Mark Zeger Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Randy Newman Last Saturday, my wife and I saw him perform with the Rochester Philharmonic. What an outstanding night of music. The first half of the program featured Randy conducting his movie music with suites from "Toy Story", "Monsters Inc.", "Avalon" (of which he said it's a movie no Gentile has ever seen), and "The Natural". If that wasn't enough, a film montage for each piece appeared on a screen above the orchestra (Newman synced the orchestra to the film using a second feed with streamers and pops on monitor). To hear and see "The Natural" in that setting gave me chills. It's one of my favorite film scores. The second half had Randy at the piano with the orchestra accompanying 17 songs including "Great Nations of Europe", "Louisiana 1927", "Political Science", "Sail Away", and more. Hearing that music in a great concert hall is like 5.1 on steroids. After the performance, I spent a few minutes talking with Randy backstage. Couldn't be a nicer guy and generous with his time for me and others who waited to meet him. We talked about film scoring, bad film scores, the unused lyrics for "The Natural" theme, and eyeglasses (coincidentally, we have the same frames). After we left, my wife says "So, how long are you going to keep smiling like that?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP3 Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 That's cool. (Even if it's not cool to say cool anymore) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksoper Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Extremely cool. There's a guy you'd wanna have lunch with. k. 9 Moog things, 3 Roland things, 2 Hammond things and a computer with stuff on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Quite cool! "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbobus Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 KEWL! http://www.bobwijnen.nl Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpel Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 That sucks. I was expecting you to name some Cuban trumpet player I've never heard of it, not one of my musical heroes. Meeting Newman would be a big one for one, comparable only to meeting Elvis Costello or Andy Partridge or Tom Waits. Well, a Beatle would take the proverbial cake I guess. I've been in a Randy Newman "phase" lately listening repeatedly to the four CDs of his I own: Sail Away, Good Old Boys, Bad Love, and Songbook Vol. 1. Sail Away seems to me to be the quintessential Newman. Which of his other albums do you recomend, Mark? I hear 12 Songs is pretty great. Check out the Sweet Clementines CD at bandcamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpel Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 BTW, do we agree that in his own quirky and maybe somewhat limited way, Randy Newman is a great Pianist? Check out the Sweet Clementines CD at bandcamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Grace Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 Mark, how cool! Congratulations. The first half of the program featured Randy conducting his movie music with suites from "Toy Story", "Monsters Inc.", "Avalon" (of which he said it's a movie no Gentile has ever seen)That's funny ...but wrong! While Diner is my favorite Barry Levinson movie, I very much enjoyed Avalon. Some of us LA forum members got to see Randy Newman perform at Elton John's Yamaha Lifetime Achievement Award concert last year; but as far as I know, none of us met him. You're a lucky man. --- Originally posted by Magpel: That sucks. I was expecting you to name some Cuban trumpet player I've never heard of it, not one of my musical heroes. Meeting Newman would be a big one for one, comparable only to meeting Elvis Costello or Andy Partridge or Tom Waits. Well, a Beatle would take the proverbial cake I guess.John, I'd recommend waiting at least a few decades before trying to meet John or George...you're too young to make that trip! Best, Geoff My Blue Someday appears on Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted March 16, 2004 Author Share Posted March 16, 2004 Originally posted by Magpel: BTW, do we agree that in his own quirky and maybe somewhat limited way, Randy Newman is a great Pianist?That rolling, New Orleans style piano comes off his hands like water. I think it was during "Dixie Flyer" that he complimented the orchestra's flute section for articulating those licks as naturally as he does. I'm not sure "limited" describes his piano playing. The voicings he chooses sound simple and "roots-y", yet profound. That's the best way I can explain it. Sail Away seems to me to be the quintessential Newman. Which of his other albums do you recomend, Mark? I hear 12 Songs is pretty great.Since you already have "Sail Away" (my favorite) and "Good Old Boys", "12 Songs" sort of completes the trinity of his best work from the '70s. You'd probably love the more recent "Bad Love", which is excellent (he included 4 songs from it in concert). