Coffee-shop sousaphone

[kontrabass]

http://www.southernsouls.ca by Mitch Fillion is a series of videos of Toronto-area bands playing in unusual locations. There's a bunch of them and they're very cool. I got to particpate in one recently with my band The Boxcar Boys, playing some old-timey jazz in a local coffee shop; thought I'd share for those interested:

https://vimeo.com/57818690" target="_blank" target="_blank

[TubadudeCA]

Fantastic!!! Great stuff. Any chance you guys have a CD yet? Wouldn't mind listening to this on the way to work and such. Keep it up!!

[kontrabass]

Yeah we got two!
http://www.theboxcarboys.ca click on "store/discography" (I recommend the new one, but they're both good!)
Thanks friend!

[David Richoux]

Yes - that is very fun and fine playing!

I assume "Mugg's Island" is one of your original tunes?

[TubadudeCA]

Just bought your newest Album. Can't wait!

[kontrabass]

Dave - yes, it's by our clarinet player, john David Williams.
TubadudeCA - thank you!

[Toobist]

Dude!

Great stuff. I'm just starting out with some of this traditional 'street jazz' stuff. I was inspired after seeing a youtube clip of Tuba Skinny from New Orleans. Now I have playlists of New Orleans street performers on all the time here at the store! (My staff isn't even getting sick of it.)

Also, I've gone and purchased a washboard (or four), stuck a cymbal and a can to one and I'm teaching myself that 'instrument'.

Practically speaking - how do you come to your arrangements? Are you finding that they come about organically or do you read from charts in rehearsal? I'm really at the fledgling stage with my little project and I'm blissfully clueless. I've had a handful of jam sessions where we just jam on the chords and take turns soloing and such but I'm going to be penning arrangements soon I think.

Advice Rob?

Amazing job by the way. I'm still sounding quite square and you're an inspiration for those of us working toward playing this sorta thing.

A friend asked what drew me to this stuff and I explained: "I've been playing at the back, and at times the front, of orchestras for 20 years now. I've played alongside my heroes in a major orchestra or two, played full-blown rock concerts (a particular favourite), quintet gigs galore, solo gigs... but wow, nothing compares to the JOY I feel when playing this fun stuff."

Joy is the word. For me, I've found more joy in playing just with buddies and a loose idea of a lead sheet (even with my squareness and nearly total lack of confidence in my inprov skills) than everything else I've done.

Bravo Rob, for finding it so soon in your career! I hope you feel the same way.

Al

[kontrabass]

Thanks Al! We just do our arrangements on the fly, John (clarinet and bandleader) will cue solos, and people will be generally figuring out supporting harmonies or licks over the course of rehearsing and playing the songs many times. No two performances are ever exactly the same and sometimes they're completely different, anyone can at any time push the arrangement in a weird way, if they feel like it

We will usually use a lead sheet when we're learning a new tune (sometimes just by ear though). And often we'll make up a song on the spot on gigs. It works well because the chord progressions are usually very SIMPLE. I feel like the less paper you have on stage, the easier it is to tune into the other people in the band and support and react to them. But it all comes down to the style of music and the improvising ability of the band.

Good luck and have fun!

[Donn]

Speaking of arrangements, I listened to the intro to "You Are My Sunshine" about half a dozen times. It's a very familiar song, to me and I suppose most people - my parents knew it, etc. - but usually just the one verse, and only in recent years did I become aware that it's really not a happy song at all. The different and rather sober harmony to the intro to me kind of fits with that.

[Tom Coffey]

Really nice playing, by everyone. Gotta admire the doubling with the clarinet and harmonica, as well as the seriously authentic violin work. Great sousaphone plaing, too!