Revelry in DC

Posted on December 18, 2016 by randyjmueller

Last night Yo, Ava and I went to see a performance of the Washington Christmas Revels, a Nordic Celebration of the Winter Solstice. I knew  about them when I was living in Portland, but never had a chance to see them. There are ten groups that perform around the country. It’s a big production here, with around 100 singers, dancers and musicians.

A Nordic Celebration

A Nordic Celebration

For those of you who have never been, it’s a mix of ancient stories, traditional song and dance, humorous skits, and musical interludes, all organized around a cultural theme. Each year is different, although there are traditions that reappear every year, like The Horn Dance, a ritual intended to bring good luck for hunting stag. You might want to try it sometime.

The mountain witch

The mountain witch

Intermission is signaled by the song, Lord of the Dance, where the cast leads the audience from their seats, joining hands while singing and winding their way out of the auditorium. Nordic Brass, an awesome quintet, was featured throughout, and like their string counterpart, played through intermission in the lobby – up close and personal.

Washington Revels Cast

Washington Revels Cast

The show always ends with the whole house singing the Sussex Mummer’s Carol, leaving everyone in the holiday spirit. If you have a chance, it’s a great thing to do with the kids!

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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Posted on December 13, 2016 by randyjmueller

Last night we were invited to a holiday show at the legendary Birchmere, a dinner music club that’s been hosting bands in Alexandria, Virginia for 50 years. The headliner was Big Bad Voodoo Daddy…and they were both BIG and BAD, in the best way. The event doubled as a double birthday celebration for our friends Cindy and Matt, joined by a cadre of our buddies.

Big Daddy Voo Doo at the Birchmere

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Birchmere

The Big Bads played rockin’ arrangements of familiar and not so familiar holiday tunes, interspersed with the “3 Louies” (Armstrong, Prima and Jordon), and a short surprise snippet of Lynyrd Skynyrd! They had us dandin’ in our seats.

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch"

“You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch”

The horn section was superb. Being a trumpet player, I couldn’t help but admire “Glen the Kid” Marhevka, although the tenor sax, Karl Hunter, was a close second. Led by Scotty Morris at the mic, and playing guitar and banjo, the band was tightly wound and full of energy.

Happy Horns!

Happy Horns!

With all that is going on “out there” in the world, it was great to enjoy a little Voodoo with friends.

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Art & Jazz, Above Standard

Posted on December 4, 2016 by randyjmueller

I had the good fortune to take a quick trip to New York this weekend to join Yolanda, who was up there for business this week. We spent most of our time visiting art museums and bumping into tourists on the streets, ending up at the Jazz Standard for a show before heading home. On the advice of my good friend Cedric Baker, a painter and neighbor at the Arts Walk studios, we stopped in to see the Kerry James Marshall block-buster show at the Met Breuer. WOW!

Kerry James Marshall Show at the Met Breuer

Kerry James Marshall show at The Met Breuer

Kerry James Marshall was born in Alabama, raised in LA, and made his career in Chicago amidst the termoil of the Civil Rights Movement. His paintings depict silky black figures in familiar settings, some stereo-typically black, and others most typically found in white. He uses a wide range of historical traditions in painting to address the “vacuum in the image bank” of black people in art, making the previously “invisible, visible.”

Barber Shop

De Style by Kerry James Marshall

Artist

Untitled (Artist)

At the visible end of the spectrum, we also stopped by the Neue Galarie, the museum of Austrian and German Art. This was a nice follow-up to our trip to Vienna. The Neue Galarie has as its prized possession what has become known as the “Woman in Gold.” A recent movie by that name chronicled the theft of the painting by the Nazis, recovery by the Austrian government, and then the return to its rightful owner, Maria Altmann, through a momentous ruling by the US Supreme Court. Check it out!

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt, the Neue Galarie

We also discovered that John Quincy Adams, our 6th President, was also a fine painter. His father was a tenor in the Vienna Opera and John Quincy studied at the Acadmey of Fine Arts in Vienna and Acadamie Julien in Paris. Who knew?

Portrait of Frau Gretl Urban by John QUincy Adams

Portrait of Frau Gretl Urban by John Quincy Adams

Last night we went to a show at the Jazz Standard, a club that’s been around for about a decade. We heard The Power Quintet, led by Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, along with piano, vibes, drums and bass. He plays a Harrelson that looked to be in a deep purple lacquer. They played all original tunes by band members, in crazy asymmetric meters with abstract melodies. Jeremy’s two well-mannered kids were there, ages 4 and 7, dining in the corner and listening to daddy. You had the feeling they’ve been a part of the scene all their lives.

