a wonderful night

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:19 am

Okay this has nothing to do with CDing. But I'm still walking on air from last night.

We played a concert in the park. It was a big band-4 trumpets, 4 bones, 4 saxes, plus rhythm. Glenn Miller was NOT played at any time. We did lots of stuff with trumpet pyrotechnics and lots of opening up the songs for improvisation.

The other trumpet players all graduated music school and did not put their horn away for 30 years like I did. One of them is something of a mentor figure around here, greatly admired by all trumpet players who know him, both for his playing and his encouragement. Lead was played by a young woman just out of music school. She sight read a lot of things well that I have worked on for years without being able to play correctly. I am very pleased with myself for playing in such company.

I had several solos of one or two choruses which went well although I got lost in the changes on one of them and wasn't real happy with what I wound up playing. Also played lead on a couple of screamers (with whole pages of ledger lines for those of you who understand such things I haven't ended a chart on a triple forte high E outside of rehearsal since I can't remember when) and absolutely loved getting to show off.

Of course it's not jazz if you don't make mistakes and big ones were made, not surprising since several people had never played with the band before and we had not had a complete rehearsal ever. Solos in the wrong place altogether and the young lady blowing lead played one in the wrong key altogether. But she played it so well that my wife (the music teacher) said she thought it was just a rather spacy arrangement with odd interpretations by the soloist.

The trumpets of course sat in back so we could deafen all the other musicians. We had a great time clapping for each other and most of all my wife said that the enthusiasm showed in our playing and she could tell from how we sounded that we were all having a lot of fun (again, very high praise from one musician to another)

Wish you all were there. Oh well. Music is for when words just won't do and it's hard to put this in words but it was wonderful. Being told I sounded good by the older mentor figure also made my day-I remember when he and I played together 30 years ago and I would screw up and all he ever said was keep at it.

Absaroka

Lydia · Post by **Lydia** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:51 am

Hi Absaroka,

Your great story stirred memories for me. From back many many years when I used to play clarinet. The feeling of being part of an orchestra is a rush, and I'll never forget it.

I still play piano - badly - but there is a fine feeling of satisfaction to actually make music. I have an electronic instrument so I can plug in earphones and no one can hear my mistakes.

My piano technique is pretty well shot, but I find that I play with more expression when dressed en femme.

You happiness from that story is catching.

Hugs,

Lydia

Curly(SO) · Post by **Curly(SO)** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:57 pm

Would love to have been there! I can't play any musical instrument but it's wonderful to listen to others play with enthusiasma nd passion

Love,
Curly

Connie · Post by **Connie** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:21 pm

Absaroka,

It's good to hear (or read) of someone else who enjoys music the way I do, by performing it! After all, that''s what it's all about. I'm jealous of your experience in that I really would have liked to play jazz but, being a lowly french hornist, never really had the chance and my trumpet playing was lousy. So I content myself in playing 4th horn in a community symphonic band, playing handbells and singing in the church choir.

Connie

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:11 am

Hi Absaroka--
Yes, your enthusiasm is catching. I do know about those ledger lines of which you speak, and I'm glad it's you on the that trumpet, and not me.

A concert in the park on a Monday night! That's a great way to spend it.
And very lofty company, from the sound of it. I'm glad you're getting chances to play with people who have that level of skill.

Kay · Post by **Kay** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:27 am

There must be something in the air, I picked up and played my Melodeon (posh name for a squeeze-box with buttons and not piano keys!) for the first time in nearly a year. It ain't classical or jazz and some would say it ain't even music but I 'm glad I'm playing again. The only problem is my lovely nails are getting in the way. They used to be short, bitten and horrid but now I have stopped all that I'll just have to change the way I hold it!

Kay

CJ · Post by CJ » Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:24 am

Hi Absaroka,

Another "wind angel," here... but I'm a reedster--clarinet, bass clarinet, and alto sax. My days of tooting in a group are long gone, though, relegated to memories of playing as part of an "instrumental ensemble" for summer crowds at the International Expo site (Man and his World) back in high school. Even so, public playing and jamming is definitely a rush (with enthusiastic applause a counterpoint for the food of love

).

Sounds like you had a blast, Absaroka. One of my own mentors once told me that errors while playing may be blatant to our own ears but barely perceptible to the audience and to just, well, play on and roll with it. It's a lesson I've learned to adapt with some measure of success to other, non-musical, areas of my life.

Here, in Montreal, the Jazz Festival is just now drawing to a close. Perhaps I'll hear and see you there one day.

Love,
CJ