Back in Blue North Texas
I don't have better things to do, except sleep or pack or cry over the monstrosity that is my March Madness Bracket, but whatever. Instead I'll update this tired old peice of ass for the first time since like last year.
Our NTSU order as it most likely will be (in the order which they ought to be placed in my less than professional opinion):
-Manteca. All together a good opener, as Latin tends to be. In the war of Original Maynard Song (Coconut Champagne) or Song Maynard Covers (this one), I'm glad Manteca has basically wrapped up and won for First Edition's Latin Song. If I were soloing anywhere else in this line-up, I would gladly hand over my solo in this line up, because, folks, it's hard. Really hard. And I usually like Latin tunes for soloing.
-Moving Right Along. There is not much to like about this song. I'm not by nature against trombone features, The Bone Yard was certainly a good chart, but I'm just not turned on musically by this peice, to use a McAfeeism. The voicing is pure shit. Almost every sax line is so high that tuning could be rendered useless. The song leaves open holes in the phrasing all the time, in the shout chorus, in the solis, and basically everywhere else. First edition has heaps of talent, but a lot of our players have either a) been completely unchallenged by band in the past and therefore never interested in developing more minute but important skills or b) too lazy and sloppy of players to worry about breathing three times in one whole note. Finally, the trombone soli at the beginning is good, but I don't understand why after going through a VERY extended soli, then solo, band feature, sax soli, and then shout chorus why the composer decided to end with a reprise of the trombone soli. The song dies at the end, and while I understand high notes are really hard on brass instruments, if it can't be hit it shouldn't be tried, and the lead trombone's final note is just impossible to be held until the final cut off, and when Brandon drops out and comes back in it just does not sound good. At all. I'm sorry. And it's just not my place to comment on the solo section for so many reasons. This song should live and die in the second spot, and the judges hopefully forget it, but remember that we fulfilled the unwritten rule of playing the obligatory swing song.
-Honk. First Edition's "rock out"/remember George Clinton/let Tarbox try to growl song.
Honk is an exceptional chart, but I really don't think that it has a place in a contest line up. It's just a little too easy, really, and I don't think that the song is going to do much to impress the judges. The harmonies at the beginning are really good, and I admit I really like the part where the Trumpets take the melody. The solo section is exceptional, but Mrs. White is in the business of spreading the joy, so I almost certainly won't be taking one. Which is fine, but I think she's spreading the joy to the wrong places, and it'll be interesting to see the final line up for the solo section on this, and I really wish some trumpet player would just pull up his pants and solo for a change. As for the rest: among the eliminated to solo are me, cutchen, and Allyn, most likely for no other reason than because she solos at the end. Mrs. White would probably give a solo here to Chris in a heart beat, but I think he's decided two is enough and will pass. Brandon seems like a lock, although I think it would be more interesting to hear him on a swing song. One spot will go to AJ/Tex and I think AJ's gonna have the edge on that, and I'm not sure why I think that. So the other spot is up for grabs, I guess. I'd like to see Chamby solo, but I'm more than done trying to push him because it just doesn't work, and he won't be work something up by the monday after spring break ends. Once again, I'd really like a trumpet to go, which would probably mean Graham. I'd be interested to see what Chambless can do, but not exactly excited, and Ross doesn't seem to have the slightest interest. So maybe the third slot will go to Tex, which is fine. Allyn's solo at the end will most likely be the highlight of the song, and the infamous 'honk' will come... or not. Tarbox is really a lot better at bari this year than anyone could have expected him to be. But this is some high pressure stuff, and I don't know if he'll pull through, considering he almost got nervous enough to "barf" at... Bumpus. Go figure that.