The Power Quintet, featuring Jeremy Pelt on Trumpet

The Power Quintet, featuring Jeremy Pelt on Trumpet

It was a short but sweet adventure, full of art, street life and music. Speaking of, we took an early train home today, then headed straight to orchestra rehearsal to play our our own bit of music, and to create a little art. What could be better?

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In Portland, Oh Boise!

Posted on November 29, 2016 by randyjmueller

This Thanksgiving Yo and I crossed these big United States of America to visit my family and friends in Portland, Oregon. It’s been over four years since I moved to DC, and it was familiar, yet strange to me. I guess that means I’m now a full-fledged Washingtonian. Even so, I am continually amused by the wonderful weirdness of Portland, with its happy hipsters, passionate protesters and vegan strip clubs (huh?). And then, there are the unique culinary delights…

Beet Burger

Beet Burger!

On Wednesday we had excellent massages at Tescape Massage and Teahouse, my daughter, Ashley’s business. It was great to have an hour to just relax and have a cup of tea!

On Thanksgiving morning we met my friend and former repair tech colleague, Jenni and her husband Nick, for breakfast at Doug Fir. Doug Fir is a music club attached to the Jupiter Hotel. We accidentally stayed there a few years ago, deciding it was better to just drop in for a Logger-man’s Breakfast.

Later on we had an amazing vegan Thankgiving dinner with my daughter, Ashley and her husband Cheyne, family and friends. We had falafel waffles, which we topped off with tabouli, hummus, baba ganoush, slaw, tzatziki, and anything else we could find on the table. It was fantastic! We are going to try it at home – just need to obtain a waffle iron.

Dinner!

Dinner!

Ashley and me

Ashley and me

Cheyne, Ashley, Elizabeth and Jaeger

Cheyne, Ashley, Elizabeth and Jaeger

In true Portland fashion, it rained all day and all night, racking up 5% of the total annual rainfall in one day. My friends and family jeered at me for carrying in umbrella – wimp!

On Friday we met Chad, and old friend and repair tech pal from Wally’s, for lunch in Woodstock. After lunch we ran into Craig Gibson, a fellow trumpeter and long time client. Did I say that it rained? After that we did some shopping at Sock Dreams in the charming neighborhood of Sellwood. I scored!

Space socks, to match my T-shirt

Space socks, to match my T-shirt

That evening we had dinner with my son, Adam, on Mississippi Avenue at Quaintrelle. I’m sure it was raining. The next morning we met again for breakfast at Hotel Modera before heading to the airport. It was great to see the both of them. I miss them.

Me and Adam

Me and Adam

Dinner with Adam

Dinner with Adam

NEXT STOP: Boise! We decided to make our way back East through the land of potatoes to visit my friend and fellow trumpeter, James Smock and his wife Rebekah, who plays the French Horn.

Oh Boise!

Oh Boise!

Dinner with Rebekah and James

Dinner with Rebekah and James

We had a nice dinner that evening at Fork, and the next day we visited the Boise Art Museum to take in a show on the art of and about internment camps in Minidoka, Idaho during WWII. It’s amazing to think that such a thing could have happened in our country, and it makes you worry for our future. The piece below is made of 120,000 replicated ID tags, one for each person interned in 10 camps.

Xxxxx

The Tag Project by Wendy Maruyama

That evening we trimmed the Christmas tree while listening to early Renaissance music played on crazy instruments like cornettos, sackbuts and rackets.Speaking of crazy, James and I got the bug and played a few duets after dinner – like old times.

"Up just a little..."

“Up just a little…”

Just like old times...

Dynamic Duo?

It was a good trip, reminding me that family and friends are precious, and something truly to be thankful for. And then there are…

Fast food socks!

Fast food socks!

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Le Boat Redux

Posted on November 17, 2016 by randyjmueller

A couple of weeks ago we joined Captain Matt and Cindy Zolla and Jeff Luchsinger for a reunion of our trip on the Canal du Midi in the South of France last summer. Marianne couldn’t join us as she was at a family wedding in rural Georgia (a story in itself). It was a glorious day on the Chesapeake Bay, complete with a big pot of cassoulet and wine from the Languedoc region.

Something's Fishy on the Bay

Something’s fishy on the bay

Yo composed a fabulous French snack of fromage and charcuterie, then we headed out. The water was calm, and the day was warm, sunny and bright.

Jeff with his stogie

Jeff with his stogie

Le dejeuner

Le dejeuner

Cindy and Jeff

Cindy and Jeff, toasting the Languedoc

We came upon this amazing flock of seagulls, madly fluttering above a big school of fish. Time to get out the fishing gear!

