SOUNDS FROM THE ROAD
The Mike Vax
Stan Kenton Alumni Big BandAnother great tour with Mike Vax and the Stan Kenton Alumni Big band, this time (2008) in middle America.
The weather was dreary on the 2008 Alumni Spring Tour, but it didn't dampen the spirit of Mike Vax and the Stan Kenton Alumni Big Band. It was great flying into St. Louis, from every part of the country, and seeing other members of the band, after not being together for a year.
The first rehearsal is always fun as they're playing mostly new music written in the Kenton style. Although many of the roads, farm fields and towns were flooded, Mike and the Alumni flooded the concert halls with magnificent sounds. Listen to these wonderful LIVE performances!
Selections:
- Alex's Tune
HEAR IT! (1.0 MB MP3)
Comp. & Arr. Dale DeVoe, Solos: Keith Kaminski (b. sax),
Scott Whitfield (trom.), Steve Huffteter (trpt.)
- Seascape
Comp. J. Mandel, arr. Kim Richmond, Solo Kim Richmond (s. sax)
- La Virgen de la Macarena
HEAR IT! 1.1 MB MP3) Comp. & Arr. Neal Finn, Solo: Mike Vax (trpt.), Pete Gallio (t. sax)
- Mr. Natural
HEAR IT! (1.1 MB MP3)
Comp. & Arr. Steve Huffsteter, Solo: Alex Murzyn (ten sax)
- Pennies From Heaven
HEAR IT! (1.3 MB MP3)
Comp. A. Johnston, J. Burke, Arr. L. Niehaus, Solo: Mike Vax (trpt.)
- I’m Glad There Is You
Comp. P. Madeira, J. Dorsey, Arr. Stan Kenton Solo: Bob Kafka (piano)
- Slow Boat To China
Comp. F. Loesser, Arr. Scott Whitfield, Vocal: Scott Whitfield & Ginger Berglund, Solo: Whitfield (trom.)
- Boney
HEAR IT! (1.1 MB MP3)
Comp. & Arr. Steve Huffsteter, Solos: Bob Florence (piano), Steve Huffsteter (Flugelhorn)
- Baubles Bangles & Beads
Comp. G. Forrest, R. Wright, Arr. Lennie Niehaus, Solo: Kim Richmond (a. sax)
- Autumn In New York
Comp. V. Duke, Arr. John Boice, Solo: Carl Saunders (trpt.)
- Variations of a Brazilian Song
Comp. & Arr. Bennett Friedman , Solos: Pete Gallio (t. sax), Gary Hobbs (drums)
- Oblivion
HEAR IT! (1.1 MB MP3)
Comp. A. Piazzolli, Arr. Bob Carnow, Solo: Dennis Noday (flugelhorn)
- Malaguena
HEAR IT! (1.2 MB MP3)
Comp. E. Lecuona, Arr. Bill Holman, Solo: Roy Wiegand (trom.), Pete Gallio (t. sax) Keith Kaminski (b. sax)
Bonus Track in Memory of our Pianist, Bob Florence:
- All The Things You Are
Comp. J. Kern, O. Hammerstein II, Arr. Norm Tompach, Solo: Bob Florence
Personnel:
Mike Vax (leader)
Woodwinds:
Kim Richmond (Lead) (s. sax, a. sax, flute)
Pete Gallio (t. sax, flute)
Alex Murzyn (t. sax, flute)
Keith Kaminski (b. sax, a. sax, flute)
Scott Peterson (b.sax replaces Kaminski on tracks 2, 8 & 10)
Joel Kaye (b. sax, bass sax, flute)
Trumpets & Flugelhorns:
Mike Vax (lead)
Dennis Noday (split lead)
Carl Saunders (split Lead)
Steve Huffsteter
Don Rader
Dan Fava (replaces Rader on tracks 2, 8 & 10)
Trombones:
Roy Wiegand (lead)
Dale DeVoe (split lead)
Scott Whitfield (split lead)
Curtis Fox (replaces Scott Whitfield tracks 2, 8, 10)
Kenny Shroyer (bass)
Mike Suter (bass, Tuba)
Rhythm Section:
Bob Florence (piano, tracks 2, 8, 10, 14)
Bob Kafka (piano, tracks 1,3,4,5,6,7,9,11,12,13)
Chris Symer (bass)
Gary Hobbs (drums)
Dee Huffsteter (latin percussion)
Vocals:
Scott Whitfield & Ginger Berglund
Road Manager:
Tom Huth
Sound Engineer:
Dr. Dave Clements
Recording Mix:
Tom Johnson, JDA
Producer:
Norm Tompach
Vaxuosity
Mike Vax with the Ohlone Wind Orchestra
(Tony Clements, Director)
Special guest artist:
Fred Radke, leader of the Harry James OrchestraGo back in time to the days of an outdoor community concert set under the stars at the park's gazebo picture the patriotic festoon waves in the breeze Now, buckle in, cuz' this ain't no "ordinary" concert in the park. This is a "Vaxuosity" Concert in the Park, done Mike Vax style! Enjoy!
" a wonderful collection of delightful trumpet literature uniquely stylized with that soaring Vax sound!" - Allen Vizzutti
"Vax pulls out all the stops as he tackles a very ambitious and varied program!" - Malcolm McNab
"This recording exemplifies Mike's vast talent and experience and shows that a lead player can play all styles of music. This is outstanding playing by an outstanding musician!" -Rich Szabo
Recorded by Tom Johnson of Johnson Digital Audio www.johnsondigital.com
Selections:
- Hungarian Melodies - Vincent Bach
HEAR IT! (524 KB MP3)- Carnival Variations - Don Jacoby
HEAR IT! (542 KB MP3)- Trumpeter's Prayer - Tutti Camarata
HEAR IT! (424 KB MP3)- Josephine - Bomhr Kryl
HEAR IT! (461 KB MP3)- Dramatic Essay - Clifton Williams
HEAR IT! (462 KB MP3)- The Man with the Horn - DeLange, Jenney, Lake
- Vaxuosity - Phillip Field
- Dynamica - Jan Van Der Roost - featuring the Wind Orchestra
- Cornucopia - Jack Hayes
- Double Concerto, Allegro - Antonio Vivaldi
- Trumpeter's Lullaby - Leroy Anderson
- Braziliance - Warren Barker
- Yankee Doodle - JB Arban
HEAR IT! (464 KB MP3)- Danny Boy - Traditional
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 64 minutes
Recording location: The Jackson Theatre at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts at Ohlone College in Fremont, California.
Mike Vax performs on the Getzen 3001 MV Artist Model Custom Bb Trumpet, Getzen 800 Eterna Cornet and Getzen 3895 Custom Flugelhorn on this recording. www.getzen.com
To learn more about the Ohlone Wind Orchestra, visit their website at www2.ohlone.edu/instr/music/windorchestra.html
