Edwards

Dave Taylor, Gerry Pagano and Mark Hoelscher are helping Christan develop a fixed bass trombone. Watch the video below to see what Gerry Pagano has to say about it. And stay for the credits.

Do you know the tenor trombone solo rep? If so, you could get some free stuff from Haim Avitsur. In an effort to entertain and educate, he’s created a video of himself performing 33 excerpts from 25 solo works. If you know them all, then listen to the video below and email the pieces (in performance order) to name.that.tune.part1@gmail.com. Prizes include a $200 iTunes gifts card and eight other gift certificates to places like Sam Ash and Dillon Music.

And if you don’t know all of the pieces in the video, learn them!

We recently posted the first video in a series featuring Christan and Paul Tynan in a fitting session. In part two, they work on matching the tuning slide to the valves and leadpipe. Part three is coming soon.

We’re thrilled to announce that Gerry Pagano, bass trombonist of the St. Louis Symphony, has recently joined the Edwards team as an artist. Gerry, along with Dave Taylor and Mark Hoelscher, has been working with Christan on the development of the B502-D, a dependent bass trombone with technology similar to the Alessi T396-A. An independent model — the B502 — is currently being developed with James Markey.

Gerry recently presented a series of recitals and masterclasses on the prototype at TCU, Baylor and the University of Texas. He sounds great and we’re happy to have him playing an Edwards!

In our latest video, Christan discusses ways to prevent your horn from needing costly repairs caused by high acid levels in your skin. Really. We aren’t making this up.

The fear of the unknown can keep us from trying new things. I can remember worrying about algebra when I got to high school. I’d heard so many people complain about it that I was sure it was going to destroy me, but it didn’t. My son is afraid of new vegetables. The first time he tried spinach was in a spinach and cheese dip (we fooled him). He loved it so much that he has no problem eating spinach by itself now.

The idea of buying a custom instrument can feel like eating spinach or taking an algebra test to some of you. I’ve been in the booth at many shows where someone will pick up a horn, play a note and put it back down. At that point I usually ask if I can help. “No thanks. These horns have too many options. I wouldn’t know where to start.” Those of you that have gone through the fitting process know better. We don’t just throw a pile of parts at you and ask you to choose. Instead we ask a lot of the same question: “Better or worse?” We don’t tell you what you’re playing. Ideally, we’d turn off all the lights or blindfold you so you’d have to rely entirely on your ears. But we’re worried about those of you with less-than-awesome coordination or vertigo.

To better demonstrate the fitting process, Paul Tynan agreed to be our lab rat in this abbreviated session. Thanks to Michael Clobes for filming and editing the video. Christan did some stuff, too.

Dear Friends,

Recent solo concerts and teaching have been great. Thanks to Mark Weaver and The Roost in Albuquerque, Steve Paxton at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Stephen Jones at Texas Tech, Richard Birk at Brazosport College and JD Guzman at Spring HS.

Big thanks to Edwards Instrument Company for sponsoring these events, making this tour possible and supporting my art wherever it takes me.

Below are a few videos from the concert at The Roost.

Duo with Mark Weaver

Solo excerpt with rain

Solo improvisation excerpt

For updates, future events, releases, more videos and sound, visit www.braintone.com. For my related solo project (music, books, art, writing, etc.), visit www.obscuritysquared.com and www.facebook.com/nellanairb.

Brian Allen

Tim Heston from thefabricator.com recently interviewed Christan for a podcast on metal fabrication in brass instrument manufacturing. Soundtrack provided by Joe Alessi.

Superbrass has just released Under the Spell of Spain, a CD of Spanish-inspired music for brass and percussion. Roger Argente is the executive producer and also the group’s bass/contrabass trombonist. Other musicians include Mike Allen, Philip Cobb, Roby Coles, Mike Lovatt, Jim Lynch, Paul Mayes, Brian Thompson, Adam Wright, Chris Parkes, Matthew Gee, Mike Hext, Phil White, Andy Wood, Kevin Morgan, Andy Barclay, Paul Clarvis, Michael Doran, Matt Perry, Frank Riccott and Mike Smith.

We’ve heard the CD, and our unbiased, objective opinion is that you need to own it. The brass (and percussion) playing is phenomenal! Watch the video below and we’ll think you’ll agree. And be sure to follow Superbrass on Facebook.

Trumpet artist Graham Ashton just returned from France where he performed and recorded with
Michäel Matthes, organist at Troyes Cathedral. The resulting CD – In Recital – features the following works:

• Musique pour Le Vent du Nord
  Josquin des Prez, arr. Ashton
• Parts Upon a Ground
  Henry Purcell, arr. Ashton
• Toccata and Fugue in D minor
  J.S. Bach
• Sonata in F
  G.F. Handel, arr. Ashton
• Carillon de Westminster
  Louis Vierne
• Sonata for trumpet and organ
  Roger Steptoe (premiere recording)
• Toccatas in g minor and e minor
  Johann Pachelbel
• Fantasia Upon a Ground after Purcell
  Graham Ashton (premiere recording)