Program No. 93 - 2nd March 2014

Hour 1 (Jazz and Contemporary Brass)
Nils Landgren

Last week we introduced the versatility if Swedish trombonist, Nils Landgren, through recordings of the Nils Landgren Funk Unit. But Nils enjoys performing in a variety of genres, not just funk. Tonight, we look at some of his other recordings, as a a soloist as well as collaborating with others.

1.    Love The One You're With (with Joe Sample)
2.    Get Out Of My Life Woman (with Joe Sample)
     - Creole Love Call (2005)

3.    Sentimental Journey
4.    I Will Survive
     - Sentimental Journey (2002)

5.    Backpolska (with Jonas Knutsson)
     - New Eyes on Baroque (2013)

6.   Den Blomstertid Nu Kommer (The Flowerseason Is Coming)
     - Gotland (1996)

7.   Eleanor Rigby (with Johan Norberg)
8.   Stomp (with Johan Norberg)
     - Chapter 2 (1989)

9.    Norwegian Fox Trot (with Esbjörn Svensson)
10.   The Farewell (Esbjörn Svensson)
     - Layers of Light (2001)

11.   Red Horn
     - The First Unit (2001)

February almost seemed like the month of trombone music, with both Nils and Wycliffe Gordon previously. We'll move back to the trumpet next week, with a versatile American who plays in a variety of genres, and a member of a very talented musical family, Wynton Marsalis.


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Hour 2 (Movie Scores)
Video Games Music by Score Composers

Having two boys interested in all the latest offerings from X Box (and getting involved in some of the games myself), you can't help but notice the significant production values of some of these games. An no wonder, as video games is big business, with some games achieving greater sales than most movies released. Grand Theft Auto V, released last year, grossed over $1 billion in sales in its first 3 days.

Given that the purpose of music in these video games is the same as for movies (to enhance the emotional journey of the participant), the producers of these block buster games bring on some of the best composers to write music for them.

Tonight we will feature 5 composers that have successfully composed for both movies and for video games.

Hans Zimmer (with Lorne Balfe)
1.    Opening Titles
2.    Deadline
     - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Brian Tyler
3.    Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Main Theme
4.    The High Seas
5.    Men of War
6.    Batten Down The Hatches
     - Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)

7.    Need For Speed: The Run
8.    That Is Impossible
     - Need For Speed: The Run (2011)

9.    Far Cry 3
    - Far Cry 3 (2012)


Michael Giacchino
10.   Operation Market Garden
     - Medal of Honor: Frontline (2002)

11.   MoH: Allied Assault (Main Theme)
     -   Medal of Honor: Vanguard (2007)

Ramon Djawadi
12.   Heroes Aboard
     - Medal of Honor (2010)

I think there is still a lot of area to explore with this particular genre, but we'll let it go for the moment.

Coming up next week, we're going back in time to feature some of the works of one of the legendary score composers of the 1930s - 1980's, Miklós Rózsa.

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Hour 3 (Brass Bands and Ensembles)
Classical and Operatic Overtures (Part II)

As mentioned last week, when researching music for last week's show about Classical and Operatic Overtures arranged for brass bands, I found music to cover at least two shows.  So here is Part II.

1.    Festival Overture (CWS Glasgow Band)
     - European Championships (1998)

2.    Nabucco Overture (Fodens Courtois Band)
     - Centenary Brass (1999)

3.    Academic Festival Overture (Black Dyke Band)
     - Symphonic Brass (2007)

4.    Overture - Le Corsair (Leyland Band)
     - Master Brass Vol 14 – 2003 All England Masters Champions

5.    The Bartered Bride - Overture (The Black Dyke Mills Band)
     - Slavonic Brass (1992)

6.    Henry V Overture (Fairey FP (Music) Band)
     - Enigma (2004)

Next week we look at works by composer Kenneth Downie.

Program No. 92 - 23rd February 2014

Hour 1 (Jazz and Contemporary Brass)
Nils Landgren Funk Unit

Nils Landgren is a Swedish R&B funk and jazz trombone player. He began playing drums at the age of six, before at last discovering the trombone at 13.

By his own reckoning he has been on more than 500 albums, as a soloist, as part of Nils Landgren Funk Unit, or as a sessional player. He has performed with people and groups as diverse as ABBA, Ray Parker Jnr., Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Eddie Harris and Maceo Parker.

Landgren tours regularly. In the next few months you can see him perform in Sweden, Germany, France and Switzerland.

Tonight's show will feature his group Nils Landgren Funk Unit.

1.    Walk Tall
2.    You Dig
3.    Cannonball
     - Paint It Blue (1996)

4.    Slowfoot
5.    Brazos River Breakdown
6.    Freak U
     - Licence to Funk (2007)

6.    Money, Money, Money
7.    Super Trouper
8.    Dancing Queen
     - Funky ABBA ( 2004)

Next week will feature some of Nils Landgren's solo works.

