Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band Titles Added to Smartmusic

Virtuosic jazz arrangements and recordings will inspire SmartMusic students

Minneapolis ’Äì MakeMusic, Inc. (NASDAQ: MMUS) today announced that SmartMusic¬Æ, the music learning software for band, orchestra and voice, now includes nearly two dozen new jazz ensemble titles from Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band including ’ÄúHunting Wabbits,’Äù ’ÄúThe Jazz Police,’Äù and ’ÄúSwingin’Äô for the Fences.’Äù Music is provided on-screen and actual recordings of the Big Phat Band are featured in the audio accompaniments.

In addition, each SmartMusic title will include a link to a video greeting from Gordon Goodwin and acclaimed trumpeter Wayne Bergeron, providing both general and specific comments on each Big Phat Band chart.

Gordon Goodwin is an Emmy- and Grammy-award winning musician, composer, arranger and bandleader. Gordon leads the Big Phat Band, an 18-piece jazz ensemble, which exclusively plays his arrangements and/or compositions, and records for the immergent record label. Despite its traditional big band instrumentation, the Big Phat Band produces a very contemporary sound with a strong emphasis on demonstrating the technical virtuosity of its membership, which includes many of the top instrumentalists of the Los Angeles studio scene.

’ÄúGordon Goodwin and the Big Phat Band represent wonderful partners for SmartMusic,’Äù stated MakeMusic CEO Ron Raup. ’ÄúTheir music and recordings provide incredible inspiration to jazz musicians today, and when combined with SmartMusic they offer an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the world's top jazz performers. This combination allows jazz hobbyists, students and educators to set the bar high and exceed expectations.’Äù

’Äúimmergent is pleased to partner with Gordon Goodwin, the Big Phat Band and MakeMusic on this important endeavor,’Äù offered immergent CEO John Trickett. ’ÄúI began my career in music playing trombone at the age of thirteen because my school had a music program. It is one of my strongest passions to support educational programs that provide the same opportunities that were afforded to me. The technology and systems of SmartMusic transcend anything that has been available in the past. Finally there are tools available that can take a chart and put personal practice into the context of performance.’Äù

’ÄúI've not met a single person who wasn't blown away by SmartMusic,’Äù added Gordon Goodwin. ’ÄúStudents, professionals, educators and even lay people are greatly impressed by this amazing innovation. In these tough times for music education and for our musical culture in general, Smart Music has come along in the nick of time!’Äù

A list of recently added SmartMusic titles can be viewed here. Follow MakeMusic activities on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and meet some of our employees on Flickr.

About MakeMusic, Inc. ’Ä®

MakeMusic®, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, is a world leader in music technology whose mission is to develop and market solutions that transform how music is composed, taught, learned and performed. For more than 20 years, Finale® has been the industry standard in music notation software. It has transformed the process by which composers, arrangers, musicians, teachers, students and publishers create, edit, audition, print and publish musical scores. Additionally, MakeMusic is the creator of SmartMusic®, the complete practice tool for band, orchestra and voice and SmartMusic GradebookTM, the web-based student grading and records management system. Further information about the company can be found at www.makemusic.com.

About Gordon Goodwin and the Big Phat Band

Gordon Goodwin’Äôs Big Phat Band, an 18-piece jazz ensemble, celebrates and personifies the best of the big band tradition with a very contemporary and original sound. Through the writing genius of Grammy Award recipient Gordon Goodwin, SRO audiences have enjoyed one of the most craftsman-like, hard-swinging, large jazz ensembles comprised of L.A.’Äôs finest musicians. Gordon’Äôs witty and insightful arrangements propel the listener on a journey through a myriad of styles: Latin, blues, swing, classical, hard-hitting jazz, and much more. www.bigphatband.com

About immergent

immergent is a cutting-edge multimedia entertainment company run by people who love music and know how to make it happen. With exceptional artists and a highly skilled and creative team, immergent is at the forefront of developing content, generating consumer awareness and bringing entertainment to people via any delivery method that consumers want. For more information contact marketing@immergent.com.