Racer Session #352 | Andrew Forbes | November 27, 2016

Andrew Forbes's Septet of Dankness

Andrew Forbes (trumpet), Haley Freedlund (trombone), Amelia Coulter (trombone), Jacob Neenan (tenor sax), Max Walker (guitar), Moe Weisner (bass), Ruby Dunphy (drums)

1. “Dwee Dwee” (Andrew Forbes)

2. “Sugar Daddy” (Andrew Forbes)

3. “Footprints” (Wayne Shorter)

4. “Caravan” (Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington)

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Improv 1: Luke Bergman (bass), Chris Icasiano (drums), Carl Michnovicz (guitar)

Improv 2: Neil Welch (tenor sax), Daniel Webbon (drums), Jacob Neenan (tenor sax), Evan Captain (guitar), Chris Cole (trumpet), Moe Weisner (bass)

Improv 3: Evan Woodle (drums), Haley Freedlund (trombone), Andrew Forbes (trumpet), Ray Larsen (trumpet), Simon Henneman (guitar), Ronan Delisle (guitar), Jeremy Gonzalez (alto sax), Bryan Lineberry (alto sax), Tayler Tucker (dance)

Improv 4: Ruby Dunphy (drums), Evan Captain (piano), Trevor O’Loughlin (bass), Carl Michnovicz (guitar)

Improv 5: John Harrison (drums), Nicholas Merz (guitar), Amelia Coulter (trombone slide and mouthpiece), Neil Welch (tenor sax)

Improv 6: Thomas Whiteside (drums), ? (guitar), Chris Cole (trumpet), Haley Freedlund (trombone)

Improv 7: Geoff Traeger (drums), Simon Henneman (guitar), Luke Bergman (bass)

Improv 8: Tim Miller (drums), Ryan Kotler (bass), Nicholas Merz (guitar)

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Greetings, fans of the Avant!

This Sunday, we're very excited to be presenting a selection of new music and arrangements from local trumpeter and composer, Andrew Forbes. The ensemble playing, aptly titled the "Septet of Dankness," is a very explosive group of local shredders. Andrew describes what to expect for both the presentation and the improvisation below: 

"If you placed a toothpick under the nail in your big toe and kicked a wall, that feeling is what I'm trying to accomplish with this music. Intense pain, adrenaline, screaming, anger, energy, and insanity is exactly what we need to feel; we need more life in our lives. There's nothing more satisfying in the world than adrenaline pumped intensity. I want action music and I want it to be loud and brash. Sitting around listening to music like it's some sort of tennis match, where you clap after each solo thinking, "Oh gosh, what a jolly good Maj13 voicing they played there, oh gee" is ridiculous! This is as interactive an art form as anything! This music is for our pleasure! This isn't a performance, this is an experience for everyone in a mile radius of this music. Get in our faces, we want you there! So get up and get loud; if you like something, vocalize it! Music's about sound, let it out!

During the Jam, I don't want to be authoritarian or nothing about the sound, but I want the musicians to focus on more than just their own instrument or even the folks on stage. I want the musicians to feel the energy in the whole of Cafe Racer and play with them. We are here together and we create together, never forget that on this night. The audience should recognize this too, they are as much a part of this experience as anyone on stage. If you feel like doing something, whether at the piano, drums, or on the floor, do it. Forget about thinking, try to feel everything."