Day 1208: Jazz Trippin'

One of the best parts of being a music student is the opportunity you have to travel. In High School, many go on band trips, but jazz trips are pretty popular too. In fact, in my years traveling with the high school band, I went on six trips that allowed me to travel through at least 18 states and to some of the greatest places in the world, Disney included. In college, that changes a bit. Usually, at St. Norbert, we'll go on a large trip every few years with the wind ensemble, but if you really want to travel more often, Jazz band is the way to go.

Once a year the St. Norbert College Jazz Band packs up their instruments and heads to a jazz festival. Typically it's been to the Eau Claire Jazz Festival, just like this year, but from the sound of it we might be exploring some new locations starting next year. Regardless, we headed out early in the morning for Eau Claire, and had quite the day!

It has to be noted that we listened to Disney music for the whole three hour drive out to Eau Clarie, and then, once we got there and finished our performances, we made our way around the campus, exploring their union and library. We also had a chance to catch some professional performances as a part of the festival, and looked at new instruments that we definitely can't afford. Finally, after we left, we stopped in Eau Clarie for a group dinner at a local pizza joint, and let me tell you, there's nothing quite like eating unlimited pizzas with a bunch of jazz musicians. 

And that's just it. As much as traveling places is fun, it's even more fun with your friends, and when you're always doing something you love. I wasn't feel well the entire day, but I definitely still had a great time and am really looking forward to next year's jazz trip too! And here's one more picture, because when you find a beautiful scene like this, you just have to capture it! 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1167: For the Fourth Time

To a musician, one of the best parts of life is meeting other musicians, especially when they're your favorite musicians! Of course, meeting your favorite saxophone player four years in a row isn't a chance everyone has, but it's definitely become a highlight of my spring semester these past few years! 

You can find the FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD times I met Mr. Eric Marienthal by clicking the links, but this year we headed back to the Shawano Jazz Festival, or Shazz for short, with a whole bunch of jazz musicians ready to see Marienthal and this year's other guest artist, Chuck Loeb. 

For those of you that don't know these musicians, Eric Marienthal is a professional saxophone player and produces some of his own music as well as with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. He's won one Grammy award and has performed with artists such as Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Mathis, Olivia Newton-John, and many many others. Chuck Loeb is a Grammy nominated guitarist, composer, and producer, as well as a #1 jazz recording artist. He has been a producer of over thirty world-renowned recording artists and produced 18 solo CDs. So I guess you could say that these guys are pretty important in the music world. 

This year at Shazz, Eric performed my favorite song of his, "Baby Cakes," and they also did some tracks from their new album Bridges. If you're looking for some new jazz to listen to on this fine day, definitely check both of them out! After all, I know for sure that Eric has plenty of connections to Disney, and I'm sure Chuck does as well! 

Have a magical day! 

Day 810: Third Time's The Charm

I like to believe that the saying "The third time's the charm" is actually true, but then again, I find I'm pretty superstitious altogether (11:11 people...it works). While THAT is a topic for another blog post, I think that the time I spent surrounded by music yesterday definitely showcases the ways the saying rings true.

I said a number of times yesterday that the Shazz Festival Day is better than Christmas, and really, it is. Not every musician has the chance to see their favorite performer, in concert, attend a workshop with them and then meet them in person...and most absolutely don't get to do it three times in a row. Amazingly enough, I am one of those lucky people.

Two years ago I attended my second Shazz Festival, although technically it was the first year I stayed for the entire experience. As a senior, I had high hopes of getting into the All Star Group, and when I did, I was thrilled. However, that definitely wasn't the best part of the day. Oh no...the best part was getting to play with professional saxophonist Eric Marienthal, a musician that eventually become my inspiration in my major. Plus, that day was the day I cite as when I decided to be a music major, and gosh it was a great choice.

And then last year I went back, not as a student, but as a musician and alumni, having the chance to meet Eric in person again, as well as the spectacular Gordon Goodwin, who has come up with some seriously great music. After all, he is an award winning composer.

