Next Practice and Meeting Tonight

Hello! I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day Holiday, but as usual, next week will be back to work. We only have two practices left before we play at the 263 Marketplace, and very soon you will receive the order for the set list for that performance. Keep working on Malaga, Moanin' and take a good look at Sing, Sing, Sing (both parts). It's been a while since we've played that one.

Also, tonight is a special night as Music 4 Nothin' will hold its first General Assembly and elect the first Executive Board of that group. This is the umbrella not-for-profit corporation that is in charge of all the administrative affairs of Jazz 4 Nothin', The 4 Nothin' Symphony, and the soon-to-be Choir 4 Nothin.' Music 4 Nothin' will worry about logistics so musicians don't have to, as well as create a network of support across all three groups for all the subgroups that operate under its name. So, tonight is a historic moment in its existence as well as an important one for Jazz 4 Nothin'. If you want information on Music 4 Nothin', contact that leadership at music4nothin@gmail.com.

But back to band business - after the June 19th performance we will be getting ready for the July 21sst performance outside the Court Houes during the summer band series in Doylestown, and it is in the works for the group to perform at the Warminster Triennial - stay tuned.

Practice Tonight!

Hey everyone! Great job at these last two performances (A-Day and the Duck Deli). However, start gearing up for the performance on Sunday, June 19th, from 3-4 PM at the 263 Marketplace. Also, check your calendars for Thursday night, July 21st, and if your answer is "but, I'm busy because of the Lions concert in the park in Doylestown that night" my answer to you is: "IT'S THE SAME CONCERT!" Awesome.

Tonight we will be focused on putting together more of Malaga and we will really start to work on Moanin'. Also, the idea is out there to "funk-up" a Blue Book chart (probably either Moonlight Serenade or Pennsylvania 6-5000 (a.k.a. "Shameless Plug")), so hehe. he.

Again, great job these last two performances, and keep the focus up at practice.

There will be NO PRACTICE on Memorial Day Monday.

A-Day Tomorrow!

Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since new posts, but here's a big new one:

Jazz 4 Nothin' is playing tomorrow morning from 10:30-11:30 AM during A-Day at Delaware Valley College. Just look for the bandstand and you'll know where to go. Later in the day, if you happen to hang around, Del Val's big band and concert band will also be playing.

At this performance we will be premiering Straight, No Chaser. Two weeks from now at the Duck Deli Jazz Festival (Sunday, May 15th at 11:30 AM) we will be presenting this piece again and premiering Malaga by Bill Holman.

There's a lot going on in May and June, and the band's looking forward to a great early summer!

Recap of Last Week and Practice Tomorrow Night!

I have heard from many people that Monday night's practice was a success and that a lot of work got done on Malaga and Straight, No Chaser. I want to take a moment here to commend those members of the band who stepped up and ran practice in my absence, though it goes to show just how talented and how experienced many of our members are. What a wonderful group!

This upcoming practice I am hoping to see more work on Malaga which is now shaping up and I have listened to some of the files on the video page of this group to see what progress was made. I also hope to have copied Moanin' for you all so we can start work on that.

We are moving into a long May of performances and if there are questions about parts in any number we've ever played, please get in touch with me at practice tomorrow night and I will be taking requests to make sure that you have all the music you need to perform well this spring.

By the end of May, we will have performed this year as many times as we performed all of last year. The schedule is getting white hot, so make sure you're getting all the communications and I promise you - they will be send to you more efficiently in the next few months so that you have all the information you require.

I hope all of you are checking out the board discussion on Facebook on the Bylaws and if you are not - I really hope you do so. No comment is silly, everyone's opinion matters, and this is the time to speak up if you are at all interested in the administration of this organization.

Thank you, and see you all tomorrow night! :)

Upcoming Practice: Monday, 14 February 2011

Just a note for practice on Monday - take a good look at Malaga, but expect to see some new music including "Straight, No Chaser," "Moanin'" and "My Funny Valentine."

For, like Valentine's Day, get it? Isn't that funny ;)

TAMPICO!!!! a.k.a. "LOL"

So, Jon and I just can't get this piece out of our heads. Mostly, we wind up singing along to the first couple of lines and then adding "SALT PEANUTS!" after that. We think it might be neat to punk (a.l.a. Ashton Kutcher) some jazz band competitions with this piece by running up to the judges and bobbing up and down singing the following lyrics: (every time "Mexico" is said it is pron. "Me-hi-co")

refrain:
"I, Tampico, Tampico,
on the Gulf of Mexico
Tampico, Tampico,
down in Mexico."

SALT PEANUTS!!!

Anyway, you can listen to the recordings, and tons of Stan Kenton stuff for free at: http://www.tuxjunction.net/jb32.htm. Of special note is the full MALAGA at the bottom (1972 recording).