New Orleans Jazz Ramblers

[bloke]

In the past, I've mentioned this band in passing...

There are really some strong players associated:

The leader, Stephen Foster (saxes/vocals) was Duke Ellington's lead alto player in the latter days of Ellington's band.

Brian "Breeze" Cayolle (saxes/vocals) tours with Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint.

James Sexton (percussion) and Rashienne Webb (keyboard) work nightly with "Queen of Beale Street", Ruby Wilson (@ B. B. King's Blues Club on Beale Street)

Warner Williams (keyboard) plays with Irma Thomas.

Dr. Ron Horton (trumpet) is the new jazz studies director at Arkansas State University.

Jim Mahannah (trombone) is that incredibly smooth tenor sax player that you heard on a track (ballad - "Ghost of a Chance") I linked here (recorded with ANOTHER band). Jim has also fronted his own band for decades and entertains regularly on riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River. Back in the early 1980's, Jim and I worked seven night/week playing in a polkas-waltzes/country/top 40/standards band in a German bar. He mostly played clarinet/sax in that band, but also played a little bit of trumpet and bass trumpet.
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On the morning of October 1st, we all showed up at a recording studio at 7:00 A.M. . By 7:45, mics were set up, levels were set, tracks were defined, and we were rolling. By 9:00 A.M., we were done and out the door... "Breeze" was on his way to the airport to meet Allen Toussaint for a headliner performance at a casino in Biloxi. (Breeze has appeared with Allen T. on both the Letterman and Conan shows during the past year.) Dr. Ron was hurrying back to Jonesboro to meet with his students, and the rest of us were rushing back to our own lives.

If you would like to check out the printed music and lead sheets that we used for the demo session, you may click here:

http://tinyurl.com/3ygnh" target="_blank" target="_blank



Here are the six demo/promotional tracks we recorded (as we were badly in need of a promo c.d.)

' hope you enjoy!


Latin-Funk Intro

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=1036521" target="_blank" target="_blank

Avalon (Stephen Foster - vocals)

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=1036532" target="_blank" target="_blank

Amazing Grace (Stephen Foster - vocals)

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=1036818" target="_blank" target="_blank

It's a Wonderful World (Breeze Cayolle - vocals)

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?pid=1036642" target="_blank" target="_blank

Blackbird Special

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?pid=1036699" target="_blank" target="_blank

When the Saints Go Marching In (Stephen Foster - vocals)

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?pid=1036670" target="_blank" target="_blank




Jim Mahannah (the only other "paleface" in the Ramblers) does not appear in this picture. Here's Jim Mahannah: (Sorry...no available pic of him with a trombone)

[Tom Mason]

Ron is a class guy and a very fine performer. He plays in the same class as more visible trumpeters without the bravado usually associated with the instrument. He is one player in a small list that I look forward to being inthe same group with at a performance. (He shows up early, is prepared, and is not drunk on the job.)


Tom Mason

[bloke]

All six demo tunes are now web-hosted (ref: original post).

The last one I uploaded was "Amazing Grace". We had never played that tune with that particular "feel" before. My technical instructions from (bandleader) Stephen Foster right before tape was rolling on this tune was,

"Joe, Do kind of a 'boomp...ba-boomp...ba-boomp ba-boomp' sort of rhythm in the bass."

[Bob1062]

Very nice Joe! Thanks!

Jim Mahannah (trombone) is that incredibly smooth tenor sax player that you heard on a track (ballad - "Ghost of a Chance") I linked here (recorded with ANOTHER band). Jim has also fronted his own band for decades and entertains regularly on riverboat cruises on the Mississippi River. Back in the early 1980's, Jim and I worked seven night/week playing in a polkas-waltzes/country/top 40/standards band in a German bar. He mostly played clarinet/sax in that band, but also played a little bit of trumpet and bass trumpet.

I am getting the impression that he is primarily a reed guy? Regardless, he still sounds GREAT on trombone!

[MikeMason]

All you performance majors out there.Joe is a repairman...

[bloke]

All you performance majors out there. Joe is a repairman...

For most of my life as a "grown-up", I've viewed "music performance" degrees in approximately the same light I would view a "biking" or a "fishing" degree.

Yes, there are a FEW people who make their livings biking and fishing, but...

[MartyNeilan]

All you performance majors out there. Joe is a repairman...

For most of my life as a "grown-up", I've viewed "music performance" degrees in approximately the same light I would view a "biking" or a "fishing" degree.

Yes, there are a FEW people who make their livings biking and fishing, but...

What kind of B3 emulator were you guys using on the recording - it sounded good, but still just a shade different.

[bloke]

BTW, what kind of B3 emulator were you guys using on the recording - it sounded good, but still just a shade different.

Is that a WWII bomber...??



I dunno anything about digital keyboard sound effects. I'm pretty sure, thought, that Rashienne Webb was the one using that sound.

I just show up at the studio when they tell me and play the toobuh until they tell me to stop.

[windshieldbug]

"Joe, Do kind of a 'boomp...ba-boomp...ba-boomp ba-boomp' sort of rhythm in the bass."

Joe, if you'll forgive the idiom, You Rock!

I love the big metal unplugged bass on the other tunes, too, and that Hammond-sounding bomber!

[Super Smooth]

Pretty cool! I really like this genre, made me dig out my Dirty Dozen Cd's. The first time I heard them play Night Train I almost fell out of my chair!

[Eric B]

Joe, now you've really done it this time! That was some great funk bass playing. I suddenly have an urge to buy a helicon! Is there a name for the syndrome in which you have an insatiable urge to purchase all things low brass?

Serpayorkacimbassia???

[bloke]

IMPROVED LINKS:

TEMPORARILY ALLOW POP-UPS FROM THIS PAGE.

I bi-passed the webpages.

Latin/Funk Intro: http://www.acidplanet.com/Components/Do ... ID=1036521

Avalon: http://www.acidplanet.com/Components/Do ... ID=1036532

Wonderful World: http://www.acidplanet.com/Components/Do ... ID=1036642

Amazing Grace: http://www.acidplanet.com/Components/Do ... ID=1036818

Blackbird Special: http://www.acidplanet.com/Components/Do ... ID=1036699

When the Saints Go Marching In: http://www.acidplanet.com/Components/Do ... ID=1036670