Road lessons

When you get really lucky and its determined that you will be here for a while you could get a woodwind lesson form the section leader. I did just that. Not on the music on the basics of tone production, control of the sax, clar and flute all at the same time. Boy, what a lesson I had. Kevin, our lead alto and I worked for 2 hours on just little things that will help in every area. We work noe on technique. Anyone can get that part if willing to spend the time. The perfect tone quality for each instrument? Thats where the men and the boys are seperated in the woodwind section. I am learning so many techniques that I am excited to share with my students when I come home.

You cant be out of tune and play on this band, especially the sax section. The tones must blend and balance on every instrument you play. By the way, I no longer hate the bass clarinet.
Thanks to my good friend Bill Hickman who sent me a Jupiter Bass Clar. It plays very well, good tone and pretty good tuning too.

We spent 8 hour on the bus today. Tomorrow night we play in French Lick In. at the French Lick Casino and Hotel. (Home of NBA star Larry Bird) We will play 2 hours with a 20 min intermission.

Hi Kathyrine, Flat Stanley is doing well. He has recoverd form his San Francisco trip and is getting ready to hit the casino.

CORRECTION!!!!!!!!!

THE LEADER OF THE TOMMY DORSEY BAND IS BUDDY MARROW. I PRINTED BUDDY DEFRANKO, CLARINET PLAYER AND PRIVIOUS DIRECTOR OF THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA. SORRY ABOUT THE MIS-PRINT.

Best Concert So Far

WOW!!!!!!!! The Glenn Miller , Tommy Dorsey battle of the bands in San Fran California in front of 3000 very excited big band fans. Buddy DeFranco lead the Dorsey Band. He is the legendary trombone player from the Dorsey band in the late 30s and 40s. His big hit was Night Train. His band was great last night and so was he. Not only does he still play well but he is a very nice guy. Did I mention he is 90 years old. Larry Obrian our leader was on fire last night. His trombone solos were just beautiful. What a lush trombone sound. He is the man!!! Both bands played really great and as you guessed no winner is picked.

The Dorsey Band was on the stage right and the Miller Band stage left. We took turns playing tunes. We were all exctied to hear each other as each band gave great applause for each other. This was a night I WILL NEVER FORGET AS LONG AS I LIVE.

Everyone that is kind of new is settleing in and doing well. I still have improvments to make. I will continue to practice all the time. Our section leader Kevin Sheehan is a very tough section leader. I am really glad. The harder he pushes the better we get as a section. He brings new meaing to tightness in a section. After a few more months I am positive this will be one of the tightest saxophone sections anywhere.

After flying to San Francisco yesterday and back to New York today and riding the bus 250 more miles today we are all exhausted. So I am off to sleep. It was great to hear from my friend CE today. His comments and visits really help me wih this road life. If you don't know CE was the drummer for the Airman of Note for 25 years and the leader for some time. He was also my college roomate.

Miss Doss and all the students at your school: Flat Stanley had a great time in California. He got lost downtown but we found him just in time to fly home. He is looking forward to seeing you all soon.

BUS TROUBLE

After a great concert last night in Easton Virginia we got a pretty good night sleep. THis morning we took off at 9 am for Infield Connecticut and made it at least 15 minutes down the freeway when smoke surrounded us. The turbo had decided to take an early break. After two hours at the coffee shop we broke down by the sub bus showed up. A mini bus that was terrible. Thank goodness our nice big 45 foot bus will be with us at 11:00am in the morning.

We play in Connecticut tomorrow night, New Jersey Sat night and San Francisco Ca. Sunday night. We fly back to NJ Mon morning at 6:00am. WHen we land back in NJ we will bus 230 miles sleep and get ready for Tues concert. Im tired just thinking about it.

Hey CE, please try again, we did not have phone service alot of he time today.

Going to sleep now!!!! Today was a long day. Basically 10 hours on the road.

Two Days Off

Taking a two day break. Resting, laundry and practice.

Getting Easier

I am finally able to relax on the concerts. The music is fun and I enjoy playing it without being so up tight. Today when we got to Kentucky I practiced an hour on Omni Book licks that I write out in every key when traveling on the bus. I also have written out lots of Cannonball too. Over the next 8 months I should be able to really improve my skills working like this. I also worked on flute long tones for about 20 minutes along with whistle tones that one of the other guys taught me how to do. As much as we play there is lots of reed work to do. I have started breaking in my reeds then putting them away. I have a pretty good reed knife and an alto and a bari reed clip. Reeds don't last very long so we use reed clips and use the reeds longer. Most of the time a cliped reed sounds better anyway.

