Neal Kirkwood Big Band premiere studio recording

Hi, my name is Neal Kirkwood and I’m fundraising to produce the first recording of my 17-piece big band. The band has been performing together for 20 years, and features some of the finest jazz musicians working in New York. I have composed music specifically for these musicians and am eager to document this work now. For all our rehearsal and performing experience, we have not had the opportunity to record in a studio setting. And that is why I’m asking for your help.

Music is ephemeral, especially music that includes improvisation. Jazz is a collective music, and each performance is unique. The musicians create their improvisations spontaneously and the music changes with each performance. Without recordings, the music will be unrealized for the future. Jazz is preserved and appreciated through recordings. The notes on the paper are only a roadmap.

This jazz orchestra needs to raise $30,000 dollars for this project. That probably sounds like a lot, but the bulk of the costs are simply paying all the musicians at market rates, to rehearse and record. (There are some other costs as well, for recording, producing, and marketing…but the bulk is simply for the musicians.)

Would you like to join us on this creative journey? Only with your support will be able to make this recording and document the work these wonderful musicians are doing.

You can take the journey along with us. We will be sharing videos of rehearsals, scores of the music, stories of individual players, scenes from the recording session, and of course the final product: a finished recording of the big band. For your contribution, I will send you a signed CD or a digital version of the recording.

To give you an idea of what the music will be, here’s a description of one of the pieces we will record, my most recent composition, Paddy Harmon’s Dreamland Ballroom:

The piece has three thematic concepts: a ghostly harmony featuring Harmon-muted brass; a swinging, riffing theme for the saxophones and a nostalgic melody derived from the riff theme. The ghost theme conjures an image of a deserted ballroom filled with memories. The riff theme brings the ballroom alive with the energy of ecstatic dancers. The nostalgic theme is a loving reminiscence of a slice of jazz history. The three thematic groups are alternated and combined throughout the composition. Featured soloists are clarinetist Dan Block and trumpeter David Smith.

Musicians of the Neal Kirkwood Big Band:

Saxes and Woodwinds:

Matt Hong

Bruce Williamson

Dan Block

Adam Kolker

Patience Higgins

Trumpets:

Andy Gravish

Ron Horton

David Smith

James Zollar

Trombones:

Art Baron

Curtis Fowlkes

Ed Neumeister

James Rogers

Rhythm Section:

Neal Kirkwood, piano

Rob Garcia, drums

Jennifer Vincent, bass

Diana Herold, vibraphone

Thank you for considering this. Please contribute today! Every bit helps!

Please email me if you have any questions. And if don’t mind, please pass this on to all the music lovers you know!

Best regards,

Neal