The WHOOPEE BAND have performed on stage and TV in most European countries, had their own 45 minute TV show in Germany, not to mention their very own TV series for London Weekend Television in the 70’s, it was called “Making Whoopee”. They have worked with many leading stars including Lionel Bart, Peter Cook & Dudley More and Max Wall. They have toured with Ralph McTell, Manhattan Transfer and many more.

Such is the bizarre nature of this outfit they not only play Theatres and Festivals all over Europe and beyond, they even played at the legendary BOB DYLAN concerts in Earls Court London in the late seventies and when Roger Daltrey of The Who got married they even played at his wedding. The WHOOPEE BAND have appeared in concert at the Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia and in Denmark with Dame Edna Everage …………in various concerts with Chris Barber, Kenny Ball, Lonnie Donegan and Acker Bilk plus many many more………If Musicians are have a “do” who do they book? 

Bob Kerr served his “apprenticeship” with such bands as The Temperance Seven, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and the New Vaudeville Band………….. Remember “Winchester Cathedral” ? well it was Bob who was chosen to sing this song through that now famous megaphone on Top of the Pops and the London Palladium to The Ed Sullivan Show in New York and most of the world all those years ago.

Bob has been running his WHOOPEE BAND since the late sixties. In this time the band have made many LP’s, CD’s, singles and Video’s and appeared in several major films.

Bob and the Boys regular travels over the last few years have taken them to Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, The Faro Isles, Iceland, Italy, Russia, Spain and of course Great Britain, playing Theatres, Music Festivals, Clubs and making regular appearances on TV in many countries (including Russia where their show was seen by 280 million people) .

Just 36 notes for Corrie trumpet
Carl Palmer
August 19, 2004

IT may be one of the world’s most famous pieces of music, but it earned the musician who played the theme to Coronation Street just ‘36.

For the past 40 years, the man behind the instantly-recognisable opening bars of the soap opera’s signature tune has modestly kept quiet about his claim to fame.

And despite being used to start 5,826 episodes, trumpeter Dave Browning, 68, has revealed how he has only ever received a one-off fee.

Brass band player Dave, from Wilmslow, said: “I suppose if a repeat fee had been part of the deal all those years ago I’d be a rich man.

“But all I got was a one-off fee of ‘36 because that was the musicians’ union rate for working on a theme. I was happy with the fee at the time, but Granada Television have all the rights so there won’t be any more for it.”

Headded: “I was just 24-years-old when I was approached by the musical director to record the theme in 1960.” He re-recorded the tune in 1964 and that version has been used ever since.

“In those days, if Granada wanted a trumpet player and I was in the right place at the right time to get the job.”

Professor

In a career spanning more than 50 years, Dave, a former music professor at Salford University has worked alongside some of the world’s greatest musicians, including Paul and Linda McCartney, Tony Bennett, and Henry Mancini. He has recorded some of the best known TV and radio show themes, including The Archers, Opportunity Knocks, New Faces, The Golden Shot, Nearest and Dearest, and The Wheeltappers and Shunters Club.

Dave, who is glad all attempts to update the Coronation Street theme have failed, said: “I still get royalty payments for a lot of these shows as they get repeated on Sky. Although I’m not a fan of the soaps myself, it is very gratifying to know that the sound of me playing the trumpet is heard not just here but all over the world several times a week.

“It is only eight bars of music, and I’ve lost count of the number of times it must have been played over the last 44 years.”

From Corrieblog

Frisky the cat was hired in 1990, appeared in the titles for more than 1,000 episodes and was paid a one-off fee of £200. But which human who made much more of an impact on Coronation Street’s opening titles was paid a meagre £36 in comparison?

Answer – Dave Browning is the fella who played trumpet on the original Corrie theme tune, written by Eric Spear. Dave was a former music professor and had no idea the show would be such a hit when he played the eight bars of music 45 years ago – so he accepted a one-off payment of £36.

The Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert 2010 will be conducted for the second time by the French conductor Georges Prêtre. Philharmonic Chairman Clemens Hellsberg stated that the decision was made “in recognition of our many years of collaboration and Prêtre’s extensive experience with this genre.” The success of Prêtre’s debut at the New Year’s Concert 2008 “was for both conductor and orchestra very gratifying.”
Georges Prêtre has been honored several times for his artistic achievements in his home country and also in Austria. In 2004 he was named a Commander of the French Foreign Legion and in the same year was awarded the Austrian Honorary Cross for Science and the Arts, 1st Class.

Since 1987 the conductors of the New Year’s Concert have alternated yearly. Herbert von Karajan conducted in 1987, followed by Claudio Abbado (1988 and 1991), Carlos Kleiber (1989 and 1992), Zubin Mehta (1990, 1995, 1998, 2007), Riccardo Muti (1993, 1997, 2000, 2004), Lorin Maazel (1994, 1996, 1999, 2005), Seiji Ozawa (2002), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (2001, 2003), Mariss Jansons (2006), Georges Prêtre (2008) and Daniel Barenboim (2009). In 2010 Prêtre returns to the podium of the New Year’s Concert for the second time.

