No BS! Brass: Monday YouTube Fix

This past week I was soloing with the Bird High School Wind Symphony outside of Richmond and had the privilege of meeting the tuba player for Richmond's No BS! Brass, Stefan Demetriadis.  I've been a big fan of his and the entire band for a while now.  They are a fantastic brass band in the New Orleans tradition but they've absolutely got their own sound. Any band that describes themselves as "fearlessly combining elements of James Brown, John Coltrane, Michael Jackson, and Led Zeppelin" has got my attention.  Stefan holds down the low end like a champ.  This video is totally kick ass.

Enjoy!

David Childs with the Brass Band de Bazuin: Monday YouTube Fix

This is a typically stunning performance by David Childs on the euphonium.  His combination of lyricism and technique is pretty stunning.  This is a performance with the Brass Band de Bazuin of "Brillante" by Peter Graham. You have to wonder how many hours someone who can play their instrument to this level in concert has spent mastering their craft.  However long he's spent, we get to reap the rewards.

Enjoy!

Joe Alessi: Monday YouTube Fix

I'm not sure what else I can really say about Joe Alessi.  His artistry and command over the trombone are famous.  His ability to play solos like this one just as convincingly as playing the lead trombone in the New York Philharmonic is also noteworthy.  He is a true virtuoso. This is a live clip of Joe playing "Three Scenes for American Trombone" by Eric Richards.  This is a perfect piece to show off his abilities as both a technician and musician.

A few things that pop out at me in this clip:

- I love how unapologetic his slide technique is.  His right hand never goes fishing for the right location, no matter how fast the passage.  He tells it where it is going which is something I try to emulate with my valves.

- I really like his use of vibrato in this solo.  He only uses it in certain instances which really gives it an effectiveness.

- His combination of seeming to be so calm while also going for it with no hesitation is truly great.

I listen to Joe's playing all the time and still need to listen him more.  I learn something every time I do.

Enjoy!

Black Dyke Band: Monday YouTube Fix

I am amazed by the brass band tradition in England.  There are countless hours of nearly flawless brass playing on YouTube from the great brass bands.  This is a really great clip because it is so long. The amount of great tone emanating from the Black Dyke Band in this clip is really incredible.  The blend of tone, articulation and note length leads to a real "meltdown" of sound.  This is just awesome playing.

Enjoy!

Monday YouTube Fix: Matt Perrine, Lew Soloff, Ray Anderson & Bobby Previte

With all due respect to Ray Anderson, Lew Soloff, and Bobby Previte I put Matt's name first because he is one of my hero's.  The first time I heard him play the sousaphone I was driving into New Orleans and listening to the great radio station WWOZ.  He was playing with Bonerama and the tune was called Blues for Ben from the album 'Live at the Old Pointe'.  I started fist pumping and yelling woo-hoos! I had never heard sousaphone playing like this in my life.

They didn't say what the tune was or who was playing and this was long before the Shazam app so I called the station.  Evidently I asked the DJ with such urgent enthusiasm who in the hell I just heard playing the sousaphone that he literally cracked up.  After he told me it was Matt he said to stay tuned for the song.  He then mentioned the eager sousaphone fan and played another track of Matt's with the Tin Men.  That morning in New Orleans changed my conception of what a sousaphone could do.

I had the privilege of meeting Matt last spring when we did clinics on consecutive days at his alma mater in Sacramento.  It was great to put a face to the name and he is as nice a guy as you could ever hope to meet.  Not every day you get to meet one of your heroes!

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WhRMFsVT5o&feature=share]

Monday YouTube Fix: Les Neish and David Childs

I was very happy when I stumbled upon this clip of two of the best low brass soloists in the world.  Les and David are the kind of players that keep the rest of us in the practice room a little longer than we might have otherwise. The first thing that strikes me about players is their sound.  No matter how difficult a passage may be, they both play with the same characteristically beautiful sound at all times.  That is what I strive for always and it is not as easy as these two make it look!

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmg0KVDf-8c]