In a couple months I'm packin' up and shippin' out on over Italy to study language and classical music, my two loves. After I graduate, I'm going back for some sort of musical degree -- I'm leaning towards either Musicology or Jazz Studies, but I just can't pick... ....anyways.... I'm looking forward to a life full of music. I play both the viola and the guitar, and hoping to join up with a orchestra after leaving school as well hook up witha few Jazz projects, record some cd's, etc, etc.... For those of you who are professional musicians, do you find it to be tight living? (Trouble making ends meet, etc, etc, etc). How's finding work? Hell, give me some stories -- enquiring minds what to know! ------------------ Hey now, Hey now, don't Dream it's over...
I play with a local band - Global Village. Houston is a good market for classical musicians but sucks for club musicians. It is very political and not too many clubs that will pay well. The better cats in town do alright, though. My favorite gig was when my band played at the 95 championship party for the Rockets - some serious drinking going on that night. Luckily, they won game 4 because they were going to make us break down and set up again after game 5. Good luck in Italy! ------------------
B-ball have you heard or seen a new group in Houston called orchestra X (accually they've been around a few years)? I had a friend who is an opera singer who did a show with them a couple of years ago. From what I've heard, orchestra X is a great group that really tries to bring a love of classical music to younger people. Just wondering if you've seen them and what your thoughts were. Stone Cold, good luck in Italy! Have you ever been before? (I'm assuming you have since your going to school there). Where are you going to school? ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.' [This message has been edited by mc mark (edited January 30, 2001).]
No I haven't, but it sounds like a cool program. There are not enough of them out there that get kids involved in music at an early age. ------------------
http://www.orchestrax.org/ Orchestra X is a non-profit organization based in Houston, Texas committed to advancing the education and performance of classical music targeted for the generationX market. Orchestra X was founded in 1996 by conductor, composer John Axelrod whose background consists of nearly a decade of professional music performance, artist management, event planning, record production, music publishing and artist development. In order to better reflect GenerationX, musicians will be primarily students from Rice University Shepard School of Music, University of Houston Moores School of Music, and from existing ensembles in the Houston community. The future of classical music lies in the development of new audiences, but the demands and attitudes of the new generation have changed while the education and performing methods of traditional orchestras have not. Orchestra X believes that classical music should be presented to GenerationX on their terms: self-expression and interactivity. Currently the Houston market is shared by only a few professional orchestral ensembles, small considering Houston is one of the largest cosmopolitan cities in the United States. At present, there is no chamber orchestra offering the repertoire and performance goals of Orchestra X, nor is there any organization catering specifically to the niche market of GenerationX. So as to better serve the community, Orchestra X believes in collaboration rather than competition with existing community arts organizations. ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
cool site... I am going to have to check that out. As long as we are plugging sites here is ours - www.GVFUNK.com - it is still being updated and some of the audio links are being repaired. ------------------
mc mark, never seen them, but I have heard wonderful things about them...they are big in the local art scene... ------------------ Big A, little a bouncing B, The System might have got you, but it won't get me.
Hey!? Aren't you supposed to be on the way to Atlanta? ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
Man, I've been playing in Houston for 17 years. I played for a living for quite a while and now own a production company. I played with the Basics, Under the Sun, the Surrealtors (among many others) and did a TON of sessions and live gigs with other bands and singer/songwriters. I also played jazz, latin and did every jam night known to man. I haven't been out playing in clubs in a couple of years because I really needed the break. I own a small project studio and production company with a friend who I've played with for years and still write and record music every day. In fact, I'm mixing all this week in preparation for mastering this Friday. I'll give you guys some links to MP3's when I'm done. Besides the original stuff, I've done some music for radio commercials and some other moderate production work. I've also worked turning knobs in my studio for singer/songwriters and others. The great thing about doing the stuff I'm doing is I've been able to still do what I love and work with some great musicians. Over the past month, I've recorded violinists, saxaphone players, B3 players, harmonica players, singers, etc. It's been a blast. My partner and I are planning on getting back out there and playing in a limited capacity later this year. I'm ready to get back some of that interaction with other musicians I miss sitting in my studio. B-Ball Freak: How long have you been with Village? The Basics, UTS and others I played with used to do gigs with them. Chris Axelrad is Axeman on this BBS and I'm sure you know him. ------------------ Me fail English? That's unpossible.
