Greetings from The Music Bowl! I'm the Wonderfish. In our first "fin mail" of the series, I am penning a fan letter to Bruno Mars and his music team. I would like you to know that I do actually mail these letters of gratitude to artists in an envelope with a real stamp and everything. It seems fitting that Bruno should be first, because his performances are somewhat of a throwback for me. He is reminiscent of James Brown, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Earth, Wind, and Fire while still maintaining a strong sense of originality in both his music and his showmanship, which is what I think makes him so special. There is nobody else like him today! __________________________________________ Dear Bruno, Last night, your live concert special aired on CBS. Since I have not yet been able to catch your live show in person, let's just say I was counting down the days knowing I would have the chance to watch you and your band on television. It was exhilarating! Your attent...

Ahoy! Last week we discussed a few of the most important early big bands in jazz history. While Duke Ellington and Count Basie certainly weren’t the only big band leaders, their bands were pivotal in defining the genre. Over the decades there have been many other important big bands; too many, in fact, to try and mention them all. But that’s time gone by anyway. Do big bands still exist? Big bands may not be as prominent as they once were but they still exist and they still play a very important role in jazz and jazz education. Most high schools have some form of a big band. There are some high schools around the United States that only have jazz bands, and there are some schools, typically called “Art Schools” that have several jazz bands among other types of ensembles. Every college that has some form of a jazz program is also likely to have a big band. Again, some have more than one and they will vary in skill level, but they exist. Outside of academia however is where ...

Greetings from The Music Bowl! I'm The Wonderfish. Just when I thought I couldn't be more obsessed with Hans Zimmer's work, along comes his Live in Prague concert DVD. I fully admit to pausing the film at certain times because I became too emotional. The choir threw off my concentration right away. Let's be honest, you rarely see a choir sing with a live orchestra unless you're in that line of work. Their voices, combined with the orchestrations, caused both incredible joy and deep sadness throughout the concert. Musicians played instruments in this orchestra that I had never seen before, so I am now further intrigued and even more curious about this work of art. Originally, I thought by viewing this concert I would find answers. However, I ended up with question after question. Within the first twenty minutes, I'd say I had at least ten questions, including: 1) How much time is spent preparing for a tour like this? 2) How many technicians are involve...

Ahoy! I am currently in my second year of a Masters in Jazz Performance program. As you might expect one of my many requirements is that I play in several ensembles. This year I have the fortune of playing in my college’s top big band. While the big band is no longer a prominent ensemble in society it once shaped an entire generation (the Roaring 20's) and helped push jazz to the forefront of American culture. Today I’d like to begin a discussion about the lineage of the big band and talk about my experience playing in these ensembles, the audition process, and how to schedule and practice for performances. First, let us clarify what a big band is. It is a jazz ensemble that has a rhythm section (bass, drums, piano and/or guitar), 5 saxophones (2 altos, 2 tenors and a baritone), 3-4 trombones, and 3-5 trumpets. The exact number of trumpets and trombones can vary and one trend you’ll notice is that early big bands typically had fewer members in these sections. There ar...

Greetings from The Music Bowl! I’m The Wonderfish. This past summer, it was announced that Hans Zimmer would release Live In Prague, an album he recorded with a live orchestra, in November. I waited patiently. I restrained myself from posting about it each week even though I was counting down the days until its release. I am still waiting for the DVD to be delivered this week, but as of this posting it will be in my hands and while you’re reading this I will be watching that. If you want to get a visual for what I’m talking about, it’s here ! Is it incidental how artists connect and interact? Fortuitous? I think it’s magical. Upon examination, I learned that my favorite films (I pay close attention to this and keep a list in my Evernote for just such an occasion) are films in which the story, the editing, and the film score/soundtrack resonate strongly with me. It must be all three factors or the film doesn’t make the cut. As you can imagine, it may or may not be agon...

Ahoy! Last week we briefly discussed two types of modern musicians: mega stars, and their supporting cast of full time studio and touring musicians. These are not the only ways to make a living as a musician nor do you have to make a living in the music industry to partake in it. Part Time Musicians These musicians are often called “weekend warriors” because they work day jobs Monday-Friday and then play gigs every Friday and Saturday night. They are also usually looked down on by full time artists but this is extremely unfair. Being a part time musician is actually quite liberating. When you’re not worried about where you’re paycheck is coming from you can pick the music you want to play, and decide when and where you want to play. You’re more likely to take a free gig because you love the music and just want the opportunity to play in public. It’s not about the money for these people. Obviously yes, music is a craft and I do think you should be paid every time you play...