The modern ensemble - Stórsveit Tónak

December 2011

2011-11-26T12:22:00.001-08:00

December Plan:

-November 29th, NORMAL PRACTICE at 7pm

-December 4th, Radio concert at Rás2 Iceland. 12-2pm (not sure yet).
I will send you more information as soon as possible.

-December 13th, NORMAL PRACTICE at 7pm

-December 6th, NORMAL PRACTICE at 7pm

-December 14th, CONCERT in HOF at 6pm

FINAL PLAN

2011-11-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

Dear students,

I am sending a final updated concert and practice plan for upcoming shows and concerts.

Please check these dates, there are a few changes. It is important you know about it!

CHECK:

Concerts:

-November 22nd, NORMAL PRACTICE at 7pm / So, there NOT is finally concert on this day.

Winds will practice at 7pm with Alberto and Rhythm section will do it with Stefan at 7pm as we do it normally.

-November 26th, CONCERT (traditional Ráðhústorg)

We will play in HOF! Not Ráðhústorg this year.

You need to be in Hamrar (hall close to the restaurant in HOF) at 14pm

We will practice from 14pm until 15.30pm in Hamrar and we will play a concert from 16.30pm until 17.15pm

What are we going to play in this concert?

1.- Nú mega jólin koma fyrir mér NEW

2.- Mack the knife
3.- A child is born
4.- Jólin Allstadar
5.- Jólavals
6.- Söngur Jólasveinnanna

7.- My baby just care for me

-November 29th, NORMAL PRACTICE at 7pm

-December 4th, Radio concert at Rás2 Iceland. 12-2pm (not sure yet).
I will send you more information as soon as possible.

-December 13th, NORMAL PRACTICE at 7pm

-December 6th, NORMAL PRACTICE at 7pm

-December 14th, CONCERT in HOF at 6pm

Traditional christmas concert, we will have to play three or four songs we are actually doing.

You can always check all this information in our web blog.

See you on tuesday at 7pm,

Best regards,

Alberto Porro Carmona

PD. Ask your teacher for help with every tune we are playing, check tuning aswell!!!!

Winter PLAN

2011-11-06T10:42:00.001-08:00

Dear students,

I wanted to let you know about our winter plan for upcoming shows and concerts.
Firstly, I want you to check what we are going to play (THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES):
PLEASE COME TO OUR NEXT PRACTICE, IT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!

Next practice:

1.- Nú mega jólin koma fyrir mér NEW
3.- A child is born
4.- Jólin Allstadar
5.- Jólavals
6.- Söngur Jólasveinnanna

Maybe:

7.- Santa claus is coming to town
8.- Rúdolf the rednosed

Song for November 22nd:

9.- Mack the knife (November 22nd show in HOF)

Concerts:

November 22nd, HOF, theater. 7-8pm
November 26th, CONCERT (traditional Ráðhústorg) We will play in HOF! Not Ráðhústorg this year. People will come after the show in Ráðhústorg and we will play for them in HOF. Around 4pm
December 4th, Radio concert at Rás2 Iceland. 12-2pm (not sure yet).
December 14th, CONCERT in HOF at 6pm

See you next week,
Best regards,

Alberto Porro Carmona

PD. Ask your teacher for help with every tune we are playing, check tuning aswell!!!!

DO YOU WANT TO CHECK ALL THESE CHRISTMAS SONGS?

PLAY THIS VIDEO FROM STÓRSVEIT TONAK 2008!

PRESENT FOR STÓRSVEIT:

New tune

2011-10-11T03:43:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

We will practice tonight a new melody,
Cantaloupe Island from Herbie Hancock...

New songs!

2011-09-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

Thank you very much for today's practice.

Check these songs at home

News

2011-09-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

We will start to practice on September 20th (next week)

So, please be there at 7pm :)

I want to bring you a few books you may like

(if you want to play solos and so on!)

Jazz Harmony

http://www.mediafire.com/?8t0895x6h95fa35

II/V/I Exercises

http://www.mediafire.com/?z1co50bribkqiw4

We will play:

Best regards,

Alberto

Starting...

2011-09-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

We will start next September 13th (tuesday) at 7pm...

So please, be there on time.

What are we going to play?

I would like to make something different this semester...

A mix between Jazz, soul and rock. So we are goin to play:

Good Riddence (Green Day)

Green Piece (Maria Schneider)

My baby just care about me (Nine Simone)

Rehab (Amy Winehouse)

Think (Areta Franklin)

New music, new people, more fun...

See you on tuesday,

Alberto P. Carmona

Information...

2011-05-16T14:58:00.005-07:00

Sælir færeyjarfarar. Jæja nú er allt að skella á og ferðin okkar sem búið er að ræða um síðan í fyrra að verða að veruleika.
Það eru nokkur atriði sem okkur í ferðanefndinni finnst þurfa að komast til skila.
Mæting er við Hof miðvikudaginn 18.maí kl 11:30 og lagt verður af stað austur kl 12:00.
Ef einhverjar spurningar eru eða frekari upplýsinga er óskað varðandi ferðina eða þá verða Gréta og Halldór í Hofi á 3 hæð milli kl 17:00 og 18:00 mánudaginn 16.maí.

Skilaboð frá Alberto: Hann vill að börnin í byrjendasveit og grunnsveit séu með betri föt með sér til að vera í þegar þau spila á tónleikum og að það séu ekki auglýsingar á bolum eða peysum. Big bandið á að vera í svörtu. Allir að muna eftir nótum og hljóðfærum og því sem tilheyrir. Lögin sem byrjenda- og grunnsveit eiga að spila eru viva la vida, passing through, yellow submarine og Sá ég spóa - muna eftir nótum fyrir þessi lög. Muna eftir æfingu á Þriðjudag kl 16 Grunnsveit og kl. 19:00 hjá Big Bandi !
Allur matur hefur verið ákveðinn og verður bæði eldað á staðnum og farið út að borða, eins fá börnin ávexti og nesti þegar ekki gefst kostur á öðru. þannig að foreldrar þurfa ekki að hafa áhyggjur af mat og ekki þarf að gera ráð fyrir gjaldeyri til kaupa á viðbótarmat. Fyrir brottför á að vera búið að gera upp greiðslu fyrir öllu.
Á laugardagskvöldið fer Big bandið í veislu en byrjenda- og grunnsveit verða heima og haft (partý) / kvöldvaka fyrir þau. Hugmyndin var þá að gera kvöldið skemmtilegt með leikjum, spilum o.fl og ef börnin eru með skemmtiatriði þá væri það geggjað, endilega að hafa sem fjölbreyttast. Varðandi nammið þá fannst okkur best ef börnin stilltu því algjörlega í hóf en hefðu þá laugardaginn til að kaupa sér nammi/snakk til að hafa m.a. á kvöldvökunni. Því beinum við þeim tilmælum til ykkar foreldrar að ræða við börnin um nammikaupin.
Gerð hafa verið drög af skiptingum í herbergi en með fyrirvara um breytingar. Ef einhverjar sérstakar óskir eru um herbergisfélaga þá endilega komið þeim ábendingum til fararstjóra í gegnum tölvupóst gretajul@gmail.com
Á fimmtudaginn þegar við komum til Þórshafnar mun Big bandið spil á á tónleikum í Norræna húsinu, frítt er fyrir börnin í byrjenda- og grunnsveit en foreldrar þurfa að borga sig inn. Það er hverjum og einum frjálst að fara á þessa tónleika, fólk verður bara að meta það hvernig það er stemmt eftir ferðalagið. Hægt verður þá að kaupa miða við innganginn og kostar miðinn c.a. 1300,- ísl.krónur.
Varðandi fatnað þá er mikilvægt að hafa aukaföt ofarlega í tösku (hafa t.d. buxur og peysu/bol í poka sem hægt væri að grípa til) og merkja föt barnanna (sérstaklega þeirra sem ekki eru með foreldra) þannig að allt komist til skila, það er í athugun hvort við hefðum aðgang að þvottavél ef eitthvað sérstakt kæmi uppá t.d. ef einhver kastaði upp og fengi í fötin sín eða þ.h.
Einnig er vert að benda foreldrum á að gera tilheyrandi ráðstafanir varðandi bíl- og sjóveiki. Í apótekum er hægt að fá bönd sem sett eru á úlnliðina og eru til að minnka flökurleika almennt (hægt að nota bæði við bíl- og sjóveiki), það eru 2 í pakka. þau heita ACU-STRAP og kosta milli 1700 og 1800 kr alla veganna í Akureyrar apóteki.
Hægt er að fá leigð rúmföt í gistiheimilinu og fylgja þá handklæði með, þeir sem kjósa að nota svefnpokana sína er bent á að hafa með sér lak (skemmtilegra að hafa það á dýnunni). Rúmfötin kosta um 1.500kr
Börnum sem hafa ekki foreldra verður úthlutað tengilið og ef þurfa þykir geta börnin fengið aðstoð varðandi peningamál og slíkt hjá sínum tengilið. Hér fyrir neðan eru nöfnin á börnunum og tengiliðirnir með fyrirvara um breytingar.

Halldór verður með Almar og Edward
Villi verður með Benedikt Sig og Berg Sig
Jónína verður með Hall og Jón Ólaf
Gréta Júl verður með Írisi Birnu og Sigurlínu Rut
Harpa verður með Benedikt Fáfni
Kristjana Þóris verður með Erlu Guðrúnu

Svo vona ég bara að allir séu að verða ferðabúnir og tilbúnir í þessa ferð sem verður örugglega alveg frábær, alla veganna er það stefnan hjá okkur !!!

Í viðhengi eru drög af dagskránni í Færeyjum með fyrirvara um breytingar. Eins og sést þá verða fimmtudagurinn og föstudagurinn frekar þétt setnir en laugardagurinn er mikið til frjáls tími en við förum í göngutúr um nágrennið auk þess sem gert er ráð fyrir frjálsum tíma og möguleiki er á að fara í verslanir, sund, keilu ofl.

Bestu kveðjur frá okkur.

Gréta Júlíusd 6638793 gretajul@gmail.com
Alberto Carmona 8411428 alcarmonita@gmail.com

Dagskrá Færeyjaferð

2011-05-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

Important:

Stórsveit practice (only one day):

Tuesday, 17. maí at 7pm

Be there on time!!!!!!

