excelsiorcornetband's channel

FYI (if you've never seen one of these before): This type of instrument (Over-The-Shoulder or "OTS") was built for the American brass band market from the 1840s-80s. The band marched in front of the column of troops, firemen, etc. in a parade; the OTS bells threw the sound back to the marchers, s...

And the point? There are plenty of hornists who can pop a C above high C. OK, now let's get all back to making good music.

@pedroshizzle95a Randy plays a Yamaha.

This was a happy event, with talented, hardworking musicians giving freely to others, expressing their mutual love of this country, no matter their political beliefs. What fun to hear a great piece of musical Americana performed in this manner. BRAVO! AND JUST WHY does this bring all the extremis...

Vastly underappreciated, and deserving of wider recognition. I've dug Matt Monroe ever since I heard him on an "old time radio" broadcast on WRVO. He has such nice phrasing, and his delivery is tastefully understated. Not to mention his extremely pleasing tone quality.

@GozTheGreat Conn apparently made only three of those reversed-bell mellophones, all for Don Elliott, who requested Conn make him a bell-up mello, at the suggestion of Dizzy Gillespie. I own the only one in private hands; Elliott's estate owns one, and the third is lost. Here's mine, at web.a-zne...

Why give the nat player two in the hat, when he should suffer as much as his listeners? (just jokin'... some of my best friends are nat players.)

After visiting his YouTube page, it's clear he's deeply disturbed. Again, keep the dead, injured, and their families in your thoughts.

This cat can play, and he has the credentials. Anyone who doesn't like what he's doing and can't stand to look at him (Maynard was no Cary Grant either), is free to turn it off and do it their own way. How boring music would become if we all had to play trumpet the same way. There's room for ever...

@PBK0909 Thanks; good to hear you say that about jazz. I'd NEVER say that you have to like it, any more than any of us HAVE to like any particular type of music. As a trained, working jazz & classical musician, I respect any kind of music that's intelligently made. And as a reasonable, low-key gu...

Come on. These guys blow.

To watch226 & buffedtrainer: There always seems to be someone who has to throw water on this sort of thing, passing a negative judgment just to show how hip they think they are. How sad. Hey folks, a bunch of talented musicians showed up to give the gift of great music to the public, for free, fo...

Yeah, we love Lee, but give Guido his due and post a pic of HIM! Beautiful, tasteful, thoughtful, articulate playing of the highest order from the whole group.

Fitty wouldn't know a middle C if it capped him in the ass. Even though this is a gag, it says a lot about the difference between "rap artists" and actual musicians. Go get edjumacated, Fitty, and fill that empty head with something besides ho's and munny.

The instrument is an over-the-shoulder (OTS) E-flat bass saxhorn (tuba), built circa 1855 by C.A. Zoebisch of New York City. I had it beautifully restored to playing condition by Robb Stewart of Los Angeles. OTS saxhorns were popular during the Civil War because they projected the sound backward,...

@girlwithguns88: I agree. This is probably the finest rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner I have seen to date. It should be performed in a manner that serves the music and its meaning, not in a manner that highlights a soloist. Good taste is the hallmark of a good soloist, and there is of cours...

Kudos to you, AdamMitchyCat. It's heartening to know that, after us old cats are gone, someone will remember Bunny and his contemporaries for the talented, accomplished musicians they were. If only Bunny had lived (we can say the same about Bix, Clifford, Lee Morgan, Fats Navarro, and so many oth...

And of course, the underappreciated and underrated (except by those in the know) Don Elliott on trumpet, mellophone, and vibes. Supremely tasty.

When someone asks if we can play a Taylor Swift tune, I tell them "No. Taylor Swift doesn't do any of OUR songs, either." Works equally well for tunes by bad 80s rock bands and rappers.