The Ebb and Flow

I have always found it to be true that as the bad happens, the good also counters in some form. This is especially true in my musical life. As some may know, the vocal icon of Robert Goulet left this world Tuesday while waiting for a lung transplant. Goulet was a fabulous singer who got his lucky break from a very tragic happening in this country. Goulet was becoming a vocal sensation on Broadway in the musical "Camelot" in the early 1960's. When President Kennedy was assassinated, Jackie Kennedy was quoted saying how much Mr Kennedy was a fan of the score and the famous line, "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot." At that point Kennedy's administration was associated with Camelot, which was associated with Goulet's voice, and copies of "If Ever I Should Leave You" flew off the shelves.

I was a fan of his role in "Man of La Mancha" singing "The Impossible Dream". For some reason that song always gets to me. Its not just the words of Dream the Impossible dream, but the optimism and the flow of the melody just suck me right in. Quick side note, Maynard Ferguson made a wicked good recording of this song as well. Goulet's smooth voice though always charmed my ear and listening to the Standards station on Sirius radio, without looking I could pick his voice out with just one word. I will truly miss Robert Goulet.

And on this theme, with the loss of Robert Goulet and the quintet frustrations, I have found myself another band to that of which I will be a "fanboi". This band is called "Dragonforce" They have a modern progressive metal sound, but very classic, mythical, triumphant lyrical pattern, with that great open 4 part vocal sound that "Queen" used to great fame with "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Princes of the Universe". Their lyrics remind me very much of "Princes of the Universe", and "Who Wants to Live Forever", the later "Queen" hits. The "Dragonforce" hit "Fury of the Storm" has been made popular on youtube via "Guitar Hero" custom songs. "Through the Fire and Flames" is also featured in the recently released "Guitar Hero 3" (another positive).

This band uses a someone rare set up, of two lead guitarists, both of them solo, and both of them are pretty cool. Heres their music video for "Through the Fire and Flames".

One of their guitarist has a cool little trademark of his solos: he mimics 8-bit video game sounds.

Well my friends, may your hammer-ons and pull-offs be even, and your strings strong. I wish you peace, and another fond farewell to Robert Goulet.

An Oasis amongst the sand

As some of my loyal readers know, I took a little vacation a week or so ago to get my head back together, collect my thoughts and come back swinging. Due to poor preparation, I found myself musically isolated for a week. I was trapped in Ocean City, MD with nothing of quality on the radio, no CDs and my iPod left comfortably on my computer desk. There wasn't even VH1 on the hotel tv system, and the hotel restaurant during breakfast played nothing but canned jazz. I struggled to find any source of rewarding sound, not even expecting music. I cruised every ad I could for hopes of a local bar having a band, an outdoor festival, anything. I found none of these, for i was in a resort city off season.

The sound of the ocean, calming, rewarding, at night with a slight wind almost sang like a soprano to me and charmed me. It relaxed me to the point of my insomnia almost was cured. Coming home and back into the stressful environment of my life, dragging me away from the cliched siren song of the sea, sent my sleep back into peril. It threatened the existance of this blog even. But I am back to writing and I apologize for the delay.

This has been an interesting weekend. I went to a house warming party and was re-united with one Nate Knauer. He was a someone who I kind of looked to for inspiration early in my college music career. He was one of the first people that made actually feel like I belonged with the musicians and that I had ability. One of my first recitals was actually performing a piece of his on his junior composition recital. I had not seen this guy in about 5 years. He immediately remembered that he still had two CDs of mine and the demo recording of my old brass quintet. We talked for a good hour getting caught up on each others musical activities. It was refreshing to know I still had a connection there and someone was genuinely glad to know I was still involved in music.

My quintet has me a bit nervous and concerned. They seem to not be paying attention to the calendar. Acting kind of lax about a gig being in 2 weeks and we have no set list, and a gig in 6 weeks, 4 actual rehearsals before it, that we haven't read any of the music for yet. Today we did read through the new Christmas carols and they really liked them, but again, we were short a member and rehearsal started 2 hours late. It was incredibly frustrating. I tried to delivery my worry and urgency without being a jerk. I don't want to cause the group to break up, which it felt like it could be close to doing.

This past week, the moment I got home, I banged out two new arrangements, when idea of doing Beatles songs came to me. So Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds and When I'm 64 will be added to our catalog.

Peace and even triplets to you all.