The traditional Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert on January 1, 2009, was conducted for the first time by the Argentinean-Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. This all-round musician, who debuted as a pianist with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1965 and conducted the orchestra for the first time in 1989, combines his musical abilities with ideas and gestures which give his work significance beyond the concert hall. Among the many awards Barenboim has received was the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in Vienna in 2006, where the foundation’s board of trustees noted his “unifying efforts toward peace in the Middle East”.

Christoph Sembdner was born in 1970.

After he had served his apprenticeship in guitar making in Markneukirchen, Saxonia, Germany, he began his studies in plucked instrument making at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau in 1990 and graduated in 1994. In the same peroid, he took his master craftsman´s diploma in guitar making.

He attended a guitar making course held by the famous spanish guitar maker Jose L. Romanillos. This opened new vistas and is still influencing his work today.

In 1995 Christoph Sembdner was invited by the private vocational school MIRA in Moss/Norway to to establish the guitar department and taking over the task of teaching.

in 1996, after a period of practical work at the guitar manufature “Hanika” in Baiersdorf/Germany, he established his own workshop in Weimar/Germany, which he is running eversince.

Since 1999 he is also teaching part time at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, department instrument making Markneukirchen, the place where he once studied.

Opinions
what others say about my instruments…

Sembdner guitars are instruments of excellent performance. They leave nothing to be desired with regard to quality of tone, as well as to craftmanship. Singing trebles and strong basses, perfectly balanced, a wide range of timbres and easy playability are the features of these outstanding artists instruments.

Kaltchev guitarduo www.kaltchev.de

Right in the very heart of the city with the highest density of guitarists (worldwide?!) you will find a fine and familiar shop with well selected instruments an a master craftsman, with disdinguished skills to design and build instruments as well as modifying and repairing them. No doubt, Christoph Sembdner is my first choice with regard to my instruments.

Prof. Thomas Fellow www.thomasfellow.de

Soloist guitars made by Christoph Sembdner distinguish on a well balanced ratio between precious, singing trebles and powerful basses. Easily responding, the give full access to the player to put into reality the intention of his play in all dynamic nuances. Selected woods and masterly cfraftsmanship give them a precious appearance.

Prof. Monika and Prof. Jürgen Rost

descriptions & pics
here you´ll find a few of my guitars.
http://www.sembdner-gitarren.de/index.php?com-article=c4t1m36i55

concert guitar
“Christoph Sembdner 2008″
This guitar is an example of my standard concert model, executed in spruce and southamerican rosewood.

http://www.sembdner-gitarren.de/index.php?com-article=c4t1m36i55

copy of a historical guitar 2007
This instrument is a copy of a guitar made in 1946 by the famous german guitar maker Richard Jakob “Weissgerber” (1877-1960). The construction and the choice of woods is very close to a bowed string instrument, spruce and maple. A closer look reveals a slightly concave channeling along the edges of the top and the back, which improves the response of the guitar.

http://www.sembdner-gitarren.de/index.php?com-article=c4t1m36i55

concert guitar
“Christoph Sembdner 1994″
This is one of my early works and shouldn´t be missing in this galery.

http://www.sembdner-gitarren.de/index.php?com-article=c4t1m36i55

contact Peter Pollard

peter.pollard@dolphinmusic.co.uk

Manuel Rodriguez 1926-2008

Manuel Rodriguez Sr., internationally renowned for his classical guitars, passed away on Christmas day, aged 82.

Rodriguez, the grandson of flamenco guitarist Manuel Rodriguez Marequi and son of classical luthier Manuel Rodriguez Perez, learned the art of constructing a guitar firsthand.

His apprenticeship began at the age of 13 in Madrid and after operating in his own shop in Spain, he emigrated to Los Angeles in 1959 opening a business there.
Rodriguez resided in Los Angeles for nearly 15 years, making guitars for professionals, Hollywood actors, teachers, and students before moving back to Madrid in 1973.

Manuel Rodriguez passed the art of guitar-making to his two sons, Manuel Jr. and Norman, who continue the business.

A lengthier obituary will appear in the February issue of MI Pro.

Peter Pollard

With 40 years working in the music industry worldwide, his knowledge and experience stocks a comprehensive music store, the one stop shop for instrument advice, repairs, new and second-hand sales. Peter’s apprenticeships with some of the world’s leading craftsmen in Britain, the United States and Canada, have given him a thorough working knowledge of acoustical engineering and instrumental design creating a unique understanding of the instrumental needs of wind musicians. No longer will instrumental connoisseurs have to go to London when choosing and maintaining an instrument, when all their needs can be met in Manchester.

