Tag Archives: live music

The newly discovered William Savory recordings

Wow! It’s an exciting time to be a jazz fan (especially if you’re a jazz historian) because a HUGE amount of treasures from the 1930s and 40s has just surfaced in New York. William Savory’s personal collection of jazz discs total is well over a thousand and feature several extended and (most importantly) LIVE performances by the most notable figures in jazz history. The chance to be able to hear recordings by several jazz masters in their prime in a live setting is very rare for this time period, so you can imagine my excitement.

Savory worked as an audio engineer in New York City and recorded radio broadcasts that were previously lost to the ages, but have now been generously donated by his heirs for restoration and digitization. Luckily, The New York Times has been reporting all the latest news in a frenzy.  You can read the full story there.

Also, check out this great interactive feature.

Let it Snow, Caroling in the Heights on 19th Street

Well, it’s been a week since (what just may be) our annual snowfall here in Houston. Personally, I enjoyed the day and took some time off to walk around in the snow while it lasted. A good friend and I even got together that evening to play Christmas carols and some other tunes on 19th Street in the Heights for their annual “Holiday on 19th” celebration. We a blast playing for strangers in the holiday spirit and attracted quite a crowd of singers and dancers. Unfortunately, the overall turnout was a bit down from its usual commotion. I guess people didn’t want to risk it out there on the roadways. Oh well, better safe than sorry, I suppose…

I hope everyone had a great time nevertheless, and a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas!

Moores School of Music: Collage 2009

Last Thursday evening (9/10), the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston held its annual Collage program for the beginning of the school year.  This is an event where every department within the music school is showcased and serves as a preview of things to come for the semester.  The Jazz Orchestra was scheduled to begin promptly at 7:30, and at 7:28 a fire alarm tripped!  This delayed the show AND forced the crowd of hundreds outside until the premises was declared safe by authorities.  Gheesh!  Talk about your feats of aleatoricism!  John Cage would have been proud.  The review below is from the university’s daily paper, The Daily Cougar.

Photo by Pin Lim

Rousing melodies engage crowd

By Christina Hildebrand, Monday, September 14, 2009

Even a highly sensitive fire alarm could not prevent Collage 2009 from introducing students to the Moores School of Music’s delightful fall schedule.

The alarm went off shortly before the concert was scheduled to begin, leading to a mass evacuation of the Moores Opera House. The show resumed, however, at around 7:42 p.m. Thursday.

The delay did not dampen the spirits of the audience or performers, as the concert was a success.

Moores School of Music Director David Ashley White joked about the ordeal, saying that the event was “censorship.”

White also said last year’s show was cancelled due to Hurricane Ike.

The concert was a preview of the many ensembles at the Moores School of Music and the concerts they will participate in during Fall 2009.

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FAQ: Hiring musicians

Hiring live musicians can be tricky – especially if you have never done it before! In my attempts to both educate the general public and promote the merits of live music, I’ve decided to compile an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) that I have encountered over and over again in this business. This is designed for you, the non-musician and potential client, to read and consider before deciding to hire live musicians for your next big event. Also, I’ve decided to categorize the FAQ into a “What should I ask myself?” section and “What should I ask the person (or group) I’m hiring?” section. I hope you find this useful!
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