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Hour 2 (Movie Scores)
Alexandre Desplat

Possibly one of the most underrated movie score composers around at the moment, Desplat is a prolific composer, in both Hollywood as well as in his native country, France.  He has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards, 6 Golden Globe Awards (won one), 6 BAFTA Awards (won one), 7 Cesar Awards (won three) and 5 Grammy Awards (won one).

Tonight's program simply serves as an introduction to his vast body of work. Expect a few more programs featuring this composer in the future.

1.    Mr Fox In the Fields Medley
2.    Finale
     - Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)

3.    Sky Battle
4.    Fireplaces Escape
5.    Destroying the Locket
     - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I (2010)

6.    Opening Titles
7.    Heilbronn Mine
     - The Monuments Men (2014)

8.    Main Title
9.    Finale
     - Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

10.   Philomena
11.   Confession
     - Philomena (2013)

12.   Calling the Guardians
13.   Oath of the Guardians
     - Rise of the Guardians (2012)

14.   Battle With the Tartars
15.   Ice Bear Combat
     - The Golden Compass (2007)

Next week we look at video game music and uncover those written by well known movie score composers.  You may be surprised as to who will feature on the show.

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Hour 3 (Brass Bands and Ensembles)
Classical and Operatic Overtures

A lot of well known music in the classical genre has been transposed for brass bands over the years.  Tonight's program looks at the Overture, both in symphonic and operatic form as the length of these works can sometimes fit well as either major works or entertainment items for brass bands.

1.    Russlan And Ludmilla - Overture (Fodens Band)
     - Brass in Concert (2001)

2.    The Hebrides Overture - Fingal's Cave (Black Dyke Band)
     - Essential Dyke Volume 7 (2007)

3.    La Forza del Destino Overture (Soli Brass)
     - WMC 2001 Brass Band CD 2 (2001)

4.    William Tell - Overture (Grimethorpe Colliery Band)
     - Classic Brass (1989)

5.    Overture - The Marriage of Figaro (Black Dyke Mills Band)
     - European Championships (1991)

6.   1812 Overture (BAYV Cory Band)
     - European Championships (2003)

I found more than enough music here for a couple of programs. Next week, we'll continue with this theme.

Program No. 91 - 16th February 2014

Hour 1 (Jazz and Contemporary Brass)
Wycliffe Gordon

In my opinion Wycliffe Gordon is one of the most versatile and influential jazz trombone (as well as trumpet, tuba, piano, didgeridoo, strings) players (he also sings) around in the USA at the moment. He is no stranger to our shores, having been a guest of the Melbourne International Festival of Brass on at least two occasions.

1.    It's All Right With Me (with John Allred)
2.    The Preacher (with John Allred)
     - Head to Head (2002)

3.    The Battle Hymn Of The Republic
     - The Gospel Truth (2000)

4.    When The Saints Go Marching In
     - In The Cross (2004)

5.    Great Big Wall (Emily Asher)
     - Dreams May Take You (2012)

6.    Sweet Georgia Brown
     - The Search (2000)

7.    Georgie On My Mind
     - Standards Only(2006)

8.    Undecided (with Marty Erickson)
     - You and I (2008)

9.    Brass Glory (Kenny Carr)
     - Sound The Alarm (2004)

Next week, we stay with trombones as we feature Swedish funk and jazz player, Nils Landgren.


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Hour 2 (Movie Scores)
John Williams and Steven Spielberg in the 1980s

John Williams has been working with Steven Spielberg since The Sugarland Express in 1974.  There has been so much great music composed as part of this collaboration, that I have chosen to start off with looking at their joint projects in the 1980's. During this time there were 6 movies that Williams scored for Spielberg, including the one of the best action trilogies of all time, a score featuring in the top 10 scores of all time, as well as a relatively unknown one.

1.    Bicycle Chase
     - E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

2.    Follow Me/ Dorinda's Sol Flight
     - Always (1989)

3.    Toy Planes, Home and Hearth
4.    Exsultate Justi
     - Empire of The Sun (1987)

5.    Desert Chase
6.    The Miracle of the Ark
     - Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)

7.    Anything Goes
8.    Slave Children's Crusade
     - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

9.    Finale & End Credits 
     - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Next week we play music from French composer Alexandre Desplat.

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Hour 3 (Brass Bands and Ensembles)
Goff Richards

There wouldn't be many brass bands in the world that don't have a work or two by British composer Goff Richards in their repertoire. Although he passed away in 2011 his original compositions and arrangements of well known tunes will endure.

1.    Fanfare for a New Age (Brighouse & Rastrick Band)

2.    Pops For Brass (Brighouse & Rastrick Band)

     - The Best of Goff Richards (2005)

3.    Barnard Castle ( Lyngby-Taarbæk Brass Band)

     - Decade of Brass (1999)

4.    James Bond Medley (Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band)

     -  Movie Brass (2001)

5.    Doyen (Halifax Concert Band)

     - Halifax Concert Band (2008)

6.    Oceans (Desford Colliery Band)

7.    Russky Percussky (Desford Colliery Band)

    - Making Tracks (1990)

8.    Zorba's Dance (Buy As You View Cory Band)

     - The Glory of Cory (2002)

Next week, we are going to look at some well known orchestral overtures, arranged from brass bands.

