Category: Gigs

Musician Looking For Restaurant To Promote Their Work

~ wilktone ~ 3 Comments

Spotted on Craigslist, but already removed.

Craigslist Ad :We are a small & casual restaurant in downtown Vancouver and we are looking for solo musicians to play in our restaurant to promote their work and sell their CD. This is not a daily job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get positive response. More Jazz, Rock, & smooth type music, around the world and mixed cultural music. Are you interested to promote your work? Please reply back ASAP.

And the reply:

Happy new year! I am a musician with a big house looking for a restauranteur to promote their restaurant and come to my house to make dinner for my friends and I. This is not a daily job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get positive response. More fine dining & exotic meals and mixed Ethnic Fusion cuisine. Are you interested to promote your restaurant? Please reply back ASAP.

Performing Attire For Musicians

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A short post for my first of 2012.

I’ve noticed a lot of younger musicians showing up to gigs calling for “concert black” attire wearing all black.  Concert black means tuxedo for the men and formal black dress for the women.  Black bow tie and cummerbund gentlemen, women should have longer dresses or skirts that go to the ankles.  Other attire that working musicians might want to get a hold of include a dark jacket for coat and tie.  It’s not uncommon for me to play shows where the attire is navy blue blazer, white shirt, tie, and khaki pants.  Khaki pants and a golf shirt is also sometimes used for less formal shows.  All black is very common, but you’ll want to avoid things like black t-shirts and black jeans, get something a little more formal.  Wear appropriate shoes on the gig too.  Don’t wear gym shoes unless the performance is informal.

If you don’t have these clothes yet and have aspirations to perform start accumulating them.  You can find a cheap tux at any rental place if you buy one used.

Happy New Year and happy gigging!

Military Band Budget Restored

~ wilktone ~ 2 Comments

Good news for both military musicians and fans of military ensembles.

By voice vote Wednesday, the Republican-controlled House restored $120 million for the armed services’ 100-plus military bands — money that budget-conscious members of the Appropriations Committee had cut last month.

While I’m not a veteran, I did audition for military bands twice (didn’t win either audition).  I am, however, a huge fan of many of the military bands.  I have a particularly soft spot for the Airmen of Note, as two of my teachers are former members of that group (Tom Streeter and Doug Elliott) and I worked on the old Online Trombone Journal Forum with the current MD and lead trombonist, Joe Jackson.

Many people don’t realize that military bands are more than marching band style groups.  There are many jazz bands, chamber groups, even rock and country bands.  Performances and recordings by the groups are generally free (or I should say, paid for by your tax dollars already) and the quality of many of these groups is as good as any professional ensemble you’ll hear.  They don’t just play for troops, either.  They often go on tour and if you look around, you’ll probably find that a military band is playing a free concert in your area this summer.  Do yourself a favor and go listen to a high quality band performing a free concert.  You’ll not only hear great music, but you’ll also be helping to support our troops and the musicians who support them.

Update:  Bad news.  Navy musician Rich Hanks commented here that the House has done a switcheroo, and now the cuts to military musicians are back in.  Please write your congressional representative and let them know that you value the work that our military musicians do for both our troops and all our citizens.

Gig Anecdotes

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Gig Anecdotes is a web site devoted to exactly what you would expect, personal anecdotes about wacky experiences by gigging musicians.  For example, there’s the story about the highly experienced drummer who took a gig working with an amateur choreographer.

We all got a bunch of satisfaction out of this exchange, which took place immediately after another of her inane musical ‘directions’ —

Dancer: Have you ever even worked with dancers before?
Drummer: Sure I have.
Dancer (incredulously): Oh really? Where?
Drummer (nonchalant): Academy Awards.
Dancer: (silence)

The stories from most of my own gigs were either had-to-be-there moments or are mostly sad, rather than funny.  Like the time I showed up for a jazz gig at a venue that turned out not to be a country club, but a country bar (no, there wasn’t chicken wire).  The couple of patrons in there left as soon as we started playing, except for one drunk who pulled out a harmonica and proceeded to play along with us.  The bandleader mistakenly thought if he let him sit in on a blues he’d be satisfied and stop, but that just encouraged him.  This went on for an entire set.  Did I mention he was the only audience member at this point?  For a moment I thought the pianist was going to get in a fistfight with him.  Needless to say, that was my one and only gig at that club.

Have a gig story you want to share?  Go over to Gig Anecdotes and tell the world.

The Repentant Band Leader

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Speaking of band leading, I’m directing the Asheville Jazz Orchestra tonight at 8 PM at the White Horse Black Mountain.  Cover charge is $12.  Stop by and say hello if you’re in the area.  Now, on to the Repentant Band Leader.

The Repentant Band Leader

And so it came to pass, during one date, that the Sidemen were assailed by Doubts, and Darkness descended upon the Bandstand. And the Leader turned to his quaking flock and saith, “My children, why Doest thou doubt me? Have I not led you through the Valley of the Loading Dock to the Great Land of Long Breaks, Hot Meals, and Undertime?

“Have I not banished the dreaded Macarena from the Set List and allowed thee to Blow on selected numbers? Do we not play the Correct Changes for the Bridge of  Girl From Ipanema? And do we not play Motown selections at the Proper Tempos? And do I not pay you all equitably, neither overpaying the Chick Singers, nor underpaying the Horn Players? And are there not Charts for the Horns, so that thou need no Fake Parts? So why doth thou protest when I call The Willie Nelson Song, or The Jack son 5 Ballad? Are they not preferable to Achey Breaky Heart or anything by Celine Dion? Wouldst thou rather suffer Flung Beverage Containers or Scowls and Hectoring by the Aunts and Uncles?”

