Big Band

I began writing for big band in 2017 as part of MSU’s Arranging and Composition class taught by Etienne Charles. That spring semester resulted in one big band chart - an arrangement of “How High the Moon.” Later that year in the fall semester, Prof Charles asked me to bring in a big band chart for each concert cycle, starting with “How High the Moon.” For each concert, I’d bring in my chart to rehearsals, and we’d workshop it with the big band - resulting in lots of printing on my end. Being able to hear my charts and receive feedback with a live big band and expert arranger proved invaluable. Over the course of six months or so following my graduation in 2018, Prof Rodney Whitaker asked me to write about 20+ charts for both the MSU Jazz Orchestra I and the Dr. Phillips Center Jazz Orchestra. This had me writing, writing, writing, allowing me to try many new things in my charts. I finished these charts around the start of 2019, and at that point, I began to think about my own big band. Later in 2019, I debuted my own big band, cleverly called the Joseph Herbst Big Band, with a Coltrane Celebration at the BLOCK off biltmore in Asheville. Below, you can learn a little bit more about my current and upcoming big band projects.

Coltrane Celebration celebrates the life and music of John Coltrane, featuring arrangements of his music and originals inspired by his life.

The show features a spoken word artist presenting the words and writings of Coltrane, performed both in between big band pieces backed by Coltrane's music in its simplest form as well as interwoven into the fabric of the performance of the full ensemble.

The use of a big band to share Coltrane’s music creates a medium that allows for us to paint a story of his life through music, extrapolating the complex yet beautiful emotions of his playing into a 17-piece ensemble.

Coltrane’s life and beliefs were intricately linked with his music. A celebration of Coltrane cannot be solely music – it must include all aspects of his life. Through this, Coltrane’s music is still timely today, speaking to the current political and racial state of our nation. This will not just be a historical celebration of Coltrane’s life, but also a reworking of his music and life in present time, making us look inwards and outwards in the way Coltrane would do if he were alive today.

From the sheer wonder of nature to the everlasting bonds of friendship, we live in a truly magical world. Perhaps the creation that best captures this, to me, is Bill Watterson's "Calvin & Hobbes."

This Magical World features original music inspired by "Calvin & Hobbes," embracing our inner child and exploring all this world has to offer, from our fears to our hopes, our struggles to our victories. The project also features coloring books coordinating with each piece designed by Asheville based cartoonist Michael Cole.

It’s the 20s again! In honor of both this and the year of the double 20, we’re celebrating 20s. Years ending in the 20s. The numbers 20-29. Artists in their 20s. Basically, ALL the 20s. We’ll showcase 20 pieces of art in 2 hours (20 hours is just too long).

One of my personal and artistic goals starting this year is to collaborate more. I believe collaboration is one of the most powerful things we can do as it brings people together rather than pitting them against one another. In that light, I'll be collaborating with a handful of artists for this show.

Though postponed due to coronavirus, the original performance of this shows was set to happen during Women’s History Month. In that light, the show prominently features women and non-binary artists, both from today and through history.