Author Topic: Brass Sections in bands  (Read 2824 times)

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Offline splent

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Brass Sections in bands
« on: June 24, 2016, 10:53:54 AM »
Why don't bands do this anymore? I mean they probably do, but I guess what I'm saying is why isn't it more popular? I mean in the 60s and 70s they were HUGE with Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire... I mean there's NOTHING like hearing those brass sounds supplementing the rest of the band and the vocals. I LOVE it so much. Even in early 80s pop like Genesis (who used EWF's brass section in Paperlate and No Reply at All) the song wouldn't be the song without them.
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Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2016, 11:00:20 AM »
I don't see it much in pop/rock music anymore.

Snarky Puppy usually includes some brass.
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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2016, 11:03:26 AM »
Probably the same reason famous pop artists don't have big mustaches anymore. Things change.
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Offline LieLowTheWantedMan

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2016, 11:58:02 AM »
Sufjan Stevens is probably my favourite user of brass instrumentation working today.

Offline Train of Naught

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2016, 12:20:52 PM »
The Reign Of Kindo has some great brass in some of their songs, mostly jazzy and loungy, I bet you'd love it. Check out Romancing A Stranger from their album 'Play With Fire', meant to send it in your roulette aswell but I got kicked :P

The brass here is not nearly as present as Chicago from what I've heard, but they definitely have some cool neoclassical stuff going in.
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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2016, 12:38:48 PM »
I used to (well still do, but hardly listen anymore) like ska music.  The brass sections were always a huge part of the music and inspired me to play trombone and sax when I was young.

It's actually part of the reason why I like symphonic metal so much because sometimes they get some brass in there too (at least on the album).  Same with Score and the guy playing the French horn.  I think it's awesome.  Also Epica's Retrospect concert has a brass section in the orchestra.

Offline splent

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2016, 01:38:48 PM »
Yeah same here in regards to ska. I never really got into it but I like whatever I hear when it comes to ska.

Obviously artists like Thank You Scientist have brass in them, but I'm talking about brass sections. Like when I saw Earth Wind and Fire live it looked like a mini big band concert with all those brass instruments. It was awesome.
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Offline King Postwhore

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2016, 01:44:12 PM »
Not too many now.  TOP is one still and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones is another I can think of.
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Offline Big Hath

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2016, 01:46:05 PM »
maybe we can curb discussion of these bands until AFTER the splent roulette is over?  :lol
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Offline Big Hath

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2016, 01:50:38 PM »
but to the point of the thread.  I think it's probably a combination of it just lost fashion, maybe players of those instruments tend to gravitate more to jazz and/or classical outlets for their talents, and I'm guessing the introduction of electronic keyboards and especially synths in the 80s covered that portion of the sound spectrum a bit (and cheaper).
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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2016, 01:53:56 PM »
I just don't think a lot of those types of music are as popular anymore. 

You don't hear a band like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones making the top hits list anymore.  I saw them once before back in maybe 2001 and they were AWESOME live.

Offline King Postwhore

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2016, 01:58:35 PM »
maybe we can curb discussion of these bands until AFTER the splent roulette is over?  :lol

 :lol

I just don't think a lot of those types of music are as popular anymore. 

You don't hear a band like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones making the top hits list anymore.  I saw them once before back in maybe 2001 and they were AWESOME live.

Yeah, I saw them a few times.  Really fun live.
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Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2016, 04:02:53 PM »
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Offline King Postwhore

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2016, 04:22:09 PM »
Do they all have a brass section that are in the band?  That's what Splent is saying.
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Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2016, 08:31:31 PM »
they all use Brass instruments. I mean if you are referring to an actual assortment of Brass players like Chicago? it depends on the song, albums, etc.

Most of them also use strings prominently. I like to call what they do Chamber (or Baroque) Pop/Rock/Folk etc, but part of that includes Horns or Brass instruments at times.

Offline splent

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #15 on: June 26, 2016, 06:09:41 PM »
they all use Brass instruments. I mean if you are referring to an actual assortment of Brass players like Chicago? it depends on the song, albums, etc.

Most of them also use strings prominently. I like to call what they do Chamber (or Baroque) Pop/Rock/Folk etc, but part of that includes Horns or Brass instruments at times.

I'm talking about like a larger brass section, like Chicago or Earth Wind and Fire... I can't think of any more off the top of my head
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Online The Letter M

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #16 on: June 26, 2016, 06:20:56 PM »
Anything from Big Big Train after David Longdon joined the band. Beautiful brass (and string) arrangements and accompaniments.

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #17 on: June 27, 2016, 11:18:17 AM »
Blood Sweat & Tears also had a full-time horn section.  They were on Columbia, same label as Chicago, and produced by the same guy, James William Guercio.

Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #18 on: June 27, 2016, 11:25:29 AM »
Blood Sweat & Tears also had a full-time horn section.  They were on Columbia, same label as Chicago, and produced by the same guy, James William Guercio.
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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #19 on: June 27, 2016, 11:34:56 AM »
Yeah, they were.  They embraced the full-on jazz and blues a bit more than Chicago did.  Chicago's stated goal was always "pop music with horns" whereas BS&T clearly had no problem playing "real jazz" on their albums.  Back when you could still do that kind of thing, of course.

Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #20 on: June 27, 2016, 11:44:59 AM »
they all use Brass instruments. I mean if you are referring to an actual assortment of Brass players like Chicago? it depends on the song, albums, etc.

Most of them also use strings prominently. I like to call what they do Chamber (or Baroque) Pop/Rock/Folk etc, but part of that includes Horns or Brass instruments at times.

I'm talking about like a larger brass section, like Chicago or Earth Wind and Fire... I can't think of any more off the top of my head

I guess you may be splitting hairs. How do you quantify "larger brass section" ...I mean I can definitely say there are many songs from those Chamber bands that feature horns, whether they be 1, 2 or 10.

I used to call Anathallo, College Rock with Trombones, and frankly, the trombones were rather prominent in their sound.

Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #21 on: June 28, 2016, 07:17:45 AM »
I think he is talking about bands that have the brass section as an integral part of the band, all the time, consistently, like Chicago and Earth, Wind, & Fire did. 

Not bands that occasionally use brass players on some songs, depending on the album.
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Offline Kotowboy

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #22 on: June 28, 2016, 07:19:44 AM »
I have a friend who is heavily into Ska and whenever I go round his house and he is listening to some ska - every band sounds the same to me.

Especially if it's Ska Punk. He himself is in a ska punk band with nine members - three of whom play brass and yeah. They sound exactly as you'd imagine.

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #23 on: June 28, 2016, 07:23:34 AM »
Anything from Big Big Train after David Longdon joined the band. Beautiful brass (and string) arrangements and accompaniments.

-Marc.

The brass sound of BBT adds a stately and solemn touch to the band's sound.

Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #24 on: June 28, 2016, 08:06:35 AM »
I have a friend who is heavily into Ska and whenever I go round his house and he is listening to some ska - every band sounds the same to me.

Especially if it's Ska Punk. He himself is in a ska punk band with nine members - three of whom play brass and yeah. They sound exactly as you'd imagine.
I kind of agree.  I mean, I like ska, kind of, but all of the bands sound the same to me, too.  So I got to where I just don't care. 
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Offline Kotowboy

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #25 on: June 28, 2016, 08:24:24 AM »
Yeah I'm not saying it's bad as it must be a task to write for nine musicians and not sound like a total clusterfruitcake.

It's just not what i'd choose to listen to.

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #26 on: June 28, 2016, 09:33:52 AM »
I honestly thought ska music died like 15 years ago

Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #27 on: June 28, 2016, 12:00:42 PM »
Nothing dies in music.  It just gets less popular.

But everything that was ever popular still has its niche fans/practitioners.
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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #28 on: June 28, 2016, 12:08:45 PM »
Well sure, I know some of the ska bands I used to love are still around (I saw Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake a year and a half ago for example) but I don't know or heard of any new ska bands which is why when kotowboy mentioned his fans have a ska band I was a bit surprised.

Offline Cool Chris

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #29 on: June 28, 2016, 04:47:19 PM »
I generally dislike brass in my rock. Even the occasional sax solo is usually a turn off for me. Not always, just most often.

I honestly thought ska music died like 15 years ago

But everything that was ever popular...

Ska was popular?
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Offline Kotowboy

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #30 on: June 28, 2016, 04:48:53 PM »
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhAJm3cHq2M&list=RDlhAJm3cHq2M

I am not big on brass in bands. It can be great.

I LOVE the sax solo on this song.

Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #31 on: June 29, 2016, 11:31:59 AM »
Ska was popular?
It was never HUGE, but yeah, it was popular for a while in the 90s.
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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #32 on: June 29, 2016, 11:43:45 AM »
Ska was popular?
It was never HUGE, but yeah, it was popular for a while in the 90s.

Yea, it was never big but a couple bands that I mentioned previously in this thread actually had some radio hits.

And this thread reminded me that Less Than Jake (one of my favorite ska/punk bands growing up) is on this years warped tour so I just picked up a ticket for it since it's a sunday around the corner from me.  Might as well enjoy it (and the ticket was free).

Offline Cool Chris

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #33 on: June 29, 2016, 11:59:59 AM »
It was never HUGE, but yeah, it was popular for a while in the 90s.

This thread is now about my dick, apparently.
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Offline hefdaddy42

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Re: Brass Sections in bands
« Reply #34 on: June 29, 2016, 02:00:49 PM »
 :lol
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