Brass Ensemble Recording in honor of Larry Rachleff

I had the awesome pleasure recently to make an audio and video recording of a large brass ensemble dedicated to honoring a fantastic conductor, mentor, and friend, named Larry Rachleff. Larry has touched so many young musicians’ lives with his conducting, his love of music, his ever demanding standards, and his everlasting support. Larry has had some health issues this year making life difficult, and these wonderful musicians saw fit to honor him in the best way they knew how! The group consisted solely of graduates of Rice University, people who have studied and played for Mr. Rachleff at Rice, and was a who’s who of DC-area musicians. Players from the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Richmond Symphony,, U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), U.S. Navy Band, U.S. Air Force Band, U.S. Coast Guard Band, U.S. Naval Academy Band, and the U.S. Marine Band (The President’s Own) all convened in Alexandria, Virginia to record two works: Percy Granger’s “Horkstow Grange” from Lincolnshire Posy (arr. Tim Higgins), and “The Gathering of the Armies on the River Scheldt” by Richard Wagner. The conductor was Jerry Hou, direct from his current staff position at Rice University. All I can say is, WOW. The first time (and every time) they lit into the River Scheldt from Lohengrin, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. It is quite a testament to Rice University that there are so many fine brass players in the DC area alone! Just amazing! Enjoy the video!

Personnel is listed at the end of the video.

Great 3 days of recording with Stiletto Brass

I recently had a chance to record and produce for an outstanding brass quintet, Stiletto Brass. This ensemble has been around for quite a few years, and has been a consistent presence at international brass festivals and workshops. They have a previous album, featuring none other than Doc Severinsen on trumpet, and they contacted me this spring about putting a new album together this summer.

I simply love recording brass quintet. The ability to hear the sonic blend and resonance of a great brass ensemble, hearing the overtones produced when all the voices are in tune and balanced, is truly a special experience in the musical world. Stiletto Brass has the enviable trait of having 5 individuals who each have a stylish musical voice of their own, able to stand out as soloists, yet still come together to produce a beautiful, sonorous, and blended sound quality that fits the various styles they recorded perfectly.

Speaking of style, Stiletto Brass is able to play anything from jazz, to baroque, to modern music composed just for them, in a convincing way. It was a treat to hear a new work commissioned by the ensemble by Drew Bonner, as well as a jazz tune called Boy Meets Horn (nicknamed Girl Meets Horn by both the group and me), a baroque standard by William Boyce, and a piece by Andre Lafosse that I wasn’t familiar with called Suite Impromptu. Lafosse was professor of trombone at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1948 - 1960, and contributed some important works to the trombone, and brass quintet literature. The piece Stiletto found and recorded is an absolute delight.

For the recording, I covered all my bases and used two sets of main mics (omni and cardioid), plus my stereo ribbon mic to gather the sound in the room where we recorded. Flank mics to add width, and spot mics for any minute balance adjustment in post production rounded out the mic-ing plan. The chapel at Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church was a beautiful venue for us to record in for the three day session.

Oh, and did I mention that this ensemble is all WOMEN?!?! I figured you might guess that… ;) I have to say it is wonderful to see these musicians leading the way as brass players in a field that is starting to see greater numbers of women as professionals. I can only imagine the young girls who might be inspired to know that they can play trombone, tuba, horn, or trumpet, and that they have professional role models to hear and emulate. A discussion about the title of “Boy Meets Horn” needing some reworking for this recording just might have taken place… I can’t wait for you to hear it!

Release details will be forthcoming, and I will certainly make an announcement here when the finished recording is ready. I’m excited for you to hear and to get to know Stiletto Brass.

Stiletto Brass is Amy Gilreath and Susan Rider (trumpets), Rachel Hockenberry (horn), Natalie Mannix (trombone), Velvet Brown (tuba)

You may find their website HERE.

Their first album is HERE.

Happy faces when the producer says, “OK, that’s a wrap!!!”