Pink Floyd and Other Italian Music

Posted on July 27, 2013 by randyjmueller

It’s been a busy, hot summer here in DC, but I was able to take some time off in July for a fantastic trip to Italy. We traveled to Florence, Tuscany, Rome, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast towns of Positano and Ravello. Renting a car had its merits, although it was a test of courage both for the driver and the navigator [travel tip:  don’t get lost in the slums of Naples]!

It’s hard to believe, but on the last day of our trip we discovered that a Pink Floyd tribute band was playing a concert on my birthday on the cliffs of the Mediterranean! It included a 5 piece band, an orchestra and a chorus, all perched on a stage at the Palazzo Rufolo in Ravello that juts out over the valley below.

12th Century Palazzo Rufolo, Ravello n Italy

12th Century Palazzo Rufolo, Ravello,  Italy

Concert Stage at Palazzo Rufolo

Concert Stage at Palazzo Rufolo

Pink Floyd Tribute Band

Pink Floyd Tribute Band

A few days earlier, while we traveling in Tuscany, we came upon a jazz orchestra band performing in the beautiful hilltop town of Cortona. We also came upon a mob of college students from Athens, Georgia, who filled the streets and bars.

Jazz Orchestra Band in Cortona

Jazz Orchestra Band in Cortona

After we listened to a few squeaky, but well-intentioned tunes, we headed back to the car and came across this group of Italian teens drumming…for who knows what! Note the Star Wars t-shirt.

Drum Corps in Cortona

Drum Corps in Cortona

It was a great trip, and now it’s back to work!

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Hankins’ Horns

Posted on May 5, 2013 by randyjmueller

Sorry for the long absence. I’ve been busy working on a slew of beat-up school horns from two Virginia school districts and some cool horns for local players in the Marine Band.  My newest player is one of my oldest buddies, Mike Hankins, who visited us this week on his way to a gig in a 7 piece band on Celebrity Cruise Lines. His Calicchio Trumpet needed a general check-up/buff-up and the Amado water key on the main tuning slide had to be replaced. His Couesnon Flugelhorn just needed to be cleaned and lubed. Ready to go!

Working on Hankins' Horns

Working on Hankins’ Horns

Couesnon Flugel

Couesnon Flugelhorn

It was great to see him and to hang out around town. We took him to hear the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, treated him to a killer Indian dinner at Rasika, and cooked dinner on the grill. I took a day off to show him the Air and Space Museum. The aircraft carrier exhibit was of particular interest. He’s now on the ship in Miami, about to set sail across the Atlantic. We wish him awesome adventures and safe travels.

Air and Space

Air and Space

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Carbon Fiber Trombone Slides

Posted on March 26, 2013 by randyjmueller

I spent a couple of days last week at the Eastern Trombone Workshop, held at Fort Meyer, Virginia, representing SpurlingPL, a Swiss company I’ve been working with to manufacture carbon fiber trombone slides http://www.spurlingpl.com. There was a lot of interest in these odd-looking (very cool) slides and we hope to get some new orders out of it. They’re light weight, won’t bend or dent, the action is smooth and the sound is comparable to traditional trombone slides.

Randy playing with a carbon fiber trombone slide

Randy playing with a carbon fiber trombone slide

After spending a day shouting over a cacophony of simultaneous musical excerpts, I wised up and brought a pair of ear plugs – whew! It was a fun time and actually I ran into some folks I know from the West coast, including Pete Ellefson, who plays with the Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic and is currently on the faculty of Indiana University. It was also great to see Zack Marcinkiewicz, representing the new Marcinkiewicz 500 bore trombones and Rich Dahl who was helping out at the booth. I also ran into Terry Warburton, of Warburton mouthpieces, etc., whom I haven’t seen since his Fort Lauderdale days – around 1982. It was a great time.

E Pluribus Trombonus!

Eastern Trombone Workshop

Eastern Trombone Workshop

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Lily Wilde at Duff’s

Posted on March 10, 2013 by randyjmueller

I’m a little late getting it out, but still wanted to post this video of my last gig in Porltand before I moved to DC. I played with The Lily Wilde Orchestra off and on for a decade so it was a nice way to wrap it up with good friends and great players. A big shout-out to my buddies Mike Hankins, Paul Masio and Dave Crow on trumpet, the Medlers, the rest of the front row, the kick-ass rhythm section, and of course, Lily. If you go to my video page, you can hear a clip of a Count Basie classic, “Sleepwalker’s Serenade.”

Lily Wilde Orchestra at Duff's Garage

Lily Wilde Orchestra at Duff’s Garage

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A Pink Martini Valentine

Posted on February 17, 2013 by randyjmueller

I’ve followed Pink Martini since day one back in the 90s, and seeing them at the Kennedy Center was the coolest of all.  We were able to go thanks to Gavin Bondy, who got us in to the sold-out concert. I’ve been doing his trumpet work for 20 years and it’s always a pleasure to hear him play. It’s serious music with a twist of fun. Some highlights:

Members of the audience dancing the Cha-Cha-Cha on stage
A duet with Thomas Lauderdale by a random person from the crowd
A guest apperance by Portland native, Ari Shapiro
And a rousing rendition of “Donde Estas Yolanda,” namesake of my valentine

Pink Martini at the Kennedy Center

Pink Martini at the Kennedy Center

Sorry about the quality of the photo, I must have been jammin’ to the music…

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Wynton Marsalis at the Kennedy Center

Posted on February 5, 2013 by randyjmueller

Exemplary! Superlative! Outstanding!

