At the moment, I'm sitting in my studio working on an arrangement for GFT. This will be my first ever GFT arrangement, and while I'm excited, I'm also discovering that this type of arranging is extremely difficult.
I've done some arranging for jazz choirs and concert choirs in the past, and felt pretty good about how things turned out. But GFT arranging is a whole different animal. When arranging for a jazz choir, people often find a cool Kurt Elling arrangement or an instrumental version of a tune and then adapt that for a jazz choir. Others really dive in and do original arrangements, but with my limited experience, that isn't the case. With GFT, though, we don't really do other people's arrangements. So, with this tune I'm working on, trying to distance myself from the original to ensure it isn't just a "cover" is really difficult. While I want to keep the elements from the original that are cool, I also want to make this a GFT tune. Wish me luck. I'll keep you posted with how things turn out.
Brennan
GFT
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Brennan
ReplyDeleteVery interesting.... I am thinking about creating a vocal group like this.... I was staff arranger back in the 70s for the US Navy Band in Corpus Christi Tx.... I loved that.... mostly Jazz Sax however with the group.... then taught music vocal and instrumental ...played in bands etc.... but now retired and thinking I could still contribute a bit.... I love this stuff especially GFT ... they were # 1 in my book.... textures, style, range attacks releases etc.... dynamics the whole ball... I loved them... would love to get some of their recordings anyway.... any advise as to writing for this type of group would help mje get back into it I'm sure thanks Brett Clark - Erie PA ....Bclarkeriepa@aol.com