Miðvikudagur 18. maí

kl. 11:00: mæting við Hof
kl. 12:00: Brottför frá Akureyri
kl. 15:00: Matur á Egilsstöðum – pizza hlaðborð
kl. 17:00: Innritun í Smyril-line
kl. 20:00: Brottför Norræna
kl. 20:30: Stuttur fundur með öllum um borð í Norrænu - Nesti (Norræna, bíó, ofl...)

Fimmtudagur 19. Maí

kl. ?: Morgunmatur í Norrænu á Kaffiteríunni (Norræna, bíó, ofl...)
kl. 11:30: Stuttur fundur með öllum – farið yfir dagskrá dagsins
kl. 12:00: Hádegismatur um borð í ferju – nesti sem við höfum með okkur (Norræna, bíó, ofl...)
kl. 15:00: Koma til Færeyja – Þórshöfn
kl. 16:00: Grunnsveit og foreldrar að koma sér fyrir í Bládýpi.

kl. 16.00 - 18.30: Æfing Big Band – Norðurlandahúsið (kl. 16.00-18.30)
kl. 18:00: Kvöldverður í Bládýpi (Pylsur – Hamborgarar)
kl. 19:00: Brottför, labba/strætó í Norðurlandahúsið á tónleika með Big Bandi –

kl. 19:30: Tónleikar Big Band í Norðurlandahúsinu
Krakkarnir fá ókeypis miða á tónleikana !!!! foreldrar geta keypt miða, 60kr á netinu eða á staðnum !
Eftir tónleika fara allir í Bládýpi

Föstudagur 20. Maí

kl. ?: Morgunmatur í Bládýpi
kl. 8:30: brottför labba í Norðurlandahúsið
kl. 09.00 - 10.00: Æfing Grunnsveit – Norðulandahúsið Frjáls tími hjá Big Bandi – fylgjast með tónleikum tengt Festivali !
kl. 10:00: sund
kl. 12:00: Fundur með öllum og hádegismatur í Bládýpi
kl. 14:00: brottför labba í Norðurlandahúsið – fylgjast með öðrum tónleikum sem eru í gangi tengt Festivalinu þegar færi gefst fyrir og eftir tónleika!
kl. 15.00: Tónleikar Grunnsveit – Norðurlandahúsið (Grunnsveit Band nr. 5 to play)
kl. 17.30 - 19.00: pizzaveisla fyrir alla

Laugardagur 21. Maí – þarf ekki að vakna snemma

kl. ?: Morgunmatur í Bládýpi
kl. ?: Fundur með öllum – farið yfir skipulag dagsins
kl. 10:00: Gönguferð um Þórshöfn og nágrenni – Gutti verður leiðsögumaður
kl. 12:00: Hádegismatur í Bládýpi
kl. ?: Frjáls tími í verslunarmiðstöð
kl. ?: Sund – Keila
kl. 19:00: Kvöldverður í Bládýpi (Hakk og spaghettí eða farið út að borða því við þurfum ekki að borga mat í Klaksvík)
kl. 20:00: Kvöldvaka - Nammidagur kl. ???: Veisla fyrir Big Band

Sunnudagur 22. Maí

kl. ?: Morgunmatur í Bládýpi
kl. 10:00: Brottför með rútu til Klaksvíkur
kl. 11:30: Æfing í skóla
kl. 12:00: Hádegismatur í Klaksvík – nesti sem við útbúum og borðum í skólanum eða úti
kl. 13:00: Skoðað sig um í Klaksvík – göngutúr, leikir ofl.
kl. 16:00: Tónleikar í skóla Klaksvík
kl. 18:00: Kvöldverður í Klaksvík – í boði Færeyinga.
kl. 20:00: Brottför með rútu til Þórshafnar
kl. 22:00: koma til Bládýpi

Mánudagur 23. Maí

kl. ?: Morgunmatur í Bládýpi
kl. 10:00: Pakka saman
kl. 10:30: Brottför niður á höfn
kl. 11:00: Innritun í Smyril-line
kl. 14:00: Brottför frá Færeyjum
kl. 15:00: Fundur með öllum og nesti um borð í Norrænu
.............. Norræna, bíó, ofl................
kl. ???: Kvöldverður um borð í Norrænu
.............. Norræna, bíó, ofl................

Þriðjudagur 24. Maí

kl. ???? Morgunmatur í Norrænu – Nesti ????? – eða eigum við að hafa nesti þegar við komum til Seyðisfjarðar ?????
kl. 09:00: Koma til Seyðisfjarðar
kl. 11:00: Brottför til Akureyrar með rútu
kl. 13:00: Hádegismatur N1 skálinn Egilsstaðir - ??????
kl. 14:00: Brottför frá Egilsstöðum
kl. 17:00: Koma til Akureyrar – HOF.

Alberto Porro Carmona

Faroe + Lúðrasveit Akureyrar

2011-05-04T17:45:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

We are going to Faroe in two weeks so I am going to set a rehearsal plan for this time.

May 11th, wednesday. Normal practice at 7pm
May 17th, tuesday. Special practice at 7pm
May 18th, wednesday. Trip to Faroe!!!

There are also some photos of our trip to Faroe, take a look!

What are we going to play there?

-Jelly Roll (Charles Mingus) SOLO: Einar and Sigurdís

-Manteca (Dizzy Gillespie) SOLO: Þorkell and Andri
-Caravan (Duke Ellington) SOLO: Rakel, Sigurdís and Andri
-Haitian fight song (Charles Mingus) SOLO: Tómas, Robert and Þorvaldur
-Groove Merchant (Thad Jones) SOLO: Tómas and Sigurdís
-I feel good (James Brown) SOLO: Einar

-Fables of Faubus (Charles Mingus) SOLO: Þorvaldur and Einar
-Chamaleon (Herbie H.) SOLO: Emil, Robert, Rakel-Helga, Einar and Andri

Extra:

-Super Mario (...) SOLO: Þorvaldur and Emil

Lúðrasveit Akureyrar

2011-04-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

Please, be tomorrow at 12 í stofu Dynheimum á 2. hæð.

See you tomorrow!

Let me know if you have questions,

Alberto

Program + Jazz á Götubarnum (video)

2011-04-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

I want you to know what we are going to do during April and May. Mainly, we have a concert outside Akureyri on May 1st and afterthat we must work for our trip to Faroe.

Program

April 27th (wednesday). Practice at 7pm í stofu Dynheimum

May 1st (sunday). Concert with the samba school outside Akureyri. Meeting at 12.00 í stofu Dynheimum

May 4th, 11th (wednesday) and 17th (tuesday). Practice at 7pm í stofu Dynheimum. 7pm wind instruments - 8pm all together!

May 18th - 24th. Faroe's Trip!

Jazz á Götubarnum VIDEO

Götubarinn

2011-04-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

Hello there,

We need to prepare our next concert in Götubarinn Bar next April 13th

It is going to be a very nice place to play our repertory and it is going to be the first serious approach before our trip to Faroe.

So please, be on time for our next practice:

WEDNESDAY, April 6th at 19:00pm

What are we going to play in Götubarinn?

-Jelly Roll (Charles Mingus) SOLO: Einar and Sigurdís

-Fables of Faubus (Charles Mingus) SOLO: Þorvaldur and Einar
-Chamaleon (Herbie H.) SOLO: Emil, Robert, Rakel-Helga, Einar and Andri

Extra:

-Super Mario (...) SOLO: Þorvaldur and Emil

MORE

-Almost like being in love (MAY)

-Tijuana gift shop (MAY)

-Angel eyes (MAY)

Faroe!

2011-03-27T16:15:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

I want you to have the program of practices for next weekend workshop with the wind orchestra from Faroe.

Wednesday - March 30th
Practice all wind instruments at 7pm í stofu Dynheimum

Songs:

Eg skarð mitt navn
Grease
Unter der admirals flagge
Ólavur Riddararós
Dýrd á vík og vág

Saturday - April 2nd
Practice:

11.00 - 12.00 (Brekkuskóli)
Faroe + Icelandic students

20.00 - 20.30 (HOF)

Faroe + Icelandic students

Concert:

Main hall of HOF

21.00pm (saturday, free admission)

From Cuba

2011-03-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

Kæru félagar í nútímabandi Akureyrar,
ég veit ekki hversu mikið Alberto hefur sagt ykkur fráveru minni hér,
en Kúba er ótrúlegasta landið sem ég hef ferðast til.

Við búum öll fjögur í heimavist listaháskólans ISA með fullt af öðrum stúdentum, aðallega frá suðurameriku, en líka frá eyjunum hér um kring eins og Jamaicu, Puerto Rico og Haiti og svo mörgum frá Angolu. Allir eru að læra tónlist, leiklist eða myndlist, sumir stefna a BA prófi, aðrir að meistaraprófi.

Hér á svæðinu er líka lístamenntaskólinn ENA, með sömu greinum, en fyrir yngri nemendur.

Anna og Urður læra afrókúbverskan dans bæði í ISA og einkatímum, og Urdur tekur aukadanstíma í ENA.

Áki er í ásláttarnámi hjá Emilio del Monte, einum frægasta konga- og timbales leikara landsins. Svo lærir hann líka á afrískar bata-trommur, þar sem er spilað á þrjár trommur í einu.

Ég er í sax-tæknitímum hjá Juan Almeida, prófesor í ISA og stjórnanda Habana sax kvintetts, og svo í jazznámi hjá Orlando Sanchez (Cubajazz).

Hér er ótrúlegt framboð af listviðburðum; Wynton Marsalis kom í skólan og hélt masterclass, Stefano di Batista (altsaxofon) var með tónleika og masterclass; við höfum farið á tónleika með píanistanum Chucho Valdez (sem er í guðatölu hér) og séð ýmsa meðlimi Irakere spila.

Ég hef spilað á tónleikum með blönduðu nemenda/kennarabandi skólans, troðið upp með hljómsveit í gjörningi með skúringakonunni frá Akureyri, komið fram i Fresa y Chocolate og spilað með kúbverskum trúbadúrum. Í dag fer ég á æfingu hja BigBandi ENA, að sjá hvað þau eru að gera, og í næstu viku vonast ég að geta spilað á æfingu Salsabandi í Vedado (Habana), amk. er búið að bjóða mér þangað.

Ég spila mikið með kúbverskri söngkonu sem semur sín eigin lög og spila undir á gitar; hún er í tónsmiðanámi, útlærður Obóleikari sinfóniúnnar og spilar nærri því jafn vel á blokkflautu og ég á saxann.

