Gavyne's First Jazz Band Only Concert

Gavyne performed in his first ever Jazz-only concert tonight and it was awesome! One of these days, we'll break down and buy a video camera that can take more than 9 minutes total of footage. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this little videos we put together instead.

Here were the first three songs of the performance, all three performed by the Ashland Middle School Jazz Band.


Harlem Nocturne performed by AMS Jazz Band


Misty performed by AMS Jazz Band


Take Five performed by AMS Jazz Band

Then the Ashland High School Jazz Band performed four songs, before joining the Ashland Middle School Jazz Band for these last two songs...


Malaguena performed by AMS & AHS Jazz Bands


Louie Louie performed by AMS & AHS Jazz Bands

Gavyne Plays "Oye Como Va" with 200 Others

What: Second Annual Ashland Schools Combined Band Concert
Who: Ashland Middle School, Ashland High School, Southern Oregon University bands
When: 7:30 PM 12 February 2009
Where: SOU Music Hall

Gayvne joined a literal 200 other musicians to play this HUGE band version of Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va." Most of you probably know the Santana's version better.

At the concert, each band took there turns playing solo and with each other. The concert was fun, but the spectator Stichs had chosen to sit in the not ideal lower middle. When we first arrived, we had considered moving up to the upper level for the improved acoustics.

The acoustic weren't that bad in our seats, not as potent as they could be, but not bad. As the concert progressed and the different bands joined, then separated in all sorts of combinations, we wondered how all of the schools were going to fit up on the stage for the encore performance. Then we saw!

All the trombones, French horns, and trumpets lined the center aisle behind the lower seating area. Our choice of seating had paid off in a special way - the notes of wind, brass and percussion clashing and lacing themselves right over our heads. It was a one-of-a-kind experience.

Three notes of trivia:

• The Ashland High School band teacher said that they were pretty sure "Oye Como Va" has never been performed by this big of a band before.
  
• Two fellows in there early 60's joined the bands, especially spiffed up in their tuxes. Both stood next to Gavyne, and one told him that he was at the concert where Santana first performed "Oye Como Va."
• Somewhat related, the trombone player in Santana's "Smooth" (feat. Rob Thomas) is an Ashland High School graduate.

You can listen to the full song here.

Gavyne's Gonna Play "Take 5"

We're out of our minds right now. Gavyne got his jazz band music for the next half of his year. Among the selection is one of the Stich Family's all-time favorite jazz songs. After you watch Dave and his crew play below, imagine it performed as a big band.


The Dave Brubeck Quartet = Take Five (1961) - YouTube

I'm not going to spill the beans yet on the other song he's learning to play for the end of year concert. I will say, though, it's another family favorite. - Kyle

Hey, Luke! Will You Learn to Play "Butterfly" for Ryann?

While hitting up YouTube for some clips of Bo Diddley in action, we ran across this video tutorial on how to play Dave Matthews sweet little song "Butterfly." We challenge Uncle Luke to learn this song and play it for the latest member of the DAGS clan, Ryann.

Here's the tutorial:

how to play butterfly by dave matthews — YouTube

Here's the scene in "Because of Winn Dixie" in which Otis (Dave Matthews) sings to Opal (AnnaSophia Robb):

Butterfly - Dave Matthews and AnnaSophia Robb — YouTube

Apocalyptica - One of Baylin's Favorite Bands of Late

The beauty of YouTube is how many different forms of music you can find, almost always on accident. Awhile back, we were searching for a specific video when we ran across this all cello band called Apocalyptica. From what we've seen, they seem to pretty much cover Metallica songs exclusively.

Here's an awesome rendition of "One":

One - Apocalyptica — YouTube

Whenever I hear classical conversions like this, it always amazes me at how the original composers really had a classical ear - whether knowingly or not. Funny thing is that the fellows look more like Metallica did when they originally released their hits, than they do now.

Oh, and part of why Baylin likes this band so much is partially because he's drawn to music that blends an elegant beauty with foreboding tones, but mostly because he has high ambitions of learning to play the cello next year.

In the meantime, Gavyne continues to hone his chops on the 'bone - trombone that is! Some of the top songs he's been learning is Gene Krupa's "Sing, Sing, Sing," and the "Oompa Loompa" song. Maybe one day he'll be as good as Fred Wesley:


Fred Wesley and RB Funkestra — YouTube

If you liked that bit of Fred, definitely check out this non-embeddable video on YouTube of a truly killer trombone solo.