFS), a fan-based support group encompassing the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. Although the FFS does not manage engagements, it supports the vocalists in many other ways. Membership in the FFS is a great way to keep the sound alive for new generations. Members receive the quarterly Fresh News newsletter, with up-to-date information on the group’s performance calendar and activities. The FFS also holds an annual convention with three nights of extraordinary jazz to share with other Freshmen fans from around the world. www.fourfreshmensociety.com Yahoo Forum • An interactive Yahoo site is available to fans for talking about The Four Freshmen and other jazz topics. To join, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fourfreshmen and click on “Join This Group!” Tours/Videos/ CDs
• The current tour schedule and selected performance videos are available at www.4freshmen.com and www. fourfreshmensociety.com, where CDs/DVDs are also sold.
Facebook/ Twitter
• The Four Freshmen may be accessed at 4freshmen.com/facebook and 4freshmen.com/twitter.
Personal Management
• For additional information on The Four Freshmen, contact IVI, info@ivimanagement.com, 661-259-4500.