Það sem fólkið í skólanum hér getur finnst mér magnað; hún t.d. var tvo daga að skrifa píanóútdrátt 4. sinfoníunnar Beethovens, allir taka tíma í solfeó (og kunna þ.a.l, að syngja flestallar laglínur sem þeir fá) , píanónám er skylda fyrir alla nemendur og margir eru fáranlega góðirá að hljóðfæri þó það sé bara auka; flestir spila á hálfónyt og hundgömul hljóðfæri sem við á Íslandi myndum henda, kunningi minn t.d. sem spilar á trompet missti hljófæri sitt um daginn þar sem það lagðist hreinlega saman vegna málmþreytu,

Það er gaman að sjá hvað þið hafið spilað mikið og gengið vel, þegar maður er svona langt heiman frá er ekki laust við það að það fylli mann stolti að geta sýnt liðinu hér bandið heima fyrir á netinu og vita að hlutirnir þróast áfram.

Í heimsókn sinni sagði Wynton Marsalis að það að vera tonlistarmaður gæfi manni kost á að gleðjast yfir hljóðfærinu sínu á tvo vegu: fyrst þegar maður er að æfa sig og manni fer fram, og svo þegar maður getur notið framfaranna i samspili við aðra.

Orð að sönnu. Betsu kveðjur

Rútan til Eskifjarðar

2011-03-16T04:41:00.000-07:00

Kæri Storsveit,

Við erum að fara til Eskifjörður á laugardaginn.
Strætó mun fara kl 9:00, svo vinsamlegast að þú verður að vera hér á réttum tíma.

Mundu að læra svolítið meira!

Þú verður að athuga að nokkrum hlutum...
Tónleikarnir hefjast kl 14:00 og við verður aftur á Akureyri einhvern tíma á 21:00.

Þú verður að athuga að nokkrum hlutum

Sjáumst á laugardaginn klukkan 09:00!

Til hamingju!

2011-03-06T03:14:00.000-08:00

Dear students,

Well done!

Til hamingju!

Congratulations!

We did it yesterday!

Next practice: Wednesday, March 16th

Trip-Concert: Saturday, March 19th

Have a lovely weekend,

Alberto

NOTAN

2011-03-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hello cool Band,

You will need to be at Hamrar (HOF) at 9am on saturday March 5th.

Please be there on time. All participans are called to be there at 9am.

We are going to play the first one in this contest so we are going to finish around 10.20am

It will be nice to see you there on time, I would like to practice and play at least one time before everything starts...

Thank you very much and... see you on saturday (Laugardagur)!

Alberto Porro Carmona

Dagur Tónlistarskólanna, cool!

2011-02-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

Frábær tónleikar!

Thank you very much for yesterday.

I have signed the band to compete in NOTAN contest so we are going to play next saturday March 5th again, only one song for this contest: Jelly Roll.

So please, be ON TIME wednesday at 7pm. We will practice our normal big band numbers + haitian fight song.

HOF Concert and last practice

2011-02-20T12:02:00.001-08:00

Hello there,

Please, It is very important our next practice on wednesday at 7pm.

Be there on time and please read this!

We are going to play:

-Caravan. Solos: Rakel, Sigurdís and Andri

-Jelly Roll. Solos: Einar and Sigurdís

-Groove Merchant. Solos: Helga and Andri/Þorvaldur and Tomas

-Manteca. Solos: Einar and Þorkell (I am not sure if we will play this song, we will see on wednesday)

-Super Mario bros. Solos: Þorvaldur and Emil

Please check all these songs at HOME and with your teacher.

We will have a practice at 7pm only with the wind instruments. Rhythm section will practice at 7pm with Rodrigo and 8pm with all the band.

If you are playing solos, please check it at home!!!!

Let me know if you have questions,

Study please! All!

Al Carmona

Program and dates

2011-01-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

Hello band,

I want you to have everything totally clear about uncoming concerts and trips...
Check it out:

- February 26th: Day of the music school
- April 1st - 4th: Faroe's band coming to Akureyri (80 musicians!)

- April 3rd. Concert with Faroe's symphony in Hamrar.
- April 13th: Jazzta Festival Akureyri, Götubarinn Bar
- May 1st: Icelandic traditional concert
- May 18th - 24th. Faroe's trip!!!

Charts:

-Jelly Roll (Charles Mingus)
-Caravan (Duke Ellington)
-Manteca (Dizzy Gillespie)
-Haitian fight song (Charles Mingus)

-Almost like being in love (Niehaus)
-Tijuana gift shop (Charles Mingus)
-Fables of Faubus (Charles Mingus)

-Angel eyes (Matt Harris)
-Groove Merchant (Thad Jones)
-I feel good (James Brown)
-Super Mario (...)
-Chamaleon (Herbie H.)

Starting!

2011-01-12T02:03:00.000-08:00

Dear students,

We will start practicing again next January 26th

So you know about it!

I also want you to know about next concerts we have already on plan:

- February 26th. Day of the music school

- March 5th. Notan TonAk Concert

- April 13th. JAZZTA Festival Akureyri, Götubarinn Bar

- May 1st. Icelandic traditional concert

- May 18th - 24th. Faroe's trip

When will we start?

2011-01-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

Hello band,

Holidays! sooooo good!

We will start again on late January (after MA tests).

Please, check this site to know more about it.

2011!

concerts, new material, composition, trips and a lot of fun!!!

Alberto Porro Carmona

Tónleikar Stórsveitar Tónak í Hlíð

2010-12-09T04:13:00.000-08:00

Dear students,

You have been playing great yesterday night, I am glad to see how the band is going...!

As you know we will have our last christmas concert next Monday December 13th, so:

-Jólatonleikar í Hamrar

Monday, December 13th kl. 17:00 (practice and concert kl. 18:00)

Plan:

Practice í Hamrar at 17:00pm
Concert at 18:00pm
Food and coffee at 19:00pm

See you there at 5pm!

Alberto

Jóla ho ho ho!

2010-11-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

Students,

You have played very well last saturday, I enjoyed a lot during the concert!

It is becoming a real tradition for us to play at Ráðhústorg.

The band is getting bigger and bigger! Why? You have been playing so good and fun, thanks a lot!

See you next wednesday at 7pm!

Have a nice weekend,

Alberto

PLAN

2010-11-23T04:38:00.000-08:00

Stórsveit

TonAK

SONGS:

-A Child is born
-Have yourself a merry little christmas
-Jólavals
-Söngur Jólasveinnanna
-Jólin Allstadar
-Santa Claus is coming to town

CONCERT:
SATURDAY – 27th
Concert at Ráðhústorg

Meeting time: 12.15 í HOF (moving instruments)
Practice and sound check: 13.00 í Ráðhústorg

Concert will start at 14.50pm until 15.10pm

December 1st (wednesday) – Stórsveit Practice at 7pm í HOF

December 8th (wednesday) – Stórsveit Concert at Old people resident-house. Meeting at 6.30 í HOF to move instruments and music stands.

December 13th (monday) – Stórsveit Concert í Hamrar (HOF) 18pm

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS…

Alberto Porro Carmona
SIMI: 8411428 / e-mail: alcarmonita@gmail.com

Christmas time

2010-11-13T06:22:00.002-08:00

Dear students,

We are starting to practice our christmas numbers (with a few surprises as you have noticed).

Please check these songs we are playing at home, make sure you have your part:

-Let it snow, let it snow (NEW, we will play it next wednesday)

-Have yourself a merry little christmas

-A Child is born

-Söngur Jólasveinnanna

-Jólavals

-Jólin Allstadar

-Santa Claus is coming to town

-Super Mario bros. ;)

-Manteca

-Caravan

CHIRSTMAS CONCERT
TRADITIONAL ;)

November 27th at 14.50pm
We will play from 14.50 until 15-10/15pm

AND

Concert at old house's persons.

December 8th

December 15th

SPRING TRIP

Faroe Islands 2011
May 18th - wednesday night by boat
May 24th - tuesday morning

Concerts:
1.-Seydisfjordur
2.- Atlantic Ocean
3.- Faroe Islands

Everything until now,

Please keep checking this website,

Best regards,

Alberto

Stórsveit news

2010-10-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

Dear students,

I just wanted to inform you about concerts, new trips and new songs.

Concert

CHIRSTMAS CONCERT
TRADITIONAL ;)

November 27th at 14.50pm
We will play from 14.50 until 15-10/15pm

TRIP

Faroe Islands 2011
May 18th - wednesday night by boat
May 24th - tuesday morning

Concerts:
1.-Seydisfjordur
2.- Atlantic Ocean
3.- Faroe Islands

We are working on:

-Manteca (Dizzy Gillespie)
-Caravan (Duke Ellington)
-I feel good (James Brown)
-Chamaleon (Herbie)
-Fables of fablus (Mingus)

I will see you tomorrow at 7pm (wind instruments) and 7.40pm (full band)

Best regards,

Alberto

Practice!

2010-10-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

Dear band,

I will see you tomorrow at 7pm!

October 6th at 7pm in HOF

Please be there on time,

Alberto

Practice

2010-09-28T07:43:00.002-07:00

Dear Band,

We will not have practice tomorrow,

We will see each other next week.

Best regards,

Alberto

Takk

2010-09-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much,

That's for all of us! TAKK!

Viðurkenningar skólanefndar Akureyrarbæjar

- Alberto Carmona kennari við Tónlistarskólann á Akureyri, hlaut viðurkenningu fyrir frábæran árangur og jákvæð áhrif á skólastarfið.

Laugardaginn 5. júní sl. bauð skólanefnd Akureyrarbæjar til uppskeruhátíðar í Listasafninu í fyrsta skipti, þar sem veittar voru viðurkenningar fyrir framúrskarandi árangur, starf, áhuga og vilja. Markmiðið er að vekja sérstaka athygli á því sem vel er gert og hvetja þá sem fyrir valinu verða til þess að halda áfram því góða starfi sem þeir eru að vinna og jafnvel gera enn betur. Viðurkenning er einnig staðfesting á að viðkomandi skóli/kennari/nemandi er fyrirmynd annarra á því sviði sem viðurkenning nær til.

Skólanefnd taldi mjög mikilvægt að uppfylla þetta ákvæði í skólastefnunni nú þar sem athyglin hefur beinst í ríkari mæli að því sem miður hefur farið í samfélaginu. Því er ástæða til að beina athyglinni að því sem vel er gert og byggir að mestu á áhuga og vilja einstaklinganna til að gera sem best úr því sem þeir hafa.