-Back In Blue Orleans. What an amazing song. I think the saxes standing up for the entire melodic part of the song is a little gratuitous, but that part makes us work our asses off, and we need to stand up somewhere, and once we are standing, there's no really good place to sit down. The thing is that I'm still to this day surprised that Mrs. White is so happy with this song. It really is not together. The feel, I don't know, but the sax lines have good starts and good ends. And finger wiggling in the middle. It's a lot like Colas because we know we have the ability to connect on the runs, but it's a rare occurance to connect on all of them, and just to put this out there: I have been practicing, despite the fact that many people including Ms. Bain don't think I have enough dedication or interest. I've been practicing this shit hard, and the fact is that it's just not enough. Not by March 29. As far as the solo section goes, I think that opening it up further was a mistake. I won't say that I think Chris isn't worth a solo there, but all in all, I think that three solos is too much and it slows down a song with a lightning pitch pace, but I trust Mrs. White's judgement. As she has reminded me before, she's been doing this a lot longer than I have.
This, on the other hand, is what I think the line up should, and would, be if we could get our asses in gear.
-Bistro Latino. One of Jeff Jarvis' most excellent charts by far. I think this goes in the category of "Random Latin" or "Latin because it has to have some genre". I think that it excells in a lot of places, but the really stunning part is the unison opening. I've never heard a band feature like this before, and I'm pretty sure jaws would drop by the end of the feature, when it breaks into harmony-which is also the shiznit. And I'm so gonna be smited for using the word shiznit. Anyway, another plus to this song is the open solo section... which seems to be a resource greatly lacking in any song of a difficult quality. The cons: Soprano sounds like a duck, and should not be used. Especially as lead saxophone for a big band chart. This is no slight on Cutchen. He is certainly not the God of Tone Quality, and that is basically what anyone playing soprano needs to be. Too bright, too bright, too bright.
-The Wiggle Walk. This is the most underrated song in our folder. I don't mean this coyly or conceitedly, but the solos on this are good. I don't honestly know if mine is or not, but I sure know I like playing it. The brass licks are just wow. I didn't know our brass could read like that. And the sax soli is minimal, which is why I think a lot of my section gets so bitchy about it. The reason I think Mrs. White holds back on this for Texas is because we have worked too hard on Moving Right Along to just say... Nevermind.
-Old School. It's an outside possibility that this song will ever be played again by First Edition. It's so hard, but the intricacies of it are a lot better than Honk's. It's definately not as exciting, but at competition you need to wow with your skill not your honks.
-Back In Blue Orleans. Still THE definition of 'Closer'. It might have problems, but it is an excellent choice for Texas.
I realize this qualifies me as a grade A+ loser, but I haven't cared about having that distinction for the longest time. I've made what I think ought to be our line up for Just Jazz. I chose too many songs, but maybe I was writing the list for the perfect world where Jam could have their own concert that no one came to. The fact is that First Edition doesn't really have room to play the old standards that we're known for anymore at a concert like this. The talent has really exceeded songs like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Song For My Father", not to mention that Mrs. White has added so many great songs to our folder just since I've been here that picking a line up that is meant to represent you for the rest of the next year is hard. Anyway, all the songs I've picked I think have a right to be there for one reason or another.
1. The First Thing I Do - This really isn't a great song, but it would be perfect for Mrs. White because she loves to have everyone walk out in stages. It could start with piano, then add drums, then bass, then guitar (which really has the coolest sounding part), and then the saxes to play the soli. For the second time through the soli, the brass would come out and play the backgrounds. After that the song loses the meaning of 'melody', but it maintains the fun and excitement, and hey, the saxes get to use shakers! hell yes. Lauren, we need some cowbell.
2. Mack The Knife - A great jazz standard.
3. Coconut Champagne - Really one of the standards of this year, like Vehicle and Channel One were last year. Gives Tarbox a chance to shine, and on this song he definately can do it. Percussion as usual will get everyone on their feet, although I'd like to see Hunter actually let Jack Austin do something for a change.
4. What'd I Say - This year's Brick House, and Cutchen's one chance of many to shine. It's a fun song, and one that certainly should be included this year, even if it is a little simplistic. I just don't see us not playing it.
5. Groovin' Hard - Boy am I gonna be crabby if we don't play this one. It is Coconut Champagne's Alter Ego and one of our standards of the year. It really can't be ignored after all the soli work the saxes did to pull this off. Wait... we didn't do that much work, but that isn't the point. And we need our Buddy Rich tribute.
