Steve Cannon’s Bangkok Bands

Posted on February 8, 2015 by randyjmueller

We just returned from an amazing trip to Thailand, Cambodia and a crazy stop-through day in Dubai, inspired by my old and ever youthful trumpet buddy, Steve Cannon.

Rich Cooper, Randy and Steve, clowning around at Wally's Music, Portland

Rich Cooper, Randy and Steve, clowning around at Wally’s Music, Portland

Steve was a fixture in Portland, playing in jazz, funk, blues and Latin bands around the city. He also had his own band, the Blow Hard Big Band, which I was fortunate to play in, splitting the lead with Louis Livermore and Andy Fuller (check out his CD Full Blown).

Steve playing in an Aaron Meyer concert

Steve playing in an Aaron Meyer concert, Portland

Jump shift:  Steve moves to Bangkok in 2009 to join his piano-playing brother, Randy, to take advantage of musical opportunities there. At one point he sat in with Maynard Ferguson’s band at a performance for the King of Thailand, a jazz musician in his own right. Maybe that’s why the Thais are so fond of jazz.

We arrived to find him playing in two bands at Apoteka, a jazz and blues venue near the Patpong District, which is a lively area, both day and night. The first night Steve lead the Horn Dog Horn Section in the Soi Dogs blues band. The band rocked to blues and R&B standards, including Mustang Sally and Piece of My Heart, featuring a guest vocalist brave enough to tackle Janis Joplin. The Horn Dog Horn Section was super-tight on all the soli, with world class section playing. The tenor sax player is unbelievable, and humble to boot. And Steve is always hot!

Steve Cannon Playing the Blues

The Soi Dogs, featuring the Horn Dog Horn Section

The next night we took Steve out to dinner and then listened to him play flugelhorn in his own quartet. His horn was overhauled and silver plated by Joe Marcinkiewicz, a true artisan and craftsman. Get a load of that satin finish! The quartet played Steve’s arrangements of some jazz favorites, adding fascinating twists and turns to the likes of Angel Eyes and Harlem Nocturne. The give and take between the soloists highlighted their familiarity as well as their spontaneity. Steve continues to progress his artistry, a true student and master of the instrument.

Steve Cannon Jazz

Steve Cannon Quartet

It was great to see Steve and to enjoy his company and his music in a foreign land. We only wished we had had more time. If you are ever in Bangkok, be sure to check him out!

Randy and Steve

Randy and Steve

 

 

 

 

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The Gift of Trumpet

Posted on December 21, 2014 by randyjmueller

Wonderful and surprising things like this don’t happen every day. But on a special day not long ago I received the gift of trumpet.

In some ways this gift was first given to me when I was only eight years old. A local Neenah, Wisconsin couple, George and Phylis, were close friends with my parents, Shirley and Dave, and as a result, our families grew up together.

George played the trumpet in church and I thought that was super cool. I soon caught the virus and playing the trumpet became my life story. I left the neighborhood and the state of Wisconsin to follow my passion, trumpet and not much else in hand. Through various moves and life changes I ended up on the West coast. Fast forward, and now I live and play in Washington, DC. Somewhere in there George passed away.

And one day the gift arrived. It was a trumpet. It was the same Bach Stradivarious I overhauled and plated for George back in 1990. Phylis wanted me to have it.

Bach Stradivarious

Bach Stradivarious

It’s smaller and brighter than the horn I built for myself, but allows for a greater dynamic range. Think a 1973 MGBGT vs. a 1968 Olds Cutlass F85. It was the perfect option for the strident passages of Borodin’s Prince Igor Overture I played last weekend in the DC Chamber Orchestra concert.

Randy with Bach

Randy with Bach

In this holiday season, I feel fortunate to have received this amazing gift, the thought that really counts.

