This week on TTBOAW(BOAT) I have been listening to a clarionet showpiece that was composed by Mel Powell especially for Benny Goodman. It’s written in the unusual keys of D and E, which are not the most conducive to fluid clarinet technique and make the piece challenging to play as well as impressive to listen to.
Ooh, another paragraph! Well, why not. What I was going to say was, it’s debatable how much we can learn from this piece about the art of improvisation seeing as it seems to be mostly composed rather than extemporised. However I decided to transcribe it anyway because I wanted to have a go at playing it. Also note that the version I used for this appears to be a slightly obscure radio performance, and so the music differs from the more familiar studio recordings and published editions.
Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday (But On A Thursday): ‘Thou Swell’, Artie Shaw
I’ve been away on my travels a lot this past week (more of that in due course…) so haven’t been able to sit down with a computerer for my latest transcription. As a result I’ve gone old-school, writing it all out with pencil and manuscript paper like what they used to do in the old days! You can find the results – which, by the way, cover Artie Shaw’s 1936 recording of Thou Swell – via the following link:
Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday: ‘Dexterity’, Charlie Parker
This week on Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday, I’ve been listening to a 1947 recording of Charlie Parker and his Quintet playing one of Charlie Boy’s own compositions called (for those of you who haven’t read the post title) ‘Dexterity’. I was feeling particularly comprehensive this week, so as well as C.P.’s alto solo I’ve also transcribed Miles-y D.’s trumpet solo and Dukey Jordan’s piano extemporisations. You’re welcome! Although I couldn’t be bothered with the token 8-bar drum solo.
The Emperor’s New Orchestras
Thought y’all might like to see some evidence of my shenanigans this weekend. For starters, here’s a little picture of me playing bassoooooooooooon 2 with Hazel Grove Orchestra on Saturday night, in a programme consisting of Dvořák’s In Nature’s Realm, Sibelius’ Karelia Suite and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3. Note that Hazel Grove is particularly significant for being the world’s first orchestra comprised entirely of ghosts.
For your main course this morning, have a taste of Oldham Symphony Orchestra performing a selection of dance-related music, with me on the first of two clarinets. Specifically, we covered Ponchielli’s Dance of the Hours, Khachaturian’s Adagio from Spartacus, Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre, Brahms’ Hungarian Dances Nos. 1 & 5, and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite. Note once again the remarkable lack of physical presence displayed by this particular group.
And finally, for dessert, I have not just a picture but a moving picture! With sound! What will they think of next? Here’s a clip of me rocking the ‘wooly jumper with dinner suit’ look (I hear it’s very ‘in’ this season) in the finale of Dance of the Hours.
Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday: ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, Benny Goodman
This week in TTBOAW, I bring you one of many recordings of Sweet Georgia Brown. This particular one was made by Benny Goodman and his sextet, although sadly I can’t find out much more about it (not even the year it was produced). That does nothing, however, to diminish the beauty of the notes you are about to read…
Sister Act Sisterlights, and More!
Today I would like to bring you instalment no. 5 of Tales from the Rhoda McGaw! I spent a significant part of last week playing for Runnymede Drama Group’s production of Sister Act, and what a fine show it was. While I was there I also managed to get some more soundbites of me playing saxomophone, which can only ever be a good thing.
And now for the ‘more’, which I so craftily incorporated into this post’s title. On Tuesday 12th I went on a merry little excursion to the town of Cwmbran, to play clari, tenor saxi and (a tiny bit of) alto saxi in the Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra’s latest extravaganza. Another fine performance, which looked a little bit like this:
Note that the evening also featured some new arrangements by yours truly: Love Overture, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Matchmaker Matchmaker, Like Love, It Might As Well Be Spring, and Pop Playout. Huzzah!
Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday: ‘Ain’t Misbehavin”, Louis Armstrong
This week on Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday, we have one of many versions of the evergreen standard ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’. This one was recorded in 1955 by Louis Armstrong and his All Stars, and also includes the trombone playing of Trummy Young as well as a surprise appearance by last week’s featured artist Barney Bigard.
High Society Highlights
Last week found me in my old stomping ground of Woking’s Rhoda McGaw Theatre, playing piccolo, flute, clarimanet and alto saxomophone for WAOS Musical Theatre’s production of High Society. I thought the world in general might like a taster of what the experience was like, so here’s a little picture and video with which to feed to your eyes and ears this glorious day…
Stay tuned for more Tales from the Rhoda McGaw, as this week I embark on yet another show in the same theatre: Sister Act!
Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday: ‘That’s Like It Ought to Be’, Barney Bigard
This week on Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday, I have a little gem courtesy of The Jelly Roll Morton Trio! ‘That’s Like It Ought to Be’ features some lovely clarinet playing from a 23-year-old Barney Bigard, who would later become known for his 15-year stint as clarinettist for Duke Ellington’s orchestra. Here are the notes, approximately as he played them:
The Flyboys in Newport
I had a tiring but enjoyable time on Thursday, travelling all the way to the wilds of Newport (the Wales one, not any of the others) to play tenor saxomophone and a little bit of clarimanet for ‘Stranger Swings’, a new stage show with vocal harmony quartet The Flyboys. The only problem is, I forgot to take a photo… Fortunately, I had about an hour to wait at Hereford railway station on the way back, so was able to put together an artist’s impression of exactly what the gig looked like!
Note that I may have misremembered one or two of the finer details, but by and large this is accurate.
Here’s the group’s website if you’d like more information: https://www.theflyboys.co.uk/
