Hudson Valley Holiday

This weekend, on December 5th, at 2:00 pm, the West Point Band presents the "Hudson Valley Holiday" concert, with the New York Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet. Raymond Scott compositions will be featured. This performance will take place at the Eisenhower Hall Theatre, on the West Point campus, New York, and is free and open to the public. Details: here — and watch new "Introducing QUINTETE 7" video: here

UPDATE — Band member Brian Broelmann adds: "The Quintette 7 will be starting at 2:00 in the lobby. The show with the NY Phil Brass Quintet will start at 3:00. Quintette 7 is kind of like the opening act, presenting some all new arrangements of holiday tunes as well as some Raymond Scott favorites. Don't miss it!"

D'oh!

Last night's new episode of THE SIMPSONS, "The Fool Monty," was the fourth to feature Raymond Scott's 1937 hit, "Powerhouse" (in this case, twice: once during the show, and again under the closing credits). Not surprising — in a list of series creator Matt Groening's "100 Favorite Things," Scott's classic tune is #14, outranking Stanley Kubrick movies and David Letterman. For those keeping score at home, or Hulu-hunting, the previous episodes were, "And Maggie Makes Three" (1995), "Bart Has Two Mommies" (2006), and "Little Big Girl" (2007).

Professor Elemental

The first single, "Fighting Trousers," from Professor Elemental's new album, THE INDIFFERENCE ENGINE is a hip-hop track based on sample-loops from Raymond Scott's 1937 classic, "Twilight In Turkey." See the video: here

"Brace yourself, as Professor Elemental fires off the first shot in a chap-hop/steampunk battle. A dis tune of the nefarious Mr B: The gentleman rhymer. Steampunk vs. chap-hop! Monkey Butlers vs. Moustaches! My erotic dance vs. a ukeleyle! It's on."

The music of Raymond Scott, John Williams, & Danny Elfman in Nottingham

Join the Nottingham University Wind Orchestra and Brass Ensemble in an evening celebrating all aspects of the silver screen: "Epic Melodies and Looney Tunes." The epic melodies of JOHN WILLIAMS's moving "Hymn to the Fallen" (from SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) and Hans Zimmer’s stirring portrait of noble sacrifice in GLADIATOR are counterbalanced by the sublime lunacy of RAYMOND SCOTT's "The Toy Trumpet," and "Powerhouse" — the music which launched a thousand cartoons — and Paul Hart’s blistering soundtrack to an imaginary cartoon, dished up with enormous wit and panache. Also featured will be DANNY ELFMAN's theme from THE SIMPSONS. Details: here

New LOONEY TUNES Songbook

The new LOONEY TUNES SONGBOOK features 5 Raymond Scott classics:

• "Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals"
• "In an 18th Century Drawing Room"
• "Powerhouse"
• "Reckless Night on Board an Ocean Liner"
• "The Toy Trumpet"

Order from: Amazon.com

New DVD: Raymond Scott Documentary Film

Stan Warnow, Director of the new Raymond Scott documentary film, DECONSTRUCTING DAD, is proud to announce a new DVD is now available to order. There are a substantial number of extra sequences on the disc, totaling approx. 20 minutes of bonus footage, including:

 • 2 bonus scenes featuring Mark Mothersbaugh, movie soundtrack composer and DEVO co-founder

 • Turntablist/producer/author DJ Spooky, aka Paul D. Miller

 • An exploration of the mysterious 1959 album THE UNEXPECTED by Raymond Scott & The Secret Seven, the all-star jazz legends supergroup whose identities remained confidential for decades

 • Tom Rhea, Ph.D (Berklee College of Music) explaining in great detail about Scott’s early keyboard synthesizer, the Clavivox

 • Moog synthesizer co-inventor, Herb Deutsch, who extends his recollections of Raymond Scott first telling him about the Electronium

Even if you’ve seen the documentary at public screenings, there’s a lot more to see and hear on the DVD (and you’ll be helping support the film). Order from Kunaki DVD: here — it is a Region-Free NTSC Video.

DE NUEVO EN EL INFIERNO

Madrid-based sextet Racalmuto have released a fantastic new CD titled DE NUEVO EN EL INFIERNO, featuring faithful renditions of seven classic Raymond Scott compositions from the 1930s-'40s:

• "Oil Gusher"

• "The Girl With The Light Blue Hair"

• "Birdlife In The Bronx"

• "Reckless Night on Board an Ocean Liner"

• "A Little Bit of Rigoletto"

• "Suicide Cliff"

• "Tobacco Auctioneer"

An eighth tune associated with (but not composed by) Scott, "Brass Buttons and Epaulets" (from the 1938 film Just Around the Corner), is also included, played in the RSQ arrangement. Other CD tracks include modern takes on vintage tunes by Ellington, Tchaikovsky, and Slim Gaillard, along with one original penned by group leader Miguel Malla.

CD artwork

CD cover artwork

Snip-Snap and Red Bull® Presents:Film & Music Tribute in Manchester

Snip-Snap Music & Red Bull® presents, "DECONSTRUCTING DAD: A NIGHT OF FILM & MUSIC CELEBRATING THE GENIUS OF RAYMOND SCOTT." 

