A few tunes from New Year gig I did at BBC Radio Scotland…

Track 9 (Ain’t that a kick in the head) has the host of the show Bryan Burnett singing with the band.

Swing Sensation Hogmanay by Ewan Mains

Well -just updated the gallery page -

Gallery

Got some audio from New Year as well, which is sounding pretty ok! – I’ll stick some tracks on shortly.

Well – finally got around to recording some audio with the new Flugel. I’m well impressed! If you get a chance, have a look at Eastman’s site. Chris, who runs the company is great to deal with!

Just though I would post an issue a friend was having & my advice to him. It’s a common issue & one which I used to suffer from myself – I think many trumpet players out there know this all too well…

K: I’m havin mouthpiece issues…… embouchure has adapted to bobby shew lead…….but cant seem to be able to keep it up for 3 45s……. went back to bucket mouthpiece..but it just aint happenin….any ideas?

E: Are u playing mike’d up?

K: practicin no…but normally yeah…

E: Whats the symptoms then? Losing range/sound breaking up etc?

K: breakin up sound aye…also loosing range..but because my lips seem to be goin in the mp or somethin….almost like because ive been playin for a lengthy period they have become slghtly swollen..thus touchin inside the mp..

E: Sounds a familiar issue. You’re using too much pressure when you’re tired. It’s a common problem with a shallow piece like the Shew Lead. Take time, do a proper warm up – whatever it takes to get things working before gigs – but take it easy. Remember you’re mike’d up for gigs, so make the mike work for you – don’t blow your arse off!

Your chops are swelling up at the mid point because you’re getting fatigued & are resorting to using excess pressure – as soon as that happens, then you’re into a download spiral of pressure vs range vs volume vs swelling.

Try to use plenty warm air & support – don’t squeeze the upper register. Remember – you’re mike’d up – if it doesn’t sound loud enough then turn it up out front or in the monitors!

Consider getting a perspex shield for the mic – that way you’ll get some reflected sound and lessen the tendency to overblow.

Excess tension & overblowing = inefficient playing. Doing 3 x 45′s with a funk/soul type band – you need to pace yourself!

K: nice one Ewan… totally get what your sayin…..its aw makin sense….thanks mate!!!

Well – the new flug arrived last night despite parcel forces best efforts to mess up the delivery address (they a managed to deliver it to a street half a mile away). First impressions are very, very good. It looks beautiful, the red brass bell, is gorgeous, with some lovely engraving on it. It has extra heavy valve caps, which just look mad! After a good clean and oil with some Ultra-Pure, the valves and slides are pretty good. The valves will take a good few playing hours to bed in, but no hangs or drags so far. The springs are prime candidates for changing though as they are a bit heavy for me. Sound is pretty nice so far – I’ll need some more playing time on it to comment on intonation etc., but so far, so good & unbelievable for the price! I’ll write some more once I get the chance & maybe even record a clip or two.

Had a great rehearsal at the BBC on Tuesday night for the BBC Hogmanay show (thankfully on radio – not TV). We did two of my own arrangements, which was slightly nerve-wracking, but thankfully with a tiny bit of tweaking turned out all ok. Really looking forward to this one, not leads because of the fact that it’ll be the first New Year in 8 years I’ve ever spent with Voni & the kids!

Wasn’t going to post anything here, but feel I have to now! The ongoing debacle with parcelforce continues – grrr!!

Almost 6 months now and counting. If it wasn’t for the kindness and generosity of Jason Harrelson and the rest of the guys at Harrelson trumpets, I really don’t know what I would do.

My rebuilt Bravura is really getting into gear now and singing. Everytime I pick it up I get a lovely surprise!

Well – managed to sell my B&S trumpet for a decent profit on eBay, so I’ve bought one of these flugels…

Rose-brass bell, stainless steel valves as well as heavy & light valve caps for an amazing price! I’ll update once it gets here and I’ve had a chance to play it. May even upload some youtube if it sounds ok!

New Flugel!

I’m delighted to be playing with the SNJO February 2012 for a weeks tour with legendary Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine. Featuring the music of Weather Report.

“The programme will feature Weather Report classics including Wayne Shorter’s beautiful Elegant People arranged by Mintzer, Joe Zawinul’s dramatic Night Passage arranged by Mendoza, the bubbling Jaco Pastorius feature Teen Town arranged by Keezer, and Zawinul and the band’s signature composition,Birdland arranged by Dobbins, who has also contributed a new treatment of the atmospheric Waterfall from Weather Report’s pioneering first album.”

http://www.snjo.co.uk/index.php?id=424

Just updated the downloads page with a new practise routine!