I was hired to rearrange this Coldplay multi-platinum hit song.  It featured a tenor sax and flugelhorn duet, along with bass, guitar, and trap set.  It was a unique and contemporary composition chosen as the processional song for a couple's wedding in Maryland.

The live version of this song came out brilliantly because the 18th century pipe organ had to be mic'd up utilizing a dozen microphones in a church to capture the ambiance of what the human ear would hear if they were standing in the middle of the room.  It was quite a challenge because the lows of the pipe organ really do rumble the walls, so I had to isolate and equalize the sound levels in order to balance what you are about to hear.  What a fun song this was to rearrange...

Rearranged and recorded by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Tenor Sax - Bob Minor
Flugelhorn - Norberto Mejicanos
Bass - Percy White
Drums - Patrick Morrison
Pipe Organ - Sean Fullerton
Baby Grand - Sean Fullerton

"Sparks"

I was raised in a military school.  My music teacher loved Dave Brubeck.  She would play "Take Five" so much that I thought it was our National Anthem.

At the time, I was 11 years old and I was the trumpet player for the school band.  I couldn't read music, but I would just play what I heard.  I "LOVED" the trumpet, but ironically, when I got older, I just seemed physically retarded in playing the horn, so I defer to musicians who are passionate about this beautiful instrument.

It was a natural evolution for me to pick a song that I really thought would showcase a trumpet.  "Take Five" is one of my all-time favorite songs.  Hearing it performed with different instrumentation seems to give it new life.  So, I hope you enjoy this version as much as I enjoyed recording the trumpet.  Matt Funamura added his own unique style and passion, as did all the musicians, on this production of "Take Five."

Guitar - T.Michael
Trumpet - Matt Funamura
Flugelhorn - Matt Funamura
Tenor Sax - Bob Minor
Acoustic Standup Bass - Mark Levine
Drums - Patrick Morrison
Hammond Organ - Sean Fullerton
Baby Grand - Sean Fullerton

"Take Five"

What self-respecting guitar player "couldn't" give massive recognition to the genius of Jimi Hendrix?  Gravitating to Hendrix when you're a guitar player is like using flour if you're a pastry chef.  Jimi Hendrix opened every door for guitar players in such a short-lived career.  I sometimes wonder what he'd be doing if he was still alive.

There were so many songs to pick in the Jimi Hendrix catalog...  I used to play all of his songs when I had a Hendrix cover band in high school.  I picked "Little Wing" because I just liked how the chords melded into each other and gave a great foundation for Christopher Avalos' articulate and soulful saxophone stylings.  Christopher diligently studied this song and it really shows.

Recorded, arranged, and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Sax - Christopher Avalos
Electric Standup Bass - Vincent Francis
Baby Grand - Sean Fullerton

"Little Wing"

Norberto Mejicanos lends his beautiful trumpet playing skill to this classic and timeless Billie Holiday hit, "God Bless the Child."

This rendition was recorded, arranged, and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Trumpet - Norberto Mejicanos
Bass - Pierre Allard
Baby Grand - Sean Fullerton

"God Bless the Child"

Carlton Thomas plays lead sax on this incredible Nina Simone hit.  He knows how to bring the soul out of a song, making it come alive for all to feel.  Carlton and I have played many shows together in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  We met at an audition and decided that we had a better vision for an event band, so we immediately began performing to weddings, parties (cocktail, birthday, Christmas), and corporate events as a duo.

This was the first song I ever recorded in multiple live instrumentation.  It was recorded in an old farmhouse that we converted into a recording studio.  The jam sessions were legendary as we fine tuned this song.

Recorded, arranged, and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Tenor Sax - Carlton Thomas
Alto Sax - Carlton Thomas
Trumpet - Norberto Mejicanos
Plunger Trumpet - Franklin
Baritone Sax - Matt Ellis
Trombone - Wes Bond
Flute - Joyce Wahlberg
Bass - Nathan York
Drums - Patrick Morrison
Piano - Eugene Losilevich

"Feeling Good"

Published in 1951, "Unforgettable" was written by Irving Gordon.  The song's original working title was "Uncomparable," but the music publishing company asked Gordon to change it to "Unforgettable."

That very same year, Nat King Cole recorded "Unforgettable," making an indelible mark in the minds of all who heard it.  Cole's original recording of this song became inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.

Recorded, arranged, and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Piano - Eugene Losilevich
Trumpet - Norberto Mejicanos
Acoustic Standup Bass - Percy White
Drums - Patrick Morrison

"Unforgettable"

In my opinion, this is the Greatest Sinatra song ever..., well, actually, the Greatest Cy Coleman song ever.  Cy Coleman was one of the most brilliant and prolific writers of the Sinatra era.  His songs ring true from start to finish.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Coleman at one of the last ASCAP sponsored dinners at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel back in the mid '90's.  I was seated at his table and caught the tail end of a story he was telling about "Witchcraft."

"...Frank changed one note and it became his song forever."  Cy bid farewell to his creation of "Witchcraft" and it became Frank Sinatra's "child."  Although Cy Coleman got the paychecks for "Witchcraft," Frank was forever considered synonymous with the song.  Meeting Cy Coleman really was one of my all-time greatest musical experiences ever.

Recorded and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Tenor Sax - Bob Minor
Lead Trumpet - Norberto Mejicanos
Second and Third Trumpet - John Halbleib
Baritone Sax - Matt Ellis
Trombone - Wes Bond
Flute - Claire England
Acoustic Standup Bass - Percy White
Piano - Eugene Losilevich
Drums - Patrick Morrison

"Witchcraft"

Recorded, rearranged, and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Tenor Sax - Bob Minor
Trumpet - Norberto Mejicanos
Plunger Trumpet - John Halbleib
Baritone Sax - Matt Ellis
Trombone - Wes Bond
Bass - Percy White
Piano - Mariah
Drums - Patrick Morrison

"Funny Valentine"

This version was recorded live in my living room.  Stereo mics were set up from the night before.  It was Sunday morning and the guys used to come over for brunch and we would jam.  So, what you hear is actually what played that morning.

Recorded, arranged, and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Tenor Sax - Bob Minor
Trumpet - Norberto Mejicanos
Bass  Percy White
Trombone - Wes Bond
Piano - Eric Belvin
Drums - Patrick Morrison

"Moondance"

Burt Bacharach's hit, "Look of Love."

Recorded, rearranged, and mixed by T.Michael for Jazz4theMasses.

Guitar - T.Michael
Tenor Sax - Bob Minor
Trumpet - Norberto Mejicanos
Flute - Claire England
Bass - Percy White
Vibes - Jack
Piano - Eugene Losilevich
Drums - Patrick Morrison

"Look of Love"

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Kind words from St.Bede's Church

I have booked this band twice for events at St. Bede's Episcopal Church, and both times guests were delighted by the quality and variety of Jazz4theMasses' repertoire --everything from "Take 5" and "Girl from Ipanema" to "Moondance" and "Billie Jean."

The first time I just had funds to request a trio (sax, guitar bass) for an outdoor, family-oriented lunchtime event, but the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response of the participants convinced our planners to hire them again as a big band (three horns, pianist, guitars, bass, drummer) for a more formal, adult-oriented evening event in the church hall.

Jazz4theMasses were extremely professional, well-rehearsed and well-groomed, and followed my detailed timetable to a T, while still being able to improv when needed. The band members were very polite and appreciative of the audience feedback, too. We would happily work with them again and look forward to the next gathering when we can do so.

Jazz4theMasses

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