Wife and I are going to the Sinatra gig and to see TommyP. We might have a few tag alongs I'm getting a head count soon to get tickets. ;)

We should meet up somehow. Maybe make a VDF hat or something.

If the seats are the same as they were a few years ago,bring one of those football game hot seat things. They were all wooden. My old ass needs a good cusion.LOL!!

Sounds like a plan. We'll meet up for sure. Thanks for the tip on the seats too. I hear ya there!!

Hey TommyP - What a great gig man! I watched the compilation video. I know you never can get bored with playing great old classic tunes like that set is composed of.

Did you have to work off of charts at first? You look real 'at-home' back there and I didn't see you go to the charts once. Have you been playing big band tunes a long time? The Rogers kit sounds awesome!

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to your band. Great bunch of musicians. Your counterpart, the bass-player, is a very talented guy. Strong rhythm section.

John

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw6TLeJcZzk&list=UL[/ame]

Nice brush work!!!

Ed

BigE / Glenn!

THANKS for the nice promo guys!, and... we will of course have to meet/chat too! By the way, Infinty Hall was completely restored right back to ORIGINAL, and as such it does indeed have wooden seating! Very nice inside though, and I can also tell you that acoustically, well... it is an absolute DREAM as it was built way before the "sound reinforcement" of today, thus... it is an absolute JOY to play. I did a smooth jazz show there a couple years back and was absolutely blown away with the accoustic sound on that stage. THANKS for the nice words too BigE!

Purdie/John!

I have been working with the "Sinatra Show" for the past 5 years now, and will say that everything is indeed charted out. However... in that time, I have committed all the "regular" charts to memory, you know... the one's that are played just about every show. There are a few that John/Frank will pull out on us when he's in the mood, so I have to have those at the ready, just in case. This particular show I didn't need them. It is a reading gig though. If someone were to fill for me, they would have to read the charts as there are sections, vocal lines, and shout chorus's that have specific "kicks" which are concerted with the horns. It is a GREAT gig and I enjoy it immensely. The audiences are always GREAT too!

The compilation vid was assembled by Infinity Hall, and it looks like they borrowed from our "clips" that reside on the demo. A lot of the "Sinatra style" is the 2 beat feel, followed by 4/4 during the chorus and solo's. It's NOT a "chops fest" gig by any measure, yet I do have some spots where I can throw some stuff in. Proper feel/tempo is the key to this gig... well that and catching all the "figures" with the horns where applicable. The bass and ride cymbal supply most of the pulse for the swing stuff in this style, and an excellent bass player is a must! I've been working with Tyler in different settings/groups for close to 20 years now. We know exactly what the other is going to do... makes it real nice/easy to play!

You asked about playing big band, and yeah... I was never a rock and roller. ( can you tell??!!... although I love that style and respect the guys that play it! ) I started reading charts and playing with a big band back in HS... then college.. ( Berklee in Boston ) .. and it continues to this day.

Normally I wouldnt even post this stuff up, but seeing as it's already up: Here are a couple in their proper length that will show a little more.. and .. one very well known Sinatra tune that breaks away from the swing feel, but still features the triplet. THANKS for all the kind words!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoXYFl1M6Wc[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQJXqKQ1mvc[/ame]

Tommyp

Tommy - I'm surprised you guys haven't upgraded from paper charts to ipads! It's more compact that's for sure.

The snare and bass drum (the heart) of that kit sounds great. What brass are you using? Love the hats and the rack-side crash has a great explosive sound to it. They sound too bright to be K's, that's why I'm asking.

John

Well... the charts are all written out using computer software... does that count? The iPads are slowly making their presence known actually. I have done a few gigs this year where the horn section on the gig did indeed have those. As for me, well... whereas I am computer literate, when it comes to writing out drum charts/arrangements, I am "old school" for sure. I write my own charts based off the lead trumpet chart, and they are written in such a way that anyone that reads music could fill the drum chair in my absentia. It works just fine, even for the outside venues.. although .. one still needs to keep a decent supply of clothespins at the ready! LOL!

The snare drum is a 1967 wood/WMP Dynasonic, and I have to say that THIS particular drum... is THE one. It covers every style perfectly, including dance/funk gigs, yet retains all the sensitivity needed to cover jazz/popular music. I have had four wood Dynasonics.. ( still have two, both WMP ) .. and whereas they were all nice, not all of them play/sound like this one. You can hear the "fattness" on "That's life"... and then the sensitivity/articulation with brushes on "Cute", and all at the same tension/tuning. Really, a super nice drum. The cymbals...

... are all SABIAN HH's, natural finish. ( been playing SABIAN HH's since 1986! ) Good ear as you heard the slight "darkness" which would suggest a "K" if they were Zildjians. Well, I guess they are Zildjian's, as what's in a name? LOL!! They are all HH's, but... I keep them CLEAN/POLISHED as I like that little extra "cut" this supplies, yet retains a slight darkness due to the hand hammering. Just a personal choice there. The crashes are both 17"... Med/Thin on the left, and Thin on the right. Buddy used 18's, but the 17's are perfect for what I play. Plenty of punch!, yet soft/musical when needed. The hats are my own Hybrid: 13" HH Fusion/Heavy on the bottom, with a 13" Manhattan Jazz on top. This particular combination covers all styles too, with the Manhattan Jazz being a little "softer" then the norm, but retaining plenty of "chick" and stick definition.

Was nice to chat about this stuff! THANKS for asking!

Tommyp

> Was nice to chat about this stuff!

LOL - You're a pip, Tommy... 'chatting about that stuff' is what we do here!

Thanks for the responses...

John