The recording of the world premiere performance of the “Concerto for Soprano Sax and Wind Ensemble” is now available for download. It’s nearly 25 minutes long, so I posted full MP3 files, not streaming files. There is some digital noise throughout the recording, primarily (and most unfortunately) in “Metal,” the concerto’s slow movement. I am hoping that the original master recording is clean. If so, I’ll re-post as soon as I receive it.

Okay, I completely goofed. The Dallas Wind Symphony is a professional union group, and as such, I can’t just go posting recordings of their performances without permission. While I expect permission to be granted, until it is, I took down the recording. It’ll probably be just a few days…

Here’s a shot of Jerry Junkin, rehearsing the Dallas Wind Symphony.

And just because, here’s a post-rehearsal martini.

I’ll post the full premiere debrief soon…

This entry is largely for my Ohio-based friends and family… On Tuesday the 23rd at 8pm, the Ohio State Wind Symphony is performing “Turbine” at Weigel Auditorium. That’s the same night and time as the premiere of the sax concerto in Dallas, so I’ll be in Dallas (see the previous blog entry), but Friend-of-the-Blog Jonathan Newman will be in attendance for the concert at OSU, as the program also features his beautiful piece, “As the Scent of Spring Rain.” (The program ALSO includes Steve Bryant‘s fantastic piece, “Radiant Joy” — with all three pieces back-to-back, taking up the entire second half!)

So if you’re in the Columbus area on Tuesday, please go in my absence, and clap really loud for Newman and give him a big ol’ Buckeye welcome.

I’m heading to Dallas tomorrow for rehearsals and the world premiere performance of my Concerto for Soprano Sax and Wind Ensemble. The performance with the Dallas Wind Symphony will be Tuesday night at 8pm at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas (home of both the Dallas Wind Symphony and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra — both of which have performed “Redline Tango.” Weird.). Jerry Junkin will conduct, and Don Fabian will be the sax soloist. The program also includes my cowboy piece, “Sasparilla.” If you are anywhere near Dallas on Tuesday night, I hope you’ll come check out the concert.

Last night was the way-too-soon season finale of “Mad Men,” hands-down the best show on TV this year, and in the past several years. If you didn’t watch (it’s on AMC, who, after this original programming debut, could be the next HBO), be sure to get the DVDs as soon as they’re released. The scene where Don pitched to the Kodak executives gave me chills. Thinking about it now chokes me up all over again. This show has the best writing, best acting, and best design on TV.

When we were in NY a few weeks ago, we took a little walk through Central Park. Lots of musicians to see in Central Park, from sax players…

… to erhu players…

… to trombone players…

… to… WTF?

I’m off to pack for Dallas. See you there!