| One of the best sessions/gigs of my life!!
Well, folks. I have been sitting on this for a few days. I wanted to let things settle down before I posted.
Last week I was in upstate New York (Saratoga) for a recording session for the NYTC. This is one of at least two projects Felix is sponsoring. This session was featuring jazz rock trumpeters who endorse the NYTC horns. There will be a classical project coming up before too long, as well, if I am not mistaken.
The artists on this project were Tony Gambaro, Adrian Kelly, Russ Johnson, Garret Savluk and me. Felix joined the fray on flugle for a couple of tracks.
There were several things that made this one of the most thrilling gigs I have ever played.
First, Adrian Kelly (Stage 1 Classic) wrote some of the most interesting and challenging music any of us have ever played. The rhythm tracks (recodrded in Perth, Austrailia) were fantastic. The production was beautiful. Adrian's writing was spectacular. I can't even begin to do it justice here. We were all counting on the edges of our chairs. The mixed meters were quite tricky to navigate. He used many contemporary compositional techniqes (serial writing, algorhytms, etc) as well as tried and true jazz structures. We were all thrilled as well as challenged.
Second, I was personally in awe of the talent in the room. Tony Gambaro is a fabulous lead player - ferocious chops, terrifc sound, excellent reader and a fine improviser. Garrat Savluk, a new addition to the NYTC family, merits the same description. Garret also brought a spirit of sheer joy to the project. Russel Johnson can be described in one word; MONSTER! His tone could fit in any great symphony. His reading was unstoppable. His IMPROVISTION is, to put it mildly, WORLD CLASS. I mean, daaaammmmnnn! You have GOT to hear that guy. Adrian, in edition to being an amazing composer, is a remarkable trumpeter. His accuracy in navigating some incredibly gnarly lines he wrote was positively enviable. Finally, Felix impressed us all when he came in and jumped in on flugel. That took guts in a room filled with that muiscal talent. He was more than equal to the task.
For my part, I was simply thrilled to be included in ANY capacity. I felt it validated much of my work.
Third: With five lead players in one room, the possibility for the clash of egos is always a great danger. Not so, on this gig! These were some of the most genuinely nice and decent people I've ever worked with. The air of mutual respect was fabulous. After 13 hours of rhearsal and then a 9 hour recording session, all were fast friends. I can't remember feeling a connection like this in a trumpet seciton - uniformly harmonious.
Now, for me I had some extra fun. I was there on Saturday night after the session. Tony had me sit in with his band Burners - U.K. He let me blow solos and we traded solos. The band was excellent - top notch - one of the funkiest bands I've ever played with! I had so much fun working with Tony! He was still playing great even after all of theat playing.
As if that wasn't enough, after the gig Tony, Felix, Adrian and I all went to a jazz club where I was asked to sit in on a couple of tunes. I chose to use the Eclipse flugel, since there was a trumpeter on the band, and I didn't want to get ino a "locking horns" thing. We played Secret Love and Well You Needen't. Again, it was a thrill. I was treated with the utmost respect and felt like the other trumpeter (a fine young musician) hit it off with no vibe whatsoever. I think I played OK in both setting. I sure had fun!
Keep an eye pealed for the NYTC artist CD when it comes out. I think Adrina has a lot of work to finish the editing and mixing, but this is going to turn heads. I am not joking.
If the rest of 2006 goeas even half as well as this, I can really look forward to a fun year.
In summary, stereotypes of trumeters as big ego people are wrong. This was a tribute to comraderie this last weekend.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Peace!
Nick |