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Wacky Instruments at the Met

Posted on December 10, 2014 by randyjmueller

While we were in New York a while back I had the opportunity to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the very first time. Suffice it to say, it’s an overwhelming and wonderful place. We went specifically to see the new collection of cubist paintings, but you can’t help but gawk at everything you pass by, including Medieval armory, Roman sculpture, Egyptian mummies or…wacky musical instruments.

Here is a selection:

French Horn

Bass Flugel Horn in Bb 1850-60

This would be a hit at any jam session!

Cornet 1900

Ornate Cornet 1900

This Missenharter cornet is the second one I’ve seen with a serpent encircling the lead pipe which acts as a brace between the lead pipe and the valve cluster. The other one belongs to Sally Kuhns, formerly with the Oregon Symphony. The difference is that the eyes of the serpent on Sally’s are red and the eyes on the one at the Met are green.

Fluegel-Cornet Combo 1890

Flugel-Cornet Combo 1890

What can I say? Where would you play a thing like this?

Bass Clarinet in C 1810

Bass Clarinet in Bb 1860 and C 1810

Serpents are a theme.

Very French Horn, 1850-55

Very French Horn, 1850-55

The craftsmanship of the cloisonné enamel on the bell is spectacular on this horn. Fit for a French king!

Pocket-sized strings

Pocket-sized strings

And last, but not least, super-teeny, playable pocket instruments. I wonder if the sheet music is proportionate!

If you are ever in New York, it’s well worth a visit to the Met.

 

 

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Romeir Mendez Quintet Kills it at Bohemian Caverns

Posted on November 30, 2014 by randyjmueller

WOW!!! That’s all we could say at the end of the set. These guys played their hearts out at a frenetic pace, with precision and a lot of energy. Every single musician was outstanding in his own right, and dynamite together. It was edge of the seat playing!

Romeir Mendez Quintet

Romeir Mendez Quintet

Romeir (bass) is from Baltimore and has long been a part of the DC jazz scene, playing with the top musicians around town. Terrell Stafford  was originally trained as a classical player until he joined the University of Maryland Jazz Band. He is now Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University.

Terrell Stafford and Romeir Mendez

Terrell Stafford and Romeir Mendez

Bohemian Caverns was a bit disorganized that night, but what can you really expect when you are eating in a cave? The music is where it’s at.

Romeir Mendez – bass
Tim Warfield – saxophone
Terrell Stafford – trumpet
Allyn Johnson – piano
John Lamkin – drums

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A funny thing happened on the way to Whole Foods

Posted on November 8, 2014 by randyjmueller

Seriously, I was just popping over to pick up some bottled soda water – about the only thing at Whole Foods you can get for a bargain – and to my own surprise, ended up playing my flugelhorn on the street!

As I was coming out with my six-pack, I heard this awesome alto sax/flute player belting out a jazzy standard. I listened for a while, waited for a break, and then approached him check out his story. Turns out, he had a gig in Baltimore with Gladys Knight and the Pips, and was picking up some extra cash while entertaining the glitterati on P Street.

Lorenz Wheatley

Lorenz Wheatley

I told him I had played with the Pips 30 years ago, and would he mind if I ran home to get my horn to join him, to which he answered, “yeah, bring it!” We played a few tunes, including I Remember Clifford, All Blues and Polka Dots and Moonbeams. 

Whole Foods Jam

Whole Foods Jam

Lorenz is a fine player and was gracious enough to let me stumble through a few choruses. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you just never know who you might meet on the street.

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Off the Wall Halloween

Posted on November 2, 2014 by randyjmueller

This is not exactly a musical entry, but given that music DID occur at this peculiar Halloween fete, and it was just too wild not to post, I thought I would share it with you. It’s a little longer than usual, but hang in there, it’s worth it.

It took place on a sunny farm in Rappahannock County, about 2 hours Southwest of DC, owned and carefully crafted by an eccentric entrepreneur and amateur stone mason. He has built long lines of rolling stone walls, a spiral sheepcot, and is working on a huge semi-circular amphitheater. He imported neolithic stones from Indonesia to form an ancient stone circle and built his home with stone foundations, fireplaces and artistic stone features. This guy is passionate about stone…and as it turns out, fire.

