ACE Horns: Brass on Fire
Friday, August 21st, 7:30 PM
Nashville Jazz Workshop
Nashville's Roy Agee, Evan Cobb, and Emmanuel Echem have worked together as a touring and session horn section for years. The ACE Horns is a creative project spotlighting original tunes and arrangements from the imaginations of all three hornists, featuring a funky rhythm section and occasional comedic moments.
Known for his rich tone, musical sensitivity, and stylistic range, Agee moves seamlessly between rock, soul, pop, Americana, and orchestral settings. His arranging work reflects a deep respect for song and storytelling, helping shape horn textures that elevate both live performances and recordings. Roy spent four years as a member of Prince’s band, four years touring with Lauren Daigle, and four years as part of Eric Church’s touring band, contributing both his distinctive trombone voice and horn arrangements to major international tours. Over the course of his career, he has performed in arenas and stadiums around the world, bringing a commanding yet musical presence to some of the largest stages in live music. As a recording artist, Agee has worked with a wide range of acclaimed artists including Dan Auerbach, CeeLo Green, Prince, Delbert McClinton, Phish, Alan Jackson, and Blake Shelton, contributing to projects that include Grammy-winning work.
Woodwind specialist Evan Cobb is a force in Nashville’s vibrant musical scene. Known foremost for his saxophone playing, Cobb is adept at the flute, oboe, and clarinet. Evan Cobb is in demand as a jazz player, session player, and horn section member. He has performed with a wide array of artists including Eric Church, Lauren Daigle, Steven Tyler, Chris Stapleton w Maren Morris & Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, Brett Eldredge, Cage the Elephant, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, and the Nashville Symphony. He has numerous television appearances and as a Nashville session player, Evan Cobb can be heard on hundreds of recordings ranging from funk to country to Netflix comedies, movies, and everything in between. Cobb has been an active music educator of private lessons in Nashville for 18 years and created the original Nashville Jazz Workshop Summer Camp for teenagers.
Emmanuel Echem is a trumpeter, composer, and arranger living and working in Nashville, TN. A rare native to the area, Echem has firmly established himself in the music community as a capable lead and section player, as well as an adept soloist with a unique and soulful improvisational style which frequently draws comparisons to trumpet masters such as Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Roy Hargrove. The sound of his trumpet has been heard at venues and festivals around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and more, in addition to a number of televised performances that have aired nationally and internationally on PBS, ABC, Late Night with Seth Meyers, the JUNO Awards, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Marilyn Denis Show. His list of performance and recording credits span a wide range of genres, and include artists such as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Boyz II Men, Patti Labelle, Justin Timberlake, Sister Sledge, Kirk Franklin, Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Lauren Daigle, Brett Eldredge, Joss Stone, Charlie Wilson, Maren Morris, Lady A, LeAnn Rimes, Lukas Nelson, Darius Rucker, Dumpstaphunk, Dan + Shay, Tony Vega, Frankie Negrón, the Neal Morse Band ft. Mike Portnoy, Roy "Futureman" Wooten and the Circle of Harmony Orchestra, and the Nashville Jazz Orchestra.