BRAZZISSIMO Brass Chamber Music Ensemble
Est. 2001

Thank you for visiting!

It is with deep regret to inform you that our spring and summer concerts for 2020 have been cancelled.

As we presently are unable to perform in a public manner, past concert selections will be posted here on a weekly basis for your listening pleasure. Stay well!

About the ensemble

BRAZZISSIMO is a ten-piece brass "chamber music ensemble". We formed in September of 2001 under the direction of then trumpeter/director Philip Shoptaugh and trombonist friend Jim Jaffe as a result of a late night reading session which took place at the Humboldt State Brass Chamber Music Workshop. Philip Jones' music was on the menu that evening and the spark was ignited. Since then we have been performing especially arranged or composed music for this ensemble's configuration with emphasis on classical, jazz, Latin and contemporary pieces for Bay Area audiences ever since.

We utilize a combination of four trumpets (piccolo trumpet, various pitched trumpets and flugelhorn), four trombones (including baritone horn), French horn and tuba. Added percussionists accompany many of our concerts.

Our musicians, year in and year out, are representative of some of the finest in the S.F. Bay Area. Our members perform with various orchestras, symphonic bands, smaller chamber groups, and many also are music educators.

2020 represents BRAZZISSIMO's 19th season, and as we roar ahead our unrelenting MISSION is to showcase exciting and true interpretations of brass chamber literature to you. Our consistent GOAL is to present the most enjoyable and memorable concert-going experiences possible.

Dean