The BrassRoots Movement

So it is.. After many days of brainstorming and going through countless names, I found one!

The BrassRoots Movement is a brass band in Portland Oregon, playing music from traditionals, jazz, funk, pop, and some originals. We are composed of three trumpets, one trombone, tenor sax/clarinet, sousaphone, and three drummers. We rehearse weekly and are preparing for our first show on Mardi Gras here in downtown Portland. Location is to be determined but will be posted soon. Logo and website coming soon. Please follow us and support drive for good local music!

BrassBand name and Word of the Day

So I have this great brass band and we are about to have our first show in six weeks so we need a cool name. We play all sorts of music, funk, jazz, pop, second line.. and more. Here is a list of names me and a member (Matt) came up with. Please tell us what you think!

Brassfaction
Brassfi
The Petty Brass
BrassCore
Brassroots Movement
The Happy Brasstards
The Jolly Brasstards
The Laughing Brasstards

Can't wait to here what you think!!

Word of the day
Shimmy: A Shimmy is a dance move in which the body is held still, except for the shoulders, which are alternated back and forth....

Yeah, think about that one...and come to our Mardi Gras show!

Unity of Sound

Someone asked me, what does this mean, and why the title? Well... It is all about cooperation. Sounds working together to create something unique and special in its own way. Just how one player of an orchestra is meaningless until they are joined by the rest of the group. Each player in an ensemble plays their own part, but what the listener hears is the full effect of the groups unity of sound. It is what shapes our experience not only sound but feel. As well as reiterating.. look at what we can accomplish when we work together. Unite your sound, and be heard.

Good Friends

Sitting here with my two good buds, Matt and Steve. Looking for some houses for rent in the area, hope we can find a good one!! Just got back from Cup and Saucer.. Great brunch food. Can't go wrong with those vanilla scones.

Unfortunately I don't have much time to write because my friend Matt  in his drunken fool state misplaced his car last night after being abandoned by two chicks at "da club".. (in his words). Tragic. Please enjoy this photo of me and my friends.

Word of the day: Vapid.  lacking or having lost life, sharpness, or flavor; insipid; flat.

Portland Colombia Symphony Orchestra!

Concert tonight at the Marriott Waterfront. Gala with auctions and food to support our local orchestra. http://www.columbiasymphony.org/

Help us..

Been ready and watching a lot of documentaries.. Seem to be learning much about this world that I never knew or even thought of. After contemplating much last night I think I'm finally getting somewhere. We all see these horrible things happening around us, in the news (even though I do not care to watch), on TV, in the papers, hear about it on the radio, but what is really being done?? A few people here and there are trying to figure things out, stop hunger, fight terrorists, take down the big bad corporations, fight for equality, and much much more. But as we look at what they do, it looks so minimal. Almost as if they aren't helping that much. Okay, I know every little thing helps but what about big changes? How can we effect more than just one small community? We need to get messages out there, to everyone, telling them the truth about things. I feel like this is a big thing that is missing in our schools. Our younger generation and children are the ones that need to be hearing the truths first hand. They are the ones that have the power to succeed Stop giving these false hopes and false views of the world, you know that's only going to destroy us faster and make life worst for those who come after us.

My first realization was about my self. What can I do? How could I possibly do anything to help a change? I do believe that one large thing is selfishness, and I can say that there are times you need to think of yourself, but to a certain extent. We need to start looking into not only our selfs, but those around us. How are we connected? If I do something how is it going to effect others around me? and to what and whose benefit? These are things we need to be asking, thinking about, and reacting to. The tip of the ice burg, much much more to come.

Peace will never be until we acknowledge personal control and responsibility for the good of our selfs and for our cultural and social stability.

Sunny in PTown

Today I went biking down the waterfront for the first time in awhile. The sun was shinning high in the sky and the weather could not have been better. It was nice to see all the folks out and about, so many different kinds of people all sharing the same kind of experience. Good to know we can all enjoy the little things.