'Hooten Plays Williams' - New recording of John Williams' Trumpet Concerto now available

[Thomas Hooten 36]

Hi all!

I wanted to share a project that I"m doing very soon. You can read more about it on the kickstarter page, but I'm recording John's Trumpet Concerto with a full orchestra, with John himself conducting! I've raised a majority of the funding for the full orchestra and recording fees, but am doing this campaign to raise the remaining gap. If any are interested in contributing or sharing, there are rewards on the page and I'd appreciate you all for helping to make this a reality!!

Thanks for reading!

Best,

Tom Hooten, Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/williamshootencd/john-williams-and-thomas-hooten-recording-project?ref=user_menu

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

Welcome @Thomas Hooten, we're way ahead of you!

 

 

[Thomas Hooten 36]

Wow thank you!! I appreciate the support!!

[Thomas Hooten 36]

Hi all! This is Tom Hooten. Thanks for sharing on the project! For those upset that the $50 is a lot for a CD, the premise is more as a tax deductible donation to help fund the project, and the signed CD is more of a free "thank you," along with the digital download and thank you note (the previous level rewards). I hope that makes sense.

 

About timing, I actually have 2 large donors that are funding enough of the project to hire the musicians and book the studio. The whole project costs about $100k! This money being raised here is mostly for the post-production costs (editing it all together, printing CD's, making it digital, among other fees that add up). So we are set for the recording session with the previous donors, but this helps to finish the project!

 

Just to answer some questions. I hope that makes sense. Thanks again for all of your support!

Best,

Tom Hooten

[pete 1,061]

Makes perfect sense. Those complaining simply didn't understand that.

 

A couple of questions if you don't mind: When is the recording date?

 

Will Williams be revising Born on the 4th at all? Sometimes he tinkers with his arrangements. Not that his earlier ones aren't great^

[ricsim88 294]

As a trumpet player who worked on the JW concerto (unfortunately my orchestra, symphony Nova Scotia, in Canada is too small to perform it with me) I can really appreciate that a great player like yourself would want to record the piece. Especially with John conducting. This will be the reference version of this concerto for generations to come.

I will most definitely contribute what I can

Cheers

Richard Simoneau 

 

 

2 hours ago, Thomas Hooten said:

Wow thank you!! I appreciate the support!!

 

 

Richard Simoneau 

[Thomas Hooten 36]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your support!

 

[Thomas Hooten 36]

Hello,

The date is Sept 24th, coming up soon! I know that John is making a few orchestra revisions but I don't think it's anything major. At least I don't think, I'll find out soon when I get the parts.

Thanks,

Tom

[Nick1Ø66 6,507]

You lot who are whining about "50.00 for a CD!" have no idea how Kickstarter works.

 

You're donating to make the project happen. The CD is a bonus. If you don't want to donate and just want the CD, wait for the CD.  Crikey.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,752]

I'll wait for the CD then

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

I'll wait for the minidisc.

[Disco Stu 15,508]

10 hours ago, Thomas Hooten said:

Hello,

The date is Sept 24th, coming up soon! I know that John is making a few orchestra revisions but I don't think it's anything major. At least I don't think, I'll find out soon when I get the parts.

Thanks,

Tom

 

I really cannot thank you enough for making this project happen.  Not only to have a new recording of my favorite Williams concerto featuring one of our finest trumpet players, but conducted by the Maestro himself.... I must be in heaven!

 

Judging by your performance of the first movement with the Marine Band, I know we're all in for a real treat.

 

 

Is this largely the same orchestra that recorded the new Spielberg/Williams volume in 2016?

 

[Nick Parker 3,048]

23 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Not only to have a new recording of my favorite Williams concerto featuring one of our finest trumpet players, but conducted by the Maestro himself.... I must be in heaven!

 

I'm pumped to hear how he does the second movement, which is in my shortlist of top pieces of music ever.

[Disco Stu 15,508]

This is also the first real, honest-to-God STUDIO recording of a Williams concert piece in many years.  Lots of live recordings in the meantime of course.

 

SO. EXCITING.

 

21 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

 

I'm pumped to hear how he does the second movement, which is in my shortlist of top pieces of music ever.

 

Yes!  Like Gershwin if he lived to become a modernist or something.

[Nick Parker 3,048]

Just now, Disco Stu said:

Yes!  Like Gershwin if he lived to become an interesting composer who removed the stick out of his ass.

 

I'm so glad you're back, Stu. 

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

Are any aspects of the Sandoval recording considered unsatisfactory? Just curious.

[Nick Parker 3,048]

4 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Are any aspects of the Sandoval recording considered unsatisfactory? Just curious.