Valnefnd sem skipuð var Elínu Margréti Hallgrímsdóttur formanni skólanefndar, Guðjóni Hreini Haukssyni fulltrúa samtaka foreldra og Trausta Þorsteinssyni fulltrúa Skólaþróunarsviðs HA, fór yfir allar tilnefningar og gerði tillögu til skólanefndar sem skólanefnd samþykkti á fundi sínum þann 31. maí sl.

TAKK!

START

2010-09-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

WE WILL START NEXT WEDNESDAY 22TH AT 18.30PM IN ROOM NUMBER 22 (SECOND FLOOR)

Við ætlum að byrja á næsta 22. Miðvikudagur -18.30PM - Herbergi 22

Please be there on time,

Alberto

Concert + Extra-Rehearsal

2010-08-27T03:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Akureyringar,

Please check this out,
there are a few changes:

Rehearsal:
August 28th (Saturday) - 16.40pm - Rehearsal at HOF same room.
Concert:
August 28th (Saturday) - 17.15pm/17.45pm

We will play:

-I feel good
-Chamaleon
-Birdland

Please let me know if you have some question or whatever!

I am really looking forward to start this new term.

We will write our own music and I promess we will have a lot of fun,

See you tomorrow,

Alberto

8411428

HOF Concert + Rehearsal

2010-08-25T04:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Band,

Please check it out the time for rehearsal and concert at HOF.

We have had a few changes on the timetable, less concerts and no time for long rehearsal (some of you will play with symphony, lay low...)

Rehearsal:

August 26th (Thursday) - 18pm - Rehearsal at HOF.

Concert:

August 28th (Saturday) - 15.15pm/15.45pm and or 17.15pm/17.45pm

Songs:

Please check this numbers at home, we don't have much time... We will just play easy numbers...

If you have questions, please let me know at 8411428 or alcarmonita@gmail.com

I am sorry for changes,

See you on thursday and please be on time,

Alberto

Dates

2010-05-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Band,

Please check it out ;)

Wednesday-Thursday, August 25th + 26th

Rehearsal at HOF

I will let you know the time by our web site.

Friday, August 27th

Concert at HOF’s OPENING

New cultural house

Saturday, August 28th

Concert at HOF’s OPENING

CONCERT: 15.15pm until 16.00pm

Monday, August 30th

Concert at HOF’s, first day of the music school

Alberto Carmona

Summer

2010-05-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

Dear band,

Thank you very much for last year. It was amazing to work with you.
I am leaving the plan for Summer and HOF's opening.

Take a look of this West Side Story project on Akureyrikirku last May 10th.

SUMMER PLAN

Saturday, June 5th

Lúðrasveit rehearsal at Tónlistarskólinn á Akureyri, 1pm í Salum

Sunday, June 6th

Lúðrasveit Concert

Thursday, June 17th

Lúðrasveit Concert (Icelandic National Day)

Wednesday-Thursday, August 25th + 26th

Rehearsal at HOF

I will let you know the time by our web site.

Friday, August 27th

Concert at HOF’s OPENING

New cultural house

Saturday, August 28th

Concert at HOF’s OPENING

Monday, August 30th

Concert at HOF’s, first day of the music school

Music:

1. Chamaleon

2. I feel good
3. Nostalgia in Times Square
4. Birdland
5. Fablus of faubus

6. Chucho
7. Better git hit with your soul

Lúðrasveit’s conductor:

Ármann Einarsson / 8935254 / armanne@armanne.net

Big Band’s conductor:

Alberto Carmona / 8411428 / alcarmonita@gmail.com

Tónlistarskólinn á Akureyri - A Strengjasveit + Big Band project

2010-04-30T02:50:00.001-07:00

Dear Bamd,

Special project at Tónlistarskólinn á Akureyri. Strengjasveit 3 + Big Band are playing "María" from WWS from Maestro Leonard B.

PHOTOS

Better... Contest VIDEO

2010-03-10T01:52:00.001-08:00

Hello Band,

As I said yesterday during the rehearsal, I am adding the final video of this Charles Mingus song (I may say that with a special icelandic taste).

I am really happy with yesterday's rehearsal. We will play something nice and mainly we will do something really original.

PLEASE

SATURDAY
3.00PM - Ketilhús
Black dress (completly)
be there!

See you there,
thank you very much for yesterday,

Alberto

Kanot ZzaJ Orchestra

2010-03-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

CHECK THIS OUT!

NEW CONCERT

MARCH 13TH

NORTH ICELANDIC BAND CONTEST

CHARTS:

-Hora Decubitus (Charles Mingus)

-Goodbye pork pie hot (Charles Mingus)

-Better git hit in your soul (Charles Mingus)

-Chucho (Paquito D´Rivera)

---

-Norwegian wood (Buddy Rich version)

-I feel good (James Brown)

-It’s only paper moon (Ella Fitzgerald)

CONCERTS:

MARCH 13TH

North Icelandic Band Contest at 3.30pm

We will play: Better git hit with your soul (4 min.)

REYKJAVÍK WEEKEND + Concert + MasterClass?

APRIL 23-25th

1st MAY CONCERT

Akureyri

REHEARSALS:

7.00pm-8.00pm

Wind rehearsal (room number 8) + Rhythm rehearsal (room number 7)

8.00pm-...

Big Band rehearsal (room number 8)

TÓNLISTARSKÓLINN Á AKUREYRI

Information

2010-02-09T11:36:00.002-08:00

Hello band,

We will NOT have rehearsal next week (February 16th)

NO REHEARSAL NEXT WEEK

Planin:

16 - February. No rehearsal

23 - February. Normal rehearsal at 7pm.

27 - February. "Day of the Music School", we will play a concert at 2pm

Please, you must check: "Norwegian wood", "Better get hit with your soul" and "It's only paper moon"

Check this VIDEO of Norwegian wood from Buddy Rich Big Band... We play it as same as him...

NORWEGIAN WOOD

Have a nice time and please,
let me know if you have questions...

Alberto

Wind Ensemble

2010-01-13T02:44:00.000-08:00

Hello band,

We were playing "Mars" from Gustav Holst.
Take a look at home and check it out with your teacher...

WE WILL NOT HAVE BIG BAND PRACTICE NEXT TUESDAY 19TH. I will see you again next tuesday 26th of January at 7pm in room number 8

Please, CLICK HERE to download "The Planets" from Gustav Holst

I am sorry for this Japanese version...

See you next tuesday January 26th!

Takk

.

Holidays

2009-12-14T12:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks

Thanks

It was a GREAT year with you

Merry christmas!

I love our band ;)

Alberto.

December program + TV Concert

2009-12-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

• Tuesday, December 8th

7.00pm-7.50pm
break
8.05pm-8.55pm
break
9.10pm-9.50pm

• Friday, December 11th

Move instruments from TONAK to Theater, 4.20pm

Rehearsal at the Theater
5.00pm
(samkomuhúsið)

• Saturday, December 12th

We MUST be at samkomuhúsið at 4.00pm

The CONCERT will start at 5.00pm
We will play only one show

Music:
We play after the break (2/2 parts)

1. Rúdolf (instrumental)
2. Jólavals (Jana María)
3. Söngur jólasveinanna (Bryndís)
4. Jólin alls staðar (Pálmi Gunnars og Ásta Magg)
5. Gull í mund (Have yourself a merry...) (Jana and Bryndís)
5b. Santa Claus in coming to town (Jana?)
6. Jingle bells (everyone)

WE WILL HAVE HOLIDAYS AFTER THIS CONCERT
NEXT REHEARSAL: TUESDAY JANUARY 5TH – 2010

Alberto

JÓLADAGATAL

2009-11-24T05:57:00.001-08:00

JÓLADAGATAL

Rehearsals:

Þriðjudagur frá 7pm til 10pm

Þriðjudagur Nóvember: 24

Þriðjudagur Desember: 1, 8 Og 15

Tónleikar:

28. Nóvember (Laugardagur), Ráðhústorg (Square ín Akureyri)

Við ættum að vera þar kl. 13.45 (we should be there at 13.45)

4. Desember (Föstudagur), skóla Tónleikar

Þú verður að vera í Tónlistarskólanum kl. 8.15fh

Við munum fara með rútu og við munum hafa sjónvarp, blaðamaður. Okkur langar til að hafa meiri blásturshljóðfæri í Tónlistarskólanum

12. Desember (Laugardagur), Leikhúsinu tónleikar

Við munum spila á tónleikum í Leikhúsinu eins og í fyrra.

Við munum hafa þessa söngvara: Hjalti, María, Eyþór Ingi, Pálmi, Jana María og Bryndísi.

Tónlist:

Have yourself a merry little christmas
Santa clause is coming to town
A child is born
Rudolf the red nose rendeer
Jolaval
Jolin Allstadar

Söngur Jólasveinnanna

ALBERTO CARMONA

SIMI: 8411428

TÓNLISTARSKÓLINN Á

AKUREYRI

Christmas concert

2009-11-11T03:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Big band!

In our next two rehersals we will prepare the cristmas concert on Saturday 28.11.09. We will play at 3.30 pm at the main square of Akureyri.

The rehersals will start at 19.00 and we will also have some flutes playing with us. Please study your part! It´s important that everybody show up.

The songs we will play are:

White christmas
Have yourself a merry little christmas
Santa clause is coming to town
A child is born
Rudolf the red nose rendeer
Jolavals
Jolin Allstadar

Best, Alberto and Jana

New Concert

2009-11-07T16:26:00.001-08:00

Hello Band,

We will have a normal rehearsal next tuesday November 10th at 7pm at room number 8 and we will play a CONCERT next November 28th...

CONCERT

November 28th

Main square of Akureyi

Christmas Concert

Please, you must check the christmas big band numbers with your teacher.

See you!

Alberto

Rehearsal + Concert

2009-10-28T03:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Band,

We had a few rehearsals off but we will start working as usual next tuesday November 3rd. I will try to show you what we will do during November and December...

November

We will start with the Christmas charts. It will be nice to keep studying our normal Big Band numbers (Better get hit + Groove Merchant + A child is born).

We will NOT play a concert next November 19th

December

We will play ONLY our christmas numbers. I will bring you new songs and we will play TWO concerts:

Town Concert (main square of Akureyri)
Christmas concert (Theater)

See you next tuesday at 7pm,
Let me know if you have some questions,

Alberto
8411428

theme week

2009-10-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

Sæl!

Eins og þið öll vitið verður þemavíka í næstu viku og vegna þess fellur hefbunðin kennsla niður.
Þemað að þessu sinni er SÖNGLEIKIR.

