News and Updates
I will be guesting with the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra at the Apartment on Monday August 25. The last 3 months have been the most intense but rewarding I have ever had. I wrote over an hour of orchestral music with Gustavo Santaolalla for Fox's Book of Life. The music is now mixed and the final touches are being out on the film. It will be released in October. We used up to a 90 piece orchestra, accordion, ethnic flutes, guitars, choir and soloists. …
Read More
I finished the first quarter with a bang. Frozen has broken some box office records and the Muppets and Need for Speed came out. But the highlight was playing drums with Nas and the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, I also wrote half the charts. Here is a little info on it from the Finale Blog. Here is my demo for New York State of Mind. They filmed the rehearsals and the concert for a documentary. Before that I was conducting Chris…
Read More
I will be on a panel called "The Hollywood Arrangers" for ASMAC on Wednesday 22nd. I will be talking about my studio setup and how I arrange and orchestrate with Finale.
Read More
I just noticed that I arranged strings on two Grammy Nominated albums this year. Salaam Remi- One in the Chamber and Mack Wilds- New York: A Love Story Take a listen. Salaam Remi and Mack Wilds
Read More
Upcoming appearances: Jazz Education Network Conference in Dallas, TX. January 10 and 11. I am giving a lecture on the 11th at 10am entitled "Notation Plain and Simple -- The Jazz Default." At 6pm I will be premiering a new commission with the Lone Peak High School Big Band from Utah. The rest of the time I will be at the MakeMusic booth in the exhibitors hall. Drop by and say hi. Frozen recently came out and was a huge success. It took me a while, but…
Read More
I just posted a new article about Jazz Voicings. This one looks at the thickened line technique, most commonly used when writing for big band saxophone sections. Make sure you look at Part 1 first if you are not familiar with jazz chord progressions and piano voicings. A few albums have recently come out that I did string arrangements for. I have done many projects for producer Salaam Remi over the years. One in the Chamber, featuring Akon has possibly the greatest lyric I have…
Read More
I survived another trip to Australia. I had a great time working with the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra. As soon as I landed back in LA I started work orchestrating cues for Chris Beck's score for Frozen, a new Disney animated movie. I also conducted the score and some of the songs. I am currently working on some arrangements for a cool project featuring Nas and the National Symphony. Big Band Gig Monday September 30, 8pm @ Typhoon, $10, FREE parking. Typhoon 3221 Donald…
Read More
I recently sat down for a chat with Deane Ogden and Brian Ralston from Scorecast online. You can listen to it here.
Read More
Australia Trip I will be leading the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra for several concerts in August. Dates here. On Monday August 26 I will be sitting in with the Daryl Mckenzie Jazz Orchestra at the Apartment in Melbourne. Recent Projects Hangover III (Cond), The Internship (Cond), White House Down (Cond), R.I.P.D. (orch, cond), Smurfs 2 (lead orch), Kick Ass 2 (orch) and The Last of Us (SSD). Plus a lot of string charts for various artists with producer Salaam Remi. Latest blog posts It's Staggering …
Read More
Over the last few years I have been doing the occasional arrangement for Vince Mendoza and the Metropole Orchestra. Up to now it has only been for live concerts but this time I got to work on an album for Sabrina Starke. Album is out today. Here is a clip of one of my charts live.
Read More
