December Shows

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Now that Christmas is officially on the horizon, it's time to bust out the eggnog, the cognac, and READY...SET...CHRISTMAS GIGS!

If the holiday spirit has not descended upon you as of yet, these four selections (from the best "Classical" Christmas Album I can think of) may help. Leontyne's tone (sigh)...

"We Three Kings of Orient Are"

"O Tannenbaum"

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

"Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" BWV 769

If you need more of a live fix, here's where to go:

*Saturday 12/5 2:00-5:00pm

The Finally Five Quintet @ South Coast Plaza (exact location TBD), free

*Saturday 12/12 6:30pm &

*Sunday 12/13 2:00pm

Long Beach Symphony Pops Orchestra @ the Terrace Theater in Long Beach,always a sell-out!

*Saturday 12/19 11:00am-2:00pm

The Finally Five Quintet @ South Coast Plaza (exact location TBD), free

*Sunday 12/20 7:00pm

Orange County Wind Symphony @ Servite Auditorium in Anaheim, $10-15

*Thursday 12/24 9:30pm & 11:00pm

Two Christmas Eve services

Choir, Brass, and Organ @ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Irvine, free

*Friday 12/25 9:00am & 10:30am

Christmas Morning services

Choir, Brass, and Organ @ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Irvine, free

Les Noces, HGM shout-out, Mnozil Brass

It's Saturday morning and I just flowered the grounds on a super brew (Peet's/Intelligentsia). I hope all of you have received your save the dates!! We have our wedding site up now - so check it out!

http://sawyertaylorwedding.blogspot.com

"Les Noces" - Igor Stravinsky

Next up, a HUGE shout-out to Hiss Golden Messenger, my brother Mike's (aka MC Taylor, aka Jai Lil Diamond) band. MC posted a bunch of stuff on Facebook yesterday (so I'm mostly just retweeting this info). If you don't have "Country Hai East Cotton," which I love so much, get it!!

DOWNLOAD "COUNTRY HAI EAST COTTON" and check out an interview with Hiss Golden Messenger.

Totally different subject here, but a friend sent me this video of Austria's Mnozil Brass, which is maybe the some of the best brass playing I've ever heard. They're also really funny in a dorky classical musician kind of way. I was mesmerized by these guys and cried laughing...

Heeeeeeerrrrrrre's Johnny!

Am I the only one that misses this song?

Maybe it's that song-ending-night-after-night-vulgar-high F from trumpeter Mark "Love Man" Pender in Conan's new "Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band" - but I used to love Doc Severinson. Papa Smith was a big fan, and my cassette copy of this same album was well worn.

My friend Erik just gave a me a collection of Doc records from the 70s - check this out:

May have to start playing this version of "Pictures" on auditions when it comes up.

And as a P.S. - the album cover - hello!

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Dirty Projectors - do you know these guys?

Thanks to Ed Droste for posting this. Amazing.

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Lastly, in OCD news, my continued obsession with the Grizzly Bear - Michael McDonald singing "While You Wait for the Others".

Have a nice weekend everyone!