A true Artisan, Peter has been fine tuning brass and woodwind instruments for musicians of the leading ensembles and institutions for many years, the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern College of Music and Leeds College of Music and passing on his expertise in instrumental academy seminars in Scandinavia and Europe.

A UK Brass specialist, Peter’s skills have led to a growing demand for his custom range of brass design and parts, trumpets, flugels, cornets, bespoke lead pipes, bells, cork parts and mouthpieces. An exponent of 5 Star spa treatments for trumpets, a Pollard MOT involves deep freeze Cryogenic resonance restoration, ultrasonic cleaning, valve alignment and the application of his own patented valve oil ‘Superfly’ with a unique cleaning agent to ensure agile acrobatics when playing. ‘Superfly’ has now been licensed for distribution in the United States and Europe. Peter is the figure driving the sponsorship masterclasses and live music in the North West ,attracting stars such as Bobby Shew, Snake Davis, Ian Bousfield, Jigs Wigham and Peter King, the Comedy Store, Liverpool’s the Cavern Club,Cinnamon Club,Matt & Phreds, and the Hallé, breath of fresh air for the region’s live-music industry.

peter.pollard@dolphinmusic.co.uk

pollardtrumpets@hotmail.com

]]> http://orchestralzone.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/dolphin-music-news-feed/feed/ 0 sc Dolphin Music - News Feed http://orchestralzone.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/ricos-tommy-smith-wins-bbc-jazz-award-rico-reeds-and-woodwind-acc/ http://orchestralzone.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/ricos-tommy-smith-wins-bbc-jazz-award-rico-reeds-and-woodwind-acc/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:15:18 +0000 brassman http://orchestralzone.wordpress.com/?p=264 ]]>

Tommy Smith – Yanagisawa Sax and Rico Reed player – has just won the coveted BBC ‘Heart of Jazz Award’, and has used Rico Select Jazz Unfiled for both Soprano and Tenor Saxophone duties throughout.

Tommy joined vibist Gary Burton’s band aged just 18, going on to work with big names such as Chick Corea, John Scofield and . He now leads the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra; his own Youth Jazz Orchestra as well as his own quartet.

Tommy Smith remains full of creative ideas. It is clear that he is going to continue creating music of lasting value. His journey across two decades packed with original and inspiring music has demonstrated conclusively that his is a singular musical voice, and one which has much still to say.

His tireless work in jazz education, which has included conceiving the curriculum for the short-lived Scottish Jazz Conservatory, campaigning for a jazz presence in Scottish further education and teaching individual students, continues unabated and his ambitions for jazz to be given the same status in Scottish education as it enjoys elsewhere continue to take up much time and energy that could be devoted to personal music projects.

“Rico Jazz Select are the best sounding and most consistent reeds I’ve found”, says new Rico Artist Family Member, Dave O’Higgins.

Dave’s reeds of choice are Rico Jazz Select for Tenor and Soprano, and Rico Plasticover reeds for Baritone.

A top jazz saxophonist, composer and educator; Dave was the winner of the British Jazz Awards “BEST TENOR SAX” in 1995 and 1997. He currently tours worldwide with the Dave O’Higgins Quartet, appears with Ronnie Scott’s Allstars, Jazzcotech Dancers and the BBC Big Band.

Dave has performed, toured and recorded with Martin Taylor, Jim Mullen, Jason Rebello, Itchy Fingers, Matthew Herbert, Jamie Cullum, Joe Locke, Joey Calderazzo, Jimmy Smith, Kyle Eastwood, Meier Group, Incognito, Peter Gabriel, Salif Keita, Ray Charles, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth …and many more

Chris Parker wrote of Dave’s upcoming Album ‘In the Zone’:

“one of the most vigorously compelling tenor players on the UK scene, and on this wholly enjoyable, powerful album, he nods to the great saxophonists – Charlie Parker, Coltrane, Dexter Gordon chief among them – who so clearly influenced him, without unduly compromising his individuality; In the Zone is archetypal O’Higgins: unpretentious, accessible, no-nonsense acoustic jazz addressed with skilfully controlled energy.” – CHRIS PARKER

In The Zone is available from March 2008.

What the Press say:

“… he’s young, presentable and can play his socks off” THE SCOTSMAN

“O’Higgins plays with quite exceptional fluency and his fund of ideas never runs out.”

THE OBSERVER
“Dazzling post-bop tenorist with a magnificent range and a dramatic turn of phrase.”

THE GUARDIAN

Discography:

Solo Albums: All Good Things (EFZ), Beats Working For A Living (recorded in New York and featuring Joey Calderazzo on piano) (EFZ), Under The Stone (EFZ), The Secret Ingredient (EFZ), The Grinder’s Monkey (Short Fuse). Big Shake Up by Dave O’Higgins Biggish Band (Big City), Fast Foot Shuffle (Candid), Push (Short Fuse), In the Zone (Jazzizit).