Birds gone Wild

Birds gone wild

Could it be a big one?

Capatin Matt, casting for the big one

We didn’t catch any fish, but we completed our journey with a perfect evening.

Sunset

Sunset glow

Sittin' at the dock of the bay...

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…

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Terell Stafford Strikes the Right Note

Posted on November 13, 2016 by randyjmueller

After a difficult and divisive week for our country, it was a comforting respite to spend Veteran’s Day with one of the top big bands on the planet, the Airmen of Note. This was the third of their Heritage Series, which featured Terell Stafford, one of the greats of the trumpet. Terell Stafford is a Maryland local who made it big by taking the advice of trumpet legend, Winton Marsalis. He studied with Dr. William Fielder at Rutgers and then went on to play with McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Kenny Barron, John Faddis and others.

The Airmen of Note with Terell Stafford

The Airmen of Note with Terell Stafford

The Airmen opened the show with a red-hot rendition of Dizzy’s Lorainne, with Chief Master Sgt. Tim Leahey blowing some blazing bebop. They were joined by Tech Sgt. Paige Wroble, singing a harmonically stretched arrangement of Skylark. Being a trumpet player, I’m always amazed at the firey back row, with Sr. Master Sgt. Kevin Bruns and Sr. Master Sgt Brian MacDonald splitting Lead.

Terell, with Music Director, Master Sgt. Ben Patterson and the Note

Terell, with Music Director, Master Sgt. Ben Patterson and the Note

We were joined by our own little band of music fans, Zohar, a writer and Hip Hop dancer, and Cindy and Matt Zolla, who make up the core of our jam-band, BB9 (Bed Before 9). I ran into two great sax players/clients, Vaughn Ambrose and Will Tynch in the audience, and I caught a glimpse of Matt Fitzsimmons, my partner in crime from City of Angels.

Randy, Zohar, Cindy and Matt

Band Fans:  Randy, Zohar, Cindy and Matt

Terell is a generous guy. He made a special effort to highlight several members of the band with solo features. As a child, he attended Airmen of Note concerts and hoped to join the ranks. That night he wore his own blues. In a special tribute, he asked Tech Sgt Luke Brandon, a former student, to join him in a duet, trading choruses, completing the circle.

Tech Sgt Luke Brandon with Terell Stafford

Tech Sgt Luke Brandon with Terell Stafford

Terrel’s own soloing is relentless. He has complete command of the instrument, which he plays in a continuous stream with crazy technical prowess. The man has some serious chops. You can see how much he enjoys his craft – just look at that smile!

Terell Stafford

Terell Stafford

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Roy Hargrove Returns & City of Angels

Posted on November 6, 2016 by randyjmueller

It was a crazy week two weeks ago. I was about to pick up my horn to play the beautiful trumpet solo in Alaura’s Theme in “City of Angels” when I see my phone lighting up and buzzing me. It turns out it was Larry Clothier, Roy Hargrove’s manager/personal Saint. Roy’s horn had taken a couple of dives on stage in Paris and he needed his trumpet to headline a week-long gig at Blues Alley, one of the oldest and well-known jazz clubs in DC.

Larry, with Roy's bad-ass horn

Saint Larry, with Roy’s bad-ass horn

This confluence of events had me in a state of freaked-out excitement. I haven’t played lead trumpet in four years, a far cry from the symphonic music I’ve been doing, so I had to spend some time in the mouthpiece drawer. City of Angels is an LA detective story with a  40s big band vibe. I was asked to play in the pit orchestra, a combo of pros and students, for a Catholic University theater production. Needless to say, I had some work to do.

City of Angels, and a few Devils

City of Angels, and a few devils

Roy’s horn was a bit of a mess, so I had some work to do there too. The leadpipe was kinked and bent, and valves 1 and 2 did not function because the slides were mis-aligned with the valve casings. The leadpipe to bell brace was jacked and it needed a serious bath. You gotta wonder how that happens. Thankfully, Roy’s daCarbo trumpet is ingeniously engineered with set screws that hold together modular components, making it easy to take it apart.

Roy;s Horn, Deconstructed

Roy’s DaCarbo trumpet, deconstructed

In the same week, I had to juggle 5 rehearsals and 3 shows, which made for some hard days and nights. And I missed the big Halloween party (see previous post). Even so, it was great to be back at it. Under the baton of Tom Pederson, the band and stage performers coalesced to pull off a great show.

In the Devil's pit

In the Devil’s Pit

With all this going on, it took me a day and a half to fix Roy’s horn and get it back together.

