1300: Concert Band

That's what the rehearsal schedule says. It doesn't say that everyone will be here yet; it simply says that our time together is precious, and we can't waste it waiting for an alto clarinetist and second bassoon player to walk in the door.

So we rehearse as scheduled. It may be shaky at first, but by the end of the afternoon, everyone agrees: a few more rehearsals, a few more players, and this is gonna work.
 

Trombones a-plenty.

Clarinets--we could use a few more.

And three out of four horns is damn good.

Another pianist!

I was overjoyed this morning to walk into the NMA dance band rehearsal and see Bob Leek at the piano. Bob Leketa was equally thrilled, as we were the only pianists to have pre-registered for the reunion. Believe me, Leketa and I are happy to share the duties; for a pianist at an NMA reunion, there's plenty of work to go around.

Hoist the anchor.

The 2012 reunion of the Navy Musicians Association is underway. We're not all aboard yet---members traditionally roll in day after day.












But we put a big band together, blew the rust out of our horns and got started on schedule.

Prepare for the gig.

UFO in Orlando

A number of NMA members have reported spotting something unusual in the Orlando sky this afternoon. Various descriptions have included the adjectives "astounding" "gorgeous" and "encouraging." Common among all the sworn and signed affidavits is the word "blue."

Let's jam!

Impromptu jam sessions in the lounge are a hallmark of Navy Musicians Association reunions. In fact, although the reunion doesn't offically start until tomorrow, enough of us are here to get started tonight.

Our sessions are lively affairs that we look forward to all year long. We love them so much that, sometimes, we all want to play on every tune.

As a pianist, however, I assure you that a seven-horn section is four horns too large. A parade of horn players who each want to solo on a chorus or two means it can take the "A" train a half an hour just to get out of the station. We rhythm section players are equal partners, not hired providers of endless Music Minus One accompaniments.

That's what we think, and apparantly, someone else thinks so, too. I just stopped by the lounge and saw a sign next to the bandstand.

It's a light, polite reminder--a lot lighter and politer than the one I would have written.