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Rhythm Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 I've always loved Randy Newman and his songs... even though I'm short. I admit there was some therapy. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurMan Posted March 17, 2004 Share Posted March 17, 2004 I love his "It's a Jungle Out There" theme for the Monk TV series. Newman is really prolific. Casio PX-5S, Korg Kronos 61, Omnisphere 2, Ableton Live, LaunchKey 25, 2M cables Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted March 17, 2004 Author Share Posted March 17, 2004 http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/markzegermusic/vwp?.dir=/&.dnm=Randy+Newman.jpg&.src=gr&.view=t&.hires=t (This is the result of me spending 10 minutes trying to post a photo. ARRRRRGH!) http://http//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/markzegermusic/vwp?.dir=/&.src=gr&.dnm=Randy+Newman.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3A//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/markzegermusic/lst%3F%25%2026.dir=/%26.src=gr%26.view=t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Grace Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Originally posted by Mark Zeger: http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/markzegermusic/vwp?.dir=/&.dnm=Randy+Newman.jpg&.src=gr&.view=t&.hires=t (This is the result of me spending 10 minutes trying to post a photo. ARRRRRGH!)Hey Mark, why not take a break, relax, and watch a little TV? "Avalon" is on right now. Seriously, it's on the Flix channel! (At least, here in LA.) Wow, that's Elijah Wood at nine years of age. I didn't remember he was in the movie. I guess that's because he wasn't E L I J A H W O O D yet... Best, Geoff My Blue Someday appears on Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdman Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 How wonderful. How did you get backstage? Did you have an invite, win a look-alike contest on the strength of your eye-glasses, or simply Horseswaggle your way? BTW, shouldn't that be music hero? I rather think musical hero is a singing Rambo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Klopmeyer Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 That's awesome. More often than not, the "idols" I've met have been really nice people. - Jeff Marketing Communications for MI/Pro Audio My solo music and stuff They Stole My Crayon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted March 23, 2004 Author Share Posted March 23, 2004 With much thanks to Da Weasel, a photo: http://home.earthlink.net/~jeffannak/images/Randy_Newman.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Per Larsson Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Kewl! A friend of mine got to meet Jon Lord while he still was with purple. He called me up and said "I just met god..."He also, at a diffrent occation, had a chat with Gary Brooker, who told him that he wore Hush Puppies when recording "Whiter Shade of Pale", (how about THAT info!!!).My personal famous incounters are Peter Green, (yes I know he's a guitarist, but he IS famous), who though I was a journalist from Sweden and wanted me to interwiev him. (I've said that at the gates to get in free...) and Benny Andersson/ABBA since I know Annefrid's son, Hans, (this was when Benny and Annifrid where married), so I just passed Benny in his kitchen where he was having breakfast! Worra SampleTekk - Multisampled Instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpel Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Love the picture, Mark. that's a keeper. Hey Per, are you Worra from Worra's place and the Bigga Gigga stuff? if so, cool. If not, cool. Check out the Sweet Clementines CD at bandcamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Per Larsson Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Originally posted by Magpel: Love the picture, Mark. that's a keeper. Hey Per, are you Worra from Worra's place and the Bigga Gigga stuff? if so, cool. If not, cool.The very same! But I'm no longer with Bigga Giggas, started a new company: SampleTekk! Worra's Place is still alive and kicking! (www.worrasplace.com) Worra SampleTekk - Multisampled Instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Folkson Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Pretty great Mark! Isn't it kewl to meet a hero and find out that he's not a jerk - Jan Folkson http://www.janfolkson.com "How do you know when it's music and not just a bunch of noise" - Dennis the Menace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaGe Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 A few years ago I met my favorite pianist. He turned out to be a total asshole. I won't go into the details but I now despise him as a person but he is still me favorite pianist. C'est la vie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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