Við ætlum að vera með "West Side Story" eftir Leonard Bernstein og Stephen Sondheim.
það verður fyrirlestur ( um sögu, tónlist o.fl.)með strengjasveitinni tvo daga í þessari viku:

á þriðjudag, 20.okt. kl. 19-22 í stofu 8
á miðvikudag, 21.okt. kl. 19-22 í sofu 8

Við ætlum að horfa á myndina og spila kannski saman 1 lag. Þannig að allir þurfa að taka hljóðfærin sín með.

Sjáumst
Kær kveðja.

Alberto og Jana

Concert!

2009-09-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Band,

As you may know, I am sick and we will not have rehearsal tonight.

But I want you to know that we will play a concert soon at the "Book Store" "Eymundsson".

We will probably play next October 23th or 30th at 4pm, I will let you know as soon as possible

CONCERT
EYMUNDSSON

I will see you next TUESDAY at 7pm during our normal rehearsal time.

We will make a special rehearsal next tuesday October 13th (wow, scary day...). Sectional rehearsal: 7-9pm and Big Band: 9-10pm

What will we play?

-Better git hit with your soul

-Groove Merchant

-Birdland

-Chamaleon

-Fables...

Let me know if you have some questions...

Alberto Carmona

alcarmonita@gmail.com

8411428

Music and videos

2009-09-23T04:35:00.000-07:00

Hello Band,

Now, you can wacth and listen to all our new charts. Check it and try with your teacher...

GROOVE MERCHANT
Click HERE to download the track

A CHILD IS BORN
Click HERE to download the track

GUNSLINGING BIRD
Click HERE to download the track

Fyrsta æfing

2009-09-09T03:44:00.000-07:00

Sæl og blessuð!

Nú hefst vetrarstarf Stórsveitarinnar TÓNAK árið 2009-2010

Æfingar í vetur verða á þriðjudögum:

Blásarar, kl. 19.00-20.00 í stofu 8
Gítar, bassi, slagverk, píanó og söngvarar kl. 19.00-20.00 í stofu 7
Allir, kl. 20.00-22:00 í stofu 8

Áætlunin fyrir áramót 2009:

1. Við skulum spila nokkur gömul verk og tökum ný lög með

Fyrstu tónleikarnir verða í lok október í Rósenborg (sjá http://www.tonak.is/)

2. Eftir tónleikana ætlum við að byrja að skipuleggja jólatónleikanna sem verða í byrjunni desember í LA (í leikhúsinu)

Áætlun eftir áramót 2010:

3. Í janúar ætlum við að setja upp söngleik "West Side Story" ásamt sinfoníuhljómsveit Tónlistarskólans, söngvara klassiskra deildarinnar og dansara úr dansskóla.

4. 10.apríl ætlum við að fara til Reykjavíkur og spila þar.

5. Eftir Reykjavíkurferðina ætlum við að æfa með lúðrasveitinni og spila hérna á Akureyri 1.maí 2010.

Það verða tveir kennarar í viðbót á þriðjudagsæfingum í vetur: Margot og Jana

Við sjáumst næsta þriðjudag kl. 19.00.

Bestu kveðjur.
Alberto, Margot og Jana

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE PARKER!

2009-08-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hello students,

I want to start our site this year with a nice analysis about Charlie Parker (famous alto player) from Steve Coleman (one of the best jazz player today).

Steve Coleman's analysis:

THE DOZENS: STEVE COLEMAN ON CHARLIE PARKER by Steve Coleman (Ted Panken editor)

The music of Charles Christopher Parker—as well as the music of many other musicians—probably has the greatest influence on my own music. I view Parker as a major composer, albeit primarily a spontaneous composer. His written compositions, similar to many other very strong spontaneous composers, were mainly jumping-off points for his spontaneous discussions. Parker was also someone whose function would be analogous to the role of a master drummer in traditional West African societies. For me, Parker translated these combined ideas, via a style that is a sophisticated version of the Blues, into something that can express life, from the point of view of the African-American experience in the 20th century. Many others, John Coltrane for example, contributed to the expression of this transitional music on a technical, intellectual and spiritual level.

Charlie Parker (artwork by Merryl Jaye)

I get a lot of what I call micro-information from Parker. There is much in the way of technical things such as melodic movements and progressions, etc., but there are also the linguistic aspects of Parker’s music and the emotional and spiritual content. In studying the history of how this music was developed, one can glean a great deal of insight about the natural world as well as human nature in general. This story has been told many times before; the clothes may be different, but it is the same story.

In my opinion, by far the most dramatic feature of Bird’s musical language is the rhythmic aspect, in particular his phrasing and timing, not only his own playing but in combination with dynamic players such as Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Bud Powell, Fats Navarro, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. Although much more has been written about the harmonic aspects of Bird’s musical language, most of this harmonic conception was already present in the music of pianists and saxophonists from the previous era, before Parker arrived on the scene. Among others, the music of pianists Duke Ellington and Art Tatum, as well as saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and Don Byas, demonstrated an already quite sophisticated grasp of harmony. Just about any recording of Tatum demonstrates a harmonic language that rivaled anything from the musicians of Charlie Parker’s time. Furthermore, one could look at examples such as Coleman Hawkins’ famous 1939 rendition of “Body and Soul” or Don Byas’ 1945 Town Hall duos with Slam Stewart (“I’ve Got Rhythm” and “Indiana”) to see that many of these harmonic aspects were already quite developed. Also in Byas’ recordings, we already see some hint of the rhythmic language that would emerge fully developed in Parker’s playing.

Not a lot has been written about the rhythmic aspects of this language, and for good reason-there are no words and developed descriptive concepts for it in most Western languages. Western music theory has developed primarily in directions that are great for describing the tonal aspects of music, particularly harmony. However, the language to describe rhythm itself is not very well developed, apart from descriptions of time signatures and other notation-related devices. But over the years, musicians themselves have developed a kind of insider’s language, an informal slang that is helpful to allude to what is already intuited and culturally implied.

Charlie Parker (artwork by Martel Chapman)

The implications of Parker’s phrasing helped to catalyze the rhythmic responses that eventually would come from players such as Max Roach, Bud Powell, Fats Navarro, etc. Although the descriptive aspects of these rhythmic concepts are underdeveloped, we could extend our ability to discuss this language by drawing from the perspective of the rhythmic language of the African Diaspora. Dizzy Gillespie referred to Charlie Parker’s rhythmic conception assanctified rhythms, suggesting a style of playing that was related to music heard in church. Later in this article I will take that analogy a little further when I discuss ternary versus duple time.

There is a famous quote by Beethoven that “music is a higher revelation than philosophy.” The tradition of Armstrong, Ellington, Monk, Bird, Von Freeman, Coltrane, etc., has demonstrated to the world the great heights that spontaneous composition can be taken to, and there is great importance in this. In the West, especially sophisticated spontaneous composition became virtually a lost art, probably only kept alive in the context of the French Organ improvisational schools (Pierre Cochereau, Marcel Dupr_, etc.) and some of the various forms of folk music. But the form and approach of the concept of spontaneous composition that was developed in the Armstrong-Parker-Coltrane continuum (to use a phrase coined by Anthony Braxton) and the amount of information that this form of composition projects (both material and spiritual information) is staggering in its scope. This is particularly true when you look at the relatively short amount of time that it has taken for this music to develop.

That is not to say that other forms of music have not accomplished the same thing in their own way. But this article deals specifically with spontaneous composition as expressed in the music of Charlie Parker.

I will address most of the following performances in some detail with technical analysis, and will mostly concentrate on the rhythmic, melodic and linguistic elements of Parker’s music.

Tónlistarskólinn á Akureyri

May Recording

2009-05-25T09:04:00.001-07:00

Hello Big Big Big Big Baaaand!

Here you have our first recording!
I hope that you will enjoy it!

I bring three download possibilities, just in case if you have some problems

TONAK Big Band
Download the full CD

TONAK Big Band (2 option / Its the same, just other download possibility)
Download the full CD

TONAK Big Band (3 option)
Download the full cd

What do you think?
Please leave some comments on the site, I really want to know your opinion

I also want to leave a present for all of you band...
Thats a spanish Big Band playing a mix of Rock / Funk / Jazz in a very interesting way

Spanish Big Band
Please, click here to download the cd

Some videos about the recording and Sindri's Geir concert

Have a very nice Summer,

Alberto

.

May 1st Video!

2009-05-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

Hello band,

I will leave the recording as soon as I will get it!

But I want you to have this funny video of our last concert on May 1st...

It was fun!

Check the site next week... You will have a nice surprise!

Alberto

Reykjavík

2009-04-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hello band,

PROGRAM:

THURSDAY 16 APRIL, 5PM AT TONAK MUSIC SCHOOL
We will take the Bus at this time, please be on time.

FRIDAY 17 APRIL, 9.30AM AT FIH
Special rehearsal from 3 - 5pm at FIH
http://felagsmenn.fih.is/

SATURDAY 18 APRIL
BIG BAND FESTIVAL AT FIH
Dagskrá laugardaginn 18. apríl
12:00 Stórsveit Reykjavíkur
12:30 Léttsveit Tónlistarskóla Reykjanesbæjar 1
13:00 Big band Svansins
13:30 Léttsveit Tónlistarskóla Reykjanesbæjar 2
14:00 Léttsveit Tónlistarskóla Seltjarnarness 1
14:30 Stórsveit skólahljómsveita Reykjavíkurborgar
15:00 Léttsveit Tónlistarskóla Seltjarnarness 2
15:30 Stórsveit Tónlistarskóla FÍH 1
16:00 Stórsveit Tónlistarskólans í Garðabæ
16:30 Stórsveit Tónlistarskólans á Akureyri
17:00 Stórsveit Tónlistarskóla FÍH 2

SUNDAY 19 APRIL
Concert in Blönduós at 2pm (way back Reykjavík - Akureyri)

Questions...
alcarmonita@gmail.com
8411428

We will finally play:

Nostalgia
Milestones
Oye como va
Fables
Birdland
Chameleon

We will go to Reykjavík next 16th of April around 5pm.

Please, you should check and study these numbers:

-Fables of faubus
-Nostalgia in Times Square
-Oye como va
-Milestones
-Summertime
-Chameleon
-Blue Train
-Haitian fight song
-Birdland
-Mack the knife

We will make a special rehearsal on the way to Reykjavík, inside the bus!!!!!!
Please, check the site during next weeks, I will leave more information...

