Brass players shine in band

New group formed to play swinging music for horns

By KEN THURMAN, Staff writer

To read more articles by Ken Thurman

First published: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 . This article was reprinted with permision from William M. Dowd, Associate Editor.

If you've got time to blow, then Kevin Hendrick and Tom MacDonald are looking for you.

The founders of Brass O Mania, a professional swing and dance band that features horns, have started a new group -- Capital Brass -- made up of nonprofessional players and lovers of swing and other types of music performed on brass instruments.

"We just started up in September with the idea of forming a band for the recreational player and everything is already coming to fruition," said MacDonald, 50, a Defreestville resident.

He said the reason he and fellow musician Hendrick, who lives in Delmar, decided to form the new amateur group was simple: "We wanted to give others the opportunity to get involved with playing," said MacDonald, who helped found Brass O Mania about a dozen years ago. That 16-piece, all-acoustic jazz band has been a featured act at the Saratoga Race Course since 1995.

MacDonald said the members of Capital Brass, which practices Wednesday evenings at his home, may not be as polished yet, but they already know nearly 30 songs and are eagerly gearing up to play publicly soon.

"We expect to be playing holiday concerts this fall and at malls and park settings," MacDonald said.

He describes the style of music they play as everything from swing to pop, all done with the sound of acoustic brass. The band is currently made up of 18 members who play trumpet, mellophone, baritone saxophone and tuba.

Rehearsals are held in a large custom-built practice room in MacDonald's Defreestville home. Players from across the Capital Region, including some from as far away as Springfield, Mass., and Cairo, Greene County, are members of the group, he said.

With the size of and interest in the band already growing, MacDonald said the group is now looking for new and larger quarters where they can practice.

In addition, the group is seeking a few more players -- specifically a mellophone, baritone and a tuba player, he said. They are also looking to book free concerts during the fall and winter.

If you call, they may be coming to an event near you.

If you'd like to learn more, call MacDonald at (518) 286-3148 and Hendrick at (518) 439-0722.

Thurman can be reached at 454-5638 or by e-mail at kthurman@timesunion.com.

Learn more about Kevin Hendrick.