Jeff, I have been with the Village since its inception in 1990. Axelrad was with us 91 to 93 or so. One of the most versatile drummers I have ever played with. I still see him with TKOh! occasionally. Yeah, we definitely run in some of the same circles, playing a lot of the same places. We just did another overhaul of our membership (neverending) but we are still chippin' away at it. Do you know any smokin' keyboardists looking for a steady? - our latest challenge. ------------------
Also, what are the specs on your studio? --Looking to record in the next few months. ------------------
Professional? I don't make any money at it..so I guess not But I am a bass player and ex-knobtwister.. or make that slider-pusher...uuummm damn..can't figure out a cute way to saay that I used to be a audio engineer!! loved my time there..but there is way more money in computers than as a inexperienced engineer. go figure btw..good luck in Italy Stone Cold ------------------ no sig here [This message has been edited by Rockets2K (edited January 30, 2001).]
For real?! I first saw you guys years ago at Yaga's, I think(used to be next to Sam's Boat. Where do you guys play at these days? Me and my lady friend like to check out bands as often as possible and it would be nice to hear you guys again. ------------------ "Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps." -- Tiger Woods
Anybody hear of a band in the late 80's, early 90's in Houston called "1453BC"? I sloshed gear for them for a couple of years. ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
Well, I made money at it, but not enough to make it stick. From 1986-1998, I lived in Los Angeles and played with two bands known as The Scraps and Brother Buzzard. The Scraps were an alt-pop thing with lots of vocal harmonies, and Brother Buzzard was a "hard-roots" band, kind of like the Who would sound if they played Johnny Cash songs. We gigged all over So. Cal and toured the southwestern USA twice. Played on television and radio. Played many legendary clubs including the Palomino, China Club and the House of Blues. Released two indie casettes (back when CDs were way too costly to duplicate). Appeared with acts like Brian Setzer, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Dwight Yoakum, Mick Taylor (ex-Rolling Stone) & Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry's piano player). Jammed with Phil & Dave Alvin (from the Blasters), Kathy Valentine (from the Go-Gos) and Ivan Neville. Now that I'm back in Houston, I play the jam sessions at Danelectro's & Silky's, and play occasionally with a band called the Holdouts. But I'm with Rockets2K...lots more $$$ in computers. I sure wouldn't be able to afford the Lexus I drive on gig money! ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
yeah, Yaga's was a great place. Too bad it is a parking lot now. We are at The Sports Resort on 59 and West Airport on Feb 17 and Mardi Gras Galveston on Feb 24. Hopefully, we will be at Griff's on St. Patty's day. ------------------
Thanks to all the well wishers -- it's gonna be a welcome break from the daily grind over here. I've heard money's tight for giggers but I can't imagine myself trying to make a living off that anyways. Jazz doesn't seem to draw much and I like playing classical more anyways. I'd be interested to check out that Orchestra X -- sounds kinda interestin'. Anyways, keep the stories comin'. I'd share some if I had anything but the most exciting thing I've done (musically) is to play in Carnegie Hall. Now that was kick ass.... ------------------ Hey now, Hey now, don't Dream it's over...
If you're looking for a great music school jazz wise, look into the University of Northern Colorado (http://www.unco.edu). Our jazz instructor was voted into the Music Educators Association hall of fame. Unfortunately, he's retiring, but we should have a permanent replacement in place in a year or so. ------------------ Nuggets4 The Pinnacle - Rising to the Top With the Denver Nuggets http://www.NugsPinnacle.com
b-ball: Sorry but I don't know any keyboard guys. I am looking for a pianist myself. I've been talking to Chris recently about doing some stripped down acoustic (i.e. Mucky Duck) type stuff - arrangements of the songs my partner and I write. As for my studio, it is probably too small for your purposes. It is a small digital project studio (16 tracks) though I've recorded everything here - drums, sax (I just had David Caceras doing some sessions for me recently), violin, you name it. Most of the stuff I record for others is singer/songwriter stuff and demos. My room is really too small for full bands and turning knobs for others is more about making money than enjoyment. I've learned to engineer from being a studio rat for so long and because I wanted to record my own stuff without the expense of a big recording studio. I have been doing some overdub work recently also - drum loops and programming, vocal and guitar overdubs - that sort of thing. People have brought in stereo mixes of stuff and I've recorded overdubs with my stuff, which is kind of a cool niche. It is cheaper for people than doing it at Sugar Hill or somewhere like that (where I'm doing my mastering this Friday) but it is still digital and good quality plus some people feel more comfortable in a smaller room. It is less intimidating if you haven't lived in studios like I seem to have. Good to see some fellow music geeks on the Clutch BBS!!! ------------------ Me fail English? That's unpossible.