This Sunday, director Stan Warnow will introduce the new Raymond Scott documentary, DECONSTRUCTING DAD, and conduct a Q&A. Following the screening, there will be live performances by GRAHAM MASSEY*, DENIS JONES, HENRIETA SMITH ROLLA, and others, and visual artists will provide moving image tributes.

*Aside from his electronic group 808 STATE, Graham Massey’s composing, remixing, and production list is a “who’s who” of contemporary music, including DAVID BOWIE, QUINCY JONES, BJÖRK, and GOLDFRAPP.

• Date/Time:
   November 7th
   5:00pm until 12-Midnight 
• Location:
   The Soup Kitchen; 31-33 Spear Street

   (Stevenson Square); Manchester, United Kingdom

Click image below for details:

Cartoon Jazz Septet Concert

The Cartoon Jazz project was launched in 2003 at the Stanford Jazz Festival with the revival of charts from the great American composer, Raymond Scott. Jeff Sanford tracked down many charts of the famous composer, written for 13-piece bands in public archives and private collector libraries. Members of his band have since been contributing new arrangements of Scott's music as well as other jazz pieces which have been used in cartoons.

Debut House concert of Jeff Sanford's Cartoon Jazz Septet will take place this Saturday, November 13th, from 3:00 to 5:00 (Two sets with intermission). Location: The House of John & Francie Raeside, 662 Kenwyn Rd. Oakland, California (cross street is Hillgirt).  Suggested Donation: $15, at the door.

Toy Story: Taki76 Strikes Back

Last year, I reported that funk/soul/electro artist Taki76 had created a stop-motion video featuring the Raymond Scott figurine, with a home-made doll of himself. Now, Taki has made this new 1-minute animated film to celebrate the recent DVD release of the documentary, DECONSTRUCTING DAD. See Taki's original vid: here

Charles Nunzio, R.I.P., 97

In January 2009, we offered a free pdf of Scott's "Powerhouse" arranged for accordion by Charles Nunzio. The offer still stands; just drop us an email.

Comes word now from a squeezebox aficionado that Mr. Nunzio passed away on October 19 at the age of 97 (obit here). Mr. Nunzio had a long and distinguished career, commencing with a 1933 debut recital at New York's Town Hall, followed by a performance at Carnegie Hall the following year. He co-founded the American Accordionists Association, and served in the Navy during World War II.

Following his discharge, Mr. Nunzio invented his own custom-designed accordion, the Nunziola (photo, R), and he held a patent on the Kuehl Free-Bass accordion (which he co-developed with William "Bud" Kuehl).

During an 80-year musical career, Nunzio was a composer, arranger, performer, teacher, inventor, and tireless proponent of his instrument. We're honored to keep his arrangement of Scott's most well-known composition in circulation for future generations of accordionists.

Here, the master discusses the 20th century evolution of his instrument.

Here, in 1990, as he approaches age 80, Nunzio performs a spirited solo rendition of "El Cumbanchero."

Live Tribute Concert in the UK

WIGAN Jazz Club's next concert celebrates the 'cartoon jazz' of Raymond Scott featuring Stu Brown's Raymond Scott Project.

The concert is on October 31st, from 12.30pm - 3.30pm (doors open at noon) at Whelley Ex-Servicemen's Club, Vauxhall Road, Wigan, WN13LU. Admission is £9 (£8.50 concessions, £8 members).

Further Information from Ian on 01942 243974 or Gordon on 01925 727408 or visit: www.wiganjazzclub.co.uk

The Quintette 7

The West Point Band has been developing a classic Raymond Scott Quintette repertoire for several years, with occasional live performances. They aren't just learning music from Scott—they're studying math. Raymond called his six-man group a "Quintette." The WPB's ensemble is the "Quintette 7." (FWIW, Scott's "Secret 7" band counted as many as a dozen players.)

The Q7 just released a CD, Quintette 7 Plays the Music of Raymond Scott. A Sunday afternoon CD launch recital takes place on October 24 at the Academy on the Hudson. It's open to the public, and a reception follows the performance. I've seen the band in concert, and they're terrific. They deliver over a dozen RSQ nuggets in a finely honed chamber-jazz fashion.

Carmel Art & Film Festival

Next Friday, October 8th, the new Raymond Scott documentary film, DECONSTRUCTING DAD, will be featured at the Carmel Art & Film Festival, in the greater San Francisco Bay area. Director Stan Warnow plans to attend and conduct a Q&A.

"John Cooper, Director of the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL for the past 19 years, has signed on to curate the films for the event. Festival founder, Tom Burns, 'couldn't be more thrilled' that Cooper has joined the ranks of the board that includes other heavy hitters in the film industry such as Stone Phillips and Dina Eastwood. Juried fine art and photography exhibitions will open that weekend, with outdoor projection photography exhibits, art lectures, music, and fine wine and food all promising to attract art lovers from all corners. The combination of Carmel’s artistic heritage, the natural beauty, and the close proximity to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose metropolitan areas make it the perfect location for a premiere art and film festival."

Click here to enter to win one of three, deluxe VIP trips, including hotel accommodations, CARMEL ART & FILM FESTIVAL passes, a gourmet dinner, a welcome gift bag with shopping gift card, and concierge assistance during the jam-packed festival, October 6–10.