 

A lot of people diss it, for reasons I'm not too sure of, but I really enjoy the performance.

[Disco Stu 15,508]

15 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Are any aspects of the Sandoval recording considered unsatisfactory? Just curious.

 

There's nothing inherently wrong with it, it's not like there are flubbed notes or anything.  The performance is just not to my taste and I don't think it showcases what I love about Williams' writing for this piece.  The Harjanne performance is excellent, but a recording conducted by Williams and recorded in an actual studio will almost certainly supercede that album for me.

 

10 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

 

A lot of people diss it, for reasons I'm not too sure of, but I really enjoy the performance.

 

I think the piece calls for a subtler touch, personally.  Sandoval is like a bull in a chinashop on that recording for me.  Not to disrespect Sandoval generally of course, he's a great artist.

 

(awaiting Thor to let us all know once again that the Sandoval recording is great and there's no reason to listen to any other)

[Nick Parker 3,048]

20 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

awaiting Thor to let us all know once again that the Sandoval recording is great and there's no reason to listen to any other

 

I thought I remembered Thor having similar criticisms that you have.

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

And it's complete.

 

[Nick Parker 3,048]

32 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

The performance is just not to my taste and I don't think it showcases what I love about Williams' writing for this piece

 

How so?

[Disco Stu 15,508]

17 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

 

How so?

 

I hear the whole concerto as this great tribute to the traditional (American/European) flavors of the trumpet.  Looking at the wide over-simplified view of the work: the heraldic opening movement, the bluesy lyrical second, and the trumpet as vehicle of wild, rhythmic complexity in the third (which sounds the most like how he sometimes uses the trumpet in his film action music to my ears).  And then even within the movements, Williams calls for the performer to use radically different voicings and timbres often in quick succession.  I find Sandoval's playing on that album to be a bit monochromatic, lacking the variety of style and color that I think Williams was asking for. 

 

It's a seriously virtuosic trumpet showcase, maybe Sandoval was just having a bad day  

[Nick Parker 3,048]

10 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

I find Sandoval's playing on that album to be a bit monochromatic, lacking the variety of style and color that I think Williams was asking for. 

 

Ah, I see, interesting.  That makes a lot of sense. 

[pete 1,061]

The 30,000 was just surpassed - i think with a 5,000 donation. Congrats Thomas!

[Disco Stu 15,508]

5 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

 

Ah, I see, interesting.  That makes a lot of sense. 

 

I do think that the second movement is where Sandoval shines the most, which maybe is closer to his comfort zone?

 

4 minutes ago, pete said:

The 30,000 was just surpassed 

 

Finally decided to just go ahead and raid my kids' college funds  

[Nick Parker 3,048]

1 minute ago, Disco Stu said:

 

I do think that the second movement is where Sandoval shines the most, which maybe is closer to his comfort zone?

 

Hell yeah he shines there. Warm, tender, passionate, portentous, powerful and solid, all in one piece. 

 

When I first listened to it l liked to imagine a king ruled by his own self-importance, out of touch with his subjects. Then when a massacre befalls his kingdom, he sees the corpses wheeled off in large barrows, and begins to recognize the depth of his folly. He wanders through his massive castle, lamenting his carelessness, and agonizes over a way to right his wrongdoings. 

 

I guess that imagery came easily because the movement has it all: regal, mournful, bittersweet, triumphant...damn, Williams hit it hard.

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

12 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Finally decided to just go ahead and raid my kids' college funds  

 

Too bad you couldn't pay with your LLL gift card.

[JohnnyD 1,473]

On 9/9/2018 at 11:46 PM, MrScratch said:

I will back this but it seems like there is a good chance that it won’t meet its goal.

 

$31,307 pledged of $30,000 at the time of this post...

[thx99 1,928]

55 minutes ago, pete said:

The 30,000 was just surpassed - i think with a 5,000 donation. Congrats Thomas!

 

53 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Finally decided to just go ahead and raid my kids' college funds  

 

Thank goodness I don’t have kids’ college funds to worry about!!

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

Thank goodness I live in a country where education is free.

[SteveMc 2,678]

1 hour ago, Disco Stu said:

I hear the whole concerto as this great tribute to the traditional (American/European) flavors of the trumpet.  Looking at the wide over-simplified view of the work: the heraldic opening movement, the bluesy lyrical second, and the trumpet as vehicle of wild, rhythmic complexity in the third (which sounds the most like how he sometimes uses the trumpet in his film action music to my ears).  And then even within the movements, Williams calls for the performer to use radically different voicings and timbres often in quick succession.  I find Sandoval's playing on that album to be a bit monochromatic, lacking the variety of style and color that I think Williams was asking for. 

