Canadian Brass

[Bob Kolada]

I know not everyone's a fan and, for me, the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor is defined by the German Brass, but I just re-listened to the Pass. and Fugue in C minor. Damn! Now I'm wishing I remembered where I put that cassette of them playing French pieces...

[TubaRay]

wait...

there are people that don't like CB?

"It ain't me."

[Toobist]

I dunno...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tag1OAY4NvU

Around 2:02 I hear some of the most outstanding ensemble playing I've ever heard when Mills and Raum somehow play as though they share one brain. They push and pull the tempi in the piece while still remaining spot on. I always refer to those two when I talk about true ensemble playing. A team like that is something special and seldom found.

I wonder at those who aren't fans on at least some level.

Looked for the German Brass version on youtube... Can't find it. Would love to hear it. I'm a huge fan of their's too. I'm sure they nail it too. I just love the way Raum and Mills play together. Perhaps my favourite pairing of players ever.

[doublebuzzing]

I dunno...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tag1OAY4NvU

Around 2:02 I hear some of the most outstanding ensemble playing I've ever heard when Mills and Raum somehow play as though they share one brain. They push and pull the tempi in the piece while still remaining spot on. I always refer to those two when I talk about true ensemble playing. A team like that is something special and seldom found.

I wonder at those who aren't fans on at least some level.

Looked for the German Brass version on youtube... Can't find it. Would love to hear it. I'm a huge fan of their's too. I'm sure they nail it too. I just love the way Raum and Mills play together. Perhaps my favourite pairing of players ever.

I greatly admire the playing in that video but I was wondering what you think of this (later) one, with two different trumpets. I confess, Ryan Anthony is my favorite trumpet player they ever had. Let me know what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX0Jhk6e2Uw" target="_blank

[MikeMason]

He came to Pensacola last weekend and did arutiunian and albinoni with us. Outstanding!

[bort]

Haven't they had about 100 trumpet players by now?

[Toobist]

I dunno...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tag1OAY4NvU

Around 2:02 I hear some of the most outstanding ensemble playing I've ever heard when Mills and Raum somehow play as though they share one brain. They push and pull the tempi in the piece while still remaining spot on. I always refer to those two when I talk about true ensemble playing. A team like that is something special and seldom found.

I wonder at those who aren't fans on at least some level.

Looked for the German Brass version on youtube... Can't find it. Would love to hear it. I'm a huge fan of their's too. I'm sure they nail it too. I just love the way Rohm and Mills play together. Perhaps my favourite pairing of players ever.

I greatly admire the playing in that video but I was wondering what you think of this (later) one, with two different trumpets. I confess, Ryan Anthony is my favorite trumpet player they ever had. Let me know what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX0Jhk6e2Uw" target="_blank" target="_blank

In fact, I watched that one immediately after posting my last comment! I had my girlfriend sit with me to see if what I saw was as obvious to someone without the level of interest that I have... In other words, she rolled her eyes but sat patiently while I tried to, in her opinion, make her over-think the two clips. I certainly enjoyed the new members' playing and recognize them as absolutely talented. There's something about the one-mindedness and fluidity that came from Rohm and Mills having played and, well..... lived so much together. It really came out in their performance. When I watch them communicate with mere looks I can imagine the easy way they communicated in rehearsal where they could probably speak volumes to one another with just a few words.

I haven't a negative thing to say in regard to that newer clip. Top shelf for sure. The worst thing I can say is that I prefer the character of Ron and Fred's interpretation over that, but that's a preference thing and I'd pay the same ticket price for either. And yeah... I can understand your preference for Anthony. I can see the sheer joy he would bring to the stage for the other players. I'll bet rehearsal with him is easy and fun as well. Personality is such a big factor when forming a group - especially a chamber group!

Being a musician in Toronto, I know Chuck and Gene personally from the original group and I know Jens quite well (his wife Jennifer was my accompanist for some time) and I spent several beers' worth of time with Jeff on a couple of occasions. Don't mean to name drop, but rather to explain that I can see how these fine musicians make up such a great group. They're mainly like-minded and fun to be around. I don't think they'd sound half so good if they didn't.

I remember, back in school, I'd sneak into Walter Hall at U of Toronto to observe the CB in rehearsal. I witnessed grumpiness and impatience sure. Every work environment has that. But they worked through it so quickly that none of it had a chance to settle in and effect the productivity of the rehearsal. It was the greatest lesson they taught me. The way they get along as colleagues is the sort of thing all musicians should see. There was one instance where I saw them cut off and two conversations, professional and considerate ones, happened at once for about 10 seconds - one between the bottom three voices and one between the top two and then there was a breath and a downbeat and the phrase positively sung! So efficient! They spoke in familiar short-hand sort of speak and it was a model of a productive rehearsal.

Anyhow. That got off on a tangent. I just can't thank those musicians enough for the lessons in the human aspects of ensemble playing they taught me and it's when I can HEAR those aspects when it gets on the stage that I'm most moved by their performances.