But this year...this year I got to continue the tradition by meeting Eric (again) and another professional musician, Andy Martin, the lead trombonist in basically everything, including Dancing with the Stars!

And to conclude my day of music, my family, plus a friend of Jonny and my friend Ashley, attended the United States Army Field Band Concert, which was a pretty spectacular experience as well. The group is impressive, as it should be, considering it's made up of some of our country's most dedicated musicians. For some, they may have enjoyed one of the choral pieces, or the opera, or something else, but for me? Star Wars. That's right. They played the original theme from Star Wars and it was just about the greatest thing ever. My parents actually attended the Star Wars in Concert tour several years ago, and I didn't go along, simply because I didn't yet appreciate Star Wars. I kind of regret that decision. Either way...Star Wars...which also happens to work perfectly for a little way Disney has once tied into my day. 

Oh, and I know I mentioned this on the first blog post outlining my first trip to see Eric Marienthal, but Eric and Andy, as well as many of the other professional musicians I've met, actually worked at Disneyland and performed as part of the band back in the day. It certainly feels right to meet people so successful at what I work at everyday and to know that they too worked for Disney, the same place I hope to end up in my future. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on March 22).

Day 437: Gordon Goodwin

We have some theme music for today's blog post, so go ahead and hit play on this YouTube video!

Now, I'm sure that just about all of us have seen the National Treasure movies, along with stuff such as The Sorcerer's Apprentice, right? Of course we have! But do you know who did the music? Well I obviously do, and here's a hint: it's in the title today. 

That's right, Gordon Goodwin, most well known for his Big Phat Band featuring some of the world's best musicians, at least if you ask me. For the second year in a row, I had the privilege of going to the Shawano Jazz Festival. If you remember correctly, a year ago I went with the Jazz Band and had a chance to perform with my favorite saxophone player, Eric Marienthal. It was the experience of a lifetime! And this year, he brought Gordon Goodwin himself along for the ride!

While I'm not a member of the jazz band anymore, Megan and I tagged along to see their clinic, as well as others throughout the day, and then stay for the afternoon workshop and concert, featuring, you guessed it, Gordon Goodwin and Eric Marienthal. 

But that wasn't even the best part. After the concert, Megan and I set out on our mission to find the two of them for an autograph. We didn't know there was a table already set up for signing, and we ended up heading down the hallway they were coming down on their way to said table. In other words, we ended up being the first people to get their autographs, and the two of them actually ended up having an argument on my program where they signed. It was hilarious. 

In other words, I got to meet my favorite sax player yet again, as well as Gordon Goodwin, the person who arranged music for many Disney films. They actually both have been involved with Disney for years, so it fits perfectly for me! Plus the concert was AMAZING. Absolutely AMAZING. Like I have no words, ever, for how awesome it was. 

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on March 25 due to Midterms and Travel).

Day 388: Disney Jazz

It's honestly been a while since I've played some real jazz. Since I'm not in the jazz band here at SNC, you just don't play a lot of it otherwise (Wind Ensemble is fun but it's more classic stuff, not really the whole jazz thing...the most we got of jazz there was in Sleigh Ride). But today, as I'm sitting in the music lobby making up blog posts and doing homework in between classes, Megan texted me to tell me how awesome one of my CD's is: My Disney Jazz CD.

Now, I have a few different ones, but the one I know she's talking about (and that I'm now listening to as well), is Disney Jazz: Everybody Wants to Be a Cat. I've had it for a few years now, and listen to it on occasion (I tend to listen to Disney Parks music when doing homework of course), but I felt that I should blog on it, since I haven't actually blogged on it previous to right now.

There's tons of various songs on it, most notably Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat by Roy Hargrove. It's my personal favorite song on the CD, mostly because of the wonderful saxophone solo stuck in the middle of it, plus the fact that that song is basically the most classic Disney Jazz song of all time. But you've also got Chim Chim Cher-ee, Some Day My Prince Will Come, Find Yourself, You've Got a Friend In Me, He's a Tramp, Feed the Birds, Alice in Wonderland, The Bare Necessities, It's a Small World, Belle, Circle of Life, and my other favorite, Gaston.

