tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59132512010-09-02T08:53:49.871-07:00Rob Birdwell - musician, composer, arranger, songwriter, and founder of BirdwellMusic.com, The Blowholes, Corvallis Art Beat, CORE, and member of the XTET, Sideways Portal and other musical clans; this is where Rob toots his own horn and posts his musical musings, observations, rants, raves and, well, all things musical!Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-65978439699757426482010-07-31T11:56:00.000-07:002010-07-31T11:56:19.144-07:00

The 9th track "Honey Bee" is also available when you order the CD or digital download.  Enjoy!  Rob Birdwell

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-27619844691186015022010-07-28T23:47:00.000-07:002010-07-29T08:12:11.264-07:00

I had a lot of fun recording these songs.  Now it's time to set them free - give a listen!

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-15758110503792105012010-07-15T00:35:00.000-07:002010-07-15T00:35:49.141-07:00

Come celebrate summer with music in Corvallis' Central Park on Thursday, July 29 starting around 6pm..  You'll hear a wide variety of music including folk, jazz, swing, surf and more! Music and revelry from The Svens, The Blowholes, Marzipanhandlers, and Fromage à Trois. This is a FREE, family-friendly event.  Bring your family, friends and have your dinner in the park and enjoy the music.

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-42597290159049046272010-07-02T21:23:00.000-07:002010-07-02T21:23:47.449-07:00

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-44636534479622230762010-07-02T00:22:00.000-07:002010-07-02T00:22:39.039-07:00

Playing (trumpet/flugel - maybe a little sax too) with Caught in the Act.  Been sitting in with these guys for a while now.  A terrific band and a super group of guys.  You'll hear some classics (like "Still Diggin' on James Brown") as well as some originals that sound like classics! Caught in the Act plays from 4:30 to 6:30 - two full sets.  Looking forward to hearing the other bands too.

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-35594594146698931442010-05-04T11:59:00.000-07:002010-05-04T11:59:11.239-07:00

Just got word that the OPB's "Hard Times" series won the prestigious Peabody Award!  This is wonderful news for a number of reasons and one of them is that The Svens' performance of "Hard Times Come No More" was among the musical features! You can read more about the music used in the series, including The Svens' offering! http://news.opb.org/hardtimesmusic/ So raise your goblet and say it loud

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-12588012430810681712010-04-04T22:10:00.000-07:002010-04-04T22:35:36.936-07:00

Over the last 20 years or so I've played a lot of different gigs: jazz combo (private parties, restaurants/clubs), big band, orchestra, my student jazz band, musical theatre, recording sessions, and, more recently, rehearsals and performances with a surf band. Today, playing in a brass ensemble with organ and a small choir for an Easter service (something I haven't done in many years) I was

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-25948660867222278392010-04-02T20:45:00.000-07:002010-04-02T20:55:12.384-07:00

The Svens will once again perform at Bombs Away Cafe Saturday, April 10. It will be an extra special night of music - a double header!  Starting around 8:30pm we'll perform "Hulda's Story" - the narrative is a real letter from a grandfather to his granddaughter, Hulda, reporting on his adventures exploring Alaska.  Various surf tunes are crafted into the mix along with some tasty sound bytes by

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-69559940560926803152010-02-23T00:04:00.000-08:002010-02-23T00:04:42.427-08:00

The short film "Graters of the Lost Carp" (written and directed by Mike Aronson, music by Rob Birdwell) will show at the DaVinci Days Film Festival March 13, 3:30pm at LaSells, Oregon State University. Click on the image on the left to see the nice poster in its full size! Click here for more about this film and the other films being shown!

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-53162067401731529012010-02-20T13:50:00.000-08:002010-02-20T13:50:05.476-08:00

Well folks, as you may or may not know, my Virtual Trumpet software (for Windows) has been around for almost 10 years believe it or not! It has always been FREE to download and try out, however, if you wanted to "register" the product to get both audio and MIDI playback (and get rid of the registration "nag" screen) you'd normally have to shell out $15 dollars. But now, for a limited time (

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-17393003863684965302010-01-18T20:53:00.000-08:002010-01-18T20:53:25.379-08:00

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-8228312092354836402010-01-11T08:25:00.000-08:002010-01-11T08:29:56.546-08:00

Happy new year everyone!  I realize we're deep into the new year already, but as I'm just getting re-acclimated from the holidays, it sort of feels like the start of the new year is just now happening.  I've been away from blogging, tweeting and facebook for so long that I almost feel I'm living in the 90's again Musically, last year was quite mixed bag - however, even with the economy tanking,

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-22594476895735107202009-12-15T09:10:00.000-08:002009-12-15T09:10:05.736-08:00

Happy to say my Dad is doing well after his heart surgery where they replaced his aortic valve with a titanium version.  He had a good night and we're all very happy and relieved.  A great surgical team and nursing staff.  Everyone has been very nice.  Thanks to all for their good thoughts and prayers. Rob

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-43192482473231676212009-11-21T20:07:00.000-08:002009-11-21T20:07:29.480-08:00

