Back in October 2008 I did a post that estimated the cost of getting all the gear to have a recording rig for your big band. Now, lets take a look at if things have changed. The original post I went with an Alesis HD24 which was $1600 then. Its the same price now. For [Continue]

Back in August of 2007 and January of 2008, a Big Band that I play in recorded two live performances for a “Demo CD”. Well, in the 2 some years since we made the two recordings, the project has become a full-blown album that is currently playing on Jazz Radio stations and available on the [Continue]

Yamaha has two videos up of the Gordon Goodwin Phat band playing a holiday concert. https://www.yamaha.com/thehub/default.html?CTID=5041999&CNTID=5042480 It is also in iTunes under Podcasts->Yamaha Wind Instrument Podcasts (there are lots of other good videos in there too) Note: the two solo mics sucked. WTF. The rest of the mics were good, [Continue]

This is a transcription/arrangement I did for a Big Band I play with. The original Michael Buble arrangement this is based off of has guitar and a string section. This arrangement has no guitar and the string parts are in various instrument sections. If you enjoy this and want to see more arrangements up here, [Continue]

So, I’ve been working on this CD for a big band I play in. I have no idea how much it cost to get the person to record it, multitrack, and a couple of sessions. I’m thinking at least $6,000….if not more. So, say you have ProTools (or something similar) that can handle 30 tracks [Continue]

Legendary Big Band arranger, composer, pianist, and Finale user Bob Florence died today. “From: ALEX ILES Date: May 15, 2008 6:51:24 PM CDT Subject: Bob Florence I am very sad to report the passing of pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Bob Florence. He died this afternoon after a long illness. He was a brilliant [Continue]

I have had the pleasure the last few week to work on mixing a big band that I play in. We recorded 20 something tracks at a concert, and I was able to obtain the Pro Tools session, and set off to salvage the recording session. We recorded twice, and supposedly the second session was [Continue]

As frequent readers of Jazz-Sax.Com will know, I won a pretty awesome M-Audio package. I really did not have the “horse power” to use it until my G4 PowerMac decided to die. Followed by my G4 Cube (though that was probably more me messing around with it than it just dying on it’s own accord. [Continue]

This is pure gold. 10 songs, playing with the Gordon Goodwin band. The solos are written out. The chart is there. Everything. You get a small clip of the band playing the tune (full band), and then you get the band minus your part and the solos. It’s the actual recording. Hunting Wabbits, yes, it’s [Continue]

One of the many bands that I am in was considering spending a lot of money to record a CD. But, there was a lack of clarity of what the CD would be for. Vanity project? Demo CD to get more gigs? Christmas CD? After some discussion, I believe that, instead of plunking down $2-$3K [Continue]

I did an arrangement of the opening Theme to the cartoon “Cowboy Bebop” way back in 2002. I gave it to a couple of local high schools, and the DVC Night Jazz Band. It’s pretty damn close to the original theme. Take a listen. I’m making this and one other Cowboy Bebop Arrangement available. If [Continue]

Gordon Goodwin’s last album, Swingin’ For The Fences was really good. No, not good, excellent. Charts like Count Bubba and Samba Del Gringo was hot. Could he top himself with this release? Yes. There are some awesome songs his latest album Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – XXL. My favorites so far are The Jazz [Continue]

I came across this article which describes how the University of Michigan went about recording the Count Basie orchestra in 5.1 surround sound. Very interesting stuff. Of course, you have to start with a good concert hall, which it looks like they have. Next, you need a beve of good mics. Nuemanns (M150s, TLM170s, KU100, [Continue]

While working on a new Pop play-along for my students, I thought that All Star by Smashmouth would work as a Jazz Band Arrangement. So, after about 3 hours of work…..here is the result. Enjoy! [Continue]

Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m a Japanese Anime freak. I love Ninja Scroll, Record Of the Lodoss War, Macross, Macross Plus, etc, etc. My current favorite is Cowboy Bebop. Cartoon Network started showing this series on their Adult Swim lineup. What really struck me when I first saw this series was the music. Very hip [Continue]