Virgil Reality Live

Improvisation

I love playing all sorts of shows, though many of them are centred around improvised music (Jazz and DJ sessions). These gigs are a particular challenge as creating music on the spot has to add to what’s going on around.

You don’t usually know what track a DJ is going to play. You have to make up a line or solo that fits in with the music and seems part of, or an extra part of it. You have to take chances, work with the mood of the room and the crowd. It’s different from improvisation with a jazz group, where the same sort of things apply, though you might know the changes, tune or have rehearsed.

Either way I can hear the key of the tunes. Like public speaking I already have some things I might know how to say (play), though when the topic (the tune or style) changes, I’m able to say something new.

I can emulate things going on in the track. I can improvise solos in appropriate spots or create new melodies. I can make repeated sections. Sometimes there are moments where special things happen. Sometimes by design, sometimes out of the ether. I do this in real time adjusting to the show, using experience to know when and what to play.

It’s important to stay in tune with the energy of the crowd and adjust your playing in response.

Walking out in front of a large crowd and not having a clue how it’s going to turn out is scary and exciting. When it all comes together it’s a really amazing feeling.

I use a TC Helicon Voicelive Touch 2 effects unit. I have regular presets, reverbs, delays, flanger, doubling and looping. Working in conjunction with variations, mutes and techniques with my trumpet and flute.

Bands

Not many people know that this is my second set of musical years after taking a break. I got a job working in media and technology, and for a while I left music totally behind. My tech career continues to this day, though I got back into music gradually.

One day I was walking along George Street in Sydney and saw a Holton ST208 Trumpet (The Maynard Ferguson designed model) in a hock shop. I hadn’t played for a long time so I bought it. Once I paid the money and got it home, I realised that I had to play the thing.

I had a formal musical education when I was younger and I took a trip down memory lane to get my ‘chops’ back in order. I joined an indie band that was looking for a trumpet player and my rust didn’t seem a big deal to them.

The songs and sheet music were pretty simple and the gigs compact. I knew how to practise and build myself back up and after a while I started getting asked to do other gigs. A lot of those were jumping up to do a few songs, reading the horn parts or learning songs at rehearsals. Originals and covers. I joined a few bands, though I’d kind of done that when I was younger.

I just kept playing live, hearing things, learning things, improving both my improvisation and performance. 30-45 mins a day, practice every day, a mixture of formal books and exercises. Also playing along with tunes in my apartment, headphones on, using a Yamaha Silent Brass mute.

Later I joined the Sydney Congress Hall Band and Friends of the Salvation Army. The Salvos (who have over 150 years of brass band tradition) have been fun. I’ve performed at some amazing concerts, reading and performing some very challenging music. For the last 3 years, I’ve played at the Carols in Martin Place. Since Mum and Dad passed on this has been a great lead up to Christmas.

When I was younger I could have pursued this as a professional career, though now the sum product of choices means I’ve actually ended up in a place with performance and composition where I have my own particular angle on it. I’m the best Virgil Reality while I’m doing it.

How it started

The opportunity had arisen for my brother and I to learn at primary school. He played the trombone and I played the trumpet. Dad was keen for this as he played both trumpet and trombone.

My Dad had played trumpet in the Air Force band. He loved Jazz Music and introduced me to his ever growing collection of jazz recordings. We’d sit and listen to lots of great stuff. He’d drink whiskey and coke, while we listened.

As school went on I played in the school bands, local concert bands, big bands and youth orchestra. I studied music and while that was going on had joined a rock band at 17 and got a whole other set of education.

We played a lot of support gigs for touring bands and my trumpet teacher at the time got me horn section gigs with many of the touring acts that would come through Adelaide. He had incredible lead chops and I was a very reliable backup. Sometimes we’d get to go on tours interstate and that’s how I learnt how to be a commercial traveller.

There were opera orchestra gigs, horn sections, shows and many other things that trumpets are in.

I wrote music for plays, songs, recorded in studios, did some musical direction, arranging and composition. I’ve led bands and been a member of them.

Ultimately though, the Elector of Hanover is not a patron of the arts in Australia, so I went and got an amazing first tech job (ask me about it some time) and the rest is history. I jumped into tv, publishing, media and advertising and it has been an amazing journey.

I think my ‘chops’ can handle another year, so let’s see what happens.