Tubas become horns of plenty

[Dean E]

Thunk thunk is the new oompah.

Here's a link to an upbeat article on Los Angeles tuba players and new banda opportunities.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... full.story" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

"L.A. is the tuba capital of the world and has been for many years," said Bill Roper, a jazz tubist in Altadena.

Two players, in particular, made it that way. Tommy Johnson, a tuba professor at USC who died in 2006, almost single-handedly populated the tuba world with his students and played on more than 2,000 movie soundtracks, including the shark music on "Jaws." (Three top tubist jobs in America — at the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles symphonies — are filled by students of Johnson.) Roger Bobo, who now teaches in Japan, was a tubist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 25 years and made solo recordings that expanded the instrument's role, said Gene Pokorny, a tubist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra."

[Ace]

Nice article, Dean. Here's a clip from one of the groups mentioned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4szNn76MRIs" target="_blank

Ace

[SousaSaver]

My favorite part about this article:

"Norteno groups almost always use bass players, but Grupo 5.7 fired its bassist and replaced him with a tubist to keep partygoers happy."

Now I don't relish in anyone getting fired, but how often do you see a bass player let go so they can hire a Tuba player?

Loved this article. I wrote a tiny bit about it here.

http://sousacentral.blogspot.com/2011/1 ... on-la.html

If I got anything wrong, please let me know so I can fix it.

[alfredr]

Most (if not all) of the bandas I have seen (on TV), also use alto horns. Strictly Sousaphones for the tubas.

[Samuel Behar]

Great article, Dean! Thanks for sharing!

[Trevor Bjorklund]

Does anyone on this forum play in a banda? I would totally do it, given the chance!