Reconstructed Roy

Reconstructed Roy

It’s a beautiful horn. The bell is carbon fiber and the valve block is black lacquered brass. The rest is lacquered brass. The carbon fiber bell gives it a rich, dark sound at lower dynamics but brightens up nicely at the other end of the spectrum. I couldn’t believe how efficient the horn is. You just breathe into it, and it speaks.

Blowing Roy's horn

Blowing Roy’s horn

I was really bummed that I wasn’t able to hear Roy play it himself, now for the second time. Sometimes daily life just gets in the way. Even so, it’s really great to work on a legend’s horn. And it’s great to have the opportunity to play lead trumpet again in a show.

City of Angels Finale, photo by Full Frame Photography

City of Angels Finale, photo by Full Frame Photography

All in all, a crazy, wonderful week. I made some new friends in the band and hope to be playing more shows in the near future. And next time, I want to hear Roy play!

Happy Horn Tech

Happy Horn Tech

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Boo Hoo!

Posted on October 30, 2016 by randyjmueller

I’m a big fan of Halloween, but this year I had to sit the big one out. The last two years we have attended an elaborate affair at Stone Hill Farm with our friends Craig, May and Kate. I had a gig playing in “City of Angels” at Catholic University this weekend (post to come), so Yo and Ava went out on their own. They did not disappoint!

Yo, as "Cloudy with a chance of rain"

Yo, as “Cloudy with a chance of rain”

Ava, as the Sea Witch

Ava, as the Sea Witch

May as Anime of the Forest

May as Anime of the Forest

Kate as a Punk Rebel

Kate as a Punk Revolutionary

Bagpipes!

Bagpipes!

Journey to the Bonfire

Journey to the Bonfire

Yo by Night

Yo by Night

The Bonfire

The Bonfire

The Band in the Circle of Stones

The Band in the Circle of Stones

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Head-Scratcher

Posted on October 12, 2016 by randyjmueller

Here’s one that really makes you wonder. A guy comes into the shop with his girlfirend’s horn. Seems she hasn’t played in a while and wants to get back at it. So I open the case to find…a chemistry experiment. I’ve never seen anything like it. This is a nickel Holton, covered in green crystalized funk. I might need a forensic specialist for this one!

Mystery Crystals

Whaaaat???

Crystallized Funk

Crystallized Funk

I haven’t heard from the owner about the next steps, so I still have the horn. Stay tuned!

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Note-worthy: Steve Turre and the Airmen

Posted on October 1, 2016 by randyjmueller

Last night we attended a concert by the Airmen of Note, the US Airforce Jazz Band. These guys are the top of the crop and at the top of their game. And the concerts are FREE. Every year they host a Jazz Heritage Series featuring professional jazz artists. Last night featured Steve Turre. Turre is a trombone celeb, a member of the SNL band since the 80s, and not only that, he turns conch shells into jazz instruments! Whaaaaattt?

Sea-shellist,

Seashellist, Steve Turre

You call a guy who plays the trombone a trombonist. What do you call a guy who plays a conch shell? A conchist? Maybe you call him crazy, but Steve Turre makes some amazing music as a seashellist. My computer keeps trying to correct it, so he must be ahead of the curve. He leads a shell choir called Sanctified Shells – you can check it out on Youtube. On top of that, he’s an awesome composer and arranger of blues, jazz, and something like a mix of naive shell sounds with a Latin beat.

Close to the Bone

Close to the Bone

He wrote a couple of tunes dedicated to Ray Charles, most notably, “Ray Charles’ Collard Greens,” as well as arrangements inspired by JJ Johnson, a virtuoso of jazz trombone. Crowd pleasers included “My Shining Hour,” featuring vocalist Tech Sgt. Paige Wroble, and “My Funny Valentine,” transposed for the male trombone voice.

Airmen of Note

Note-worthy Men

The band rocked. The trumpet lead, Sr Master Sgt Brian MacDonald, is a flawless player. I really admire his efficient approach. He gets a lot out of what seems like a little effort. Brian plays a Conn Constellation, a tried-and-true vintage horn. Chief Master Sgt Tim Leahy played a burnin’ bebop solo over Cherokee changes, which change every bar. Barry Sax player, Master Sgt Doug Morgan, came out of the shadows so play a seriously fast solo on the final tune. Steve couldn’t leave the evening without featuring the trombone section, who ripped it up, trading solos and chewing up those collard greens. The bass bone player, Tech Sgt Ben Polk, created a nice, fat foundation for the section. Great concert all around with exceptional players.

Next up, Terell Stafford!

Free Jazz

Free Jazz

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