There aren’t enough words to describe the experience of a great band in a great hall. I was wowed – on the edge of my seat, trying to get closer to the sound without tumbling over the balcony.  It was a symphonic approach to the big band genre:  close in sound and yet so far away.

They played several great tunes by DC native, Duke Ellington, but “Insatitiable Hunger” was my favorite tune of the night, written by sax player Sherman Irby. It was a quirky tribute to Dante’s Inferno – a big helping of fire and vice.

The last time I was at the Kennedy Center was in 1976 when I played with a big band from University of Wisconsin at the National Association of Jazz Educators conference. Next week, Pink Martini is playing for Valentine’s Day. Maybe I can get a ticket!

Wynton Marsalis at the Kennedy Center

Wynton Marsalis at the Kennedy Center

 

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Posted

Posted on January 19, 2013 by randyjmueller

WOW! My first official post card went out this week to regional symphonies, service bands, music schools and miscellaneous friends and family. I’ve never had a post card before, so it’s all a bit mind-blowing. Managing to stay on top of repairs while in the midst of a shop remodel.

My first post card

My first post card

Back side

Back side

It’s been 3 months now and I am settling in to a new life in DC. I’ve worked on a number of interesting horns, including a rebuild of a late 40s Conn 6M alto sax micro-tuner neck. A bit scary but turned out great. And then there was the Selmer Series II alto sax with a crushed bell bow. Bummed that I didn’t take photos.

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra

Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra

I’ve heard some good music, mostly at Bohemian Caverns, which is just up the street. They have a 17 piece big band that is pretty hot! We also saw Nicholas Payton there not long ago. A bit etheral for my taste, but good. Next week we’re going to see Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis at the Kennedy Center.

Laying low during the ingural activities. Will keep you posted…

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Chillin’ at the Village Vanguard

Posted on December 22, 2012 by randyjmueller

My first experience in New York City exceeded all expectations! We visited Picasso at the Guggenheim, marveled at mastadon ivory jewelry at the Museum of Arts and Design and star-gazed at the Hayden Planetarium. We teared up over War Horse and ate enough food at the Russian Tea Room to supply a cold war army.

After an amazing Latin-Asian meal at Yerba Buena Perry, the highlight of the trip was a show at the Village Vanguard. We nabbed front row seats to hear Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas play their “Sound Prints” set. Dave’s extended solos were killer and bassist Linda Oh rocked! Joey Baron, the “happiest drummer in jazz” raised the pulse of the audience with his energy. Joe was all over the horn and played an Eastern Europea tarogato, which looks like a wood soprano sax and sounds like a double-reed. Matt Wilson burned the ivories, big-time. HOLY SMOKES!

Believe it or not, we’re heading back to New York as I write on the train for a birthday celebration with friends. I’ll keep you posted on the next episode.

Randy

Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas "Soundprints" at the Village Vanguard

Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas “Soundprints” at the Village Vanguard

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Send Your Horns!

Posted on November 25, 2012 by randyjmueller

IT’S EASY!

If you’re too far away to track me down, then send me your horns to work on. I’ll make it worth your while.

Tips for sending your horns:

  • Get a sturdy box, big enough to hold all the ingredients below.
  • Wrap your horn loosley in bubble wrap and pack it inside the case (not too tight).
  • Add plenty of packing peanuts around the case inside the box, to at least 4 inches.
  • Take it to the Post Office (cheapest route). The best time to go is around 10:00 am.
  • Insure the package for its replacement value, send parcel post.
  • Send to Randy J Mueller at 1401 Church Street, NW #501, Washington, DC 20005
  • I’ll receive it in about 5 business days and we’ll chat.
  • I’ll credit 20% of your shipping costs against the total repair cost and send back to you.
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The Eagle has Landed

Posted on November 23, 2012 by randyjmueller

GREAT NEWS!!!

I just found a shop to hang my shingle and looking forward to working on your horns. I’m in the process of making some shop improvements to increase efficiency and make room for a couple more Techs down the line. I’m very excited about exposure to DC area professionals, and just this week I met Alexander White, Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Seattle Symphony, who is home for the holiday. Great guy, great player.

I’ve also heard some killer music here over the past month, including Nicholas Payton and the Bohemian Caverns Orchesta, a 17-piece big band that plays just a few blocks up the street from where I live. I’ll be heading to New York next week where I’ll stop in to hear Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas at the Village Vanguard. I’m looking forward to getting my chops up to snuff to play some gigs around town.

Stay tuned,

Randy

 

 

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