Great Job Everyone! And See You Tomorrow!

Hey band!

Great job tonight for our first performance. By the time I had turned around, the audience was already on their feet. I think we really woke them up, and not just literally. To a lot of things, like the abilities of good players working good charts, because that's what this whole thing about. And a group that has a lot of fun.

Now, that being said, tomorrow's rehearsal is probably going to seem tedious, because we need to get comfortable with "The First Circle" (or as comfortable as one can get with that chart). Take a look at "But Beautiful" if you have time, because we'll probably warm up on that, but we're going to be doing a lot of Metheny tomorrow night.

I only heard compliments from everyone, and we ran out of programs, so I'll make sure to have copies on hand for people at rehearsal tomorrow night so band members can get them.

Thank you all for a good night, get some rest, and gear up for working on the monster chart.

Practice Tonight!

Hey, just a friendly reminder that there is practice tonight. If anyone wants to listen to the charts prior to practice, there are mp3 recordings of the following at www.marinamusic.com:

"The First Cirlce" by Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays, arr. Bob Curnow
"Samba Ti Kaye" by Mark Taylor
"In the Stone" by Earth, Wind & Fire, arr. Paul Murtha
"Malaguena" by Ernesto Lecuona, arr. Bill Holman, trans. Bob Curnow
"Ride the Wind" by Les Hooper

Be ready for the monster chart. It's on the plate for tonight. ;)

The First Circle... I Mean, PRACTICE!

Yeah, okay, so the subject heading for this post could be taken two ways. The first could be to inform you that the first practice will be held on Monday, January 11th from 7-9 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Doylestown. The other way to take this is as a hint that players should be looking at "The First Circle" by Pat Metheny. Not learning it wrong - just looking at it, 'cause it's difficult. It's like those old "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. Do you remember those? Well, you can choose for yourself what this blog post's subject line is trying to tell you.

But, at any rate, it would be good to definitely state that the first practice will be held on Monday, January 11th from 7-9 PM in Room E at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Doylestown, PA. The address, for those of you who need to GPS it (or check a map, use a compass, etc.) is:

301 N. Main St.
Doylestown, PA 18901

If you know Doylestown, the church is relatively easy to find and you shouldn't need a GPS at all. It's the big church across from the Dairy Queen. See, wasn't that easy? There's ample free parking in the front and back lots. Only, you want to go in the front doors (the ones with the huge, beautiful awning) and proceed downstairs by taking the first staircase to the right. There should be someone there outside to guide you to the room. If not, don't go straight and to the left - in the small gymnasium are weekly AA meetings. Also, down the first main hallway to the left are council meetings, so we should try to keep it quiet when entering, if possible. Just walk in and take the first stairs down that are to your right.

So practice and see you at practice. Hasten the day! (Not really, because it gets dark way too early.)

;)

Folders and Charts, Oh My!

Some of the following was on an older blog post and some of it is new information, so here is some quality info. for Jazz 4 Nothin'.

Most of the folders have been handed out; if you have not yet received your folder, either you have contacted Alison or Jon and they are sending it to you by mail, or you have not contacted them and you should do so if you wish to look at your parts during the winter break. The first practice is on January 11th, and performance dates are starting to appear on the schedule starting possibly in mid-April.

The following are links to recording samples through www.marinamusic.com, and you are urged to check them out, with special emphasis on "The First Circle" and "Malaguena": (When you click on "download mp3" either the page will move forward to a quicktime player or it is a free download which you can either "open" or "save" - just follow the instructions - it's all free). Also look for youtube recordings of other bands playing the piece, but make sure you have the correct arrangement.)

"In the Stone" by Earth, Wind & Fire; arr. Paul Murtha
http://www.marinamusic.com/detail.tpl?sku=D4396&show=res&cart=1261183120129833&keyword=in%20the%20stone&where=title&where1=comparr&where2=desc1&andor=wo&

"The First Circle" by Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays; arr. Bob Curnow
http://www.marinamusic.com/detail.tpl?sku=D2372&keyword=the%20first%20circle&where=title&where1=comparr&where2=desc1&andor=wo&

"Artemis and Apollo" by Johnny Richards; arr. Bob Curnow
http://www.marinamusic.com/detail.tpl?sku=A3213&keyword=artemis%20and%20apollo&where=title&where1=comparr&where2=desc1&andor=wo&

"Malaguena" by Ernesto Lecuona, the original Stan Kenton Orch; arr. by Bill Holman
http://www.marinamusic.com/detail.tpl?sku=A3131&show=res&cart=1261183120129833&keyword=malaguena&where=title&where1=comparr&where2=desc1&andor=wo&

Have a great holiday season everyone, and if you are on facebook, join the Facebook group (search "Jazz 4 Nothin'") and join the discussion there. Remember, practices will run from 7-9PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Doylestown, PA, and in a week or two, directions to the church will be posted in the blog.

3 Out of 4 Charts

Hey everybody, another major update:

The band now has three out of the four charts for the first set and copies are being made that people can take home to practice (the originals are not being distributed). Folders are being compiled and we are hoping that as many of the members of the band who can will meet this weekend (over coffee or whatnot) to pick up their folders before the holidays, meet other players and get logistics.

There is also a slight change to the set order. It now reads as follows due to interest by many players to do a certain piece as a closer. This is the best chart suggestion that one's heard coming from a saxophone in all time. And the heavens opened and a voice proclaimed: thou need Malaguena and I make this saxophone player my messenger. And the trumpet rang out in response: YES! YES! YES! Malaguena. And all was awesome in the world.

As a side note, three french horns will be contacted to do this chart, but it does call for four horns which are not optional. So we need one more french horn.

Here is the edited set list:

In the Stone by Earth, Wind and Fire, arr. Paul Murtha
The First Circle by Pat Metheny, arr. Bob Curnow
Artemis and Apollo by Johnny Richards, arr. Bob Curnow
Malaguena (orig. Stan Kenton Orchestra Arrangement comp. and trans. by Bill Holman)

Of all the pieces though, band members should start listening to The First Circle, in order to get used to the pulse. DON'T LEARN THE RHYTHMS INCORRECTLY. Do some research on the piece and check out the sample page of score from www.marinamusic.com. Open it as a pdf and print it out and look at the clapping parts at the beginning. Get used to the 12/8 to 10/8 bars. This weekend, with whoever can meet up, we will be discussing how to practice this piece in particular.

Take care everyone with the winter weather!