You should bring black clothes!

If you are not able to come to this trip, let me know as soon as possible at 8411428 or alcarmonita@gmail.com

After Reykjavík we will have:

-21 + 28 April. Rehearsal with flutes, clarinets, oboe and cia...
-1 May. CONCERT

Alberto Carmona
alcarmonita@gmail.com

Concert 27 March

2009-03-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Band,

CONCERT 27 - MARCH
WITH MOLTA

Place: "Bjarg við Bugðusíðu".
Time: 9pm (8.30pm there)
Saxophone section: 7.30pm at TONAK Music School (its your turn of help)

Black dress, black shoes, black hair, black heart and black soul ;)

Please, phone at TONAK if you have some questions.
4621788

Alberto Carmona
8411428
alcarmonita@gmail.com

News news news

2009-03-06T06:14:00.001-08:00

Hello band,

AGENDA:

CONCERT 27 - MARCH
FRIDAY AROUND 8-9PM
WITH MOLTA

IMPORTANT REHEARSAL:
TUESDAY 24 - MARCH
7.00PM NORMAL REHEARSAL
8.00PM CHAT ABOUT THE REYKJIAVIK WEEKEND
8.30PM REHEARSAL WITH MOLTA (Playing Mack the Knife, Chameleon, Birdland, Fablus, Nostalgia and Oye como va)

And more...

We will also make a recording in a studio next month. We will have our own CD!
Please check Mack the Knife and our Mingus numbers.

Next rehearsal:
Tuesday, 17th March

7pm-8pm Improvisation workshop
8pm-10pm Big Band

HAITIAN FOLK SONG (Charles Mingus)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

TO BRENDA WITH LOVE (Paquito D'Rivera)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

MUSIC

CHARLES MINGUS BIG BAND

Que viva Mingus!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CD

CHARLES MINGUS BAND

Mingus, mingus, Mingus!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CD

Special version of Fables of Faubus
Charles Mingus

Moanin'
Charles Mingus
Version: Alberto Carmona (Havana Jazz Band)

You can check our "Mack the knife" version on youtube. I really don't like Robbie Williams but life is life...

Improvisation Course

2009-02-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hello band,

IMPROVISATION MICRO-COURSE (1 hour)

SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY

11:30AM AT TONAK

Bring your instrument and leave your mind with the music!

12:30 FREE FOOD AT THE MUSIC SCHOOL (you are wellcome to eat for free!)

SAME DAY

21 FEBRUARY

3.00pm CONCERT AT THE BOOK STORE

SONGS:

-BIRDLAND

-NOSTALGIA

-CHAMELEON

-FABUS OF FABLUS

Best regards,

Alberto P. Carmona

alcarmonita@gmail.com

Mack the Knife

2009-02-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Band,

You can listen a few versions of this classic: Mack the knife. It's really good to have fun playing together, I really enjoy today. That's music!

Next concerts:

21 - February: Akureyri
20, 21 - April: Reikjiavik

Soon: Green Hat, West Fiords, Very very Big Akureyri wind ensemble (60-70 persons playing)...

Mack the knife versions:

1.- Ella Fitzgerald (Verve Jazz Masters)
2.- Ben Webster (Ballads and Blues)
3.- Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald (that's the best version)

Enjoy!

Get your own Moonk!

Alberto

Stórsveit Tónlistarskólans

2009-01-25T15:15:00.000-08:00

TONAK BIG BAND
22 JANUARY CONCERT

24. janúar 2009 - Akureyri handboltafélag skrifar
Stórsveit Tónlistarskólans var frábær - myndir
Stórsveit Tónlistarskóla Akureyrar fór hreinlega á kostum þegar sveitin lék fyrir leik og aftur í hálfleik í Íþróttahöllinni á fimmtudagskvöldið í tengslum við leik Akureyrar og Víkings. Sveitin var með ákaflega skemmtilegt prógram og vakti gríðarlega athygli áhorfenda.

Stórsveitin er ein af bestu perlum bæjarins

Stjórnandi sveitarinnar Alberto Carmona er greinlega að gera frábæra hluti með sitt lið.

Þórir Tryggvason sendi okkur hátt í sextíu myndir af stórsveitinni sem er hægt aðskoða hér.

Hér er heimasíða Tónlistarskólans en þar er m.a. hægt að skoða upptöku frá jólatónleikum sveitarinnar í Samkomuhúsinu nú í desember.

Well done!
New song - It's oh so quiet
Björk

Get your own Moonk!

Concert

2009-01-19T11:54:00.001-08:00

Hello Band,

We will play a concert next thursday...

THURSDAY - 22, January

Big Sports Hall in Akureyri

Akureyri - Víkingur

You must be there at:

18.00 PM

Trumpets and trombon at (music school):

17.30pm

We will see the mach, playing before and we will also play in the middle of the march.

Please, let me know if you have problems about...

Alberto P. Carmona

Phone: 8411428

New songs! New Year! Charles Mingus Big Band

2009-01-09T03:30:00.000-08:00

Hello band,

After christmas, we will try to play new things. We will start with two numbers of the amazing "Charles Mingus".

Please, it's really important if you check this two numbers before tuesday: Fables of Fabus and Nostalgia in Times Square. You only need to relax and listen!

Get your own Moonk!

See you next tuesday at 7pm!
Please, on time!

Best regards,

Alberto

Jóla Concert! + Surprise + Suprise!!!!!

2008-12-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

Hello band,

Firstly, I would like to tell how happy I am with you guys. We made it! Now, we are a real big band and we are getting another level. I saw you having fun and that's amazing.

You can check the full video version of our concert but I will try to bring you the good one in a few days (even better than this version with professional audio).

Please, can you send me photos of the concert?. I am sure that your family or friends took some... I will leave it on the blog. Send me photos to: alcarmonita@gmail.com

FULL BIG BAND CONCERT:
Please leave a comment!

PHOTOS:

CHECK THIS CONCERT!

DIZZY GILLESPIE BIG BAND WITH PAQUITO D`RIVERA, MONGO SANTAMARÍA, ARTURO SANDOVAL, MARIO RIVERA, GIOVANNI HIDALGO...

90 minutes concert for free!!!

DO YOU WANT TO PLAY SOLOS?

Please check this video (Jamey Aebersold method). You have books + cds in our last post. You only need to follow the video and practise!

For singers, guitar, piano, bass, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, horn, phone, flute, airplane, orange or drums!

DUKE ELLINGTON BIG BAND

You can see the full concert! Enjoy!

Please, let me know if you want to know more about or if you have questions!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I will see you in January with full energy and new proyects!

Alberto

NETO Concert

2008-12-08T07:03:00.000-08:00

Hello Band,

Now, you can see our last concert. The videos are not quite good and the sound it's painfull but it's nice to hear what we are doing.

Christmas Tree + Jazz Books + Videos

2008-11-30T05:09:00.000-08:00

Hello band,

Here you have the videos. We have an amazing Big Band! Congratulations!

NEXT CONCERTS and REHEARSALs:

2 DECEMBER - Big Band Rehearsal with Teachers (Music School from 7pm)
3 DECEMBER - Traditional Christmas Concert - 8.00pm - We will play normal and Christmas songs (Chameleon, Blue Train, Oye como va...)

7 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at NETO 13.00pm - We will get pay for this concert (We will use this money to go to Reijkiavik and play there)
7 DECEMBER - Sound Check at the Theater 14.00pm

8, 9, 10, 11, 12 DECEMBER - Big Band Rehearsal for the Theater Concert

13 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at NETO
13 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at the Theater 19.00pm
14 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at the Theater 17.00pm

BOOKS
SCALE SYLLABUS BOOK + 2 CDS

-For all levels, instrumentalists and vocalists.

-Hear David Liebman solo over every scale listed in the Scale Syllabus.

-Stereo separation allows you to practice and improvise, too! Piano and guitar, too.

-Piano and guitar players can accompany or solo. Not only can you hear the different scales, you can practice or solo with them by turning off the sax or piano channel.

-There is an excellent list of suggested piano voicings in the supplement. This is a great way to learn new scales and chords. Enjoy as you would any jazz recording and let your ears get accustomed to exciting new scales.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

NOTHIN` BUT BLUES BOOK + CD

The Blues have had the very essence of the jazz sound since the 1920’s. A player who masters the sound and feel of the Blues will play other jazz tunes in a manner that will inspire the listener. The rhythm section on this recording really grooves and makes this set fun to play with. Contains 11 different Blues and is a natural follow-up to Volume 1 or Volume 21. The tempos are not fast. The Blues are presented in various keys and with a variety of moods from slow to rock. Chords and scales are written in the staff for each recorded track. Rhythm section is Dan Haerle, piano; Mike Hyman, drums; and Rufus Reid, bass.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Please, let me know if you want more information about these concerts or if you have some problem.

Alberto Carmona
alcarmonita@gmail.com
Phone: 8411428

Concert Video!

2008-11-20T09:48:00.001-08:00

Hello band,

NEXT CONCERTS and REHEARSALs:

29 NOVEMBER (CHRISTMAS TREE, AKUREYRI)

12.00 at the Music School (Rehearsal)

14.00 Sound check

15.45 Concert (15 min.)

2 DECEMBER - Big Band Rehearsal with Teachers (Music School from 7pm)

3 DECEMBER - Traditional Christmas Concert

7 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at NETO 13.00pm

7 DECEMBER - Sound Check at the Theater 14.00pm

8, 9, 10, 11, 12 DECEMBER - Big Band Rehearsal for the Theater Concert

13 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at NETO

13 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at the Theater 19.00pm

14 DECEMBER - Big Band Concert at the Theater 17.00pm

Now, you can listen our last concert at the site. Please, click on

BIRDLAND

OYE COMO VA

BLUE TRAIN

SUMMERTIME

Music! Music! Music!

2008-11-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

CONCERT

WEDNESDAY 19-NOVEMBER (8.00PM)
BOOK STORE (AKUREYRI)

WORKSHOP

SATURDAY 22

10.00am-11.30am SECTIONAL REHEARSAL
12.00-13.00pm LUNCH
13.00pm-14.30pm POOL TIME!!!!!!!!
15.00pm-16.00pm THEORY LESSON
16.15pm-17.15pm BIG BAND
17.30pm-18.30pm BIG BAND
19.00pm DINNER

SUNDAY 23

10.00am-11.30am SECTIONAL REHEARSAL
12.00-13.00pm LUNCH
13.00pm-14.30pm POOL TIME!!!!!!!!
15.00pm-16.30pm BIG BAND
17.30pm CONCERT

Hello there,

Now, you can download a lot of music! It is really important to listen music about Big Band. I try to show you the very best selection of Big Bands.

