Special American Idol Performance

Tonight’s American Idol performance  will be special. When Dontae hits the stage tonight, he will be doing so with his new flugelhorn from Adams.

Can’t wait to bring out my new Adams flugelhorn, I’m pleased with the horn’s flexibility, as well as the warm sound it produces.. I’m really excited about playing it on American Idol tonight…Dontae Winslow

This will be Dontae’s third trip to American Idol this month. A trip he hopes to make many more times in the future. Things are hush-hush on who Winslow will be performing with, to find out, tune in tonight at 8 pm  on Fox. For a peek at what it takes to be a professional musician and video of Dontae’s earlier Idol performances, check out Dontae on playing on American Idol

My Second performance on American Idol April 6th, 2011. What a Great Day!!!

This year has been crazy for me.. wow! My latest blessing has been the opportunity to return to American Idol. To play in front of millions of people once is a huge deal for me, getting the opportunity to do it twice.. unbelievable. The opportunity is only half the battle, find out what it takes to play on prime-time television on one of the highest rated television shows in history.

I woke up early and had a good breakfast, prayer, and a soft warm up on the trumpet. Traffic was terrible on the 101 to CBS Studios Hollywood but I was early. I arrived to be notified that Ron Fair (Music executive, producer, Arranger) wanted to rehearse newly written horn parts. Keep in mind, we had to memorize all the previous American Idol music the night before the show and sometimes the day of the show! Now more changes…talk about pressure. Especially since if you can’t get it, your replacement is only 10 numbers away and you will be banished for LIFE!!!

Ron had written our parts out by hand the night before. Lucky for us, his penmanship was excellent! Charts looked perfect so we were prepared for the changes. All seem to be going well until the dress rehearsal. The horn section got thrown another curve ball of adding an intro and an outro to the song. So now we’re back to memorizing it LOL! The bottom line, playing on the big stage takes much more than being able to play an instrument or singing a note. What I am finding out, is that you have to be as flexible as you are talented.

Despite the hectic paces going on behind the scenes, the show was fantastic! Pia Toscano, she was great. She gave an amazing performance and the horn section rocked! The judges were pleased as was the audience. Having a live horn section always makes any good show great!!! We had a great lunch, and after the 2 minute gig I was back on the stop and go 101 freeway and back to my loving wife and son.
Today was a great day!

-DMW

check out the performance in its’ entirety below, Pictures and video courtesy of Fox, American Idol, and YouTube. So what do you think? Any questions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Wed. May4th Dontae Winslow Quartet Vibrato Jazz and Grill Bel Air 6pm

Cost: Free

Great Food, Intimate, sexy atmosphere (upscale dress)

2930 North Beverly Glen Circle
Los Angeles, CA 90077
(310) 474-940

For more information Contact Vibrato Jazz and Grill

Tonight Dontae Winslow jazz guest with Walter Smith @Supper Club Downtown LA 8pm @1st and Hope Kevin Kanner Quintet

DirectTV Black History Event

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: In celebration of Black History Month, DIRECTV, along with BET/CENTRIC Networks and the Partnership for L.A. Schools, will host Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as he addresses students at a special assembly at Santee High School in Los Angeles today. Jazz icon and 14-time Grammy Award winner, Herbie Hancock, will also perform at this once-in-a-lifetime event. In addition, the program will feature Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as a guest speaker, as well as a performance by the Crenshaw High School Elite Choir.

The 75-minute program will be filmed at Santee High School, which is part of the Partnership for L.A. Schools program started by Mayor Villaraigosa, and will be offered as a special broadcast this spring to the 7,500 schools nationwide that receive complimentary educational programming through the DIRECTV GOES TO SCHOOL program. For information on specific airdates and times please visit www.directvgoestoschool.com.

We are thrilled and honored that Archbishop Desmond Tutu is participating in our Black History Month celebration and sharing his vision of how young Americans can help shape our future leadership, said Mike White, chairman, president and CEO of DIRECTV. This is an invaluable opportunity for students to hear such an important historical figure speak, as well as experience a live performance by music legend Herbie Hancock, and we are proud to be a part of it.

CENTRIC is excited to be partnering with DIRECTV on such an innovative program that marries both music and education and brings it to the classroom, said Paxton Baker, executive vice president and general manager of CENTRIC. BET Networks is committed to advancing our community through educational initiatives, particularly those that infuse African-American culture in the arts with the world around us.

“Black History Month isn’t just about learning from the past,”said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,”It’s about looking to the future and understanding that no matter one’s race, ethnicity, religion or background, we all have the opportunity to shape the world we live in through the volume of our voices and the power of our actions. I am honored to share the stage with Archbishop Tutu  a true hero of mine  as well as with the legendary Herbie Hancock and the talented students of the Crenshaw High School Elite Choir. Hundreds of students from Crenshaw and Santee High Schools will be able to enjoy today’s assembly, and thanks to the generous leadership of DIRECTV, the special event will reach thousands more.”

Description:

6:30-8:30: Duo

9:00: Featured Artist — Dontae Winslow — music producer, trumpeter, rapper, composer, educator