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.

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 ;)

Change 4 Charts Voting, Winter 2011

Here are the selections for voting on charts for the Winter of 2011. Since there have been so many brass heavy (and Latin) charts that the band's been playing, there is an interest in balancing the books with some bandleaders and jazz arrangers that we haven't yet played. Please vote twice (you will see that there are two polls), as this allows you to make two selections from the following list.

Moanin' by Charles Mingus, arr. Sy Johnson
http://www.marinamusic.com/detail.tpl?sku=M1007&show=res&cart=129564657491935&keyword=Moanin&where=title&where1=comparr&where2=desc1&andor=wo&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVCMCOoXXPU

Anthropology by Charlie Parker, arr. Mark Taylor
http://www.marinamusic.com/detail.tpl?sku=D7167&show=res&cart=1295647377115447&keyword=anthropology&where=title&where1=comparr&where2=desc1&andor=wo&

Straight, No Chaser for Buddy Rich, arr. John LaBarbera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rm-A6bGhiE

Ko Ko by Duke Ellington
http://www.marinamusic.com/detail.tpl?sku=C9048&show=res&cart=1295647597122263&keyword=ko%20ko&where=title&where1=comparr&where2=desc1&andor=wo&

Two other charts that are under consideration to purchase are from a publisher of out of print and discontinued music, including Buddy Rich's West Side Story and Stan Kenton's Send in the Clowns (which has been on the band CDs in the past). When we have cost information on these discontinued items, we will inform the band at that time. Here are the links for those pieces, even though they will not appear on the vote at the current time.

Send in the Clowns, arr. Dave Barduhn for the Stan Kenton '76 Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veKsxNFatYo

West Side Story, arr. Bill Reddie for Buddy Rich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=midRI_70A70