UK Trombone and Piano Professors Release Brazilian-themed Album

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2018) — University of Kentucky's Bradley Kerns, director of undergraduate studies and associate professor of trombone, and Jacob Coleman, assistant professor of piano, teamed up on a new album titled "Splotch Ecology." The 15-song album is influenced from Kern's visits to Brazil.

"Splotch Ecology" consists of original compositions and arrangements from Brazilian composers for solo trombone and piano.

Kerns joined the UK School of Music's faculty in the fall of 2011. Kerns, who earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from UK while studying with Dale Warren and a master’s degree in music from Boston University while studying with Scot Hartman, has performed all over the the United States and around the world. In addition, he has performed a few times in Brazil at the Brazilian Trombone Association Conference and the DIAT Festival in Recife. Kerns has been involved in almost 30 different recording projects and has released five solo albums prior to "Splotch Ecology."

Coleman, who is from Athens, Georgia, came to UK from University of Southern Mississippi where he directed the Collaborative Piano program and created a new doctoral degree for the area. From 2014-16 he served as visiting assistant professor of collaborative piano at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. Coleman received his degrees from University of Texas at Austin, University of Oregon and University of Georgia.

Inspired by his trips to Brazil and the opportunity to meet many different people and members of the Association of Brazilian Trombonistas, Kerns says the album reflects how he has been changed musically, as well as personally. "Each piece represents a time, place, friendship and more that I have experienced over the years."

Kerns’ favorite song off the album is "4 Miniaturas," which was written by a dear friend, Hugo Pinheiro. The principal trombone player in the Amazonas Philharmonic, Pinheiro and his wife came to the United States last spring so the trio could do a tour of Brazilian works.

"Splotch Ecology" is available through iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other streaming sites.

In January, Kerns and Campbell will take UK students on a trip to Brazil through Education Abroad.

The School of Music, currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, at the UK College of Fine Arts has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, music therapy, composition, and theory and music history.