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News from 2011

Surprise, surprise-- another great year! Here are some highlights from my year that was 2011:

The Budman/Levy Orchestra album is mixed and mastered-- only the final touches are left. Sorry to keep the world from this music for so long. We promise it'll be worth the wait!

I continued to tour with pop legend Christopher Cross, playing alto sax, soprano sax and keyboards. The live shows and CC's new album are being very well received.

It was a productive year for the music of Clare and Brent Fischer. Besides performing with the Big Band, Latin Jazz Sextet and Clarinet Choir, I was fortunate to participate in the recording of two Clare Fischer albums. The Big Band album Continuum features me on a variety of instruments and I was honored to be the first to record the tune "Stoltz", composed for clarinet great Richard Stoltzman. The CF Voices album features me on soprano sax.

From the pop world:
Played the Greek Theatre with rock stars Cheap Trick
Backed crooner Engelbert Humperdinck in Atlantic City
Recorded on Rafael Saadiq's "Stone Rollin'" album

Years ago I had the pleasure of playing in a big band let by mega-talent Matt Catingub and this year I was excited to play under his baton conducting the Glendale Pops Orchestra.

Toured with talented songstress Jessica Fichot in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona as well as Los Angeles.

The big bands I played with this year: Fischer BB, Geoff Stradling's Stradband, Chris Walden BB, Kim Richmond's Concert Jazz Orchestra, Tim Davies BB, Steve Huffsteter BB, Brian Swartz' Swartzestra, Lenny Stack BB, Bruce Lofgren BB, and Scott Healy's Tentet.

I closed the year with time on the road with the national touring production of Fiddler on the Roof. Besides playing clarinet and flute in the pit orchestra, I spent 17 minutes onstage each show playing and stylizing the great clarinet parts from the wedding scene. Cheers to all the hard-working members of the cast, crew and orchestra!

Well, there it is! (and was, I suppose) Look forward to many more adventures in 2012.
Rock on!
AB

Biography

Since his move to Los Angeles from San Francisco in 2005, Alex Budman has been in heavy demand as a session musician and soloist, recording on a wide variety of albums, TV shows and movies. His command of the saxophone, clarinet and flute keeps him busy playing in the top tier of LA's musical community. Alex can currently be found touring with songwriter Christopher Cross and has been fortunate over the years to perform or record with artists including Eric Clapton, Boz Scaggs, Erykah Badu, Clare Fischer, Liza Minnelli and Rosemary Clooney.

As a bandleader in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alex directed his 16-piece Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, playing more than 300 shows and recording two albums.  The second, Instruments of Mass Pleasure, was released in 2005 to critical acclaim. in 2012, he and trombonist/composer Jeremy Levy released the Budman/Levy Orchestra's debut album From There to Here. The BLO is a top-flight group of young musicians, featuring both Alex and Jeremy's original compositions and arrangments.

photo by David Carlson

Instruments of Mass Pleasure continues to make waves in the sea of big bands. I'm proud of everyone who worked on the album and grateful for their contributions. Released by OA2 Records, the album showcases original compositions, arrangements and a cohesiveness that comes from 10 years of playing together. Read reviews
The album is available for download on iTunes and eMusic.com.

Click the Buy Now button to securely purchase the album through PayPal. It will be sent right away. I'll pay the shipping.