Program No. 74 - Trombone Shorty

Troy Andrews, AKA Trombone Shorty, is a trombone and trumpet player from New Orleans, USA. Born in 1986 he has been playing the trombone since he was six years old. Here is a clip of him playing 2nd Line, at age 13.

The music of Trombone Shorty spans many genres, from jazz to rock, funk and hip hop. Since 2009 he has been touring with his own band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

The Play List for tonight:
1. Quiet as Kept
2. Neph
3. Suburbia
4. In the 6th
5. One Night Only (The March)
6. Something Beautiful (with Lenny Kravitz)
   - from Backatown (2010)

7. Back In Black
8. When the Saints
  - from Trombone Shorty: Live At Jazz Fest 2007

9. Need a Woman by Friday (King, with Trombone Shorty)(Single) (2013)

10. Buckjump (with The Rebirth Brass Band & 5th Ward Weebie)
11. Do to Me (with Jeff Beck)
12. The Craziest Thing
13. Mrs Orleans (with Kid Rock)
14. Nervis (with Cyril and Ivan Neville)
15. Big 12
16. UNC
17. Then There Was You (with Ledisi)
   - from For True (2011)

18. Set Yourself Free
19. American Woman
20. Do Watch Wanna
  - from Live at 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

21. Long Weekend
22. Shortyville
23. Say That To Say This
24. Dream On
   - from Say That To Say This (2013)

Mixing it up, next week, we look at a composer that really loved brass instruments, Richard Wagner.

Program No. 73 - Dragons

This week is a Dragon potpourri, with special guest presenter, my youngest son, Ben. Ben really likes dragons, so I thought this would be a fun theme for tonight's show. We're looking at movie theme that involve dragons, as well as some brass band pieces with dragons in the titles.

This will be a relatively brief summary, as I have been away for a week and will only be home this afternoon.

1. This is Berk
2. Ready the Ships
3. Counter Attack
4. Where's Hiccup?
5. Coming Back Around
  - from How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
This CGI kids movie was released by Dreamworks Animation, which has also released the Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar movies. The movie is actually based on a series of books written by Cressida Cowell.

The music was composed by John Powell. This may not be a name familiar to many, but the movies that he has provided scores for will be well know to you. They include kids films such as Shrek, Chicken Run, Happy Feet and Kung Fu Panda (this last one in collaboration with Hans Zimmer) as well as adult movies such as The Jason Bourne movies and X Men: The Last Stand.

John Powell was nominated for an Academy Award for this score, but lost out to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their work on Social Network.

6. Eragon
7. Battle for Varden
  - from Eragon (2006)
This movie was also based on a book series, this one penned by author Christopher Paolini. This starred Ed Speelers as Aragon, and the cast included both Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich.

The music was composed by Patrick Doyle. Other movies he has scored for include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Nim's Island, Thor and Brave.

8. Hero
9. The Dragon Scroll
10. Dragon Warrior is Amongst Us
11. Dragon Warrior Rises
  - from Kung Fu Panda (2008)
This is one of my favourite animated movies and, as mentioned, above come from Dreamworks Animation. The music is a collaboration between John Powell, and one of the absolute masters in movie scoring, Hans Zimmer.

12. Finale
  - from Dragonheart (1996)
Not a very well known movie, but with a huge ensemble cast, including Dennis Quaid, Sean Connery (as the voice of Draco, the dragon), David Thewlis, Julie Christie, Peter Postletwhaite, Jason Isaacs and John Gielgud.

The music is scored by Randy Edelman, who has scored well over 40 movies.

13. Summon the Dragon - Black Dyke Band
Written by Pater Graham as a Fanfare and Prelude for the National Youth Band of Wales, this was recorded by Black Dyke Band for their 2002 album, Call of the Cossacks.

 14. The Year of the Dragon - Britannia Building Society Band
This is one of Philip Sparke's earlier major works for brass band, and still played in most contests as an "Own Choice" work by or two bands. This was recorded by the Britannia Building Society Band for their 1992 album, The Year of the Dragon.

15. Dragons Arise - Williams Fairey Engineering Band
This brass band pieces as composed by Philip Wilby and was recorded by the Williams Fairey Engineering Band on their 1997 album, Jazz.

Day of the Dragon
16. Overture - Hunting the Hare
17. Lullaby - Suo Gan
18. Welsh Clog Dance (Little Tinker Boy)
19. Ballad - By Kell's Waters
20. Triumph - Men of Harlech
  - Buy As You View Band
This major concert work was written by Peter Graham and is a joint commission from the Buy as You View Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales. The five movements are based on traditional Welsh Folk Songs and feature solos for cornet, trombone, horn, flugel, euphonium. This was recorded by the band for their 2004 Album Day of the Dragon.

Well, both brass band and movie music in this week's show.

