This post looks at our return to TMH, a Buffet Prestige for sale, a dynamic album from Matt Podd, and my interview with Omar Thomas.

Rehearsal continues on Monday at TMH

We’re back to rehearsing at TMH on Monday. The rehearsal plan is posted. This is rehearsal #8 of 11 before the dress rehearsal.

Buffet Prestige R13 for sale

My friend Danny Mui (NYC Ballet Orchestra) contacted me to say he’s selling his Buffet Prestige R13. It’s only a few years old, and additional photos/serial number are available upon request. He’s asking $3800.00, so this might be good for an advanced high school player looking for an upgrade, or an adult player looking to replace their high school instrument. Note: he is willing to sell this clarinet with a monthly contract to substitute for payment in full. Contact me for further information.

The Podd Brothers

Following our concert last May, Matt Podd gave me a copy of his new LP, Mimi & the Podd Brothers/Live in Brooklyn. I didn’t have a chance to listen to it until Christmas, when Tim gave me a Victrola turntable. But now I’m wearing out this record! Catch a listen to one track via the YouTube link below, and consider downloading the album. It’s available from this site. I especially love the What Lola Wants/Habanera mashup. The jazz stylings are amazing, Mimi has a world-class voice, and the arrangements are spectacular. Here’s the first track from the album:

My interview with Omar Thomas this past Thursday

The good news: It was a thoroughly memorable and amazing discussion. Omar is incredibly personable, and my students interacted with excellent questions. I have an aspiring composer, a junior studying with one of the composition teachers at Mannes, and she was thrilled to have the chance to speak with him. We talked a bit about the piece’s inception. Of Our New Day Begun was certainly inspired by the terrorist attack at the Emanuel AME Church in 2015, but the piece itself draws its roots from everyday elements of the civil rights movement: the marching, the singing, the jazz influence, the emotional build. He told me “Don’t let the singing sound too pretty; it’s supposed to be church singing, not a choral concert.”

The bad news: After dress rehearsing the tech in my assigned space three times, the room’s sound system failed to put out more sound than a laptop. So playing the planned video of Of Our New Day Begun had absolutely no impact. And in the fray of it all, as I was trying to call our Tech Dept for help and balance the Zoom with Omar and keep the 40 students in the workshop focused, I completely forgot to ask for Omar’s permission and click RECORD on the Zoom. So I have a good story, but sadly no recording to share with you.

Monday’s rehearsal

We resume full rehearsals again on Monday at White Plains High School, because TMH has a conflict that evening. Check the home page for address and directions as needed. The rehearsal plan is also posted there as well.

Video volunteer sought for Monday

I am interviewing Omar Thomas during a live Zoom this coming Thursday as part of a workshop I’m hosting at The Masters School for our observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It would be wonderful if I could have some video footage of WSW rehearsing Of Our New Day Begun to share with Omar during this interview; I think it would also be great to expose our Masters students to the sounds of WSW. And I’m hoping Omar will give permission for me to record the interview, so I can share it with you all.

If there is anyone who might have a spouse or family member who might be willing to help us by filming that part of rehearsal on Monday, that would be very helpful. I’m not looking for the next Steven Spielberg, just someone who can adjust the camera as needed (pan, zoom in/out) during that part of rehearsal to capture the essence of our work on the piece. I will supply the camera. Please contact me if you can bring someone along to assist.

Happy New Year, everyone! I’m writing this quick post to remind you all that tomorrow evening’s rehearsal on January 2 is a sectional for percussion only at TMH.

I’ll see everyone the following Monday, for a full rehearsal, when we are back at White Plains HS once again.

Check the home page for further info and details.

I’m going to take advantage of the fact that the full percussion section is available on Monday, January 2, and have a percussion sectional that evening instead of a full rehearsal. The timing is right, and we’ll tweak a number of issues effectively and efficiently. I wanted to let everyone know as soon as possible, so you can make alternate plans if you wish. Or you could stay home and practice!

That means the next full rehearsal is Monday, January 9 — which is also the next White Plains High School rehearsal date. I’ll remind everyone again in January, but thought I’d just put it out there now.

That’s it for now. Thank you for a tremendous fall season. I wish you all the very best for the holidays, and a happy and very healthy New Year!