tagged w/ brass
-
Their bio: Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’ Bonerama is something different. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls” (2005) and praised for their “…crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls” (2007). Bonerama carries the brass-band concept to places unknown; what other brass band could snag an honor for “Best Rock Band” (Big Easy Awards 2007)? As cofounder Mark Mullins puts it, “We thought we could expand what a New Orleans brass band could do. Bands like Dirty Dozen started the “anything goes” concept, bringing in the guitars and the drum kit and using the sousaphone like a bass guitar. We thought we could push things a little further.”
Mike's thoughts: Bonerama is another band I saw while I was at the Future of Music Conference. They played a benefit concert while I was there and seeing them live is definitely an experience. Erin McKeowan, who joined Bonerama on stage compared playing with them to "being strapped to the front of a Mack Truck with no way to get off". I think that was pretty accurate.
Check them out live if you ever get the chance.
Their Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/boneramaTheir bio: Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’... more
-
-
"Scottish scientists using special software have managed to reconstruct an ancient brass instrument called the lituus.
The trumpet-like instrument, which had been played in Ancient Roman times, fell out of use more than 300 years ago.
Now, researchers at the University of Edinburgh along with the U.K.'s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have collaborated to produce the instrument.
Alistair Braden, a PhD student at the university, and his supervisor Prof. Murray Campbell, had been approached by the Swiss-based Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (SCB) to recreate the lituus. The SCB is a conservatory that focuses on early music.
Braden had developed a piece of software to improve the design of brass instruments. Using his software, the engineering research council was able to design the lituus based on expert guesses as to what it may have looked and sounded like.
The SCB provided ideas about the instrument's possible tonal quality, how it might have been played and diagrams of instruments that are likely similar to it.
"The key was to ensure that the design we generated would not only sound right but look right as well," Campbell told BBC News.
The end result is a 2.4 metre trumpet-like instrument with a flared bell at the end. It's described has having a piercing sound and a limited tonal range.
Two examples of the lituus were produced.
With them, the SCB was able to perform O Jesu Christ, meins lebens licht earlier this year. Written by Bach in the 1730s, the composition is the only piece of music in existence that requires the use of the lituus.
"The final design produced by the software could have been made by a manufacturer in Bach's time," noted Campbell.""Scottish scientists using special software have managed to reconstruct an... more
-
-
Rockin' yo' brass off NOLA-style, Fat Tuesday has just barely ended(Wed. 1PM). Bonerama always brings the party. Their a good fit for anyone hungry for that New Orleans funk sound with arena rock roots. Sounds weird, I know. Their originals reflect their roots in the big easy. And their arena rock anthem covers are off the hook!!!; Zepplin, the Allman Bros. and Sabbath with four, five and sometimes six trombones. The Whipping Post on their myspace page is nasty! Two of the Tromboneers are in Harry Connick Jr.s big band. Matt Perrin on Sousaphone/Tuba is a monster, too. The drum kit has been manned by a few badasses, rotating between Russel Baptiste- The Meters, Stanton Moore- Galactic and now Eric Bolivar- Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. All three of their albums are live recordings. Go check these cats out and prepared to be impressed.
http://www.myspace.com/bonerama
www.PartyGras2009.com
Bansheewail, over and out.Rockin' yo' brass off NOLA-style, Fat Tuesday has just barely ended(Wed.... more
-