6. Gentle Rain - Really not one of our best songs, but another latin needed to get in on this list. Too much swing, but I can't find a good one to remove, and I didn't want Groovin' Hard and Tuxedo back to back.
7. Tuxedo Junction - I just don't see us escaping this song for Just Jazz, which is why it is included here. Whatever. I'm really opinionated about this song, but I'll keep it to myself.
8. Gospel John - Ah, just a chance for Maynard to live on in all the trumpet player's hearts. This song would be VERY impressive if we could pull it together.
9. Bistro Latino - Just needs to be played. This need cannot be ignored.
10. Sing, Sing, Sing - The Chips Ahoy song. Just A Closer is not gonna be played consecutively, and there's no way in hell Chamby would ASK for a solo, so I'd say this would be a good way to add in a small feature for him in the attempt to feature as many members as possible. Also really just an exceptional swing ensemble tune, because no emphasis is put on any one section, but I think every single member's part is fun to play.
11. Vehicle - Because Mrs. White said she'd put it on the CD this year since it had to be taken off last year. But it doesn't mean as much to us this year, and therefore ends up somewhere in the middle instead of next to last.
12. St. James Infirmary - This song haunts to the core. It's crazy. Slowing things up unexpectedly (especially if Vehicle runs away tempo-wise like it did last year) would be very cool. I have a GREAT affection for this song. It's really chilling, and I'm guessing it would probably have the biggest emotional affect. Or at least the biggest shock.
13. Back In Blue Orleans - CANNOT be ignored or shafted out of Just Jazz.
14. Manteca - Deserves a place in Just Jazz again.
15. The Wiggle Walk - Maybe I'm the only one, but I just think this song is crazy-awesome, and I think that the audience would appreciate the title.
16. Honk - Once again, this song is a crowd pleaser. It would be the perfect song for just jazz, because we aren't looking to impress, we're looking to entertain, which is the whole reason to perform anyway.
17. In The Mood - I include this because I can't not. And if I could exclude it I wouldn't anyway. But the point is: I don't think that we can afford to not play it last. Because I don't want to die in a crashing ball of fiery hot death.
Well, That's enough ramblage for one night. I hope at least one person read all the way through.
Our NTSU order as it most likely will be (in the order which they ought to be placed in my less than professional opinion):
-Manteca. All together a good opener, as Latin tends to be. In the war of Original Maynard Song (Coconut Champagne) or Song Maynard Covers (this one), I'm glad Manteca has basically wrapped up and won for First Edition's Latin Song. If I were soloing anywhere else in this line-up, I would gladly hand over my solo in this line up, because, folks, it's hard. Really hard. And I usually like Latin tunes for soloing.
-Moving Right Along. There is not much to like about this song. I'm not by nature against trombone features, The Bone Yard was certainly a good chart, but I'm just not turned on musically by this peice, to use a McAfeeism. The voicing is pure shit. Almost every sax line is so high that tuning could be rendered useless. The song leaves open holes in the phrasing all the time, in the shout chorus, in the solis, and basically everywhere else. First edition has heaps of talent, but a lot of our players have either a) been completely unchallenged by band in the past and therefore never interested in developing more minute but important skills or b) too lazy and sloppy of players to worry about breathing three times in one whole note. Finally, the trombone soli at the beginning is good, but I don't understand why after going through a VERY extended soli, then solo, band feature, sax soli, and then shout chorus why the composer decided to end with a reprise of the trombone soli. The song dies at the end, and while I understand high notes are really hard on brass instruments, if it can't be hit it shouldn't be tried, and the lead trombone's final note is just impossible to be held until the final cut off, and when Brandon drops out and comes back in it just does not sound good. At all. I'm sorry. And it's just not my place to comment on the solo section for so many reasons. This song should live and die in the second spot, and the judges hopefully forget it, but remember that we fulfilled the unwritten rule of playing the obligatory swing song.
-Honk. First Edition's "rock out"/remember George Clinton/let Tarbox try to growl song.
