tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59132512012-05-20T23:10:42.377-07:00Rob 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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-40463627847697983992012-05-08T10:32:00.003-07:002012-05-08T10:32:41.616-07:00

5th & B will be performing in Corvallis this Saturday at Cloud and Kelly's on 1st St. They will be premiering a new suite composed by Mike Curtis inspired by his many visits to Mexico. Mike will also be reading from his book, Memories of a Musician in Mexico during the performance.  Show should begin around 9pm or so.  Music until midnight!   5th & B is a musical collective that explores

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-26262463245932552011-12-28T18:05:00.000-08:002012-02-07T23:37:25.026-08:00

For the latest development status on this tool, go to my JamMan Looper Manager page. (Editors note:  you can download the latest completed version of this librarian here.  For a glimpse at the tool when I was developing it, check this out.) I've owned a DigiTech JamMan for a few years now.  It records mono WAV files and is a fun and useful device.  There are new "stereo" versions and who

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-16720633422592006812011-11-02T22:54:00.000-07:002011-11-03T09:34:34.992-07:00

It feels like it's been a very long month - it has.  The Harry Potter concert (if you were fortunate enough to go) was the culmination of a very busy month for me musically in October.  But just how long was it - 31 days?  No, for me it goes back to July - and maybe even back to last April for the Botti concert.  Anyway, I feel like November 2011 might just give me a bit more time for

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-35217226477554750542011-09-19T15:28:00.000-07:002011-09-19T15:28:53.910-07:00

The memorial service today for Tim Misner - very sad, but comforting to hear the stories about Tim from his family and friends.  Much healing and comfort will be needed for his family of course.  Ken Saul played a from-the-heart rendition of Danny Boy.  I saw many familiar faces. I came to know Tim several years back through music.  We were part of a monthly "Corvallis Composer's Guild" -

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-52972139482376919292011-06-22T00:21:00.000-07:002011-06-22T00:22:59.936-07:00

Join us for an evening of music with 5th & B and support the Majestic Theatre! This will be an entertaining evening of music and it's a great cause. The show is Saturday July 2 at 8pm. Featuring their original written and spontaneously composed tunes, along with new music especially prepared for the 1920 silent movie "The Garage" directed by Roscoe Arbuckle and co-staring Buster Keaton. 5th & B

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-43918144414986218042011-06-21T12:23:00.000-07:002011-06-21T12:23:59.084-07:00

After a couple weeks of seeing weird stuff with my computer keyboard (typing in alpha characters and only seeing numbers) I was even more confounded when I attempted to compose some music this morning using Finale only to find I couldn't enter any notes because my keyboard mapping was completely foo-bar...attempts to enter notes through Speedy Entry were just producing random rhythms - very

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-49431139871187577132011-05-24T00:11:00.000-07:002011-05-24T00:11:32.903-07:00

It was a pretty amazing Svens show at Bombs Away in Corvallis, Oregon (Saturday, May 21, 2011 aka "The End of the World As We Know It"...right!).  What a festive and fun audience - they really kept the band going...we pretty much played until it was useless (as Zappa might say).  Moods were light (in-spite of the absurd threats of doom and gloom, which never happened) and a great new story,

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-46714646835762228012011-03-28T09:46:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:49:45.631-07:00

A show that took nearly two years of planning and hard work by so many folks is finally just around the corner:  "Chris Botti in Corvallis with the Corvallis-OSU Symphony" - wow, what a nice thing to be able to say! The Corvallis-OSU Symphony will complete its final rehearsals this week and then on Friday, April 1, we finally get to put it all together with Chris Botti and the band! (And again

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-67551312848722347352011-03-10T23:33:00.000-08:002011-03-10T23:43:22.598-08:00

You can now try Virtual Trumpet absolutely for free before you buy!  Here's how: Launch the Virtual Studio Sessions page Click the "Try" button in the Available Sessions section. The Virtual Trumpet session will launch in demo mode.  Some features will be disabled and you'll be limited in the number of notes you can play before running out of (virtual) valve oil!  If you don't see the "Try"