Right now Damian Sanchez (2nd tenor player) are listening to Herman Green. What a great player. Hope everyone is doing well. We will be playing in Glasgow Kentucky and then Chatanooga Tn. Next week the San Fransico Jazz festival. We will share the stage with the Harry James Orchestra. More later. I wish CE would give me a call.

Crazy Day

Today I worked on the song Apple Tree. Tenor Vocal part. YIKES!!!!!!!! The assistant band manager gave me the music this morning and said learn the tenor part. I can sing but this part is hard. Ill keep you posted on how long this last. Im guessing about 1 warm up.

Chicago Symphony

Our last two concerts were dances. Friday night we were hired by the Chicago Symphony to provide music for their annual banquet. They were very nice and most of them are hugh big band fans. Their lead trumpet, bass trombone and bass player played a couple of tunes with us. It was a great time.

The next night we were in St Louis. We were the music provider for on of St Louis's TV stations. It was a PBS special. My mouth is a little sore so today I studied my charts and outlined tunes in the real book as we traveled about 8 hours on the bus. Our next concert is in Pittsburg Pa.

Tomorrow we are off. I did laundry tonight so I will have time to work on a few new tunes.

Hi Katheryine. Flat Stanley is doing well and learning lots about music and travel. He is going out tomorrow to look for a handle for his suitcase. His is about wore out. Tell everyone at school that he says hello from Ohio.

Concert in New York State

Great concert in Springville New York tonight. It as at the high school fine arts center. very nice concert venue. The high schools two jazz bands performed before we did. They were very good and very excited about us being there. Larry, our leader gave a Great talk about the importance of music education. It was very inspiring.

Our new drummer Jeff from West Virgina played well for his first run. nI got a new room mate today. My old room mate is now with the new drummer and I am with the lead tenor Scotty from Wisconson. Great soloist, I will learn lots rooming with him.

We travel tomorrow back to Ohio. We will stay in the same motel for 3 wonderful days.

See you guys soon.. Katheryine, Flat Stanley is having a great time. He is taking trombone lessons in hopes of playing on a concert before Christmas.

Nice Concert

The concert in Marion Ohio was really good this afternoon. The balance and blend is starting to sound pretty nice in the sax section. Our drummer Brent played his last gig with us today. He is leaving for a 6 month gig in Europe. Needless to say he plays very well.

We have a new drummer coming in tomorrow. His first gig - Tomorrow. The no rehearsal thing is still a little strange to me but the band always sounds really pretty good.

Hey CE> Want to do a short six month to a year tour sometime. Maybe you didnt get your fill those 25 years on the Note.LOL

On the way to bed. Long trip to New York tomorrow.

All Day

10 hours on the bus today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more???????? Playing in Marion Ohio tomorrow afternoon. Flat Stanley is exhausted.

Going to New York first of week. HAPPY DAY????

TRAVEL DAY

Today is a day on the bus. After 3 nights of concerts a rest for my mouth may be good. Last nights concert was a blast. The high jazz band was their along with the other 2500 people. What a crowd. As always they loved the music.

Today I will listen to tons of music (computer, MP3 with head phones) anad study my real book, outline chords, and study more Glenn Miller Music.

New trumpet player arriving today to sub for our lead player while he gets his knee fixed. Brand new drummer starts Monday. Our drummer Brent is leaving for a 6 month tour in Europe staring in Greece.
Travel on.!!!!!!!!

Road Life

Another pretty good concert tonight. Very bright lights caused lots of heat. Made tuning a little harder.

After concert. Laundry!!!!! I spent an hour washing, drying and repacking. My wife Debbie does that at home. I hope she doesnt get to used to that. LOL I do laundry at least once every ten days. Some guys can make it 20 to 25 days. I don't see how they do that.

Mail call is just like the military. Everyday on the bus someone gets mail or a package. The tenor player Scott from Wisconson mother sent the entire band homemade oatmeal cookies. They were great!!!!! Lasted about 15 minutes.

It is 12:15AM and everyone is still busy either doing clothes, practicing on the bus or working on equipment. The other tenor player Damion from Florida dropped his tenor and is frantically trying to repair it. You learn very fast on the road how to repair all of your equipment.

Thanks for the posts. Concert tomorrow in Wisconson again.