Honk is an exceptional chart, but I really don't think that it has a place in a contest line up. It's just a little too easy, really, and I don't think that the song is going to do much to impress the judges. The harmonies at the beginning are really good, and I admit I really like the part where the Trumpets take the melody. The solo section is exceptional, but Mrs. White is in the business of spreading the joy, so I almost certainly won't be taking one. Which is fine, but I think she's spreading the joy to the wrong places, and it'll be interesting to see the final line up for the solo section on this, and I really wish some trumpet player would just pull up his pants and solo for a change. As for the rest: among the eliminated to solo are me, cutchen, and Allyn, most likely for no other reason than because she solos at the end. Mrs. White would probably give a solo here to Chris in a heart beat, but I think he's decided two is enough and will pass. Brandon seems like a lock, although I think it would be more interesting to hear him on a swing song. One spot will go to AJ/Tex and I think AJ's gonna have the edge on that, and I'm not sure why I think that. So the other spot is up for grabs, I guess. I'd like to see Chamby solo, but I'm more than done trying to push him because it just doesn't work, and he won't be work something up by the monday after spring break ends. Once again, I'd really like a trumpet to go, which would probably mean Graham. I'd be interested to see what Chambless can do, but not exactly excited, and Ross doesn't seem to have the slightest interest. So maybe the third slot will go to Tex, which is fine. Allyn's solo at the end will most likely be the highlight of the song, and the infamous 'honk' will come... or not. Tarbox is really a lot better at bari this year than anyone could have expected him to be. But this is some high pressure stuff, and I don't know if he'll pull through, considering he almost got nervous enough to "barf" at... Bumpus. Go figure that.
-Back In Blue Orleans. What an amazing song. I think the saxes standing up for the entire melodic part of the song is a little gratuitous, but that part makes us work our asses off, and we need to stand up somewhere, and once we are standing, there's no really good place to sit down. The thing is that I'm still to this day surprised that Mrs. White is so happy with this song. It really is not together. The feel, I don't know, but the sax lines have good starts and good ends. And finger wiggling in the middle. It's a lot like Colas because we know we have the ability to connect on the runs, but it's a rare occurance to connect on all of them, and just to put this out there: I have been practicing, despite the fact that many people including Ms. Bain don't think I have enough dedication or interest. I've been practicing this shit hard, and the fact is that it's just not enough. Not by March 29. As far as the solo section goes, I think that opening it up further was a mistake. I won't say that I think Chris isn't worth a solo there, but all in all, I think that three solos is too much and it slows down a song with a lightning pitch pace, but I trust Mrs. White's judgement. As she has reminded me before, she's been doing this a lot longer than I have.
This, on the other hand, is what I think the line up should, and would, be if we could get our asses in gear.
-Bistro Latino. One of Jeff Jarvis' most excellent charts by far. I think this goes in the category of "Random Latin" or "Latin because it has to have some genre". I think that it excells in a lot of places, but the really stunning part is the unison opening. I've never heard a band feature like this before, and I'm pretty sure jaws would drop by the end of the feature, when it breaks into harmony-which is also the shiznit. And I'm so gonna be smited for using the word shiznit. Anyway, another plus to this song is the open solo section... which seems to be a resource greatly lacking in any song of a difficult quality. The cons: Soprano sounds like a duck, and should not be used. Especially as lead saxophone for a big band chart. This is no slight on Cutchen. He is certainly not the God of Tone Quality, and that is basically what anyone playing soprano needs to be. Too bright, too bright, too bright.
-The Wiggle Walk. This is the most underrated song in our folder. I don't mean this coyly or conceitedly, but the solos on this are good. I don't honestly know if mine is or not, but I sure know I like playing it. The brass licks are just wow. I didn't know our brass could read like that. And the sax soli is minimal, which is why I think a lot of my section gets so bitchy about it. The reason I think Mrs. White holds back on this for Texas is because we have worked too hard on Moving Right Along to just say... Nevermind.
-Old School. It's an outside possibility that this song will ever be played again by First Edition. It's so hard, but the intricacies of it are a lot better than Honk's. It's definately not as exciting, but at competition you need to wow with your skill not your honks.
-Back In Blue Orleans. Still THE definition of 'Closer'. It might have problems, but it is an excellent choice for Texas.
