Miscellaneous "Old Man Band"

[jbtsax]

I had the good fortune a while back to be accepted into a local band named "Mississippi Mood" in which the average age is about 75. A couple of the members are approaching 90 and still going strong. Our newly acquired female vocalist in her 30's calls us her "Old Man Band". The group has two trumpets, a trombone, two altos, a tenor, a baritone (me) and a rhythm section in addition to the vocalist. We have a book of amazing charts written by the group's former leader and tenor player who is an accomplished professional musician. Here is a demo "sizzle track" that we recently recorded to advertise our group.

https://soundcloud.com/jbtsax%2Fmississippi-mood-demo

 

[Jeanette]

Love that

Jx

 

[kevgermany]

Is good. Hope it goes well.

 

[jeremyjuicewah]

That would blow away band that I have heard here, and most that I have heard elsewhere. Hope I am not doing anyone on the Costas an injustice but even the established big band types would wilt under this competition. The pad is an absolute cracker. Well done.
Cheers
Mike

 

[gladsaxisme]

What can you say to that but. FAB-U-LUS was that you on Water Melon Man

 

[Colin the Bear]

"Getting old isn't so bad, when you consider the alternative" Dave Allen.

 

[Rob Pealing]

Please may we hear some more?

 

[jbtsax]

What can you say to that but. FAB-U-LUS was that you on Water Melon Man

I wish. That was our tenor player Berin Stephens. He does well in that particular style.

 

[Ivan]

Tremendous

 

[Halfers]

Wow!

 

[Alice]

Fabulous! I’m listening to this now while I cook. I hope you’ll be producing an album!

 

[Tenor Viol]

Fab!

 

[jeremyjuicewah]

I wish. That was our tenor player Berin Stephens. He does well in that particular style.

 

[jeremyjuicewah]

I wish. That was our tenor player Berin Stephens. He does well in that particular style.

Lets try again. I meant to say that lots of people say this about me, but its usually when the toilet is flushing.

 

[Andrew Sanders]

Great band John. Loved it.

 

[Jazzaferri]

Nice tight playing. To my ear there is something very special about a tight large ensemble.

Cool arranging and good blending of the tracks on demo

 

[nigeld]

One day our band will sound like that!

 

[jbtsax]

Nice tight playing. To my ear there is something very special about a tight large ensemble.

Cool arranging and good blending of the tracks on demo

Much of the credit for the recording and mix goes to Parker Robinson who was a national award winner in the Audio Engineer's Society student competition.

 

[Dibbs]

Nice tight playing. To my ear there is something very special about a tight large ensemble.

Cool arranging and good blending of the tracks on demo

Agreed. The lip trills in In the Mood are a nice touch. They seem to help make up for the undersized brass section.

 

[Wade Cornell]

A great sounding band that's tight and everyone knows how to play in tune! I've avoided playing in big bands due to there generally being a few who played out of tune and made it all sound "off". I think a big difference is that when you've played an instrument for a lot of years you know what those notes should sound like. Less experienced players read without hearing the notes they are playing. For them it's still a mechanical eye to fingers exercise. As we (hopefully) all know the sax is a very imperfect instrument with embouchure, controlled by our ear and experience making the difference between playing in tune...or not. Experience pays. What a great band to be part of!