Win some, lose some

The viola stand didn't work because the shoulder rest and pickup got in the way. I didn't make the kingfisher rehearsal because of a longstanding dinner date. Uhg.

Found out that the reason I don't have such a big bass sound is because I am lipping up every note-lots of overtones, plenty of colour, but missing out on that fundamental which gives the fat sound which defines a tuba. The remedy is to practice lipping up and down and listening for the sound I like. Lots of air.

Thanks to John the soprano cornet player from DVBB for that discussion-a man who knows much about embouchures.

Laundry and Bar Open tomorrow-303 Sunday.

Viola stand, Kingfisher Klezmer and an old friend.

We purchased a violin stand for Mrs Dawei (a.k.a. Madeleh) for her viola so that I don't step on her fiddle on stage. Awesome place! He understood Mikey Teachest's desire to put a tuning head on his teachest, and is having a think about it.

First Kingfisher Festival rehearsal tonight-should be good! I'll play oopah rather than melody-get some momentum behing the amassed folkies.

Started playing my old 3-valve Eb. It has a tiny bore, and sounds more like a bass 'bone when you overblow. Maybe an alternative to the valve trombone for Django solos.

RDI?

Is RDI (for Recommended Daily Intake) too wanky a name for a Jazz/Latin brass band? I reckon the best things we do are the computer game themes (croc, super Mario) arranged by Jamie Barling, our fearless leader.

Cleansed

Lordy, my clothes stink after a visit to the laundry! A really good night, despite heaps of stress about the PA. Mickey teachest did an amazing job with the desk. Always sorts out our sound, never gets any extra money. Chris Tanner got up and played Blue Drag with us- so slaughtered that he couldn't stand, but still an awesome player. Not sure what the trad jazz crowd made of us, but hopefully we will survive there long enough for them to like us.

Sweated my bodyweight.

Dirty laundry

Very excited- Tzigas gigs supporting Hoodangers satellite Virus at the Laundry- Saturdays about 7 pm. Gigs at 303 High St Northcote as usual, with occasional appearences at Open Studio up the road opposite the Northcote town hall. (Taegan, get a website!)

More activity

After a long silence, it is time to start posting again. This has been inspired by an argument about alcohol abuse I had with a long-time drinking buddy- witness the carnage.

A new link to Tzigas, the main band that I play with. Awesome crankin' Gypsy/Klezmer.

Diet, Schmiet

So I am pretty behind in the posts, and in weight. But, I got extra responsibilities at work, and am playing quite a few gigs with Tzigs (see links in sidebar). Made a recording/demo with klezcab which we are sending to the puppetry people at a festival-fingers crossed!

Diet, Schmiet

So I am pretty behind in the posts, and in weight. But, I got extra responsibilities at work, and am playing quite a few gigs with Tzigs (see links in sidebar). Made a recording/demo with klezcab which we are sending to the puppetry people at a festival-fingers crossed!

Diets.

See my weight loss progress by following the link on the right. It would be nice to have a Body Mass Index of 25 or less. At the moment it is closer to 30. Sigh.

Added links.

In the sidebar are some links to my other musical projects-Tzigas, a Balkan gypsy band, and Klezcab, a more hardcore klezmer project (which spawned a fringe show). My Tuba is in fact on loan from Diamond Valley Brass band (thanks, guys!) who also keep my technique on the improve.

Tuba madness.

Is this a crime against G-d and man? I'm on the left. We are playing 'Oi Tate' ('Oh, papa').

 

Talent.

Meet my wife. She is wearing one of the masks that she made for our production of 'Peter and the wolf' in the Melbourne Fringe a few years back.
Here she is, wearing the duck mask. Each musician wore their own mask, and was responsible for the theme tune of that character.








This is Peter. I played his theme on the tuba. (A Corton E-flat three valve cheapie-murder to get in tune. I play a Yamaha four-valve now, which is much nicer.)

A very handsome boy.

This is not me. Dushan is a clarinet player from Tzigas, one of the bands I play in. 'Tzigas' is a corruption of the Serbo-Croat word for 'Gypsy'.

Welcome to Benkshaft.

Benkshaft is a Yiddish word meaning 'longing'. It seems apt. I spend much of my time playing klezmer, which is an eastern european Jewish music. I blame my high school. This is what happens when schools put Chaim Potok on their reading lists....