A highlight of the Japanese social calender, Prisca Molotsi's annual show in Nagoya is must see event. Work for the show began a good 8 months before the show. The concert was to be split into different musical themes involving a small combo (Jazz Trio), Big Band and Gospel Choir. The variety of material made the work a real joy. We would spend hours on the phone just chatting through ideas and working out the possibilities with all Prisca's song suggestions. Many of the charts were straight transcriptions, adding a few horns and backing vocals here and there and finding the right key but a few of the arrangements really pushed the boundaries.
Prisca had always wanted to perform 'And I Love Him So" (notably performed by Shirley Bassey) and had a wild idea of incorparating some Beethoven into the mix! As I sat at the piano, phone to my ear, in the UK, and Prisca at home in Nagoya, Japan, she sang her ideas and I played along. After a solid day working on these ideas, we finished up with a stunning arrangement that we can both be proud of.
The concert was a huge success and I was very happy to have helped a very talented performer.
Prisca Says:
"I have been ordering charts from Rob for a year and a half now and can honestly say his arrangements are the best! My musicians love his charts! I have ordered charts for all sorts of ensemble: small combo, big band... you name it! I have never been disappointed. What sets Rob apart is his ability to listen to my ideas over the phone then send me a demo of what he thinks will work, get my input then fine tune it. It's great to work with an arranger who not only respects the singer's input but actually understands what it is I want. It's almost as if he lives in my mind!! He wrote the scores for my last sold out concert and also created the choral arrangements for my backing singers and Gospel group. It was absolutely fantastic! I am so happy that I found his website. I have recommended him to scores of people, those who have ordered from him are just as happy as I am with his work. One thing I really appreciate about Rob is the speed at which he cranks out charts. I was in a very tight spot and needed an arrangement for a nine-piece band THE NEXT DAY!!! Believe it or not, within a few hours I had the trusty arrangement on my computer ready for printing.
Rob's the man! I wouldn't dream of using anyone else now!!"
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