You don't need to pay nothing, you just should click on FREE and download! After the first download, you must wait 10 minutes aprox. and... please, leave a comment!!!!! leav a comment!!!!

SUMMERTIME
Alberto Carmona Big Band Version
Please click HERE to download the song o click in this other link HERE (alternative option)

MILESTONES
Alberto Carmona Big Band Version
Click to download HERE
Tito Puente Band (with Paquito D`Rivera, Mongo Santamaría, Dave Valentin...)
Click to download HERE

OYE COMO VA
Tito Puente Band
Click to download HERE

Please, click on these links:

PAQUITO D'RIVERA
Big Band Time
Full cd, click HERE

DAVE HOLLAND BIG BAND
What goes around
Full cd, click HERE

DUKE ELLINGTON
The best
Full cd, click HERE

THAD JONES AND MEL LEWIS
NY
Full cd, click HERE

AFRO CUBAN ALL STARTS
Buena Vista Social Club
Full cd, click HERE

ELLA FITZGERALD AND DUKE ELLINGTON
Live Concert
Full cd, click HERE

LOUIS AMSTRONG
The best
Full cd, click HERE

VIENA ART ORCHESTA
Big Band Poesie
Full cd, click HERE

MAYNARD FERGUSON
Maiden Voyage
Full cd, click HERE

KING OLIVER
Jazz Master
Full cd, click HERE

BENNY GOODMAN
Live Concert
Full cd, click HERE

SUMMERTIME
Alberto Carmona Big Band Version
Please click HERE to download the song o click in this other link HERE (alternative option)

MILESTONES
Alberto Carmona Big Band Version
Click to download HERE
Tito Puente Band (with Paquito D`Rivera, Mongo Santamaría, Dave Valentin...)
Click to download HERE

OYE COMO VA
Tito Puente Band
Click to download HERE

BIG BAND (3º) SOLOS!

2008-09-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

Do you want to play a solo?

Now, You can download the track without the melody part. You will be able to play 100 times the solo and practice it!

Select your song:

Blue Train (John Coltrane)

Click HERE

Angel Eyes (Earl Brent and Matt Denis)

Click HERE

Summertime (George Gershwin)

Click HERE

IMPORTANT

Do you need more help?

Knowing the fingerings, scales and chords to each of the scales in the harmony is fundamental but it's not the only thing thart you should make, we should enjoy, that's why we are here and that's why we must enjoy making music.

I have necer met a person who couldn’t improvise. There are a few ingredients that go into making a good jazz soloist:

-Desire to improvise

-Listening jazz via recordings and live performances.

-A method of practice (what and how to practice)

-Friends, bands, just play with people

-Discipline

Jazz players use to listen other musicians. We need to unsderstand the language and the differents ways of the expression. If you were to look at any transcribed jazz solo from any era you would see phrases, scales, chords, diatonic patterns, leaps, rests… Jazz is not mystical and not reserved for just a few.

You should use your ears to help you decide your volume, articulation, phrasing and other important bits that go into making music. Never play without listening yourself and those around you. It's more important if we have a good second alto or a good third trumpet player.

If you want to know more about or some doubts please you are free to write a question (comments).

Alberto

BIG BAND (2º) Oclupaca, Funky Cha Cha, The Chicken and Blue Train

2008-09-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

Duke Ellington

Oclupaca

Mp3 Big Band Version

Audio Version 1

Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

http://rapidshare.com/files/147833380/04-Oclupaca.mp3.html

Version 2

Latin American Suite

http://rapidshare.com/files/147834528/01-Oclupaca.mp3.html

Arturo Sandoval

Funky Cha Cha

Audio Version 1

Arturo Sandoval Big Band

http://rapidshare.com/files/147835149/01-AudioTrack_01.mp3.html

Jaco Pastorious

The Chicken

Audio Version 1

Jaco Pastorious

http://rapidshare.com/files/147836864/The_Birthday_Concert_-_01_-_Soul_intro_-_the_chicken.mp3.html

John Coltrane

Blue Train

Version 1 (Big Band)

Sweeney Big Band

http://rapidshare.com/files/147836717/03-Blue_train.mp3.html

Version 2

John Coltrane (Tenor Saxophone)

http://rapidshare.com/files/147839271/01_-_Blue_Train.mp3.html

LATIN SALSA Band (History of Latin Jazz)

2008-09-18T04:01:00.002-07:00

What is Latin Jazz?

Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz and classical harmonies from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and United States.

The two main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian and Afro-Cuban. Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova. Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz includes salsa, merengue, songo, son, mambo, Timba, bolero, charanga and cha cha cha.

One of the contribution of Latins (Latinos in Spanish) to America, Latin jazz was further popularized in the late 1940s. Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton began to combine the rhythm section and structure of Afro-Cuban music, exemplified by Machito and His Afro-Cubans, whose musical director Mario Bauza created the first Latin jazz composition "Tanga" on May 31, 1943, with jazz instruments and solo improvisational ideas. On March 31, 1946, Stan Kenton recorded "Machito," written by his collaborator / arranger Pete Rugolo, which is considered by many to be the first Latin jazz recording by American jazz musicians.

The Kenton band was augmented by Ivan Lopez on bongos and Eugenio Reyes on maracas. Later, on December 6th of the same year, Stan Kenton recorded an arrangement of the Afro-Cuban tune The Peanut Vendor with members of Machito's rhythm section. In September of 1947, Dizzy Gillespie collaborated with Machito conga player Chano Pozo to perform the "Afro-Cuban Drums Suite" at Carnegie Hall. This was the first concert to feature an American band playing Afro-Cuban jazz and Pozo remained in Gillespie's Orchestra to produce "Cubana Be, Cubana Bop" among others.

In comparison with traditional jazz, Latin jazz employs straight rhythm, rather than swung rhythm. Latin jazz rarely employs a backbeat, using a form of the clave instead. The conga, timbale, güiro, and claves are percussion instruments which often contribute to a Latin sound.
Samba originated from nineteenth century Afro-Brazilian music such as the Lundu. It employs a modified form of the clave. Bossa Nova is a hybrid music based on the samba rhythm, but influenced by European and American music from Debussy to US jazz. Bossa Nova originated in the 1960s, largely from the efforts of Brazilians Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto, and American Stan Getz. Its most famous song is arguably The Girl from Ipanema sung by Gilberto and his wife, Astrud Gilberto.

Latin jazz music, like most types of jazz music, can be played in small or large groups. Small groups, or combos, often use the Be-bop format made popular in the 1950s in America, where the musicians play a standard melody, many of the musicians play an improvised solo, and then everyone plays the melody again. In Latin jazz bands, percussion often takes a center stage during a solo, and a conga or timbale can add a melodic line to any performance.

BIG BAND (History) + METRONOME

2008-09-18T04:01:00.001-07:00

DIGITAL METRONOME

You can download a free-metronome. Please check this link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/148633997/Completo_Metronomo_-_Fast___Soft_Metronome_4.0.rar.html

ABOUT BIG BAND

A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. Big Bands evolved with the times and continue to today. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. The terms jazz band, jazz ensemble, stage band, jazz orchestra, and dance band are also used to refer to this type of ensemble. This does not, however, mean that each one of these names is technically correct for naming a 'big band" specifically.

In contrast to smaller jazz combos, in which most of the music is improvised, or created spontaneously, music played by big bands is highly "arranged", or prepared in advance and notated on sheet music. The music is traditionally called 'charts'. Improvised solos may be played only when called for by the arranger.

History and style

There are two distinct periods in the history of popular bands. Beginning in the mid-1920s, big bands, then typically consisting of 10–25 pieces, came to dominate popular music. At that time they usually played a sweet form of jazz that involved very little improvisation, which included a string section with violins, which was dropped after the introduction of swing in 1935. The dance form of jazz was characterized by a sweet and romantic melody. Orchestras tended to stick to the melody as it was written and vocals would be sung (often in a tenor voice) and in tune with the melody.

Typical of the genre were such popular artists as Paul Whiteman, Ted Lewis, Harry Reser, Leo Reisman, Abe Lyman, Nat Shilkret, George Olsen, Ben Bernie, Bob Haring, Ben Selvin, Earl Burnett, Gus Arnheim, Henry Halstead, Rudy Vallee, Jean Goldkette, Isham Jones, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Sam Lanin, Vincent Lopez, Ben Pollack, Shep Fields and Fred Waring.

Many of these artists changed styles or retired after the introduction of swing music. Although unashamedly commercial, these bands often featured front-rank jazz musicians - for example Paul Whiteman employed Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer. There were also "all-girl" bands such as "Helen Lewis and Her All-Girl Jazz Syncopators". Lewis and her band, Ben Bernie's band "Ben Bernie and All the Lads", and Roger Wolfe Kahn's band were filmed by Lee De Forest in his Phonofilm sound-on-film process in 1925, in three short films which are now in the Library of Congress film collection.

Towards the end of the 1920s, a new form of Big Band emerged which was more authentically "jazz," in that more space was given to improvised soloing. This form of music never gained the popularity of the sweet dance form of jazz. The few recordings made in this form of jazz were labelled race records and were intended for a limited urban audience. Few white musicians were familiar with this music, Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael being notable exceptions. The three major centres in this development were New York City, Chicago and Kansas City. In the former, a sophisticated approach to arranging predominated, first in the work of Don Redman for the Fletcher Henderson band, later in the work of Duke Ellington for his Cotton Club orchestra, and Walter 'Foots' Thomas for Cab Calloway's. Some big ensembles, like the Joe "King" Oliver outfit played a kind of half arranged, half improvised jazz, often relying on “head” arrangements. Other great bands, like the one of Luis Russell became a vehicle for star instrumentalists, in his case Louis Armstrong. There the whole arrangement had to promote all the possibilities of the star, although they often contained very good musicians, like Henry "Red" Allen, J. C. Higginbotham and Charley Holmes.

Earl Hines became the star of Chicago with his Grand Terrace Cafe band and began to broadcast live from The Grand Terrace nightly coast-to-coast across America. Meanwhile in Kansas City and across the Southwest, an earthier, bluesier style was developed by such bandleaders as Benny Moten and, later, by Jay McShann and Jesse Stone. Big band remotes on the major radio networks spread the music from ballrooms and clubs across the country during the 1930s and 1940s, with remote broadcasts from jazz clubs continuing into the 1950s on NBC's Monitor. Radio was a major factor in gaining notice and fame for Benny Goodman, the “Pied Piper of Swing”. Soon, others challenged him, and “the battles of the bands” became a staple at theater performances featuring many groups on one bill.

