Band Ideas

[jhatpro]

Seven of us are trying to put together a goup that can play jazz standards and pop and rock golden oldies.

We're two trumpets (flugel), bone, reed (alto or tenor), guitar, bass, drums.

Any suggestions on where to go for charts? Hal Leonard Combo Paks? Anything new out there?

Finally, would it work to asssign one of the trumpet players to take on the tenor part, thus leaving our reed player free to play alto?

I'd sure appreciate any advice!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[deleted_user_687c31b]

[kehaulani]

In the first era of my pop/horn band existence, we relied totally on our ears, usually meaning a group session around the record player and playing "drop the needle" until we got our parts down. IMO this is by far the best and is an investment in the future.

BTAIM, I later used written music to save invaluable time (and money) in rehearsals, using written music by:

*downloading MIDI-files (usually from van Basco's MIDI site (http://www.vanbasco.com/midisearch.html) and importing the tune into

*a music notation program (I used Sibelius)and using that as a source for

*editing the final product.

Regarding orchestration, when you use this process, you can assign any part to any combination of instruments, instant transposition if it's a little too high or low. alter some rhythms to make them more playable, etc.

p.s. I know you want to go with what you've got for now, but if the opportunity comes up later and you lose one of the trumpet players, rather than replacing him with another trumpet, I would get a keyboard.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[Jaw04]

Check out the Real Easy Book 3-horn edition, it has standards with backgrounds for solos, voicing suggestions for rhythm section, shout choruses, and harmony parts. You can build your own arrangements using it as a guide. You can get bass clef, C, E flat, Bb books. Each book has all the harmonies and parts so you guys can experiment with who plays what. That only covers some standards and not pop and rock oldies but it's worth trying out.

[Brassnose]

I like Kehaulanis suggestion, that’s what we did in the 1980s and 1990s. Good for the group spirit, too, especially with a couple of beers around
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[jhatpro]

Thanks, all! Lot of good suggestions.

I just took Jaw’s advice and ordered some of the Easy books.

Also interested in anyone’s additional insights into how best to utilize our instrumentation (2 trumpet/flugelhorn, alto, trombone, grr, bass, drums).

I realize we’d be better off if we had a tenor and keyboard, but the only way we could change it up and keep the band size the same is replace a trumpet with a tenor player but we’re all good friends and are reluctant to take that route.

Adding a keyboard is also a good idea but that too would bring size, space and equipment challenges. (Thanks to Covid we lost our rehearsal space and have been jamming in the bass player’s home.)

So, back to the question of how to use two trumpet/flugelhorn to advantage?

Any further thoughts?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[Brassnose]

I wouldn’t worry too much about the two trumpet situation. I played in a similar setting for some years with two trumpets, alto/tenor, bari sax and things worked out fine, especially if we had charts that went up high for trumpet.

Think about not using two trumpets all the time or use one muted trumpet (watch the intonation).

Sometimes we would take the two trumpets down to the lower register and let the alto take the lead voice. That’s a nice contrast.

Or let one of the trumpeters do rhythmic stuff, if he/she can. Check out Arturo doing his percussion thing. Adding a cowbell, bongo/conga-type instruments, or the like might already give you more color to the music (yes I wanted to play a cowbell on a gig for years …).
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[jhatpro]

Thanks, Brass! I’m feeling more optimistic already!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[Brassnose]

Can you make one of the trumpeters sing ? Good luck with the band.
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[jhatpro]

No, but he can dance!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[trane1959]

[jhatpro]

Thanks!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[Brad361]

[jhatpro]

Great advice, Brad, thanks!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[plankowner110]

I would suggest using tenor only for the reed as it adds more body to the ensemble sound, and tenor/trombone unison lines are especially cool-sounding.

The alto sax is great voice for 4-part writing in dance band orchestrations, but with the rock band you may need just basic harmonies with an emphasis on power.

Go to Hal Leonard to peruse their Easy Jazz Combo charts for 4 horns (parts for versatile instrumentation) plus rhythm section. These would work well for your band.

https://www.halleonard.com/search/search.action?dt=item&menuId=1657&subsiteid=6&page=1#products
_________________
C. G. Conn 60B Super Connstellation
Getzen 800S Eterna cornet
Bach 5C (Jens Lindemann is right)
https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26763

[jhatpro]

Good suggestion. The band is searching for a tenor player for that very reason.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[falado]

Hi, contact or look up this guy.

Michael "Phatbone" Winger
Horn Section Chart Arranger / Trombonist / Band Leader
360-338-0051 (Voice/Message)
360-763-9971 (Text/Message)

For one price you can get hundreds of horn charts, pop, rock, combo, big band, etc. on a memory stick.

Dave
_________________
FA LA DO (Ab: V/ii) MUCS, USN (Ret.)
Stomvi VR (Reeves) with VR II Bell
Bach 239 25A C, Blueprinted
Bach 37, Early Elkhart, Blueprinted
Kanstul Flugel
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