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toughcritic
Veteran Member
Joined: 10 Feb 2007
Posts: 153
Location: Minnesota
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 Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: Rafael Mendez' FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE ! |
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| Is Rafael Mendez' only recording of FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE the one with the cup mute? Did he ever do an open version on any recording, ala Harry James, whom he greatly admired? |
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trpt.hick
Rafael Méndez Forum Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 2630
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| Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:14 am Post subject: |
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| Not that I know of. |
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Bill Bridges
Regular Member
Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 24
Location: Winter Park, Florida
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| Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: Re: Rafael Mendez' FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE ! |
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| toughcritic wrote: | | Is Rafael Mendez' only recording of FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE the one with the cup mute? Did he ever do an open version on any recording, ala Harry James, whom he greatly admired? |
Actually, I have a live recording of him playing "Flight of the Bumblebee" open, with the North High Band in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 6, 1957. It's a slightly different arrangement from the Decca recording, as well. This concert also has him playing his one-finger version of the final variation of Clarke's "Carnival of Venice." |
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Bill Bridges
Regular Member
Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 24
Location: Winter Park, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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Here's another recording of Mendez playing "Flight of the Bumblebee" open , on the George Burns & Gracie Allen radio show, live. Again, a slightly different arrangement from his Decca recording, and this one has some improvisation, too.
Pick it up at about 1:38.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDvjdjg_YDk&feature=related |
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A.N.A.Mendez
Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2005
Posts: 5227
Location: ca.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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He was the greatest.
Who else started practicing in his pajamas in the morning and his wife had to nag him to dinner, still in his pajamas at 6pm!
There, is a high bar my friends.........
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"There is no necessity for deadly strife" A. Lincoln 1860
☛ "No matter how cynical you get, it's never enough to keep up" Lily Tomlin☚ |
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trpt.hick
Rafael Méndez Forum Moderator
Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 2630
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:25 am Post subject: |
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| I love it! I hadn't heard that one before. |
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