Next week, something totally different as we play music from American trombone player, Trombone Shorty.

Program No. 72 - Canadian Brass

Canadian Brass is probably one of the most well known brass quintets in the world. The group started out in 1970, founded by Charles Daellenbach (tuba player) and Gene Watts (trombone). The quintet has released over a hundred albums and have toured throughout the world since then.

Of the five original players Daellenbach is the only player still playing with the group. During the last 43 years there have been 7 french horn players, 3 trombonists (Watts having only retired from the group in 2010) and 11 different trumpet players performing as part of the quintet.

The current members are Daellenbach on tuba, Caleb Hudson and Chris Coletti on trumpets, Eric Reed on French horn and Achilles Liarmakopolous on trombone.

Tonight's show will only feature music from a few of the albums. We only have a couple of hours!

1. Tuba Tiger Rag
2. The Saints' Hallelujah
3. Canzone Prima a 5 -1
4. La Virgen de la Macarena
5. Il Barbiere di Siviglia: No 2 Cavatina: "Largo al Factitum"
   - The Essential Canadian Brass (1991)

6. Reiche: Fanfare - Clarke: Prince Of Denmark's March
7. Cable: Boyce Suite
8. Scheidt: Galliard Battaglia
   - High, Bright, Light & Clear (1983)

9. Glory Look Away
   - Basin Street (1987)

10. Over There - You're a Grand Old Flag
11. When Johnny Comes Marching Home
12. Shenandoah
   - Stars & Stripes (2011)

13. Magnificat
14. In Ecclesiis
15. Jubilato Deo
   (Performed with Berlin Philharmonic Brass)
   -  Brass in Berlin (1984)

16. Kanon
17. Madrigal
18. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
   - Go For Baroque (1995)

19. The Entertainer
20. The Joust
21. Bourbon Street Medley: I. Just a Closer Walk with Thee. II. Tin Roof Blues. III. Muskrat Ramble
   - The Canadian Brass: Encore (1994)

Next week's show - A potpourri as we look at music of dragons. Brass bands, movie music and elsewhere. It should be fun.

Program No. 71 - Brass Players In Movies

Only truncated program notes, as I was distracted yesterday because of the 2013 Australian Federal Election.

This program is a repeat of Program No. 6 from last year, but I thought it was a reasonable good show, and well worth another go.

The theme of this show is to look at brass players on the Screen, both in movies, with a couple on the smaller screen as well.

1. Three Little Bops (1957)
We start with a Looney Tunes cartoon, featuring the three little pigs in a jazz combo and the big bad wolf trying to join their group, as a trumpet player.

2. The Five Pennies Saints
3. Battle Hymn of The Republic
4. Medley: College Montage/Washington and Lee Swing/Runnin' Wild/Follow the Leader
   - The Five Pennies (1959)
This movie starred Danny Kaye. It is the story of "Red" Nichols, a cornet player who moves to New York in the 1920s and finds work in a band. Also features Louis Armstrong.

5. Peter Gunn Theme
6. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
7. Sweet Home Chicago
   - The Blues Brothers (1980)
Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, this cult comedy is the story of Jake and Elwood Blues reforming their band to raise funds for the Catholic orphanage where they grew up.

8. St Louis Blues March
9. Little Brown Jug
   - The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
The is a biographical movie of trombonist and band leader Glenn Miller. It stars James Stewart in the title role

10. Tubby the Tuba (1947)
We return to animation with a story of Tubby the Tuba Player and his need to play a melody.

11. Mambo Caliente
12. Sunny Ray
13. Tango Rumba-Afro-Cubana
   - The Mambo Kings (1992)
This movie stars Armande Assante and Antonio Banderas as brothers who left Cuba for America in the 1950's hoping to reach the heights of the Latin music scene.

14. In The Midnight Hour
15. Try a Little Tenderness
   - The Commitments (1991)
This UK movie was about the forming of an Irish Soul Band.

16. Ya Got Trouble
17. Seventy-Six Trombones
   - The Music Man (1962)
 The movie was about a conman who comes to a Midwestern town in the US to scam them, using a boys marching band, but things don;t go according to plan.

18. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor
19. Danny Boy
20. We'll Find a Way
21. William Tell Overture
   - Brassed Off (1996)
This UK movie featured a great ensemble cast including Ewan McGregor, Tara Fitzgerald, and Peter Postlethwaite,and  is about a brass band located in a town that is suffering from the closure of their local coal mine, in the 1980s.

Next week's show we'll play music performed by one of the world's best known brass quintet's Candian Brass.

Program No. 70 - Chris Botti

Trumpet player, composer, Grammy Award winner. Christopher Stephen Botti is all of these.

Born in Oregon, USA, in 1962, he started playing the trumpet at age 9. He became "committed" to the trumpet when he was 12 years old, after hearing Miles Davis play My Funny Valentine.

