Edwards

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.

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.

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)

UPDATE: This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather. The OSU brass faculty hopes to bring Jim Markey, Adam Unsworth and Vince DiMartino to Stillwater at a later date.

The third annual Oklahoma State University Brass Day will take place on Saturday, February 5, 2011, and will feature James Markey, New York Philharmonic bass trombonist; Adam Unsworth, University of Michigan horn profressor; and Vince DiMartino, international trumpet soloist. All three will present masterclasses and perform.

There will also be performances by the OSU brass faculty (including Edwards artist Paul Compton), trombone ensembles, horn ensembles, low brass ensembles, trumpet ensembles, wind ensemble and guest participant ensembles.

In college, I had a friend that played a Bach 42B that smelled like death. It just about knocked me out when I got near the thing in wind ensemble rehearsals. We made fun of the guy for it, but it may not have been a laughing matter. According to a study released in Chest magazine and reported on ABC News, wind musicians, “may unknowingly inhale mold and bacteria from their instruments, which may lead to the development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP).”

Doctors say that even though these results aren’t shocking, they aren’t very common. Regardless, clean your horn before it starts breeding Sea Monkeys and Chia Forests. Need more incentive? Take a look at this…

UPDATE: NPR has posted an article that provides more information on Scott Bean, the unnamed trombonist in the ABC News article.

Troy Andrews, aka Trombone Shorty, is certainly making a name for himself. A few years ago, he was featured on an episode of the NBC series Studio Sixty on the Sunset Strip. He is appearing on the HBO series Treme (Andrews grew up in the famous neighborhood). And his latest CD, Backatown, is getting attention from publications like Entertainment Weekly and USA Today.

Starting at 3 pm (Eastern US daylight time) today, you can hear an interview with Andrews on NPR’s On Point. Check it out, and then buy his CD!

Update: We just received artwork of Troy and his Edwards Gen3X Trumpet to be featured on the sides of Canal St. streetcars in New Orleans through May 15.

Well, at www.edwards-instruments.com or Dillon Music or Washington Music.

Or at our upcoming trade shows.

Up next is the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention in San Antonio. TMEA is a huge event and this year I’m bringing a lot of horns (along with a few that only a handful of people have ever played). Be sure to stop by our booth to take part in some beta tests! It’s my goal to show you that our horns are best in your hands being used to create music and further yourself as a musician.

After TMEA we’ll be attending the National Trumpet Competition and Eastern Trombone Workshop in March. Trumpet players will be able to play test our new Eb (the one that’s been in development for three or so years). It’s actually been done for quite some time now, but we were finalizing a few small details before putting it into production.

Christan

We’re thrilled to announce another audition win for an Edwards artist. Nathan Zgonc, formerly of the San Antonio Symphony and currently serving as principal trombonist in the Utah Symphony, won the principal position in the Vancouver Symphony this past Sunday. He recently was a finalist for the associate principal job in the New York Philharmonic. Nathan performs on the new Alessi T396-A and is an all-around swell guy.