Thanks to these local Corvallis retailers for carrying my latest CD, Sweet Surrender: Gracewinds Music Grass Roots Books & Music Happy Trails Records So...when you're out and about in downtown Corvallis, perhaps looking for some music, stop by and do some shopping...hint, hint! Rob

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-45681663941379580142009-11-16T09:41:00.000-08:002009-11-16T09:41:17.979-08:00

CORVALLIS -- "Graters of the Lost Carp," Wednesday, 8 p.m. Nov. 18, 2009, Beit Am, Mid-Willamette Jewish Community Center, 625 N.W. 36th St., Corvallis. The world premiere of the action-packed (yet nonviolent) 30-minute film, "The Adventures of Israel Stein, Gastronomical Archaeologist." Written and directed by Mike Aronson and performed by Beit Am members; music by local composer Rob Birdwell.

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-68867732218178773022009-11-13T00:32:00.000-08:002009-11-13T01:14:50.764-08:00

Cut to the chase - click this link to view the working version first pass of my 8-track mixer.   Now read on and you'll know what I'm talking about... I have a bunch of tunes from the last year or so that I'll probably mix down soon and just be done with them.  Using sophisticated mixers like SONAR and notation tools like Finale, and distilling it all down to a somewhat static "stereo" mix

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-3891915340064877482009-09-24T20:55:00.000-07:002009-09-24T21:03:01.984-07:00

CORVALLIS - Come experience The Svens at Bombs Away Cafe, Friday, September 25, 2009.  The show starts at 8pm. The title of this show is "California Fever" - you'll hear a great story accompanied by some terrific tunes.  Hope to see you there.  CDs will be available too.

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-2658514121842197872009-09-22T21:10:00.000-07:002009-09-22T21:11:08.783-07:00

Community Musicians wanted for CHS/CVHS Musical  Once Upon a Mattress! Opening Night is November 12 Show Closes November 22.  (November 11 will be a preview performance) Corvallis High School and Crescent Valley High School will put on a joint production of the musical Once Upon a Mattress.  This  two week run of performances is scheduled to open on November 12 and closes November 22.  (

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-29704790119250969502009-09-11T00:57:00.000-07:002009-09-11T01:12:56.064-07:00

It's been months in the making and finally "Sweet Surrender" is here! It has been quite an adventure attempting to formalize and release this collection of tunes that came about so spontaneously.And I think the wait and work will be worth it. My hat is off to CDBaby.com - a fine (Portland, Oregon) outlet. Those folks have done a great job pulling off a major upgrade of their site and services.

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-72623053578380451472009-08-29T15:15:00.000-07:002009-08-30T11:36:55.288-07:00

Are you looking for a creative way to advertise your business or services AND support an independent musician?! Here's an easy and inexpensive way to do BOTH!The sample CD card (the inside portion) illustrates where YOUR BUSINESS CARD or PRE-PRINTED ADVERTISEMENT would be prominently displayed within one or more of my CD releases.If you would like to fill all or a portion of the CD insert side

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-72702212105888836422009-08-26T17:07:00.000-07:002009-08-26T17:16:33.626-07:00

Here's the title track from my CD, Sweet Surrender, in a youtube performance:Sweet Surrender is available on CDBaby and other online outlets on or after 9/1/2009.

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-76770965978003514292009-07-26T13:33:00.000-07:002009-07-26T13:40:32.632-07:00

Here are the liner notes to my new CD, Sweet Surrender, which I just finished mastering today. The CD, which will be available everywhere in CD and download form shortly, is a collection of improvised settings & songs. I play Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Piano and Tenor Sax. Recorded during a three week period in July 2009, this collection of recordings is unique for me in that I invented the tunes in

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-63975781221624515422009-07-25T00:27:00.000-07:002009-07-25T00:40:02.937-07:00

A compelling site so I'm giving the StudioTraxx service a try - we'll see if anything comes of it. But it's a sound idea and I know the process well since I've been a VHHH (virtual hired horn hand) for some years now. Bottom line is that there are lots of musicians out there and they (we) often need collaborators to spice things up. And if we (the hired hands) can share our talents for a fair

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-27878588265099412422009-05-21T09:00:00.000-07:002009-05-21T23:55:52.054-07:00

The following are my 2009 "composer's diary" entries that captured my experiences composing a rather large work (for me at least!) for the combined ensembles of the Corvallis-Oregon State University Symphony Orchestra and the MPG Big Band (a talented high school band based in Germany).Here's a balcony-cam video shot of the debut which was on May 19, 2009 at LaSells Stewart Center on the OSU

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-83044316373585145362009-05-06T20:00:00.000-07:002009-05-06T20:41:25.058-07:00

Needless to say, I'm more than a little excited about the symphonic/big band debut of A New Day, which will take place Tuesday, May 19, 2009. The evening's music will begin at 8pm at LaSells Stewart Center, Oregon State University. Click here for ticket information.The orchestra sounds fantastic and we're all looking forward to welcoming the MPG Big Band from Germany and putting it all together

Rob Birdwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201183785367803516noreply@blogger.com0