Program No. 89 - 2nd February 2014

Hour 1 (Jazz and Contemporary Brass)
Vince Jones

Photo courtesy of Fairfax

I first became a fan of Vince Jones in the late 1980's thanks to a couple of friends of mine. This Australian singer, trumpet/flugel player, composer was probably at the height of his career at that stage. With a number of great CDs having been released, he and James Morrison would have been the two highest profile Australian brass players (of any genre) at that time.

Jones still performs regularly, as his website indicates, and also teaches part time at the Australian National University, according to Wikipedia.

1.   Watch What Happens
2.   When I Fall In Love
     - Watch What Happens (1982)

3.   On The Brink Of It
4.   Boys On The Corner
     - On The Brink Of It (1985)

5.   If You're Goin To The City
6.   Jettison
     - It All Ends Up In Tears (1987)

7.   You Go To My Head
8.   Mood Indigo
     - Come In Spinner (1990)

9.   Big City
10. Trustworthy Little Sweethearts
11.  My Only Friend  
     - Trustworthy Little Sweethearts (1988)

Next week we stay local, but change genres, as we feature the 5 man combo Oxo Cubans.

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Hour 2 (Movie Scores)
Ramin Djawadi

Djawadi is an Iranian born, German composer who was brought to the attention of acclaimed score composer Hans Zimmer shortly after Djawadi graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1998.  Since that time Djawadi has composed music for movies, TV series and video games. We'll be sampling music from each of these sub genres tonight.


1.    Driving With The Top Down
2.    Iron Man
3.    Arc Reaktor
     - Iron Man (2008)

4.    Main Title
5.    The King's Arrival
6.    Finale
     - Game of Thrones - First Season (2011)

7.    Heroes Abroad
     - Medal of Honor - EA Games (2010)

8.    You Can't Hide From Hades
9.    Release The Kraken
10.  Scorpiox
     - Clash Of The Titans (2010)

11.  2500 Tons Of Awesome
12.  Cancelling the Apocalypse
13.  Pacific Rim (featuring Tom Morello)
     - Pacific Rim (2013)

Next week we be looking at all the film scores that have been nominated for an Academy Award at this year's event.

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Hour 3 (Brass Bands and Ensembles)
Brett Baker

Brett Baker is a world renowned trombone player known mainly, but not exclusively for his work in and around the brass band world. Whilst based in England, Brett has been to Australia often, and has been known to play with local bands during national contests.

Baker has released, or been featured as a soloist, in dozens of CDs since the mid 1990's. Tonight's program list barely scratches the surface .

1.   Brasilia
2.   Cavatine, Op. 144
3.   Wind Beneath My Wings
     - Bone Idyll (1996)

4.   Atlantic Zephyrs
     - Soloist Showcase (2012)

5.   Sarah
     - Boscombe & Foden's LIVE (2008)

6.   Tango
     - Rathamataz (2009)

7.   Something
     - Black Dyke Plays Beatles (2012)

8.   Radio City       
      I. City Noir
      II. Cafe Rouge
      III. Two Minute Mile
     - Electra (2013)
  
Next week we will revisit a topic I featured back in 2011. The 5th Anniversary of the Black Saturday Bushfires is the Friday 7th February, and we will feature 3 works written about bushfires. This will include Barry McKimm's Ash Wednesday as well as parts of Lamentations, written about Black Saturday.

Program No. 83 - Month of Christmas Music (Brass Soloists)

In this second week of the month of Christmas music we will look at a number of brass soloists, in different genres - with their renditions of famous Christmas works.

Don't forgot the delayed start to my show tonight, as the radio station will be broadcasting live the Carols by Candlelight event in the Kinglake Ranges. Estimated start time about 8:00pm (AEST).

Program for tonight:

1. Mary's Boy Child
2. We Three Kings
3. Joy to The World
   - James Morrison (James Morrison - Christmas 2007)

4. Away In a Manger
   - James Morrison (This is Christmas 1993)

5. What Child is This (Greensleeves)
   - James Morrison (Three's Company 2010)

6. White Christmas
   - Carl Lenthe, Joseph Alessi, M. Dee Stewert & Mark Lawrence (Trombones Under the Tree 1991)

7. Jingle Bells
8. Good King Wenceslas
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
   - Wynton Marsalis (Christmas Jazz Jam 2009)

10. Frosty the Snowman
   - Toby Bannon with Yorkshire Building Society Band (Simple Gifts 2003)

11. The Christmas Song
12. First Noel
13. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
14. Silent Night
15. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
16. O Little Town of Bethlehem
17. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
   - Chris Botti (December 2002)

18. Snofnugg (Snowflakes)
19. Ding Dong Merrily on High
20. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
21. O Holy Night
22. O Come All Ye Faithful
   - Øystein Baadsvik (Snowflakes - A Classical Christmas 2011)

Next week we venture into the world of Big Band Christmas Tunes.

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.