TubeNet

...I'm posting this completely on my own volition...

I gotta say that I really like it when a tuba player is not afraid to "let the tuba be a tuba" and when a brass quintet uses a true "CONTRAbass tuba" sound.

I recently ran across some clips of my friend Mike Parker playing with the Monumental Brass Quintet from D.C.

Mike has "that" sound... it's fantastic! ...and while a nice and light bass tuba sound is nice and all, I've always been a huge fan of a big horn/sound played right in a quintet. ...it's that "Chicago" sound (you know what I'm talking about). Check it out, Mike sounds great!

http://www.myspace.com/monumentalbrassquintet

What is a "Chicago" sound. Then again what is a "New York" sound or a "Boston" sound or a "Philadelphia" sound or a "Los Angeles" sound or a "Vienna" sound or a "Berlin" sound or a "Praque" sound or a "Kiev" sound. By pigeon-holing someone's sound, might you not be pigeon-holing the player also? How about it was "Mikes" sound or "Rogers" sound or "Carols" sound or "Alans" sound or "Norms" sound? Wouldn't that be apropos to the situation? Do we really need to define sound by a yardstick that some people may not find as palatable as others? Might we find a more common ground? I am sure Mike sounded fantastic, but did you ever ask him to define his sound as you did? Perhaps he should sound like "Mike". That might be better, No?.

Chuck

bloke wrote:

Chuck Jackson wrote:What is a "Chicago" sound. then again what is a "New York" sound or a "Boston" sound or a "Philadelphia" sound or a "Los Angeles" sound or a "Vienna" sound or a "Berlin" sound or a "Praque" sound or a "Kiev" sound. By pigeon-holing someone's sound, might you not be pigeon-holing the player also? How about it was "Mikes" sound or "Rogers" sound or "Carols" sound or "Alans" sound or "Norms" sound? Wouldn't that be apropos to the situation? Do we really need to define sound by a yardstick that some people may not find as palatable as others? Might we find a more common ground? I am sure Mike sounded fantastic, but did you ever ask him to define his sound as you did? Perhaps he should sound like "Mike". That might be better, No?.

Chuck

Yes, Chuck. We should argue all of those "incite"ful points...

[new version of "Name That Tune": I can respond to that post in...2200 words.]

...but it's 10:41, I drove 600 miles today, and it's bedtime...

I'm sure you could, and I am more than sure that it shall. The whole "New Clothes" thing will, undoubtedly" rear it's ugly, and somewhat needed and useful, head. I prefer Gene, BTW, and have no problem with the whole "Hubris" thing.

Chuck"assured that Bloke is well versed in the Classics to pick up the blatant asides"Jackson

Wow...

Please just make this thread about listening to Mike. I thought some of you might want to hear these clips! (that is what we do here, or so I thought!)

Mike studied in the Windy City for quite a while and I simply thought his sound is a tribute to some of the wonderful orchestral tubists who have inhabited that city.
He deserves some props for the sound he makes!


Mike, you are rockin buddy. Keep up the great work!!!


(again, about the thread - keep it cool you guys...)

[quote="tubajoe"]Wow...

Please just make this thread about listening to Mike. I thought some of you might want to hear these clips! (that is what we do here, or so I thought!)

Mike studied in the Windy City for quite a while and I simply thought his sound is a tribute to some of the wonderful orchestral tubists who have inhabited that city.
He deserves some props for the sound he makes!


Mike, you are rockin buddy. Keep up the great work!!!



Joe, nothing personal intended, I just find the whole pigeon-holing thing thing getting a little banal. Mike is a tremendous player, It would have been no matter where he was from, so why do we find it so important to define his sound, or anyones for that matter, by a singular regional concept that may or may not have creedence. The Emperor's New Clothes are, well, you know the rest................

Chuck

Wow!

Thanks Joe! And to everyone else who commented on the sound of the quintet! Joe you are so so Kind!! (Do you remember that you were one of my first quintet coaches at Northwestern)?

Sorry all this stuff centered around me! I take no offense either way. I have been fortunate enough to be around some truly great teachers especially Rex Martin and David Kutz and it is their sounds that I hear most often in my head and try to duplicate!!

Enjoy the clips on myspace and the CD should be finished this Fall!

Cheers!