John Henry's House

John Henry’s House

We were invited by our artistic friends, Craig and May, who have a flair for exotic costumes, and who encouraged us to join in the frivolity. Craig is an artist of a special kind; we are lucky to have one of his incredible mezzotints around the house. May, his ever-creative and enterprising muse, makes all occasions with friends very special.

Ocean Terminal by Craig McPherson

Ocean Terminal by Craig McPherson

The Countess and Count of Nevermore

The Count and Countess of Nevermore   Randy and Yo

The Halloween party began with a demonstration of sheep herding, followed by a troupe of kilt-clad bagpipers lead by our host, a Roman General. In a long white tent behind the house an Irish band played happy and soulful tunes. Across a couple of rolling, man-made hills, was the famed circle of stones, and next to it, the biggest friggin’ bonfire pile ever built!

Pipers lead by The General

Pipers lead by The General

Bonfire with Damsel

Bonfire with Damsel in Distress

After tapping our toes to a jig or two and sampling the “vine tea” wine, we made our way over hill and dale to the circle to witness “A Slightly Altered Version of the Divine Comedy.” It was a new-age production with amazing costumes, masks and hand-made props. Behind us, a group of very brave men were climbing the mountain of wood to set it on fire. By the end of the performance, it was raging hot!

Theatrical Performance in the Circle of Stones

Theatrical Performance in the Circle of Stones

May and Craig

May and Craig

Craig Summons the Fire

Craig summons the Fire

As an additional surprise, Craig arrived in a space-age costume and set the top of his headgear ablaze to dazzle the crowd of “1000 Faces” to a spectacle of fireworks! Never seen anything like it.

Craig on Fire

Craig on Fire

I’m not quite that crazy, but I have to admit, fire is alluring in an elemental sort of way. It keeps us warm, cooks our food and returns us to our ancestry. This was definitely a night for the ageless.

Randy Summons the Fire

Randy with Fire

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Mezzrow NYC

Posted on October 27, 2014 by randyjmueller

Last weekend I took the train to NYC to meet Yolanda, who was already up there for business. By happenstance, an architect friend of hers and his arty wife had contacted us a few days earlier to see if we knew about this new club in The Village, called Mezzrow. So after a dinner at one of our favorite spots, off we went!

But before we go there, let me say a few words about Yerba Buena Perry. It’s a compact, Cuban-Asian joint that serves dynamite food to the sounds of jazzy classics. We now go there every time we are in New York. AND…we have a favorite cocktail to share with you.

Yerba Buena Perry in the Village

Yerba Buena Perry in the Village

Poquito Picante:

Muddle 2 slices of cucumber and sprigs of cilantro in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 oz of gin, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1 oz of jalapeño infused Cointreau (infuse for 1 day). Shake with ice, strain, and serve up in a martini glass. Garnish with 1 dried Thai chili.

Poquito Picante

Poquito Picante

Back to Mezzrow:

Named after Mezz Mezzrow, the infamous jazz clarinet (and oboe!) player, this little club is snuggled into the basement of an historic townhouse not far from The Village Vanguard.  The proprietor is an accomplished pianist and hosts a variety of duos, which is about all that will fit next to his grand piano. That night we heard Luis Perdomo (piano) and Ben Wolfe (bass). I felt bad for Ben because his head was getting baked in the lights!

Mezzrow Duo Luis Perdomo and Ben Wolfe

Mezzrow Duo Luis Perdomo and Ben Wolfe

The music was a mix of classics and original arrangements. It’s always amazing to hear great musicians play really good music in such an intimate place. After a set we ventured out into the big city night. Thanks to Bob and Carol For turning us on to a new place to hear jazz!

