MONTAGE
“Montage” is a collection of songs
that mark an important turning point or career marker in the life
and music of Andy Firth. Each arrangement has been crafted with
Andy’s ability to give his arrangements a unique and refreshing
approach.
Musicians:
Andy Firth (Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Composer, Arranger, Producer)
James Clark (Acoustic/electric bass, recording engineer)
Monique Di Mattina (piano, vocalist)
Jonathan Wade (electric piano/synths)
Rory McDougall (drums)
Dean Cooper (drums on Can’t buy me love, Frenesi and I can’t
give you anything but love)
Peter Gray (electric bass on Summertime, I’ll be seeing
you and Let it be).
Recorded at Atlantis Studios (Melbourne, Australia).
Recording dates:
6/5/09: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
7/5/09: tracks: 5, 7, 9,11, 13 and 14.
Mixed and produced by James Clark and Andy Firth.
SAX TO THE
MAX! - 16 saxophone big band
Following on from the success of his amazing 2000
release "Me, Myself & I - 16 Clarinet Big Band", Andy
is proud to release his much anticipated, "SAX TO THE MAX!
- 16 SAXOPHONE BIG BAND".
“SAX TO THE MAX” is exactly what the
title suggests; a recording packed with swingin’, tightly
scored, exciting arrangements of a few great big band hits, originals
and a few surprises here and there to keep the listener glued to
every note. thrill to Andy’s uniquely scored arrangements
of All of me, Only You, Moonlight Serenade, One O’Clock Jump,
Four Brothers, Walk Right In, Sesame Street Theme and a jaw dropping
arrangement of Scarborough Fair featuring the virtuosity of 15 year
old drummer James Jennings. Just a few from an amazing cd packed
with over an hour of great big band sounds-no trumpets or trombones-
just hot, swinging, pumping saxes!
Behind the scenes of “SAX TO THE MAX!”
'I scored 20 charts for this release and after
recording all of them I selected the 15 that feature on it. I
had never arranged for a saxophone big band and like the clarinet
big band format it was something that had always fascinated me,
yet because of the density and diverse ranges of the sax family
I chose to avoid doing this project until I had a better grasp
of orchestration techniques. The charts are scored for the following
sections:
SAX TEAM: 2 altos (clarinet at times), 2 tenors, and baritone.
TRUMPETS: 4 sopranos.
TROMBONES: 3 tenors and a baritone.
SOLOISTS: 1 Soprano, 1 alto, 1 tenor.
My dear friend and mentor Maestro Tommy Tycho has been an inspiration
to me for many years now and so when the opportunity to study
his arrangements and orchestration techniques under his guidance
availed itself early last year I grabbed it with both hands...and
then some! Every instrument (except the drums) was performed by
me (all saxes, clarinets, keyboards & sequencing) and I feel
that the tracks on this album are some of my best to date. I am
very proud of this cd and I’m sure that you’ll find
a smile on your dial when you hear it too.'
Cheers! Andy
Track listing for 'SAX TO THE MAX!'
- All of me.
- Bossa De Burrows
(Firth).*
- One O’Clock Jump.
- Only You.
- Sesame Street Theme.*
- Mark My Words (Firth).*
- Scarborough Fair.
- Moonlight Medley.
- Moonlight Serenade.
- Moonlight Becomes You.
- In The Chapel In The Moonlight.
- Blue Moon.
- Blue Matilda Waltz (Firth).
- Four Brothers.
- Rondo A ‘La Funk.
- Sax To The max!
(Firth).*
- How Can I Stop The Rain? (Firth).
- Tijuana Medley.
- Mexican Shuffle.
- A Taste Of Honey.
- What Now My Love.
- Spanish Flea.
- Tijuana Taxi.
- Walk Right In.
- Reprise-Sax To The Max! (Firth).
*These mp3 samples have been heavily compressed
for the web and do not reflect the fidelity of the actual
recordings!
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'It is refreshing to hear truly good
music instead of the rubbish we have to endure every day.
Andy has hit upon a successful formula with his multi-clarinet
concept, which he has expanded on this Album with multi
saxophones in a Big band format. The Arrangements are sparkling,
the playing exceptional and the choice of material inspired.
The C D: “SAX TO THE MAX!” will be one my prized
possessions with many hours of listening enjoyment.'
Maestro Tommy Tycho AM.MBE.
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