Just an idea...

Sajan

I have been thinking of this idea for a while... I saw a band in the Village a while ago called the Breakestra which was a 9 piece orchestra playing funk and soul music. The sound and vibe was amazing. I was wondering if anyone capable of playing any instrument would be interested in doing something kind of similiar... Or completely different. Its just an idea. If anyone has any ideas or thoughts just post them.

Specky

Yes indeedy, I've toyed with this sort of idea a few times.

What was the line up of the band you saw?

Speaking from the perspective of an ex-orchestral / ex-ensemble player I reckon the biggest obstacle would be producing all the arrangements.

I don't think anyone really sits down and spends a lot of time producing arrangements for your typical band (2 guitars, bass and drums type bands), and even if you add a horn section they're often just adding "pads" so the arrangements can be worked out quite quickly.

But an "orchestra", even something small, say 4 strings, trumpet, trombone, 2 saxes, bass, drums and percussion needs orchestrations. This is time consuming stuff and you kinda have to do them up-front before you can start rehearsing (jamming with this sort of ensemble isn't really going to be very fruitful unless you've got something to play together).

With a bit of searching you may be able to find some small ensemble arrangements off the shelf that can be adapted or transposed to the instruments you have available. You'd be amazed what sort of stuff is available when you find the right place to look.

That kinda leads on to the other point of how you achieve the critical mass for such an outfit. If you have a 9/10 piece ensemble you need to be able to guarantee that most of those people are going to turn up to all the rehearsals. In a more traditional band line up you can often get by if one person doesn't turn up to a rehearsal but in a group that's at least twice the size you're likely to get more people not being able to make it all the time and with all monophonic instruments that can make a big hole in the sound.

I think the idea's great and I could be interested in getting involved in something like this but I have to play devil's advocate and say I think it'd be a hell of a lot of work to put together even a half hour set. All the problems associated with putting together a 4 piece band are probably squared when you're putting together a 9 or 10 piece.

On the other hand, if you already know a group of like minded individuals that could form the core of the group then maybe it can work. Anyone in mind for doing the orchestrations? (although you really need an idea of line up first)

Sajan

The band I saw was the Breakestra. It was just simple funk. I really would be interested in other peoples input. If people think it is a stupid idea tell me.

groove

Sounds like a similar idea - I am trying to set up a funk outfit to play a residency. I agree with Speckys comments, there does need to be some arrangment, however I'm not really thinking about an orcehstra. I want to set up a very raw live funk outfit which will give onlookers no choice but to get on down with their bad selves on the dancefloor.

Not into glam/disco/bread-heads in wigs and flares or any of that, no commercial considerations whatsoever, just absolute surrender to the funk and groove. Would love to get a singer the likes of Lyn Collins (rock me again and again...), or the vocalist on ordinary pain pt.2.

What instruments do you each play (Sajan and Specky)? Where are you based?

fuse

Yeh I like that idea, have thought about this type of thing a bit also.
Having a large group is a nightmare trying to get everyone in the same place all the time!
I really would like to be in a band playing serious funk/soul/jazz music, wouldn't mind doing covers because you can adapt them to your own style.
I'm a bassist & also play trumpet.

groove

Fuse, interesting. I'm a bassist who plays a bit of drums and keyboards too, but we will be looking for horns without a shadow of a doubt. I also like the multi-instrumentalist approach - people swap instruments every now and then, you get a whole new sound. The current drummer can also spin vinyl, one of the guitarists can play keys, and the other one is a sitar-guru. A horn who can play bass as well gives even more options.

VeVeX

Check out 'JErry Fish and The Mudbug Club'....they are that kinda stuff, saw them supporting Counting Crows last month. Weren't too bad. The songs were really long, every instrument had a solo (8 or 9 of them!!)

fuse

Sounds good groove. Well, Its been a 2-3 Yrs since I really played the trumpet, went the classical route did up to grade 8 when I was younger, so I'm a bit rusty...
I also like to dabble a bit on the percussion, Djembe/Congas/Bongos anything that requires a bit of rhythm. Can do guitar aswell if needs be!

DrummerBoy

A gold star to anyone who guesses what I play!

lee_baby_simms

is there much of a demand for that stuff anymore? it was everywhere bout 4 or 5 years ago, the global funk orchestra and all that...

you'd wanna be **** hot to stand out...