From the debut performance of the Jon Hatamiya Big Band at Manhattan School of Music, May 10, 2014.

composed and arranged by Jon Hatamiya

Saxes: Patrick Bartley (lead), Albert Baliwas, Xavier Del Castillo (solo), Elijah Shiffer (solo), Matt Woroshyl
Trombones: Jon Hatamiya (solo), Scott Ninmer (lead), Isaac Kaplan, Santiago Latorre (bass)
Trumpets: Josh Gawel, Ryan DeWeese (lead), Tyler Tritt, Nolan Tsang
Rhythm: Kyle Athayde (vibes), Mike Bono (guitar), Kevin Bernstein (keys/synths), Max Calkin (electric bass), Guilhem Flouzat (drums).

Video recorded by Lon Hatamiya, edited by Jon Hatamiya.
Audio recorded live at Manhattan School of Music.

Bak - ! (Jon Hatamiya Big Band)

THE LUIGI RACEWAY PRAISE BREAK

KD3 soundfont cover of Herbie Hancock's 'Dolphin Dance'

✰ Kirby Hancock ✰

The debut single from the upcoming album by Justin Sky.
Produced by Jason Goldman and Justin Sky.
Written by Justin Sky, Solara, and Jason Goldman.
JustinSky.com

Talk To God feat. Solara

The Threeneckxophone, first created at a rehearsal for Jon Hatamiya's senior recital at MSM, is a hybrid saxophone consisting of an alto mouthpiece and neck attached to a bari neck, which is in turn attached to a tenor neck and body.
To the best of my knowledge this is the first time it's been played. The transposition is difficult to tell but it is most likely an F-sharp instrument. I'm playing it in D.

Donna Lee played on the Threeneckxophone!!!!

This is a factory song, with a groove like heavy machinery and raw material. The end could represent the satisfaction of having a finished product.

Elijah Shiffer - alto saxophone
Andrew Shillito - guitar
Marty Kenney - electric bass
Tim Rachbach - drums
Composed by Elijah Shiffer
Recorded August 14, 2017 at Acme Hall Studio, Brooklyn, NY
Recording engineer: Richard Bennett
Mixed and mastered by Dev Avidon at Avidon Audio Labs, New York, NY

Unhinged

Material Overture

Performed by the Thornton Symphony Orchestra
11/2018

Luca Mendoza - Stop The Train

Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.

The Duel from “The Empire Strikes Back” for 8 trombones and piano
Music by John Williams
arr. Karim Elmahmoudi

Fellow fans of John Williams music frequently ask me if I have a favorite cue that he’s written for Star Wars. It’s really hard for me to choose just one. There are so many great ones. But one of my all time favorites is “The Duel” from “The Empire Strikes Back.” 

I saw Empire in the theater when it first premiered. I was 6 years old and it made quite the impression on me. It was the first Star Wars movie I had ever seen and I was instantly hooked on John Williams’ music. No surprise that I picked a brass instrument when it came time to do so a few years later in my school music program. 

“The Duel” is an amazing 4 minute distillation of so much of what I love about the music of Star Wars. For years I’ve thought about arranging this climactic scene. Typically I don’t record other peoples arrangements as I enjoy doing my own versions but in this case, I made an exception.

Meet my friend Karim Elmahmoudi. He’s a wonderful composer, arranger and trombonist who reached out to me almost 3 years ago to connect about our mutual love of all things trombone, John Williams and especially Star Wars scores. He has sent me original compositions as well as arrangements over the years and I was his guest on an interview series he does. He’s a wonderful spirit and I look forward to the day when we can meet in person after this pandemic is in our collective rear view mirrors.

Well, this past April, he reached out and very graciously asked if I could record the contra part on his new arrangement of “The Duel” which is scored for 2 alto trombones, 4 tenor trombones, 1 bass trombone, 1 contrabass trombone and piano. He said he knew how busy I am and it was a tall ask. It was like he “felt a great need in the Force” as I had literally been just revisiting the idea of an arrangement of this cue when I got his email. I said to Karim, “This arrangement looks great! I think I want to do the whole thing myself! Problem is you’re gonna have to be patient. I’ve got a ton of other initiatives and projects that I need to do first but I WILL get to this. And I’ll add some SuperNova touches to the arrangement… sound good?”

So here it finally is! Karim and I both really have a powerful connection and reaction to this cue. It’s got so much in it but the most powerful moment is the Han and Leia theme that happens after the fugue section at the 2:50 mark. I’m actually getting goose bumps just typing this… you’ll hear what I mean.

Some how this cue captures a lot of what I’ve been feeling during the pandemic: feeling of fighting a seemingly insurmountable foe, the underlying terror of this battle, feeling of mutual struggle by my friends and family, final break through, escape and triumph… all in 4 minutes!

Last but certainly not least, I wanna give a huge thanks to Constanze Hochwartner for tackling the piano part on this arrangement. It is such a great color adding the piano to my NovaDub trombone choir sound and she sounds absolutely terrific.

I will be making a video of this so look for that in the coming weeks but I just couldn’t wait to share the recording!

Enjoy!!

Bak - ! (Jon Hatamiya Big Band)

jonhatamiya