Blues Band with Horns

Dr GO

Of course the "classic" is the "Blues Brothers". But yesterday, while I was buying a sandwich at the "Little Store" in my neighborhood, the owner Eric Jerardi asked if I would be interested in joining his band. I said absolutely I would like to try this out. Anyway, here is a cut from his recent album "Eric Jerardi" in which he added horns to his tunes:

Youtube Video

Dr-GO,
You never cease to amaze me! I think you'll have a great time just be sure to know your F#, C# and B blues scales on your Bb trumpet. However, if you want to screw with the band a little, call out a song in Eb and watch the guitar player wince.
Also, I think I have something that might be of assistance.
If you go to Google and type in Spontaneous Harmonic Improvisation, you'll read about a methodology designed for Blues bands.
Enjoy
Dr.Mark

Dr GO

@Dr-Mark said in Blues Band with Horns:

Dr-GO,
You never cease to amaze me! I think you'll have a great time just be sure to know your F#, C# and B blues scales on your Bb trumpet. However, if you want to screw with the band a little, call out a song in Eb and watch the guitar player wince.
Also, I think I have something that might be of assistance.
If you go to Google and type in Spontaneous Harmonic Improvisation, you'll read about a methodology designed for Blues bands.
Enjoy
Dr.Mark

Dr. Mark, I have my signature "screw with their minds" technique. It's called play the blues cords around flatted 5ths. Man it is a spacey cool sound. It will be my signature line with this band.

Hi Dr-GO,
Thanks for the link!
Got a horn section for you to check out. Go to YouTube and type in Drink you Away Chris Stapleton Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA.
How good is it you ask? I've heard it a hundred times and it still knocks me out. A big ass Hammon B3, Killer singers, and a horn section anyone would want to be a part of.
Everyone at the CMA was standing. From the group Alabama and Keith Urban to Lady Antebellum. Its one of the best example of live horns in a blues/ rock setting I've seen in the last 5 years

Peter Mac

@Dr-GO It sounds cool.
The whole Vid is very professionally shot. That would be a fun band to have your input. Give us some more links when you have your sound mixed in.

Not sure about the Blues Brothers look... maybe a unique look would help identify the group. It is strictly Vocals lead? Some instrumentals to show off the band individuals would be fun as well.

Keep us in the loop

Dr GO

@Dr-Mark said in Blues Band with Horns:
Go to YouTube and type in Drink you Away Chris Stapleton Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA.

Damn!

Dr GO

@Peter-Mac said in Blues Band with Horns:

@Dr-GO It sounds cool.

Some instrumentals to show off the band individuals would be fun as well.

Keep us in the loop

Now you're talking! And will do.

GeorgeB

@Dr-GO
I have a feeling you will fit right in what that group, Doc. You are amazing.

Hi Dr-GO,
I watched the video and I think you'll have fun! On a critical note, IMO the horns were used too much. They were playing when the guitar fills were going on around 1:30 an past and playing when the guitar solo was going on.
Of course as soon as I say this, someone will say, "I think it was perfect" and they wouldn't be wrong. But from my ear's perspective, the horns were playing too often. It's not easy to find that balance. Do the horns accentuate the band or does the band accentuate the horns? From my perspective, horns are a part of the harmony section and should be used like paprika, sparingly but in just the right places.

Dr GO

@Dr-Mark said in Blues Band with Horns:

Hi Dr-GO,
I watched the video and I think you'll have fun! On a critical note, IMO the horns were used too much. They were playing when the guitar fills were going on around 1:30 an past and playing when the guitar solo was going on.
Of course as soon as I say this, someone will say, "I think it was perfect" and they wouldn't be wrong. But from my ear's perspective, the horns were playing too often. It's not easy to find that balance. Do the horns accentuate the band or does the band accentuate the horns? From my perspective, horns are a part of the harmony section and should be used like paprika, sparingly but in just the right places.

You know, horn arranging is an art. I love doing this. The horn parts for Eric's CD were arranged by Charles Rose. I would be honored if Eric would allow for me to arrange so many of his blues compositions that yet have horn arrangements. I arranged about 75% of the songs played by the Eddie Brookshire Quintet, and I love working in harmonies that make horns sound like twice the number of musicians actually playing. For example, here is my arrangement of "Minor Blues": written by Eddie Brookshire. Only two horns playing on this recording. No overdubs.

And yes Mr. K, that IS Kenny Drew Jr playing that amazing piano solo!

GeorgeB

@Dr-GO
Definitely sounds like more than two trumpets. Great work , Doc.

Dr GO

@GeorgeB said in Blues Band with Horns:

@Dr-GO
Definitely sounds like more than two trumpets. Great work , Doc.

I find writing the trumpet part up and octave and keeping the tenor part in the lower range really fills out a spectrum sounding out more harmonics. Some harmonies really help that are off the "traditional harmonics" like letting the ear hear the 5th so adding another harmonic to compliment that natural overtone.

Hi Dr.GO,
Are you talking about subjective tones, also known as difference tones?
That's when two single tones are present at the same time and the tones interfere which is then perceived as a third tone by the human ear.
That's pretty clever.
I've got an idea!! Let's dump our doctorates, get degrees in music and start a band. We'll be bigger than the Cowsills

GeorgeB

@Dr-Mark
I tell you, for all the years it took to be doctors, and how amazed I am of the musical ability you and Dr-GO share, I actually wondered what either or both of you may have accomplished in the world of music had you chose to go that route rather than in to medicine. In fact, some times the musical conversation between you two is so far above my head that it leaves me in awe. Truly.

Hi GeorgeB,
Hands down, Dr-GO is absolutely the smarter of the two.
As for our musical knowledge? We have a sunk cost in time and equipment and just too old and stubborn to stop.

Mike Ansberry

This post is deleted!

Hi GeorgeB,
Dr-GO is medicine and pharmacy.
I'm not. Mine deals with Organizational Psychology, Education, and Business Administration. With that said, if you have a cough Go is the guy. If you have a despot in office and wish him removed (without violence) I'm your guy.

GeorgeB

@Dr-Mark
I can think of one ruler a lot of your fellow Americans would like to have "removed without violence "

Yep, I think I know who you mean.
Something to ponder;
When someone is on TV, people that watch them think they know the person. Then, if that person is allowed in the parlors of America for 14 seasons, and decides to run for office, they know how to use the media, propaganda, lies, and sensationalism and what we end up with is a ruler that is a cult of personality. To combat this, a person needs there own cult of personality to beat them.