Equinox Orchestra

[bloke]

audio samples: https://equinoxorchestra.com/audio/

Arguably the most fun I've ever had working with one of my freeway philharmonics has been doing a concert with the Equinox Orchestra.

Basically, it's a big band + strings (one bass: the one hooked up with the big band) and single (or possibly pairs of) orchestral woodwinds - flute/oboe/bassoon...possibly horn...
...basically a "Nelson Riddle" instrumentation
I've played tons of jobs with "big bands" playing bass, but never (until this ensemble came through town) playing any sort of "horn" with a big band.

Last time, I used the F cimbasso (with mutes that I made for it) to cover the 4th trombone part, and - reportedly - that's what's going to happen again in February.

I'm guessing (per last time) they will send a couple of trumpets (a high note artist, and an improviser) our own orchestra will fill out the trumpet section, and they will send a lead trombone (with our orchestra covering trombone chairs 2/3/4). They'll also bring saxophones (which us supplying probably second alto/second tenor/bari...??), possibly a set drummer, and - likely - a keyboard player and guitarist (plus a couple of vocalists). Last time, several of them were sick, so there were some (fantastic) subs as well as a couple of holes...It still sounded fantastic.

The last time, the theme was "classic Vegas" (Rat Pack, Ella, Elvis, etc., etc...)
Their current website sound clips hint at "classic Broadway"...(??)

I'm really excited about this, and eager to receive PDFs of the (likely - as last time) challenging charts.
Last time, the charts were either somehow-obtained (??) originals or meticulously-recreated-from-recordings ones.
(The 4th trombone parts went "all over the place", the fast ones featured really fun "blurs of notes", and - in one of the Ella tunes - there was a (trombone) high B-flat slipped into the 4th trombone part.

[Three Valves]

"Brazil"

[bloke]

"Brazil"

Tune list is
- Feeling Good
- Brazil
- Charade
- Nice 'n' Easy
- Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
- Save The Last Dance for Me
- Don't Rain on My Parade
- Birth of the Blues
- If I Ruled the World
- Power of Love
- Autumn in New York
- It Had Better Be Tonight
- Too Marvelous For Words
- Luck Be a Lady
- Cry Me a River
- Bourbon Street Parade - Mardi Gras Medley

--------------------------------------

...so you and she comin' ?
I can loan you a (not elegant/reliable) vehicle, and might be able to pick you up at the Memphis airport, plus put you up.
Downstairs tickets include dinner at one of the round tables. (I've never paid attention, but I'm pretty sure it's BYOB.)
I don't know if they're laying out a dance floor, but I doubt if anyone would tell you to sit down.

I play on all but two tunes. One is only strings, and the other is mostly strings and few winds.

[Three Valves]

I actually google mapped it before you offered….

I need to retire.

[bloke]

I actually google mapped it before you offered….

I need to retire.

These sorts of gigs make stuff like "Dvorak New World" (even though I DO get paid to sit there and do almost nuthin' during D-9) worth it.

- People pay, and are delighted with what they get for the money.
- I get PAID, and am delighted with what I get in addition to the money.

If you DO come, just just like Jed said,

Make yourself to home, and stay up as late as you like...8 or 9 o'clock - if you want!

[bloke]

"The purpose of the cimbasso is to perform Verdi - who hated the tuba - opera music in an academically genuine manner."

me...??
yeah...and maybe big band arrangements of the works of Ary Barroso (which include the use of the plunger mute), as well.

(If you have trouble with playback from tubaforum, just click on the word(s) "YouTube".)

[bloke]

I just read through all the tunes on which I play (fourteen or fifteen - I think two are singers/keyboard/strings only), and these are the only mutes (thank goodness!) I'll need for the gig.

the tunes...?? Either they're easier than the ones slated last time, or this cimbasso is a helluva lot better than was that Chinese one...or both.