Yes!  I agree with Disco Stu!  Things going well?

53 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

Hell yeah he shines there. Warm, tender, passionate, portentous, powerful and solid, all in one piece. 

 

When I first listened to it l liked to imagine a king ruled by his own self-importance, out of touch with his subjects. Then when a massacre befalls his kingdom, he sees the corpses wheeled off in large barrows, and begins to recognize the depth of his folly. He wanders through his massive castle, lamenting his carelessness, and agonizes over a way to right his wrongdoings. 

 

I guess that imagery came easily because the movement has it all: regal, mournful, bittersweet, triumphant...damn, Williams hit it hard.

Yes! I agree with Nick!

 

 

I love the Trumpet Concerto, to be sure.  One of those pieces where you hear something new with each listen.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,752]

1 hour ago, Disco Stu said:

 

I do think that the second movement is where Sandoval shines the most, which maybe is closer to his comfort zone?

 

 

Finally decided to just go ahead and raid my kids' college funds  

 

You are back!

[Nick1Ø66 6,507]

3 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Thank goodness I live in a country where education is free.

 

Nothing is free. Thank goodness you live in a country with lots of oil.

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

40 minutes ago, Nick1066 said:

 

Nothing is free. Thank goodness you live in a country with lots of oil.

 

The important point is the implication that education is accessible to all. And you don't need oil to achieve that.

[Nick1Ø66 6,507]

Yeah but all that oil helps pay for that.

 

I'm not knocking it...oil revenues and a largely homogenous population (except for the people who do the dirty jobs) has enabled your people to create one of the best places in the world to live. Sort out the addiction problems and you'll have a paradise!

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

Many countries have shown it can be achieved without oil revenues. Just increase the taxes, especially for the filthy rich!

[Nick Parker 3,048]

3 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Many countries have shown it can be achieved without oil revenues. Just increase the taxes, especially for the filthy rich!

 

But, but--_I_ could be filthy rich one day! Never mind I'm middle class and have no inclination for upward mobility, _I_ could be paying those taxes one day! To hell with your tax increase, filthy hippie!

[Bryant Burnette 747]

17 hours ago, Nick1066 said:

You lot who are whining about "50.00 for a CD!" have no idea how Kickstarter works.

 

You're donating to make the project happen. The CD is a bonus. If you don't want to donate and just want the CD, wait for the CD.  Crikey.

 

I might have been interested in donating to make a project like this happen if I was receiving a CD as a thank you at a $20 level, or even $25.

 

$50, not a chance.  I wouldn't pay that to fund a rerecording of the full score to Dracula.

[pete 1,061]

Any plans for the excess over the $30,000?

 

If not. Can I have it?

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

13 hours ago, Bryant Burnette said:

$50, not a chance.  I wouldn't pay that to fund a rerecording of the full score to Dracula.

 

I doubt that would be sufficient to fund a rerecording of the full score.

 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,359]

5 hours ago, pete said:

Any plans for the excess over the $30,000?

It's for a new project: Variations on Rey's Theme by John Williams feat. John Powell. 

 

But seriously, wouldn't that be awesome?!

[Jurassic Shark 14,491]

NOOOOOOOO!

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,359]

Well if some people would like Hans Zimmer could do a take. Maybe even collab with Giacchino! 

[ricsim88 294]

Tomorrow is the day 

 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156712692186263&id=669021262

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,752]

Link doesn't work.

[ricsim88 294]

https://m.facebook.com/TomHootenTrumpet/

 

Maybe this one will

[The Psycho Pianist 219]

Some pictures from the above link:

 

 

[The Psycho Pianist 219]

Sorry to double post but here are a few more pictures courtesy of Daniel James Chan on FB

 

 

 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,359]

On 9/15/2018 at 5:32 PM, Thomas Hooten said:

Hi all!

I wanted to share a project that I"m doing very soon. You can read more about it on the kickstarter page, but I'm recording John's Trumpet Concerto with a full orchestra, with John himself conducting! I've raised a majority of the funding for the full orchestra and recording fees, but am doing this campaign to raise the remaining gap. If any are interested in contributing or sharing, there are rewards on the page and I'd appreciate you all for helping to make this a reality!!

Thanks for reading!

Best,

Tom Hooten, Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/williamshootencd/john-williams-and-thomas-hooten-recording-project?ref=user_menu

I love it when the people who are actually working on the projects we talk about here pop in to say hello. Good work Thomas!

[thx99 1,928]

It was an f’ing awesome day!!!