Bob and Carol Evans, Randy and Yo

Bob and Carol Evans, Randy and Yo

 

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Terence Blanchard Quintet at Blues Alley

Posted on October 12, 2014 by randyjmueller

This band was HOT!

We had tickets for this for a few months, and it’s a good thing, because the house was packed. The audience at Blues Alley is always interesting – a mix of young and old, black and white and just about everything in between. The food is old-fashioned, with each dish named after a jazz great. I had Jerry “the Iceman” Butler Baked Salmon and Yolanda chose Sarah Vaughan’s Filet Mignon.

Terence Blanchard Quintet

Terence Blanchard Quintet

Terence hails from New Orleans and has played trumpet with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey and Herbie Hancock. Not only that, but he has composed and played in over 50 film scores. That night he played a mix of his own Afro-fusion-funk on a customized Monette with a heavy integral mouthpiece.

Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard

We were really impressed by the young players in the group, two fresh out of Juilliard (bass, drums) and two…just hot (sax, keyboards). They were all musically wise beyond their years and in spite of their short time together, they had amazing rapport. It doesn’t get better than that.

 

 

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Ode to the Rich

Posted on September 25, 2014 by randyjmueller

Rich Cooper, that is.

Rich has been a good friend and fellow colleague in trumpet for over 20 years. He just visited us, along with his attentive, energetic wife, Paula, for a week of fun and frolic in DC. They were on the move every day visiting the Washington Monument, Natural History Museum, Lincoln Memorial, Hirshhorn, Air and Space, Spy Museum and other sites of this great town. We also enjoyed evenings of leisure on our terrace over a good meal, accompanied by a Gordon Lee CD that we played together in 2004.

Rich entertained us with a few tales about his days with another Rich, as in BUDDY, famed for his hot temper and his public outbursts – a couple of which were aimed at my old friend!

Over the week we heard tales of playing in Australia with Englebert Humperdink, and at the Ohio State Fair with Donnie and Marie. If you Google that one, you will find that Rich played an exceptional Maynard Ferguson! He’s also played with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Bette Midler and Toshiko Akiyoshi Lew Tabackin Big Band (among others).

Rich has been through a lot these last few years with his health and this was his first big foray out of the house and across the country for a long vacation. With all the TLC he has gotten from Paula and family, he looked GREAT. The only problem is that I forgot to take any photos of them while they were here, so they sent one from back home in Oregon City.

Rich and Paula Cooper

Rich and Paula Cooper

It reminds you that life is short and you had better make the most of it, which Rich has done his whole life. And when you have to give up something you love, then spend time with those you love.

He is truly…Rich.

 

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DC Chamber Orchestra

Posted on August 16, 2014 by randyjmueller

After years and years playing lead trumpet in bands of all sorts, at my ripe (unidentified) age I now find myself playing in a classical orchestra around the corner from where Yolanda and I live. Yolanda has a degree in music and plays the flute, while practicing as an architect her entire career. We met long ago in those “in between” years.

She convinced me to join the DC Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble of the DC Chamber Group on MeetUp.com. You can meet with just about anyone doing just about anything through this social media website. It’s pretty casual, which is at times frustrating, but under our new conductor, Randall Stewart, we have a chance of sounding…OK.

We played our second concert together this past May. We played the “Bruschino” by Rossini, Dvorak’s Czech Suite (beautiful, highly recommend) and Haydn’s Symphony No. 104. We were even bold enough to invite our good friends, Marianne and Jeff.

Last concert we played the “Septett Militare” by Hummel, which had the unusual instrumentation of piano, flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, cello and bass. It is one of the few chamber pieces with a flute and trumpet (if there is anyone out there that knows of others, do tell!). That was great fun. Tough piano part, so kudos to Andrew.

Rehearsing Hummel Septet in C Major "Military"

Rehearsing Hummel Septet in C Major “Military”

We start up again in September, so stay tuned for more musical adventures!

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