Favorite Christmas CDs and a warning
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 7:01 pm
It is fun to make a CD that is well-appreciated by others. Realize, however, that no matter the good intentions of the players, their naivete can get them into a really embarrassing situation.
The Symphonic Brass of Chicago Christmas CD is a perfect example. Being involved in that recording I can tell you that we all approached that recording with the highest artistic goals in mind. Unfortunately, our trust in the person whose brainchild this was did not make up for the legal smarts we should have had before we ever went into that church to record.
The fellow who was responsible for that recording did not pay all the musicians.
He did not get permission to record those fabulous arrangements by Jeff Reynolds.
He did not even get permission to record the Canadian Brass arrangement(s).
In fact, he even stiffed the church where the recording was made!!
When the president of the record company was informed of what was going on, he answered in the only way he could; he ignored our letter!!
The Chicago musicians union continued to laud his achievements in their local rag well after they were informed of his less than honorable actions.
In the end, we (the musicians) were dumb to have not come up with an agreement before that recording was made. We are reminded of it every year when we see that great recording for sale. It is no excuse that we were duped by a very cunning con artist. [Unfortunately, we trusted him because his father was known to all of us. We learned from that sad experience that integrity is not inherited.]
In any case, be careful if you should think about making a recording with your own small ensemble, band, orchestra, chamber group, etc. It doesn't matter if it is a group of professionals, amateurs or students. There is not that much money to be made anyway these days in the recording business since the technology far exceeds the laws with degenerate organizations like Napster out there stealing. Just be careful that if you do agree to make recordings, be aware of who is collecting the money and where the profits are going.
By the way, the Hollywood Trombone Christmas album is my favorite holiday CD...and you can hear great arrangements and spectacular playing by some of the finest musicians around. Happy Holidays to all. Gene Pokorny
The Symphonic Brass of Chicago Christmas CD is a perfect example. Being involved in that recording I can tell you that we all approached that recording with the highest artistic goals in mind. Unfortunately, our trust in the person whose brainchild this was did not make up for the legal smarts we should have had before we ever went into that church to record.
The fellow who was responsible for that recording did not pay all the musicians.
He did not get permission to record those fabulous arrangements by Jeff Reynolds.
He did not even get permission to record the Canadian Brass arrangement(s).
In fact, he even stiffed the church where the recording was made!!
When the president of the record company was informed of what was going on, he answered in the only way he could; he ignored our letter!!
The Chicago musicians union continued to laud his achievements in their local rag well after they were informed of his less than honorable actions.
In the end, we (the musicians) were dumb to have not come up with an agreement before that recording was made. We are reminded of it every year when we see that great recording for sale. It is no excuse that we were duped by a very cunning con artist. [Unfortunately, we trusted him because his father was known to all of us. We learned from that sad experience that integrity is not inherited.]
In any case, be careful if you should think about making a recording with your own small ensemble, band, orchestra, chamber group, etc. It doesn't matter if it is a group of professionals, amateurs or students. There is not that much money to be made anyway these days in the recording business since the technology far exceeds the laws with degenerate organizations like Napster out there stealing. Just be careful that if you do agree to make recordings, be aware of who is collecting the money and where the profits are going.
By the way, the Hollywood Trombone Christmas album is my favorite holiday CD...and you can hear great arrangements and spectacular playing by some of the finest musicians around. Happy Holidays to all. Gene Pokorny