Friday, October 17

Here is a view from behind the onstage scrim – strings backing up rapper great Childish Gambino at the Greek Theatre UC Berkeley.
It was a full string section: four 1st violins, four 2nd’s, four violas, four cellos and one harp. The violin parts were well-written, melodic and gratifying to play. String harmonies were beautiful, often haunting and dissonant… Last time I played violin for a rap star was for a recording with Puff Daddy!

October 7 – 9

Performed violin for the recording sessions for a new Disney movie at 20th Century Fox. Music was great – fun to play. The story seems a little out there for kids, full of that unexpected heavy pathos that Disney loves to exploit (think of Bambi’s Mom & Dad!). But all is well in the end, and it is ultimately a sweet tale.
Another example of unexpected heavy pathos was the traffic nightmare in Century City due to the visits of the President and VP! Immediately after recording one of the more tender musical moments, the whole stage was shaken by the near flyby of Marine 2 and accompanying helicopter squadron…