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GEM-TONES STAGEBAND Community Music Play for Life
 
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Inverell 

Eisteddfod Audience Notes Transcript

 and

Launch of the FOSSICKERS

http://www.the-fossickers-jazz-training-combo.websyte.com.au

16-9-05.

Hello,

We are the ‘Gem-Tones’ Stage-band.

We have prepared a concert selection for you, this evening, representing most of the types of music encountered in a Stage-band style ensemble. The only exceptions are the classic big-band swing styles and full jazz-band arrangements. Maybe next time…

Stage-band concerts are an interactive event. It is important that the audience is comfortable with the option they have to contribute to the performance. It could take a couple of forms dependant on the purpose of the pieces we perform.

Our first two pieces both feature, improvised solos. ‘Buffalo Head’, (stage-band titles are interesting to say the least), an instrumental feature piece, includes solos by James Croft (on Trumpet) and Tim Orchard (on Guitar). Please, feel free to demonstrate your appreciation of the courage and inventiveness of these members’ solos.

I’m sure you will appreciate the dramatic contrast in our second piece. ‘Quiet Little Town’ (an apt choice for Inverell?), is a dance-backing piece. This piece would normally be extended with a number of solo instrumental features as it calmly settles in as an appropriate accompaniment for balls and similar engagements. Solos here feature James, again, and the smooth guitar of the infamous ‘Ollie’ Cabitza. While it may not be appropriate at an Eisteddfod to take to the floor with your partner, enjoy our opening two pieces.

(Play)

Thankyou,

Our last two pieces, rounding out our concert selection, represent the responsiveness to modern audiences possible in stage-band arrangements.

Another instrumental feature piece, ‘The Impression That I get’, will be followed by a vocal number introducing the fabulous Meg Searle. The Sax solo is provided by John Opat Thivakon.

(Play)

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Gem Tones Stage-band.

Any musicians that may wish to experiment in this style are most welcome to contact us, C/o MHS, or via our website www.gem-tones-stageband.websyte.com.au  .  Keep an ‘ear-out’ for information regarding another ensemble, forming soon, that will enable almost any musician to experience the stage-band combo styles. It will be called the ‘FOSSICKERS’. Once the music community experiences the joys of fossicking, you never know when we may discover a new ‘Gem-Tone’.

MUSIC-PLAY FOR LIFE.

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Primary Gem-Tones Press Release - 05.

The GEM-TONES may not be a house hold name in Inverell just yet, but that will change.

The GEM-TONES is the proposed title for Inverell’s newest Schools and Community music group. Based around the format of a Stage Band (Big Band or Dance Band to those who lived the period) the group will perform a variety of styles including Swing, Jazz, Standard Ballades, and the modern variants of Funk and Fusion. Movie themes and R’n’B/Ska songs such as those from the ‘Blues Brothers’ and ‘Mighty Mighty Boss-tones’ round out the vast repertoire the group will work to present.

Additional to the standard rhythm section of Piano, Bass, Guitar, Kit Drums, Tuned and Hand Percussion, will be Trumpets, Trombones and Saxophones (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone). There is room for Flutes and Clarinets as well with many of the scores that don’t already feature specific parts easily rearranged to suite. The band can be scaled to suit both a big ‘feature’ sound or sprout smaller ensembles suited to dinner music.

Vocal parts feature heavily in the broader sense of the styles as well, so as the group grows it will need to source talented singers from all ages to ‘front’ the band.

Local musician and teacher, Peter Schuhmacher, who will be directing the project, commented that Inverell was entering a positive growth period for both musical and general cultural development. “It makes perfect sense to take advantage of the heightened awareness in the community surrounding the arts to launch the project now. New instrumental teachers, the concept of the conservatorium and the council’s moves forward with a cultural plan are good signs, but it is the requests from the community itself that makes launching a new community Stage Band such a promising project.”

A pilot project for the Stage Band ran, briefly, five years ago and not only successfully recorded tracks included on the 1999 Kool Skools CD, but also performed as the main entertainment for two successful Balls held by the Inverell Theatre Company in the Town Hall. “The styles of music enable the group to perform at such a variety of functions. At the Balls people could dance and enjoy the songs as well as the instrumentals. I imagine, with the provision of electricity to the new Rotunda built by Rotary, in Campbell Park, the band could become a regular at many community events. Then, once the group gets known, more organizations that regularly hold events might like to engage the Stage Band for extra excitement.” Mr Schuhmacher said.

In the initial stages, as with other community organizations, there will be some reliance on the resources and facilities of the local schools. “There is enough music available to see the Stage Band into the beginning of the festival season”, noted Mr Schuhmacher, “after that, and the band has shown itself viable, it will be necessary to form a support group and possibly seek a sponsor. The pilot project didn’t charge a membership fee, it provided a uniform and the donations from the Inverell Theatre Company were used to purchase music. I hope the GEM-TONES can work in a similar way, but at $80 to $120 per arrangement that may have to be looked at early in 2006.”

Interested musicians are welcome to attend rehearsals at Macintyre High’s music rooms Thursdays 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Additional information, and copies of the 1999 Kool Skools CD, can be obtained by contacting Peter Schuhmacher c/o Macintyre High School.

HOME PRACTICE CD's, also available...

"Sit in" nights coming up Thursday nights 28-7-05, 4-8-05, 11-8-05, 7pm till 9pm...

Thinking of 'doubling' on a stage-band instrument? http://www.playtodaymusicrentals.com

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