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 Musical "Chicago"
Author: coasten1 
Date:   2005-10-14 21:24

I was wondering if anyone has played this musical. The community college I go to will be doing it this summer. I am interested to take a try at the music if it is not terribly difficult. What other instruments would have to be covered. I can get by on saxophone too.

Thanks
Tony

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: GBK 
Date:   2005-10-14 22:00

Reed 1 (soprano sax, alto sax, clarinet, piccolo)

Reed 2 (soprano sax, tenor sax, piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet)

Reed 3 (soprano sax, tenor sax, clarinet, baritone sax, bass clarinet)

...GBK

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: Terry Stibal 
Date:   2005-10-14 23:18

I think that this one is more for those who can do better than "get by" on sax. It would be a good challenge to your jazz idiom skills, however. You've got to learn them sometime, why not now?

You will need to be capable of "behaving" on stage, however; in every production that I've seen, the "pit" has been up on stage.

(The most recent one that we saw was in Pensacola FL, in the community theater built in their old municipal jail building. The production was far above the usual community theater level, but the music suffered quite a bit by having clarinet players (at least two of them) covering two of books without the required sax skills. Neither of the two prominent baritone solos were audible halfway into the auditorium.)

leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: Tara 
Date:   2005-10-15 22:42

I played the reed 2 book for a production of Chicago 4 or 5 years ago. It was terrifically fun! I would agree there are some good sax licks- Hot Honey Rag maybe? Can't remember all the tunes, but there are a few pretty quick ones! I was initially a bit intimidated by the piccolo stuff, (being a clarinetist first) but I found it not bad. Fun and cute pic part unison with Reed 1 pic on Me and My Baby...

Have fun- I sure did, and I played the thing for 6 weeks!

Tara

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: Terry Stibal 
Date:   2005-10-16 13:10

The two baritone showcases are in the Overture, which segues seamlessly into And All That Jazz!, and in the Hot Honey Rag. Both are a bit "lively" for the baritone, but playable with a little effort.

If nothing else, the musical contributes to the Kenny G-fired demand for soprano saxophone playing. Lots of soprano work in this one, more than in any other musical that I've done.

I've had the Overture scored for my group, from which we then segue into And All That Jazz! as scored by Walt Stuart. The final run up of the Overture through the ascending scale is a great way to bring the two girl singers out in their flapper dresses. Not the same as an elevator (as in the movie) or dramatic lighting, but it always brings a big hand from the audience.

The sax players hate it, though, as they have to bring the soprano boxes to the gig...

leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: Max S-D 
Date:   2005-10-16 22:25

wow, it's like the reed 3 book was written just for me. All my favorite instruments, all at once! Although I can't imagine lugging a bass clarinet, tenor sax and Bari sax to one gig! plus stands for all of them! My arms hurt just thinking about it...it would be fun though.

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: Chetclarinet 
Date:   2005-10-16 23:06

I am currently playing the "Chicago" national tour for two weeks here in Houston. The doubles are --Reed 1--Piccolo, alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, Reed 2-Tenor Sax, soprano sax , clarinet, piccolo, and reed 3-Baritone sax, tenor sax and bass clarinet. Reed 3 has a fun jazz style bass clarinet solo that starts with grace notes to high f sharp well above the treble cleff. The books are extremely fun to play, the band is on stage, and the doubles are all demanding at times. This is a good one! Chetclarinet

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: coasten1 
Date:   2005-10-18 02:48

Gosh. I don't know if I will be able to play this one. I'll have to take a look at the music. I have a tenor sax and clarinet.
I just remember playing clarinet book 1 in South Pacific back in highschool. That was fun and I could play most of it. It would be a piece of cake to play now with my experience.

I will post again if I end up in the band.  :)

Tony

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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: carder 
Date:   2023-09-16 07:03

replying to a forum older than me is mad fun



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 Re: Musical "Chicago"
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2023-09-16 16:33

Hi All,

This show was one of my favorites.

I played Reed 3 and it was a chore to get everything in an out of the car and the theatre; we were also on to a tiny raised stage so space was at a premium.

The show was not impossible at all but I'm an experienced doubler. However, the challenge was to get all the instrument strategically placed around me for some quick changes.

A funny comment from the director was "you three guys are all playing soprano saxes at the same time and you are in tune. That's close to impossible."

Hank



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