And the Sidemen answered him. “But Father, we look out into the Dance Floor, and we see The Maelstrom. We fear the Youngsters with Pierced Body Parts, as well as the Ancient Ones with Canes and Walkers. Also do we fear the Bridesmaids with the Large Hair and the Groomsmen with Cigars and Dishevelled Tuxedos. Also do we fear the Relatives from the Great Southwest, as well as those from California , and from New York . Also do we regard with Fear and Loathing the Party Planner, and the Room Captain. But mostly do we fear the Bride and Her Mother, who ruleth the Earth, yea, even above you, our Leader.”

And the Leader looked and saw that this was true. And he took his Book and he flung it into the Buffet Heaters. And he took his Baton and he broke it over his knee. And he took his Red Bow Tie and he rent it asunder. And he turned to the Party Planner and he said, “Now you have no power over me, Minion of Evil!”

And he turned to the Room Captain and he said, “I will leave by the Lobby Entrance.”

And he turned to the Bride and said, “Take thy Whitney Houston CD and place it where thy Groom may find it during your Honeymoon.”

And he turned to the Bride’s Mother and said, “Thy Daughter is a Spoiled Brat and I hope that she soon Divorces her Callow Husband and returneth to live with thee with her three children for the rest of thy Natural Life.”

And he turned to the drummer and said, “The band is yours.” And he went home and slept deeply and soundly and arose the next day smiling and began making calls to find work as a Sideman.

Land of the Sky Symphonic Band Music Director

~ wilktone ~ 4 Comments

It’s official.

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David Wilken to the position of Music Director of the Land of the Sky Symphonic Band.

The band will continue its Spring concert schedule under the direction of Dr. David Kirby, with performances scheduled in Brevard, Asheville, and Mars Hill.

Dr. Wilken has conducted the band for its last three rehearsals. He will assume his full responsibilities as Music Director in August when the band begins its 2011-2012 season.

Walt Justice
Chairman
Board of Directors
Land of the Sky Symphonic Band

It’s been a great time conducting the last three rehearsals.  It’s a fine group, made up of serious amateur players and some professionals as well.  During one of the rehearsals I had fun milking the rubato passages bit more than I would usually do.  I wanted to see how far I could take it, but they all watched and followed.  It’s always a pleasure to conduct an ensemble that follows that closely.

Threadspotting – Working For Free?

~ wilktone ~ 2 Comments

I recently came across an old thread on the official Finale forum that I found interesting.  A successful professional composer asked for a little help.

I am looking for someone knowledgeable enough with Finale who would be looking for a class project. It would involved taking my midi files, already quantized in most part, except for a cello cadenza section, and printing a nice orchestral score. In return I can advertise the person’s name on my website . . .  and on forums, and give him a recording of the live performance of the work as soon as it is performed.

It raises an important question.  Since copywork like this takes a huge amount of time and effort, is this composer taking advantage of a student by asking him or her to work for free like this?  Many professionals reading the thread took issue.  One commented,

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“Horsin’ Around”

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My first composition for 2011 is done.  Well, I still have to finish the copy work, but unless I make some minor changes the composing part of it is done.  It’s another big band chart for the Asheville Jazz Orchestra and also the folks at White Horse Black Mountain, who have had the AJO play a monthly show there since October.  It’s called Horsin’ Around.

I always caution my composition students to not overly rely on MIDI realizations like this one to give an accurate depiction of what the composition will sound like.  For one thing, a computer can play back parts that are impossible for real musicians to play.  On the other hand, real people perform with much more expression and some things that sound unsatisfying on a computer will be very effective with live musicians.  In my MIDI example above I don’t have fall offs and other effects setup to play back.  The rhythm section parts and improvised solos are computer generated, so you have to use your imagination.  Still, you should be able to get an idea what the chart will hopefully sound like.

The “head” tune and form are pretty standard, as are the chord progressions.  I went for a quirky feel by playing around with some rhythmic ideas and using some bitonal triad effects (for example, using a lot of C major triads in the melodies over the Bb7 chords).

If you’re near Black Mountain, NC this Friday you can hear the AJO premier this chart.  Assuming I get the parts printed out in time.

By the way, I promise to get to all the emails and comments that some of you have sent in the past month this week too.  Thanks for the topic suggestions, keep them coming.  For those of you asking for embouchure advice, please remember that I need to be able to see how you play to really have any chance of making an accurate guess, but I’ll do my best if you can’t post videos or photos.

Wycliffe Gordon Concert

~ wilktone ~ 4 Comments

I’m back from visiting Starkville, MS and playing with the Starkville Symphony Big Band.  Starkville is almost a 9 hour drive from where I live, but the trip was worth it to back up the great trombonist Wycliffe Gordon.

David Wilken, Richard Human, Wycliffe Gordon, Clifton Taylor, Jason Beghtol

Wycliffe was a consumate professional, amazing player, and all around great guy.  He sent his charts ahead of time, which was good as some of them were very challenging.  As I was practicing my parts (I helped split lead and second, mostly) I noted that several of the parts had solos to play (both written out and improvised).  I assumed that Wycliffe would be playing the solos in the performance, but went ahead and shed them for the practice anyway.  It was good that I did, as Wycliffe was very generous with solo space for the concert.  I got to play two fairly extended solos and traded on a couple more with the rest of the trombone section (from left to right, myself, Richard Human, Wycliffe Gordon, Clifton Taylor, and Jason Beghtol).

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