RVANews

Bob Blumenthal, you have defeated me again.

Dean Christesen — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:07:31 +0000

Regarding the Upper East Side Big Band Abbey Road Project and The Girtles concert tomorrow night at Dogwood Dell:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqCtAISdfsI[/youtube]

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Abbey Road at Dogwood Dell

Dean Christesen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:22:34 +0000

Samson Trinh & The Upper East Side Big Band kicks off at the music series at Dogwood Dell (hello, summer) on Friday night to celebrate the release of their new album, The Abbey Road Project. It's an album that's been in the works for nearly two years by a group whose performances have become so intermittent that it constantly keeps people wondering what's next for them.

Leader and saxophonist Trinh cites The Beatles as a main influence in his musical life and originally hoped re-arrange and perform The White Album in its entirety. Adrian Duke -- keyboardist and vocalist in the band -- advised him to start with Abbey Road. All that information and more is in the interesting videos below by VCU-TV.

But those videos were made in late 2008, shortly after the band's first performance of the material at The National. Samson spent a lot of time at In Your Ear studios in 2009 working on the project, which meant no performances by the band while that consumed all of his time. Money was a huge factor in the delay of releasing the album. Getting the rights to 19 of The Beatles' songs, among paying for other expenses, was "a pretty penny," he said. Thankfully, good friends of his -- a married couple named Brandon and Angie -- stepped in became the project's executive producers, purchasing the album and helping to pay for the rights and production of physical copies.

The band's first full length album (and their second studio recording if you count their appearance on Samson Trinh's debut Very Strange Night) was recorded by way of rhythm section first, then vocals, and then all horns. "I found that to be the best way to do it because you still get that live sound," Samson said. By recording the drums, bass, guitars, and piano first, "what you're doing is tightening up the rhythm section and doing your homework," making any adjustments necessary. "I found it to be less stressful this way," he said.

This year on Record Store Day (April 17) at Plan9 Music, Samson and the Upper East Side Big Band gave a teaser performance of some of the Abbey Road material that they'll perform at Dogwood Dell. Samson arranged songs like "Come Together" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" to become the band's own. You'll hear what I mean if you check them out at the free show this Friday. The all-girl Beatles cover band The Girtles will play during set break.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbfUA78mF30[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJOEoDIXh9k[/youtube]

Visit Samson Trinh's YouTube channel

Samson Trinh & The Upper East Side Big Band perform at Dogwood Dell on Friday, June 11, 2010, at 8pm. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.richmondgov.com/parks

Purchase The Abbey Road Project on Digstation or at the performance

Upper East Side Big Band Plays Abbey Road

Dean Christesen — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:41:00 +0000

The Beatles will get the "re-arranged for big band" treatment this Friday at the National on the top of an eclectic bill stacked with local Richmond bands. "Abbey Road" in its entirety is the album being conquered; Samson Trinh's Upper East Side Big Band is the ensemble up for the challenge. "It's been a dream for [me] and Adrian [Duke] to arrange the music of this monumental Beatles album and let alone perform it at a wonderful large concert venue," says Trinh. "Plus we are very honored to share the stage with the legendary Bio Ritmo and on the rise group, the Mills Family Band!"

This is a National Theatre debut for all three bands, and the event will span musical genres from swing to Americana to salsa.

Upper East Side Big Band Personnel - Samson Trinh: conductor, arranger; Adrian Duke: vocals, keyboards, flute, arranger; Allyson Mills: vocals; Rick Rieger: flute, sax; Dave Hood: sax; John Lilley: sax; Richard Wray: sax; Jason Mathias: sax; Rob Quallich: trumpet; Bob Miller: trumpet; Marcus Tenney: trumpet; Taylor Barnett: trumpet; Pete Anderson: trombone; Toby Whitaker: trombone; Stefan Demetradis: bass trombone, tuba, euphonium; Curtis Mills: guitar, vocals; Karl Morse: guitar; Matt Harris: bass; Aaron Thompson: drums.

Friday, May 23, 2008
Upper East Side Big Band with Adrian Duke, Bio Ritmo, Mills Family Band
The National
8:00 pm
$10 Adv. / $13 Door
[where: 708 East Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219]

Tickets:
Box Office = 804-612-1900
Online = www.thenationalva.com