NickD

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

Spitty

wow - thanks for sharing Nick - can't wait to hear the recording. I agree Russ johnson is a monster, I have heard him quite a bit in NYC and he is on a great record by Mick Rossi titled "One Block From Planet Earth." Check it out - he sounds great on it.

Cheers,
Jason

ALLCHOPS

Nick,

Thanks for the kind words! I feel the same about the entire experience as you do! I'm still trying to figure out what happen, did it happen and will it ever happen again???

I'll write more later!

What a trip this was and I did'nt have to travel anywhere!

Felix, any photo's from that digital of yours?


Tony G

David_N

Adrian is a reeli cool guy. I've had the pleasure of hearing some of his compositions live but yeh his awesome. Also heard him play Les Miserable

ALLCHOPS

Posted: 31 Jan 2006 16:46 Post subject: Session?

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I just wanted to take a few minutes and elaborate on the NYTC recording session held last weekend here in Saratoga...

Felix Vayser and Adrian Kelly arrived on Thursday around mid afternoon to begin rehearsing these fabulous charts for Saturday's recording. Nick D arrived around 8:30 pm from Chicago and came to my house to do a little playing with our mutes in because it was a little late with a 5 year old in bed to let things rip! Nick had also faxed me my parts the day before and my initial impression was holy crap! These were unlike anything I personally have ever had to read let alone play. Not having the cd of the rythmn section it was tough to imagine what was going on with all of the meter changes...

The next day (Friday) was when Russ Johnson and Garett Savluk were to come in and the plan was to rehearse the entire day in preparation for Saturday mornings recording(8am)... While all of these fine trumpet players were rehearsing I was in a van with 8 guys going to play a gig in a club in NYC... I was hating life for missing this rehearsal especially since the charts were so demanding and the fact that most of us had never met or played together before. The real bummer for me was this was taking place in my house and all I could think about was what's the possibility of this happening again!

As you can imagine I called several times throughout the day with Felix telling me how great these guys sounded. These calls only bummed me out more...( A little selfishness)

Anyway, my plan was to be back home in bed around 1:30 am. Well, that turned into 3:30 am. Tried to to sleep but could'ntt. Next thing I know it's 6:30 am, I'm wide awake basically stressing about this session because of some obvious reasons...

We arrive at the studio at 8am as planned and I finally get to meet some of these guys who spent the previous day peeling the paint off the walls in my house! First things first, warm up, mic checks, get head set levels and here we go. The first piece is Trumpets only, no rythmn... So we takled that and since this was the most exposed chart it took a little time with getting some mic placements just right... We were set up in a semi circle with partitions between all of us with individual mics as well as two stereo over heads about 12-14 ft off the ground... Great Great room!
As we continued from chart to charts the sound that I was hearing from these guys were unlike anything I've ever heard. The soloing was out of this world. The voicings incorporated in these charts were really from another planet (in a good way)... Simply Unbelieviable...

As Nick D stated earlier the vibe was extrordinary for all of this talent in one room. Everybody was extremely helpful with positive comments and ideas about a section here or a section there. Prior to starting I was as intimidated as I've ever been in my life and litterally S*&^^$#@ my pants.

This was by far the coolest musical hang I've ever had! Nick D has chops like a mother... This guys takes the horn out and can litterally play all day in every register... Fantastic player and human being. Garett Savluk leader of the www.bostonhorns.com - I've known Garett for about 10-12 years and we've become good buds. We always wanted to play together but never had the chance. His studio experience helped me a great deal. His solo's were firey and fresh. Just a great guy in general and the musicianship to match! Thanks pal!

Russ Johnson, where do I start with this guy. He plays on the biggest Satge One built by Anton Possegger with the biggest Monette mouthpiece. I've never heard a trumpet player sound as good as what this guy was firing out of the end of his bell! His calming effect in the studio was a big key for me! Thanks a bunch Russ! BTW - I heard you were on of the only guys to go behind my bar - Good For You! We gotta hang!

Adrian Kelly - This guy from the down under is a genius! From what I understand he actually spearheaded a program that rates Chart Difficulty for which the Austrailians utilize for competitions and award cerimonies! Well, tough is'nt the word, more like Holy Kangaroo! As I said earlier I could not be at the rehearsal so I did'nt get to hear all of the parts until the session... As we are doing takes my ears were overwhelmed with the other parts and voicings! Adrian is an unbelieviable player and composer. He wrote parts that he envisioned for each of us through listening to our personal mp3's that he requested befor the project! Thanks Adrian!

Finally, Felix Vayser... None of this would have been possible without the line of Stage One Trumpets that he designed! Even though there were several diffent models in the room the blend and contrast was unreal! Thanks for your foreword thinking and ambition to the trumpet world! You will and have changed many lives in more ways than just trumpets!

Your frienship is evrything to me!

Thank you so much for this experience!

Tony G

NickD

Amen, Tony!

You were a total gas. MUCH THANKS to your lovely and patient wife! Your son was terrifc fun, too! Great kid!

Thanks again for letting me sit in with your band! Be sure the guys know how much fun I had. The little jam session at that crowded little club was a blast, too! That Eclipse flugel was just incredible!! I really appreciate your taking the time out of your busy family life to host us all!

YOU DA MAN!


Nick

tptshark

Hi all!

I can only second what Nick and Tony have said already – definitely one of the most enjoyable and defining musical experiences of my life!

One of the charts we recorded was called “decay of conviction”, and referred to a play called “doubt” (playing on b’way at the moment, actually) and was a reflection on all the struggles and doubts that we face as creative artists. To be honest, before meeting Felix, I was seriously beginning to doubt the path I was walking. After working with Felix to find me the perfect horn, and the three days we spent recording in Saratoga, those doubts have completely vanished. Working with all of those incredible musicians totally reinforced my commitment to our art, and craft.

Thank you all. You are all truly masters of your craft, and I am honoured to have been able to work with you, and more so to be able to call you friends – and I hope it isn’t presumptuous of me to say that.

I am still in awe of the amazing talent that was in that studio, and even more so of the blend of personalities! What a fantastic vibe for making music! To hear my compositions realised by such fine musicians was breathtaking to say the least, and I cannot express my gratitude for the commitment to the music that was shown by all.

Tony, extra thanks to yourself, your wife and your son for inviting a bunch of strange trumpeters into your house and treating us with such hospitality. And Felix, what can I say! You are THE man! How extraordinary, that one guy can build such a variety of horns that work together and blend together so amazingly. And then for that same guy to assemble a variety of players that work together and blend together so amazingly! Crazy!

Hope all my American friends have a great Superbowl Sunday!

- Adrian
-iii<

David_N - if you want to check out Felix's craftsmanship first hand get in touch.