On the Flip Side of Sound

About the Book

About the Author

Born in Moscow, Russia 1943, Ponomarev is a jazz trumpeter who has lived in the U.S. since 1973. He became interested in jazz after he heard it on Voice of America and felt a particular affi nity for Cliff ord Brown. He dedicated countless hours to transcribing, studying and memorizing legendary jazz trumpet solos. In time, he decided to fl ee the Soviet Union and eventually joined Art Blakey’s Th e Jazz Messengers. Once on his own, Valery formed his own band, Universal Language, touring with his big band, playing originals, jazz standards and music from the Jazz Messengers’ repertoire. Ponomarev has worked with musical legends, including Art Blakey and Th e Jazz Messengers, Max Roach, Frank Foster, Paquito de Rivero, Joe Morello, Lee Konitz, Joe Henderson, Bob Berg, Junior Cook, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller, Walter Bishop and Charles McPherson. He has also been featured in a documentary movie Frozen in Amber, Messenger From Russia and 54 minute documentary Trumpet-player from Russia, prodused by Moscow television and Russian State Filming Company. He currently teaches privately and as part of the Wachovia Jazz for Teens Program in Newark, N.J. Interested readers and media professionals can visit www.valeryponomarev.com to read more about Ponomarev and his music.