rjzeller

What a week!!!

Thursday night I had the pleasure of sitting front-row for a Canadian Brass concert. I must confess that while I have many of their CD's, this was my first actual opportunity to see them live. I must say, they are worth every penny.

There's something about watching a group that is clearly having as much fun as the audience perform. It was one of the most engaging performances I've had the pleasure of hearing.

They have two new trumpets (at least, two whom I did not recognize). I spoke with the older one afteward (Stuart Laughton) and apparently he had been with them their very first year, left for (well...for a WHILE), then rejoined them recently. Mr. Laughton simply was a pleasure to watch and listen to. Fantastic tone and the most amazing sense of balance and dynamic control I think I've heard from anyone. He and Mr. Watts were able to enter and exit so seamlessly that if I hadn't been watching, I would have had no idea when they stopped and started playing. They've proven it's not about how loud or soft you play, but how well your sound balances with the rest of the group.

They featured the younger trumpet more (Justin Emerich), and I can see why -- the guy is a powerhouse player. But for me, Mr. Laughton is just a world-class player.

And as if the brass weren't enough...

Anyone for main-floor tickets to U2? D*mn! My ONLY complaint about that concert last night at Target Center was that Minnesotans just don't know how to rock (and this coming from someone who's never taken a drop of alchohol in his life). We're too polite up here...

But U2 sure knows how to rock!! That bunch can put on a show, and while it may not be as "legit" as the repetoir most of us favor, I must confess to being a huge U2 fan. The group did not dissapoint last night. I may not always agree with Bono's politics, but I love the music. My heart is still pounding.

I know...nobody cares. Sorry...just so juiced I had to post something...

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There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who do not.

Dave Payn

Good to hear Canadian Brass are still going strong. Indeed, Stuart Laughton and William Phillips were the founder member trumpeters (I know a few people who think that Messrs. Mills and Romm were there at the start. I did too, until I bought their CBC - The Radio Years CD)

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Amateur trumpeter
Cornet, Arran Brass
Brass band tutor for the Workers' Music Association Summer School

'When I'm down in the dumps, I just go and get myself a new hat.'
'I wondered where you got them from.'

Alex Yates

You are not alone in your affection for U2.....I have ALL of their stuff and they are one of my favorites. Bono, for me, is the one who carries that group and they do put on a good show. I saw them years ago at the Georgia Dome when it was first built. As a matter of fact, the U2 concert was the first one to take place in the Dome. My favorite part of the concert (I think it was their Zooropa tour) was when they did an unplugged set at the end of the runway which happened to be directly in front of where I was sitting. Needless to say, I was like one of those pathetic screaming girls from the days of the Beatles. LOL.

What is your favorite album by them? "Joshua Tree" is the one for me. "Running to Stand Still" is probably one of my favorite songs too. "All I Want is You" is another favorite. Heck...most of their stuff is great.

Running to Stand Still

And so she woke up
from where she was lying still
Said we got to do something about where we’re going
Step on a steam train
Step out of the driving train
Maybe run from the darkness in the night
Singing ha la la la de day
Singing ha la la la de day
Sweet the sin
But the bitter taste in my mouth
I see seven towers
But I only see one way out
You got to cry without weeping
Talk without speaking
Scream without raising your voice, you know
I took the poison, from the poison stream,
Then I floated out of here
Singing ha la la la de day
Singing ha la la la de day
She runs through the streets
With her eyes painted red
Under black belly of cloud in the rain
In through a doorway she brings me
White gold and pearls stolen from the sea
She is raging
She is raging and the storm blows up in her eyes
She will suffer the needle chill
She is running to stand still

*****************************************

All I Want is You

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you’ll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night

You say you’ll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold

All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You...all I want is...
You...all I want is...
You...all I want is...
You...

tpter1

So where is Joe Bergstaller now? He was quite a player.

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-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

rjzeller

Alex -- Running to Stand Still has always been one of my favorites. If I were to list them, my top five U2 bits would be: Bad, Walk On, Kite, Running to Stand Still, and So Cruel.

Their best ALBUM, though, I think is still "The Unforgettable Fire". If you listen to it from beginning to end, it's the single most homogenous album I've ever heard...the songs, while each unique, seem to play to an overriding theme that connecs the whole album. It's not a concept album, but it's not just a collection of songs, either.

For me, I think they resonate because a lot of their songs seem to "grow" or evolve as you listen to them. It's like reading a good story -- they mean something completely different to each person, and they seem to have a real start, middle, and end. If classical composers like Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff did pop music, this is what they'd write!

Okay, that's a stretch...but they're one of the few groups who understands that popular music is more than just a drum beat and fancy lyrics.

As far as Joe is concerned, as near as I can tell he's essentially gone the freelance/solo route. I think he's booked for some broadway shows, and has released a solo album (check out the CB store)...

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There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who do not.

Jimi Michiel

Can someone tell me why the Canadian Brass continues to cycle through trumpet players at a seemingly incredible pace? Every time I hear about them, it's always "this amazing new trumpet player." But it's always a different "amazing new trumpet player." Is the playing/tour schedule too demanding?
-Jimi

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Solar Bell

jmichiel wrote:
Maybe there is still this huge shadow that was cast by Ronnie & Fred.

A tough act to follow....

-cw-

__________________
Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz

"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

rjzeller

Jimi -- I think you and Chuck both are probably on to something.

When I spoke with them last week, they were set to do another gig in a nearby town an hour's drive away. They had several more shows after that...it sounds like they're touring/travelling a LOT. That's got to be tiring for a person.

But it does seem teh trumpets come and go like the wind, for which there may be a bit of the Fred/Ronnie shadow-thing going on. They really were a tough act to follow....

__________________
There are 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who do not.

Tootsall

I'd have to think that the travel involved is a killer with C.B. They do perform literally all over the world. Their trumpet players aren't the only ones to burn out or to decide to accept offeres that allow them to develop in different directions: have you checked out their horn turnover?

The only two "originals" (other than Laughton's return after many years) are Watts and Daellenbach. It's gotta be tough on their families.