It angers me when people try to tell me that the Mellophonium and the modern-day Mellophone aren't "real instruments". Stan Kenton's music, along with that of numerous other artists proves quite the opposite...
When the brass open up ascending in some of the tutti sections I just love to hear all that the contrary motion in the saxes, bones--lower brass. It's always so nice to hear contrary motion in jazz (it doesn't happen too very often)! Outstanding arrangement by outstanding players. Long live Kenton!!
This arrangement is the reason I spent a career as a trombonist driving pianinsts crazy by playing Misty in C major rather than the more standard Eb. :-) Gary L Johnston
Ace! I think this might be Ray Starling? Mouthpiece wise on the mellophonium I use a modified 2B Wick cornet number; Good from say a G above the staff to oblivion, but not a lot else! As a UK tenor (alto) horn player I also have a spun down alto mouthpiece that fits perfectly, but its quite hard work with very little resistance there, although it enhances the sound loads. If anyone wants to part with a Conn 1 mouthpiece or the F slide (I only have a 1967 Conn with the Eb slide) drop me a line!
Yup that's Ray Starling soloing. Yeah the UK alto horn mouthpieces are quite open, I use the US Bach alto horn mouthpieces (really they should be called peck horn mouthpieces because its obvious they were made for the peck horn) which are shallower and less open then the UK alto horn mouthpieces, maybe you should try one of those for the increased resistance for the upper registers without sacrificing the middle and low register richness.
It angers me when people try to tell me that the Mellophonium and the modern-day Mellophone aren't "real instruments". Stan Kenton's music, along with that of numerous other artists proves quite the opposite...
sifilms 6 months ago
i would like to dedicate this number to my dad who died today aged 82,he loved and lived big bands like this.
he was also a very big buddy rich fan ,my dad also played trumpet in big bands for many years.
Brian0324 9 months ago 4
When the brass open up ascending in some of the tutti sections I just love to hear all that the contrary motion in the saxes, bones--lower brass. It's always so nice to hear contrary motion in jazz (it doesn't happen too very often)! Outstanding arrangement by outstanding players. Long live Kenton!!
callmeBe 1 year ago
This arrangement is the reason I spent a career as a trombonist driving pianinsts crazy by playing Misty in C major rather than the more standard Eb. :-) Gary L Johnston
estvm 2 years ago 2
no words to describe this piece. except maybe amazing or magic.
themousewillbegone 2 years ago
Ray Starling must have been a hell of a musician because he's playing piano on my Buddy Rich album "Big Swing Face".
loujug1 3 years ago
Ace! I think this might be Ray Starling? Mouthpiece wise on the mellophonium I use a modified 2B Wick cornet number; Good from say a G above the staff to oblivion, but not a lot else! As a UK tenor (alto) horn player I also have a spun down alto mouthpiece that fits perfectly, but its quite hard work with very little resistance there, although it enhances the sound loads. If anyone wants to part with a Conn 1 mouthpiece or the F slide (I only have a 1967 Conn with the Eb slide) drop me a line!
JPRUDKIN 3 years ago
Yup that's Ray Starling soloing. Yeah the UK alto horn mouthpieces are quite open, I use the US Bach alto horn mouthpieces (really they should be called peck horn mouthpieces because its obvious they were made for the peck horn) which are shallower and less open then the UK alto horn mouthpieces, maybe you should try one of those for the increased resistance for the upper registers without sacrificing the middle and low register richness.
malawolf85 3 years ago