Jazz for aficionados

Hi Schubert - I am really not very familiar with Musica Antiqua Köln. I don't believe the group is actually in existence any more, I think they disbanded several years ago. If I remember correctly, they are the ones who specialized in the lesser known composers of the 17th and 18th centuries, and when they did perform say Bach or Handel, it was lesser known works.

I have always had an interest in the natural horn, but I never did pull the trigger on buying one and really learning the technique, I have only just messed around on one for a few minutes in a horn shop before. There is an active early music group in my area who tried to talk me into it, and would still probably hire me and program some stuff with horn were I to decide to do it, as there is only one guy in the area who does, and he doesn't do it very well anymore (he is nearing retirement), but I haven't yet. It is quite a bit different from what I normally do, so it would involve much time and work in my off-season, when I normally take some rest from playing. Not to mention the money involved in buying one and traveling to take some lessons to learn the special hand techniques involved. I would be lucky at this point to ever break even on that, as there wouldn't be a whole lot of opportunities to perform with it, there being only the one group in my area. So I would just be doing it for fun, which it no doubt would be.

Yes, they disbanded in 2007, but still out there on Archiv.
Heavy on Bach and Telemann but about anyone in 17-18th Century.
I heard Herman Baumann play a Mozart Concerto on natural horn with the Berlin Radio Orch. , seemed almost a super-human feat to me.Beautiful beyond description.

Nice clip, Acman3; nothing like a good tenor battle. A couple of thoughts that relate to recently discussed subjects:

Completely unimportant period instrument trivia: Craig Handy is playing a Selmer MK6 tenor and Joshua Redman a Selmer "Balanced Action". Redman's is the historically "correct" horn and is like what a player would have played in Kansas City at the time. The model Handy is playing was not made until almost twenty years later. Both great players and Redman actually captures the style of that era better than Handy who hints at a more modern harmonic sensibility. Great stuff!

Error in personnel listing: the baritone player is James Carter not Don Byron; Carter is the one with the "I am better than both those guys put together" expression on his face.

The suit thing: I agree that it's important; but, let's remember that most men wore suits and hats to walk to the drugstore. That's the way men dressed back then.

Thanks for sharing!

Schubert, and also Rok, Herman Baumann's recording of the Mozart Horn Concerti on natural horn, conducted by Nicolas Harnoncourt, with the Concentus Musicus Wien, on the Telefunken label, is the finest natural horn playing I know of. Truly astounding. There are a few other good ones out there, but none of them better that one, which was I believe the first time they had been recorded on natural horn, in 1974.

Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith gets a mixed review from me. When It's good, it great. Unfortunately it only feels good for me 1/2 the time. Probably a killa band to see live!

If you're feeling in a swingin' 'Nawlins mood, I highly recommend a record I just picked up yesterday; Henry Butler & Steve Bernstein (& the Hot 9!)- Viper's Drag. Now this is the shit!;). Bernstein's a good trumpet player with excellent credentials, one of them being that he co-produced the soundtrack for 'Kansas City'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxbPKLHl_A0&feature=player_embedded