BRASS FUNKEYS Masterclass - Centre for Music Performance

When: March 14, 2024 7:00 pm
Where: Lady Mitchell Hall

THURSDAY 14 MARCH

2024 at 7-9PM

Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Site,

Cambridge

DAVE ROBINSON Saxophone

JACK BANJO COURTNEY Trumpet

VIJ PRAKASH Trombone

Members of the trailblazing Brass band, Brass Funkeys, return to the University of Cambridge to give an interactive workshop masterclass on pop and function horn section arrangements, playing techniques, and improvisation.

This masterclass is open to all wind and brass players, but also any string and rhythm players who would like to develop their knowledge of jazz, funk, and pop performance.

Attendees are welcome to bring their instruments, but are also welcome to watch.

To sign up as a participant or audience member, please fill out this form

Participation is restricted to students only, but members of the public are welcome to attend as a member of the audience

What will be covered?:

1.⁠ ⁠Role of horn section in existing pop music. How to play in a horn section. Articulation etc. We will demo and also workshop students playing some of the arrangements that we have written for various bands and artists.

2.⁠ ⁠⁠Arranging pop horn section: How to add a horn section to stuff that doesn’t have it. Useful for both originals and function bands doing music that doesn’t always have horns.

3.⁠ ⁠⁠Arranging pop for instrumental ensembles. Demo and have participants play some music we have arranged for the brass funkeys and discuss both arranging and playing techniques

4.⁠ ⁠⁠New Orleans jazz as a genre for small/large group instrumental performances and some discussion of approaches to improvisation.

About the Musicians:

Dave Robinson (sax), Jack Banjo Courtney (trumpet) and Vij Prakash (trombone) are 3 members of Hip-Hop Brass Band, The Brass Funkeys, as well as the horn section for the London Garage Orchestra. They have experience of working in a variety of styles and settings including performances at Glastonbury Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, as well as working with pop artists such as Olivia Dean, Peter Andre and All Saints. They will be demonstrating and discussing the role of a horn section in pop, jazz and funk music; how it can be added to tracks that didn’t have it before; as well as how to arrange tunes for horn-led bands.