Pumped

Good evening and thanks for tuning back into my little page where my word goes. Theres been a couple things that I have been wrapping my mind around. Now I think its a general consensus that attending live performances are key to developing musicianship. My question is though, does it matter what type of concert? Does the performer need to be further along in their path of musicianhood? (I made that word up) I ask because as you readers have read, I have been mainly exploring the world of rock, mainly acid rock and metal. I have found this has changed my approach to performance. I wanted to be a front man for today's concert for our quintet. They let me, and I tried to be charismatic and really bring out the uniqueness of our group. I think the gig went well. I was excited to take the stage and I energized. I psyched up and ready to go. The feeling of exhaustion didn't hit until I got home, when the adrenaline wore off. I haven't had that much of an adrenaline charge to perform ever.

Anyways, I have never been to an opera. I have caught a decent amount of flak over that because being a classical musician, I've been to a metal concert before an opera. Just operas are expensive, and really, I love opera, and appreciate the art, I fear my attention span causing an issue, and the opera house here is very uncomfortable if you're taller than 5 ft tall. I am not sure if I'm supposed to be upset about this, if it makes me a crap musician, a phony even. As always. I don't think it does, but thats my own ego, and I'm sure other musicians around me don't like me because of some reason, but is it because I've never been to an opera, or is it because I like Dreamtheater and been listening to a Best of album of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy?

On that note, I strike a chord with you and must settle into the coda of this entry. Good night, peace, and I will write again when I return from my trip. Peace to you, and you.

Shining On

I apologize for not having blogged in a few days. The music has been hectic and is dictating my time these days. A quick synopsis of what is going on though. I have began work on a third polka for my quintet, "The Chicken Dance". No matter your opinion, every band must have a version of it to play. Kids love it, and I love it, so yeah, I'm a kid. I also have began work on "I Saw Three Ships". This is yet another challenging christmas carol due to its lack of substance. It was hard to come up with 4 part harmony, yet we're a 5 part ensemble. So I need to put the nose to the keyboard and come up with some interesting counter melody, maybe a descant of another christmas carol.

The problem of "I Saw Three Ships" was solved thanks to a little Jack n Coke. There is a British dance from about the same time period as this folk song called the Dargason. The Dargason is in 6/8 time and has identical chord progression to "I Saw Three Ships". Fellow band geeks would recognize the melody as the 6/8 melody from the Fantasia on Dargason, which is the final movement of both "Second Suite in F for Military Band" and "St Paul's Suite" by Gustav Holst. Holst loved to spread English folk melodies through his pieces, and since Holst was pivotal to the acceptance of Brass instruments in a classical setting, why not pay homage to his style by offsetting the traditional Christmas song with the Dargason melody.

So the subject line of this entry is referring to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd. I have come into possession of "The Wall" and "Wish You Were Here". Both albums are amazing. I've always liked "The Wall" with its storytelling of rebellion to English Society. The improvisational and composition skills of this group truly is mind blowing.

I have come into a rut with the brass quintet. We are all so busy and we have a gig coming up this weekend, that I am nervous about. I think we're all nervous about it, and its straining the group some I think. Its time for another group get together probably, to just try and chill. After this gig we need to immediately start work on the Christmas gig. I have a ton of new carols for the group to read through. It should be exciting. I think we all need to take a deep breath and realize this concert on the 14th isn't the best situation for us. We were hired only three weeks ago and asked to prepare a 45 minute set. Thats a good challenge! We'll hit it though and we'll have fun and that will reflect on the audience. Hopefully we'll get a good review.

Peace to my readers, and may your chords be major. I leave you with these words of wisdom: "We're starting at D, as in Don't Screw Up" - Dr E. Michael Richards

Piano: Social Drug

I don't know what it is, but new musical instruments excite me more than any other material object in this world. Even if its an instrument I really can't play, I love them. I mention this because my good friend Melanie purchased a new piano this week and on Sunday invited me over to "jam" with it. Now I must tell you I am no pianist, but again I love new instruments, so how could I resist. It is danger though to put me in the same room as a piano. I will either figure out songs that are stuck in my head to share the torture with the others, or I will make up silly little songs about the people there or n my head. This was no different. I rolled up on her piano and her and I laid down a track, titled "Stefanie's Song".

Needless to say, WOW! The good news is Stef really liked the song as she was feeling bad.

I find myself doing stupid things like this all the time with my friends piano's or pump organs (My good friend Ted has a peddling pump organ, its circus music with a good cardio workout).

I will just say the wekeend contained the piano work and a lot of polka. Very crazy. I hope this blog finds my loyal listeners in tune and in time. Peace