Gloria Parker, Princess of the Marimba, conducted the 21-piece Swingphony whose performances were broadcast nationally from the Kelly Lyceum Ballroom in Buffalo, New York. This was the largest big band ever led by a female bandleader.[citation needed]
Big Bands also began to appear in movies in the 1930’s right on through to the 1960’s, though the cameos by bandleaders were often stiff and incidental to the plot. Fictionalized biographical films of Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, and others were made in the 1950’s, as nostalgic tributes to the glory years.

Rise and fall of swing

Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee

Swing music began appearing in the early 1930s, distinguished by a more supple feel than the more literal 4/4 of earlier jazz and a walking bass - Walter Page is often credited with developing this, though isolated earlier examples exist (eg by Wellman Braud on Ellington's Washington Wabble from 1927).

This type of music flourished through the early 1930s, although there was little mass audience for it until around 1936. Up until that time, it was viewed with ridicule and looked upon as a curiosity. After 1935, big bands rose to prominence playing swing music and held a major role in defining swing as a distinctive style. Western Swing musicians also formed very popular big bands during the same period.

There was a considerable range of styles among the hundreds of popular bands. Many of the better known bands reflected the individuality of the bandleader, the lead arranger, and the personnel. Count Basie played a relaxed propulsive swing, Bob Crosby more of a dixieland style, Benny Goodman a hard driving swing, and Duke Ellington’s compositions were varied and sophisticated. Many bands featured strong instrumentalists, whose sounds dominated, such as the clarinets of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, the trombone of Jack Teagarden, the trumpet of Harry James, the drums of Gene Krupa, and the vibes of Lionel Hampton. The popularity of many of the major bands was amplified by star vocalists, such as Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey, Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly with Jimmy Dorsey, Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb, Billie Holiday and Jimmie Rushing with Count Basie, Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest with Harry James, Doris Day with Les Brown, and Peggy Lee with Benny Goodman. Some bands were “society bands” which relied on strong ensembles but little on soloists or vocalists, such as the bands of Guy Lombardo and Paul Whiteman.

By this time the Big Band was such a dominant force in jazz that the older generation found they either had to adapt to it or simply retire - with no market for small-group recordings (made worse by a depression-era industry reluctant to take risks), some musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines fronted their own bands, while others, like Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver, lapsed into obscurity.

The major "black" bands of the 1930s included, apart from Ellington's, Hines' and Calloway's, those of Jimmie Lunceford, Chick Webb, and Count Basie. Ironically, the "white" bands of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Shep Fields and, later, Glenn Miller far eclipsed their "black" inspirations in terms of popularity from the middle of the decade. Bridging the gap to white audiences in the mid-1930’s was the Casa Loma Orchestra and Benny Goodman’s early band.

Glen Miller

White teenagers and young adults were the principal fans of the Big Bands in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. They danced to recordings and the radio, and attended live concerts whenever they could. They were knowledgeable and often biased toward their favorite bands and songs, and sometimes worshipful of the famous soloists and vocalists. Many bands toured the country in grueling one-night stands to reach out to their fans. Traveling conditions and lodging were often difficult, in part due to segregation in most parts of the United States, and the personnel often had to perform on little sleep and food. Apart from the star soloists, many personnel received low wages and would abandon the tour and go home if bookings fell through. Personal problems and intra-band discord could affect the playing of the group. Drinking and addictions were common. Turnover was frequent in many bands, and top soloists were often lured away to better contracts. Sometimes bandstands were too small, public address systems inadequate, pianos out of tune. Successful bandleaders dealt with all these hazards of touring to hold their bands together—some with rigid discipline (Glenn Miller), some with canny psychology (Duke Ellington).

Big Bands played a major role in lifting morale during World War II. Many band members served in the military and toured with USO troupes at the front, with Glenn Miller losing his life while traveling between troop shows. Many bands suffered from the loss of personnel and quality declined at home during the war years. An ill-timed recording strike in 1942 worsened the situation. Vocalists began to strike out on their own and by the end of the war, swing was giving way to less danceable music including bebop. Many of the great swing bands broke up, as the times and tastes changed.

Since 1945

As jazz evolved and expanded in new directions, major band performances of note did occur from the 1950s to the 1970s. Noteworthy performers included: Dizzy Gillespie, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Gil Evans, Johnny Richards, Sun Ra, Gary MacFarland, Charles Mingus, Oliver Nelson, Carla Bley, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Sam Rivers, Don Ellis, Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band. Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Anthony Braxton.

Later bandleaders pioneered the performance of various Brazilian and Afro-Cuban styles with the traditional big band instrumentation, and big bands led by arranger Gil Evans, saxophonist John Coltrane (on the album Ascension from 1965) and electric bassist Jaco Pastorius introduced cool jazz, free jazz and jazz fusion, respectively, to the big band domain. Modern big bands can be found playing all styles of jazz music. Some large contemporary European jazz ensembles play mostly avant-garde jazz using the instrumentation of the big bands. Examples include the Vienna Art Orchestra, founded in 1977, and the Italian Instabile Orchestra, active in the 1990s. In the late 1990s, swing made a comeback in the US. The Lindy Hop has taken hold on both coasts, and many younger people took an interest in big band styles again.

African "Afrobeat" big bands have existed from 1970 to the present when Fela Kuti of Nigeria, fused big band jazz with Yoruba tribal rhythms, highlife, and American James Brown soul music. As of 2008 there are over 40 working afrobeat big bands including Antibalas, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Chopteeth, Femi Kuti, and Seun Kuti.

Instrumentation

In the second half of the twentieth century, a standard 17-piece instrumentation evolved, for which many commercial arrangements are available. This instrumentation consists of five saxophones (most often two altos, two tenors, and one baritone), four trumpets, four trombones (including one bass trombone) and a four-piece rhythm section (composed of drums, bass, piano, and guitar).

However, variants to this instrumentation are common. Composers, arrangers, and bandleaders have used sections with more or fewer players, and additional instruments, such as vibes, valve trombone, baritone horn\euphonium, bass clarinet, French horn, tuba, banjo, and string section (violin, viola, cello). Male and female vocalists have also joined big bands to perform particular arrangements.

Some arrangements call for saxophone players to double on other woodwind instruments, such as flute or clarinet. Trumpet and trombone players are sometimes called upon to use various sound-changing mutes, and trumpet players sometimes need to play flugelhorn. In some rhythm sections, a guitar player is omitted. Players in the rhythm section may be called upon to play acoustic or electric instruments. Latin or other auxiliary percussion instruments may be added.

Big band arrangements

Typical big band arrangements of the swing period are written in strophic form with the same phrase and chord structure repeated several times. Each iteration, or chorus, most commonly follows Twelve bar blues form or Thirty-two-bar (AABA) song form. The first chorus of an arrangement typically introduces the melody, and is followed by subsequent choruses of development. This development may take the form of improvised solos, written soli sections, and shout choruses.

An arrangement's first chorus is sometimes preceded by an introduction, which may be as short as a few measures or may extend to chorus of its own. Many arrangements contain an interlude, often similar in content to the introduction, inserted between some or all choruses. Other methods of embellishing the form include modulations and cadential extensions.

BIG BAND (1º) Birdland / Chameleon / Angel Eyes

2008-09-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

BIRDLAND

"Birdland" is an instrumental composition by keyboardist Joe Zawinul which debuted on the Weather Report album Heavy Weather in 1977. A jazz-fusion piece, it achieved unusual commercial success and became a jazz standard, entering the repertoire of many groups and bands, including Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson's big band, and The Manhattan Transfer, who recorded a vocalese take on the tune with lyrics by Jon Hendricks. The original version is instantly recognizable for a famous artificial harmonic intro played by legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius.

"Birdland" was named after the New York jazz club Birdland on 52nd Street, which is named after jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. The song is a tribute to Parker and the club that Zawinul frequented as a young musician (and where he met his future wife). There is another relatively new jazz club in Vienna that Zawinul was involved in that is named after the song (which is named after the club in Manhattan).
Among fusion artists the only other song that received "hit" status in the same class as "Birdland" was Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon".

Audio Version

Salamanca Big Band

Conductor: Alberto Carmona

Soloist: Fernando Sanz (Spain)

Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/146352166/Birdland.mp3.htm

Youtube Videos

Original Version

School Big Band version (not our). This Chart it's more difficult than our chart, maybe we will make it in a few months.

ANGEL EYES

Angel Eyes is in the form AABA. The first and the second A sections are almost identical, with only a few minor variations. The composition has a complex harmonic structure throughout. The II - V - I minor and major progressions are employed frequently throughout the piece. The A sections are in the C minor key. It starts with a C minor, D major 7 and G major 7 progression.

Over the D major 7 there is an F# in the melody (the major third to the D major chord). It is a tritone in the context of the c minor tonic. This interval is used throughout the song. Another tritone is the diminished fifth in the Dm7_5 chord but it fits so well into the harmonic context of the c minor key that it is hardly recognized as a dissonant interval. The c minor then shift chromatically to the Bridge which begins with a B-flat minor and then leads over an E-flat major to the new tonic, A-flat major.

Because of its colourful harmonic changes "Angel Eyes" is a very popular jazz standard which has inspired many original interpretations. Several performers have recorded different versions of the song, including Bill Henderson, Don Ellis, Kenny Burrell, Pat Metheny, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington.

AUDIO version

Salamanca Big Band (University of Castilla)
Conductor: Alberto Carmona
Soloist: Bob Sands (New York)

http://rapidshare.com/files/146285635/8._angel_Eyes.mp3.html

Video version

CHAMELEON

"Chameleon" is a jazz standard with a characteristic bass line and set to a funky beat. It was composed by Herbie Hancock in collaboration with Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson and Harvey Mason who also performed the original 15′44″ version on the 1973 landmark album Head Hunters featuring solos by Hancock and Maupin.

The piece has been covered by many notable artists, including Maceo Parker, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson, Gov't Mule, Michał Urbaniak and James Morrison.

Audio Version

Salamanca Big Band

Conductor: Alberto Carmona

http://rapidshare.com/files/147841608/Chamaleon.mp3.html

Video version (original)

School Big Band version (same that us)