He left Indiana University during his senior year for short touring gigs with Frank Sinatra and Buddy Rich.

In 1990 he began a decade long music relationship with artist Paul Simon (more on this later).

His solo career has included the release of  10 studio albums and 2 live albums, with a number of other albums that he has either produced, or performed as part of a group.

1. Call Me Al
 (Concert in the Park - 1991)
We begin the show tonight with a track from Paul Simon's live alum Concert in The Park. Botti's 10 year relationship with Simon included both touring and recording with him. This album was recorded after the release of Rhythm of the Saints in 1990, as the Park referred to in the title was Central Park in New York. Just under 100,000 people attended that concert.

2.Worlds Outside
3. Fade to Day
  (First Wish - 1995)
This was the debut album by Botti, released by Verve Forecast Records in February 1995. 9 of the 10 tracks were composed by him.

4. Drive Time
5. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning (with Sting)
  (Slowing Down the World - 1999)
This was Botti's third album and was released by GRP Records. Most of the pieces were composed by Botti, however In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning was actually composed in 1955 by David Mann, and featured as the title track of Frank Sinatra's 1955 album In The Wee Small Hours.

6. Hallelujah
  (December - 2002)
Most performers seem to release a Christmas album at some stage in their careers and Botti is no exception, with this fifth album, December. All of the tracks are standard Christmas fare, except for this track, Hallelujah, which was written by Leonard Cohen. I think it must have been included on this album as some sort of ironic statement on the whole Christmas album genre. This album made it to number 4 on the US Jazz Charts.

7. Indian Summer
8. She Comes From Somewhere
  (A Thousand Kisses Deep - 2003)
Studio album number 6 is also the third album with Columbia Records. Indian Summer was written by Mark Goldenberg and She Comes From Somewhere is written by Botti, together with Ciancia, Benji Hughes and Steve Lindsey. This was the third album in a row to make it to number 4 on the US Jazz Charts.

9. In Our Time
10. Dreams
  (At This Time - 2004)
Burt Bacharach is one of the true legends of American music, with 73 top 40 hits in the US, stretching from the late 1950s for over 30 years.

In 2004 (aged 76) Bacharach released At This Time, featuring a number of artists playing together with Bacharach. In addition to these two tracks by Botti, other notable artists included Elvis Costello and Rufus Wainwright. This album won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album in 2006.

11. Italia (with Andrea Bocelli)
12. Gabriel's Oboe - Theme from The Mission
13. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face (with Dean Martin)
14. Nessun Dorma - from Turandot
  (Italia - 2007)
This was studio album number 9 for Botti, and this album sought to focus on Botti's Italian roots. This album made it to number one on the US Jazz Charts and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Italia, which features the singing of Andrea Bocelli, was co written by Botti and David Foster.

Gabriel's Oboe was written by Ennio Morricone for the 1986 film The Mission.

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face was a song that featured in the 1956 musical My Fair Lady. Dean Martin  recorded his version in 1960 for his album This Time I'm Swinging which was remastered as a duet with Botti.

Nessun Dorma is one of the most famous tenor arias in all opera and was composed by Puccini for his opera Turandot in 1924.

15. If I Ever Lose My Faith In You (with Sting and Dominic Miller)
16. Time to Say Goodbye
  (Chris Botti - 2009)
This was Botti's second solo live album, and was released in 2009 through Decca Music Group. This album went platinum in the US and diamond in Poland, and was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

If I Ever Lose My Faith In You was originally composed by Sting in 1993.

Time to Say Goodbye (or Con te Partiro) was written by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto. This is best known as a duet sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, recorded in 1996.

17. Tango Suite (with Herbie Hancock)
18. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor
19. What a Wonderful World (with Mark Knopler)
  (Impressions - 2012)
This is the latest studio album to have been released by Botti, in 2012. This album also made it to number 1 in the Billboard Jazz Chart, and was awarded the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Tango Suite was co-written by Botti and Herbie Hancock, and features Hancock on piano with a duet of sorts with Botti.

En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor was originally composed by Joaquin Rodrigo as a guitar concerto in 1939.

We finish our show with a piece made famous by another trumpet playing legend, Louis Armstrong. It was composed by Bob Thiele and George Weiss in 1967 and had proved to be a successful song for Armstrong. It had a resurgence in chart success when it was re-released as a single in 1988 due to its use in the movie Good Morning Vietnam. Botti performs this as a duet with Mark Knopfler, of Dire Straits fame.

I hope you enjoyed this show. A different tempo to the last few shows we have programmed. I enjoy Chris Botti's playing, and I am sure there be at least a couple of more shows programmed featuring his music.

Next week we go back to the movies with a show originally aired last year, where we look at movies that feature brass playing. We'll be including Brassed Off, The Blues Brothers, The Glenn Miller Story, Mambo Kings, and more.