AGES 2-102 SHOW
JAZZ & CLASSICAL
Classic Cartoons, Live Music & Comedy
Photo Credit: Lindsey Thoeng (images 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Photo Credit: Lauren Desberg (images 1, 7)
General Manager: Theresa Vibberts
Territory: Worldwide
“As I watched The Queen’s Cartoonists slip and slide through decades of cartoon music in a
matter of minutes, with the animations projected on a large screen behind them, I followed a
captivated crowd of young and old consciously connect what they were watching with what they
were hearing. The pleasure of the perfect synchrony of sound and pictures was instantly
recognizable.”
“The music is utterly dazzling, the cartoons are delightful, and the light-hearted silliness and mumblecore, deadpan humor of the pianist and band leader Dr. Joel Pierson are absolute treasures.
”
ABOUT
The Queen’s Cartoonists perform music from cartoons! Pulling from over 100 years of animation, TQC’s performances are perfectly synchronized to the films projected on stage. The band matches the energy of the cartoons, leading the audience through a world of virtuosic musicianship, multi-instrumental mayhem, and comedy.
Projections of animated films dazzle the audience, while the band re-creates original soundtracks note-for-note, or writes their own fresh compositions to modern pieces, all the while breathing new life into two uniquely American forms of art: jazz and animation. Tying everything together is the TQC brand of comedy - anecdotes about the cartoons and their composers, stream-of-consciousness humor, and elements of a musical circus.
Watch your favorite classic cartoon characters interact with the musicians on stage, and expect the unexpected from the Golden Age of Animation, cult cartoon classics, and modern animated films. Inspired by the cross-roads of jazz, classical music, and cartoons, TQC features Jazz Age composers like Carl Stalling, Raymond Scott, and Duke Ellington, alongside classical giants Mozart, Rossini, and R. Strauss (to name just a few).
Since their inception in 2015, the band, hailing from as far away as Australia, Bulgaria, and Washington, D.C., now all reside in Queens, New York, and are a creative part of the New York jazz scene. The band has brought their unique concert experience to performing arts centers, clubs, and festivals all across the United States and Europe. The Queen’s Cartoonists have opened for the New York Philharmonic and are the only artist in the 40-plus year history of the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City to sell out multiple all-ages shows. They have been featured in over 50 publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, NPR, Mashable, and featured on TV spots for Pix11 and Fox5.
Dr. Joel Pierson
Musical Director, Piano
Washington, DC
Rossen Nedelchev
Drums
Sofia, Bulgaria
Greg Hammontree
Trumpet, Trombone
Savannah, GA
Malik McLaurine
Bass
Queens, NY
Mark Phillips
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone
Melbourne, Australia
Drew Pitcher
Flute, Tenor Saxophone
Michilimackinac, MI
“Who needs another Broadway show when you can hire a jazz combo playing music from Bugs Bunny cartoons?”