Gaston, from Beauty and the Beast originally, is honestly probably the strangest song on the entire album. It's just plain WEIRD. Like parts of it make no sense whatsoever. It's just this big jumble of notes and sounds. But the funny thing is: IT WORKS. For some reason that song is so strange that it all blends together in this really weird way and it sounds AWESOME.

Other than those two I don't think I can really pick a favorite because I love them all. Disney and Jazz are both such important parts of my life that they fit together perfectly, and I really do suggest at least listening to the CD. I have Gaston tagged on below this for you to listen to, because...well...I just explained this!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This Blog Post was written on January 27, 2014). 

Day 68: Playing the Saxophone

As I mentioned yesterday, today my jazz band headed to a nearby city to perform at a jazz festival...and while originally I was under the impression that it would be a terrible day, it turned out to be one of the best days ever.

We headed out early in the morning, as we were the first group to perform in our room, and everything went alright. Well, it went as good as I figured it would, but then my band director, being the brilliant person he is, suggested that our clinicians, a trumpet professor, a student teacher who specializes in percussion and a professional saxophonist (Eric Marienthal), join us and play with us for the last five minutes of our time. Now, I initially thought that Eric would go to sit in the second row next to one of our altos that was playing a trombone part, but no...he grabbed a chair and sax right next to me...and read off MY part! I was literally freaking out...or at least as much as I can when he's sitting right next to me. And so we played part of one of our songs, and it was the most fun I have ever had in all of Jazz Band...probably in all of my time playing music period. It was only a couple of minutes but it was great!!! We went back for pictures..as you can see below, I couldn't really stop smiling.

I also got into the All Star Band, meaning that I got to practice a song with a select group for under and hour and then perform it during a concert for everyone attending the festival. It was also an amazing experience, and after that we had the privilege of listening to the professionals play...and that was simply amazing. I 100% suggest that if you are into music and have the opportunity to hear a professional play like that...do it, especially if it's something you love, just as Jazz is for me.

And you know, it always helps when the professionals were both members of the Disneyland Band back in the day. I thought that was just awesome.

Here's today's Disney History: 2001: Disney Channel's original movie, The Luck of the Irish, airs. A teenager must battle for a gold charm to keep his family from being controlled by an evil leprechaun. It will be the network's highest-rated original movie in the past three years.

Have a magical day!

Day 67: Jazz

Tomorrow my Jazz Band heads to a nearby city to perform at a jazz festival...featuring a professional alto saxophone player from LA. I'm pretty excited, as this is the second time I'll get to meet the professional (we went last year and he was there), although I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be playing a solo. It's a long story, but I'd love the feedback...and I'm not necessarily going to get any.

Either way, this morning we had a saxophone section (I'm lead alto for the group) and the five of us, plus our director, were discussing our futures. I'm double majoring in English and Saxophone Performance, and like I've said before, I'd love to head into Imagineerng. But one of our songs features the saxophone section on flute and clarinet and a couple people thought it was funny, but I put in my cent of the jazz band at the Grand Floridian.

I love this group, and I've certainly looked up to them over the past few years, especially since I became lead alto my Sophomore year. The Jazz Band is a great group, and I think it'd be wonderful to play with them someday. It's like one of my dreams.

Anyway, I've spent a good amount of time this morning listening to music from the Floridian, and it's kind of funny that it came up today since I spent a good amount of time yesterday writing about just this subject in my memoir. It's like the second time something has connected to the fact that I'm writing about stopping and smelling the roses. Maybe it's a sign that this section should be in the memoir?

Here's today's Disney History: 1983: U.S. President Reagan pays a visit to EPCOT, escorted by Dick Nunis, President of Walt Disney World, and several hundred math and science students from Central Florida. He first visits the American Experience attraction before making an afternoon speech at a podium located on the World Showcase Lagoon, directly opposite of Spaceship Earth. Reagan speaks of the promise of EPCOT Center and what it meant to his friend Walt Disney and to the world.

Have a magical day!