Curt Hanrahan is a fixture on the Milwaukee jazz scene, where he leads a group, has worked alongside countless greats -- from the city and from far beyond -- and teaches saxophone and directs the jazz program at UW-Milwaukee.
He is also leader of the new Milwaukee Jazz Orchestra which performed two weeks ago at UWM with Jon Faddis.
In addition to issuing three discs as a leader -- the latest is "Souljourner" on Chicago's Blujazz Productions -- Hanrahan boasts a resume that reads like a musical who's who.
He has played with Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Diane Schurr, Bobby Caldwell, the Manhattan Transfer, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Arturo Sandoval, Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra Jr., the Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras, the Doc Severinsen Big Band, Jan Garber and Harry Connick Jr.
You may also have unknowingly heard Hanrahan play with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Fireside Theater, Skylight Theater and with touring shows like "West Side Story," "Hairspray," "Spamalot," "The Color Purple," "Dreamgirls," "Legally Blonde" and "Little Shop of Horrors."
We talked to Hanrahan about "Souljourner," which features two Hanrahan originals, two more written by guitarist Jay Mollerskov and a trio of standards, of which Hanrahan says, "the three standards ... were included because of their complete balance structure, melodically and harmonically. They fit the intent of the original compositions and create an overall arc on the CD."
The disc -- which also features drummer Dave Wall and bassist Tim Hanrahan -- was recorded live at Caroline's Jazz Club and the UWM Recital Hall in 2010. "A Child Is Born" was recorded at Dave Vartanian's Shorewood studio 14 years earlier.
OnMilwaukee.com: Tell us a bit about making the record. Did you record the dates at Caroline's and UWM knowing you'd make the disc or did the disc grow out of having made those great recordings?
Curt Hanrahan: I wanted to do a mix of live and studio recordings with the group. I wanted to catch the ambience of the recital hall at UWM using the grand piano, and the live version was to create music in the moment without the usual studio enhancements.
OMC: How does the DV track fit in?
CH: The DV track was used because of its close relationship to the live Thad Jones composition, and it gives the Thad tunes a feeling of timelessness.
OMC: Is the group on the disc your regular working group?
CH: The group on the CD is the regular working group, and I like to add special musical guests on all of my gigs.
OMC: How many CDs have you released as a leader?
CH: I have released thee CDs :"Hangtime" on the now-defunct J-Bird label, Curt Hanrahan Septet "To Be Again," (on) Blujazz label, and the most recent, "Souljourner," also on Blujazz.
OMC: What's your sense of the jazz scene in the city at the moment? Does it feel like it's surging a little right now?
CH: Yes, with the new Milwaukee Jazz Vision Web site and the interest of the local jazz musicians to support each other and be a collective has helped tremendously raise the level of consciousness of the Milwaukee public.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
