Just diving into a orchestration of Our Love is Here to Stay (arranged by Nelson Riddle) for the After Hours Big Band with vocalist Jess Owen, and the Newmarket Citizen's Band. There is very little repertoire out there like this. I guess writers feel there is too much overlap in the instrumentation to pair a big band with a concert band, but I have an opportunity to do so in an upcoming concert at the Old Town Hall in Newmarket on May 25, and am jumping at the chance. It is a real pleasure to learn from the great writing of Riddle and to see what I can do to complement his classic arrangement with some support from the concert band. If you are around on the 25th, come out and see the result. I will be doing the same treatment to Ain't That a Kick in the Head. This will be a performance that will not be replicated for some time. 

While I do not have a live recording of the big band playing the chart yet, I think the small jazz ensemble gives you a great feel for the arrangement. Check it out! 

Just had a rehearsal last night with the local concert band; played some pretty lame arrangements. Well, they might have sounded decent to the conductor's ear and maybe to an audience's, but that is doubtful. In the low brass parts, they would repeat notes up to ten times before moving up a step and repeating. Who does this? Either someone who is throwing an arrangement together or someone who lacks musicality. Take a little time and a little effort and make even the supporting lines musical. It is possible, if you care, and a writer should. If you either add some passing notes, have instruments switch notes in a chord, or pass the melody between sections, the players will be more engaged as they play something that is musical. Otherwise you are killing us and quite honestly, it might affect the absence rate in sections of the concert band. But, if bands keep buying these charts and players keep putting up with this musical wall paper, then writers will keep pumping it out and publishers will accept it and ask for more.  

George, one of the singers in the After Hours Big Band, had requested an arrangement of this tune a long time ago. So this is a long time coming. The chart stays close to the original off of Rattle and Hum and I think it does a good job of showcasing the big band. Take a second and check it out by clicking here. Here is the video of U2, as well, for comparison.  

This is not a marketing ploy. I have loved this band for a long time. When Chester whispered, sang and screamed, I heard him addressing real issues; ones that helped me see things clearer. I would have liked to have thanked him for that and am saddened that I will never get the chance. Hopefully these two charts will find their way into your band's repertoire, whether you showcase vocalists or not. Click this link to get to the arrangements.

Whenever you travel, be sure to bring your ongoing composition or arrangement with you. You always have the best of intentions by leaving it all behind on vacation or that visit to your parents, but then when you have some down time and you kick yourself because you get those shakes or cold sweats because you just need to write. You don't need to bring everything involved in your new project, like my family does on each vacation: musical instruments, golf clubs, sewing kits, change of clothes for a month, etc. Just something. So, do your musical self a favor and bring a project to work on. No need to go "cold turkey."

I spent a great deal of time making my store more user friendly. Please give it a look and let me know what you think. Suggestions would be welcomed. Still more work ahead, but I think the changes are an improvement. Click here to take a look. 

I think this mock-up is a better representation of the chart, although it is far from capturing what a real band would sound like. I miss Mario and hope to play this chart again with the After Hours Big Band soon. Click here to hear the recording.