The Mentors Project: A Big Band Album

I’m Lennie Moore . I’ve been a composer, orchestrator and conductor for video games, film, television and commercials for about 30 years. I also teach composition for media as an adjunct professor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the Technology and Applied Composition program. 

I’ve done everything in music you can imagine, from working on great video games Half-Life: Alyx, the Halo Anniversary series, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2: The International 2016, Disneyland Adventures, the Rising Storm and Outcast series; I’ve arranged for string sections on rock songs, scored a Pamela Anderson movie, orchestrated a ton of Lifetime Channel movies where everything ends with a trial, to creating funky arrangements for horn sections to sell cans of chili! 

Yet out of all of these wonderful projects and experiences there has been one project that I’ve wanted to do that hasn’t come to fruition, until now.

I’ve wanted to do a big band album for a long time (literally decades!), and about two years ago I was thinking back to all of the mentors I’ve had in my life who helped to shape or influence who I am as a composer and an artist. And I just felt so grateful for each of them, in their own ways, spending time and energy with a young musician to share their knowledge and wisdom. I've been thinking a lot about the importance of mentors, the master/apprentice relationship, and how art advances through the ages on a continuum of community. This is at the heart of why I mentor young composers and it’s the core concept for The Mentors Project. 

Each track on this album is dedicated to someone who was a mentor or major influence in my life as an artist. Their teaching, philosophies, advice, critiques, support and encouragement all made major impacts toward developing my own aesthetics about my craft and the creative decisions I make every day. For some of these influences it was simply their body of work and the inspiration it gave me to do what I do. 

Every composition on this album is my tribute to them. With each composition, I’ve reflected on who they are as a person, what they taught me, and elements of their artistry that were inspirational. In my arrangements I’ve experimented with form, texture and melodic/harmonic development that pushes the boundaries of typical big band writing.

I’ve spent the past year composing, arranging and refining the music and everything is in place to get the recording done. With your help, we can get this project completed.

UPDATE:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place across the world, I've had to reconfigure how this project will be recorded and completed. Instead of recording everyone in a studio over the course of two days, I am remote recording each musician separately and safely, in addition to video documenting excerpts of their performances. This change in the scope of this project, where it is recorded in pieces and stitched together over a longer period of time is the most practical solution for the conditions of the moment. I’ll stay in communication with you on how this project is progressing with regular updates.

Your support can assist with the costs for up to 15 musicians, payroll expenses, equipment rentals, recording, mixing, CD mastering, artwork, and manufacturing expenses.

Any contribution makes a difference.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to my GoFundMe

Total contributions toward the production of this project will support the following funding goals:

Primary Goal #1 - $7500 supports completing recording of the rhythm section

Stretch Goal #2 - $15,000 all lead players and soloists recorded

Stretch Goal #3 - $20,000 remainder of ensemble parts recorded

Stretch Goal #4 - $25,000 mixing, mastering and manufacturing completed

Whatever funds are raised will only go towards the production costs of this project. 

During the early stages of this campaign I posted a weekly video series - where I dove into more details within each track, who it was dedicated to and the influence they had on me. I also shared score examples, along with audio from my demos for this project so you could get a sense of what the end product will be.

There are 8 tracks on this album totaling 60 minutes of music. Here’s the list of the tunes and who they’re dedicated to:

Manic (for Weather Report and Steps Ahead)

The Mardini Effect (for Arif Mardin)

Essence (for Michael Gibbs)

Two Peas In A Pod (for Nick Manson and Andy Suzuki)

Planetary Misalignment (for David Mash)

Smoke and Mirrors (for Don Grolnick)

The Kid (for Ken Kraintz)

Intentionality (for Toshiko Akiyoshi)

With your help, the release of this album will be possible. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch this, for your support, and please share with anyone you think would be interested in this project.

Musicians confirmed to be a part of this project:

Andy Suzuki - Alto Sax 1, Tenor Sax 1 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Billy Martin - Alto Sax 2 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Phil Moore - Tenor Sax 2, Bari Sax RECORDING COMPLETED!

Wayne Bergeron - Trumpet 1 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Eric Miyashiro - Trumpet 2 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Tim Larkin - Trumpet 3 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Andy Gravish - Trumpet 4 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Alex Iles - Trombone 1, Bass Trombone, Tuba RECORDING COMPLETED!

Andy Martin - Trombone 2 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Jim Lutz - Trombone 3 RECORDING COMPLETED!

Nick Manson - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Minimoog RECORDING COMPLETED!

Jimmy Mahlis - Oud, Electric Guitar RECORDING COMPLETED!

Ken Lasaine - Electric Guitar RECORDING COMPLETED!

Lennie Moore - Electric Bass RECORDING COMPLETED!

Dean Taba - Acoustic Bass  RECORDING COMPLETED!

Peter Erskine - Drums  RECORDING COMPLETED!

MB Gordy - Percussion RECORDING COMPLETED!