Bull kelp is one of the largest brown algae. It grows attached to the sea floor by a specialized root-like structure called a holdfast. From this, a long stem-like stipe extends to the surface of the sea, terminating in an enlarged, spherical, hollow float from which the linear leafy blades emanate. It occurs on rocks in the upper sub-tidal zone to a depth of several fathoms throughout coastal British Columbia.

Never a group to miss a performing opportunity, True North Brass took the kelp challenge in beautiful Bamfield, BC during our residency there in the Summer of 2009.  Trombonist Al Kay went out early one morning with local kelp harvesters and brought back a number of “instruments” for our concert.

For more photos, check out alkayphotos.com

But best of all, you can actually hear and see the performance if you like, “kelpaphonics” at musicbythesea.ca.  Unfortunately, most of the camera time is focused on the portly tuba player (and writer of this blog entry)!  Note that hornist Joan is playing a “double kelp”!   After selecting particularly good sounding horns, we experimented in finding some common notes and chords. We then worked out the form for the piece, and that was about it.  It’s basically a TNB group improvisation.  Not bad, eh?

Our Tenth Anniversary Cake made by Scott’s first piano teacher,  Rebecca Wang!  She has won all kinds of awards for her cakes and teaches decorating cakes for Wilton. The cute story is that at the reception, Steve Butterworth of Yamaha Canada, asked if we could save the Yamaha logo on the cake for him to take to a meeting during that afternoon. The meeting was being held at Yamaha Canada head office with the President of Yamaha. Steve was going to tell him he got the cake at a local bakery!  that is how famous Yamaha is!!!!  It was yummy!

Yamaha Canada has been a wonderful advocate of True North Brass — beyond building the instruments we play, they’ve been terrific partners in our education and outreach efforts. Now, they’ve begun a series of podcast interviews with Yamaha artists, and one of the first such interviews is with Joan and Scott. You can hear them talk about their development as musicians, their life together as musicians, and their thoughts on what it takes to make it in the music business today.

Click here for a direct link to the podcast: Yamaha Podcast: Joan & Scott

You can view the Yamaha Canada podcasts page here. Check out the interview with Chase Sanborn, who performed as a featured soloist with TNB at the 2008 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Banff, Alberta.