Great Drumming, Squealing Trumpets, And Extra Strength Advil
Nice title for this post I think.....let me explain.
Firstly, sorry that the last time I posted in here was April. It's not like nothing has been happening since then, there's been plenty going on.
Back in late April, I brought up Chicago drummer Paul Wertico to play in Banff at the Rocky Mountain Music Festival and then pop over to Calgary to do a series of clinics at area schools. It was so great to hang and play with him again since it had been about 10 years since we last saw each other. After Paul had recorded with me on my disc in September of 1997, about 6 months later he played out in Vancouver with the Pat Metheny Group so I went out there to see him. That was the last time I saw him in person so it was great to reconnect with him. He sure is playing great and can sure "lay it down" in a small group or a big band. He performed with the Primetime Big Band in Banff at the festival, and he told me that he really doesn't do any big band playing around Chicago anymore...you sure wouldn't know it by how he kicked our asses, that's for sure, and the band really responded so we had some truly great moments. I hope we get a chance to play together again in the near future (and not 10 years from now). He sure is a class act and a fantastic musician.
This past June 2nd and 3rd I had the opportunity to perform at the 33rd Annual ITG Conference (International Trumpet Guild) held out at the Banff Centre for Fine Arts, and organized by that crazy trumpet guy from Edmonton now teaching at UCLA, Jens Lindemann. Now, ya gotta wonder just how fun this would be for a sax player in amongst all of those trumpet players with their chests all stuck out and struttin' around like peacocks. Well, it turned out pretty well I thought...after all, we sax players can play high and fast too ya know (nudge nudge wink wink).
Hanging with ex-Maynard Ferguson band guys like Walter White and Jay Chattaway, and other players like Allan Vizutti, Ingrid Jensen, Wycliffe Gordon and Sean Jones (from the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra), Andrea Tofanelli (direct from Italy), Chris Jaudes (from the studios and pit orchestras of New York City), and others, was pretty cool.
The jazz concert with the Primetime Big Band was a tribute to Doc Severinsen and it was truly great to perform with him as well. All in all, it wasn't bad having to deal with a bunch of trumpet players (hehehe). Needless to say, I went well equipped with a fully stocked bottle of "Extra Strength Advil". I may be dumb, but I'm NOT stupid!!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the summer months and a bit of time off. I'm scheduled to perform in the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show again this year (although that almost didn't happen). It's pretty cool playing for about 17,000 people every night for 10 days straight. This will be my 16th year playing the show which goes from July 4-13. After that, me and the missus are going to chill out on the Oregon Coast for a few weeks so I may not post in here again for a handful of weeks after this...ya, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!
Have a great summer everyone and get out and hear as much live music as you can this summer...keep the music alive and enjoy yourself while doing it!!
Best Regards,
Pat B.
Firstly, sorry that the last time I posted in here was April. It's not like nothing has been happening since then, there's been plenty going on.
Back in late April, I brought up Chicago drummer Paul Wertico to play in Banff at the Rocky Mountain Music Festival and then pop over to Calgary to do a series of clinics at area schools. It was so great to hang and play with him again since it had been about 10 years since we last saw each other. After Paul had recorded with me on my disc in September of 1997, about 6 months later he played out in Vancouver with the Pat Metheny Group so I went out there to see him. That was the last time I saw him in person so it was great to reconnect with him. He sure is playing great and can sure "lay it down" in a small group or a big band. He performed with the Primetime Big Band in Banff at the festival, and he told me that he really doesn't do any big band playing around Chicago anymore...you sure wouldn't know it by how he kicked our asses, that's for sure, and the band really responded so we had some truly great moments. I hope we get a chance to play together again in the near future (and not 10 years from now). He sure is a class act and a fantastic musician.
This past June 2nd and 3rd I had the opportunity to perform at the 33rd Annual ITG Conference (International Trumpet Guild) held out at the Banff Centre for Fine Arts, and organized by that crazy trumpet guy from Edmonton now teaching at UCLA, Jens Lindemann. Now, ya gotta wonder just how fun this would be for a sax player in amongst all of those trumpet players with their chests all stuck out and struttin' around like peacocks. Well, it turned out pretty well I thought...after all, we sax players can play high and fast too ya know (nudge nudge wink wink).
Hanging with ex-Maynard Ferguson band guys like Walter White and Jay Chattaway, and other players like Allan Vizutti, Ingrid Jensen, Wycliffe Gordon and Sean Jones (from the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra), Andrea Tofanelli (direct from Italy), Chris Jaudes (from the studios and pit orchestras of New York City), and others, was pretty cool.
The jazz concert with the Primetime Big Band was a tribute to Doc Severinsen and it was truly great to perform with him as well. All in all, it wasn't bad having to deal with a bunch of trumpet players (hehehe). Needless to say, I went well equipped with a fully stocked bottle of "Extra Strength Advil". I may be dumb, but I'm NOT stupid!!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the summer months and a bit of time off. I'm scheduled to perform in the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show again this year (although that almost didn't happen). It's pretty cool playing for about 17,000 people every night for 10 days straight. This will be my 16th year playing the show which goes from July 4-13. After that, me and the missus are going to chill out on the Oregon Coast for a few weeks so I may not post in here again for a handful of weeks after this...ya, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!
Have a great summer everyone and get out and hear as much live music as you can this summer...keep the music alive and enjoy yourself while doing it!!
Best Regards,
Pat B.
Labels: And Extra Strength Advil, Great Drumming, Squealing Trumpets
posted by Pat Belliveau at
11:43 AM
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