I realize this qualifies me as a grade A+ loser, but I haven't cared about having that distinction for the longest time. I've made what I think ought to be our line up for Just Jazz. I chose too many songs, but maybe I was writing the list for the perfect world where Jam could have their own concert that no one came to. The fact is that First Edition doesn't really have room to play the old standards that we're known for anymore at a concert like this. The talent has really exceeded songs like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Song For My Father", not to mention that Mrs. White has added so many great songs to our folder just since I've been here that picking a line up that is meant to represent you for the rest of the next year is hard. Anyway, all the songs I've picked I think have a right to be there for one reason or another.
1. The First Thing I Do - This really isn't a great song, but it would be perfect for Mrs. White because she loves to have everyone walk out in stages. It could start with piano, then add drums, then bass, then guitar (which really has the coolest sounding part), and then the saxes to play the soli. For the second time through the soli, the brass would come out and play the backgrounds. After that the song loses the meaning of 'melody', but it maintains the fun and excitement, and hey, the saxes get to use shakers! hell yes. Lauren, we need some cowbell.
2. Mack The Knife - A great jazz standard.
3. Coconut Champagne - Really one of the standards of this year, like Vehicle and Channel One were last year. Gives Tarbox a chance to shine, and on this song he definately can do it. Percussion as usual will get everyone on their feet, although I'd like to see Hunter actually let Jack Austin do something for a change.
4. What'd I Say - This year's Brick House, and Cutchen's one chance of many to shine. It's a fun song, and one that certainly should be included this year, even if it is a little simplistic. I just don't see us not playing it.
5. Groovin' Hard - Boy am I gonna be crabby if we don't play this one. It is Coconut Champagne's Alter Ego and one of our standards of the year. It really can't be ignored after all the soli work the saxes did to pull this off. Wait... we didn't do that much work, but that isn't the point. And we need our Buddy Rich tribute.
6. Gentle Rain - Really not one of our best songs, but another latin needed to get in on this list. Too much swing, but I can't find a good one to remove, and I didn't want Groovin' Hard and Tuxedo back to back.
7. Tuxedo Junction - I just don't see us escaping this song for Just Jazz, which is why it is included here. Whatever. I'm really opinionated about this song, but I'll keep it to myself.
8. Gospel John - Ah, just a chance for Maynard to live on in all the trumpet player's hearts. This song would be VERY impressive if we could pull it together.
9. Bistro Latino - Just needs to be played. This need cannot be ignored.
10. Sing, Sing, Sing - The Chips Ahoy song. Just A Closer is not gonna be played consecutively, and there's no way in hell Chamby would ASK for a solo, so I'd say this would be a good way to add in a small feature for him in the attempt to feature as many members as possible. Also really just an exceptional swing ensemble tune, because no emphasis is put on any one section, but I think every single member's part is fun to play.
11. Vehicle - Because Mrs. White said she'd put it on the CD this year since it had to be taken off last year. But it doesn't mean as much to us this year, and therefore ends up somewhere in the middle instead of next to last.
12. St. James Infirmary - This song haunts to the core. It's crazy. Slowing things up unexpectedly (especially if Vehicle runs away tempo-wise like it did last year) would be very cool. I have a GREAT affection for this song. It's really chilling, and I'm guessing it would probably have the biggest emotional affect. Or at least the biggest shock.
13. Back In Blue Orleans - CANNOT be ignored or shafted out of Just Jazz.
14. Manteca - Deserves a place in Just Jazz again.
15. The Wiggle Walk - Maybe I'm the only one, but I just think this song is crazy-awesome, and I think that the audience would appreciate the title.
16. Honk - Once again, this song is a crowd pleaser. It would be the perfect song for just jazz, because we aren't looking to impress, we're looking to entertain, which is the whole reason to perform anyway.
17. In The Mood - I include this because I can't not. And if I could exclude it I wouldn't anyway. But the point is: I don't think that we can afford to not play it last. Because I don't want to die in a crashing ball of fiery hot death.
Well, That's enough ramblage for one night. I hope at least one person read all the way through.