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-73116013005401883672011-03-07T09:02:00.000-08:002011-03-07T09:02:41.236-08:00

BirdwellMusic.com has a brand new look and many improved site features! I finally bit the bullet migrated my site content into a content management system using Umbraco, which is an amazing CMS tool! Improved product listings - better descriptions, simpler and easy to find scores and music, like my collection of Jazz charts for middle school and high school jazz band. Faster images/graphics -

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-80984154839872257922011-01-16T18:35:00.000-08:002011-01-16T18:54:50.610-08:00

Robert Briggs answers questions from the audience after his wonderful and moving reading from his work "Opus One: The Beat Goes On" This session was one of many in the "Between the Cracks" series and took place at the Corvallis Art Center on a warm and rainy Saturday, January 15 at 7pm.  The acoustics in the room were wonderful. Dana Reason played piano (superbly of course!) and herded us cats

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-17383103495356696872010-12-22T17:33:00.000-08:002010-12-22T17:33:23.607-08:00

Greetings!  It's been a very busy, creative and productive year.  I have so much to be thankful for - here's wishing you and yours a great holiday season and a very happy and safe 2011. Rob Birdwell's Gigs of Note in 2011 January 15, 7pm - "Between the Cracks" with Beat Poet Robert Briggs at Corvallis Art Center - I'll be playing some jazz with a small group of outstanding musicians, including

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-15389316841241038932010-12-06T08:32:00.000-08:002010-12-06T08:32:50.001-08:00

This will be a holiday show complete with festive songs and surfin' melodies.  Fun for all!  I'll be giving away my own  bootleg-autographed CDs and I'm sure there will be lots of other stocking stuffers! Happy holidays!

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-84451090432376547932010-11-03T16:12:00.000-07:002010-11-03T16:12:35.942-07:00

5th & BIn a benefit concert for The Albany Brass Ring Carousel Saturday, November 6, 9:00 P.M.  Cloud 9,  First St.  Corvallis, OR  ADMISSION:  $8.00 5TH & B, an 8-piece ensemble thatplays spontaneous and original compositions, is pleased to perform a benefit concert for Albany’s Brass Ring Carousel project. 5th & B consists of Dave Storrs, Rob Birdwell, Page Hundemer, John Bliss, Ben Mutschler

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-65511917121499384762010-11-02T22:31:00.000-07:002010-11-02T22:31:14.829-07:00

The following are the 5th and B tunes to date, not including the tunes we invent on the spot: The Amazing Flying Pickle Amber Grass Beached Better Times Buddy Collette Carousel Dreams Cub Scouts Barbecue Dancing Boys Eleven Bars Essential Flat Tire Blues Fourth Way Fragments GT Waltz Kazimierz Lopin' (Ben's new tune, no charts) Memories of a Bright Yellow Object in the Sky Naftule Spilt fur dem

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-1679250522991406222010-09-22T23:31:00.000-07:002010-09-22T23:50:42.554-07:00

Very sad news to hear about of course, the passing of Buddy Collette.  One of the true greats, both as a person and in the music world. I had the opportunity to take part in a workshop he put on at UCLA.  There were just a few of us in the room with a piano - and Buddy of course. I didn't know much about him or his work at the time.  He was so friendly and encouraging.  Really made me feel

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-57860250137556457142010-09-15T07:01:00.000-07:002010-09-15T09:22:15.878-07:00

This show is terrific - great story telling, songs and surprises! Hope to see you there: Bombs Away Cafe, Corvallis, OR Saturday, September 18th, 9pm And as always, Bombs Away features excellent food and beverages.

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag: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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913251.post-42597290159049046272010-07-02T21:23:00.000-07:002010-07-02T21:23:47.449-07:00

Rob Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@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 Birdwellhttps://profiles.google.com/108996441102632355833noreply@blogger.com0