Hear Eric Bolvin Studio Samples from Recording Sessions that he worked on over the last twenty years or so. His mother threw out the rest with my baseball cards and comic books.
“Some of this stuff is very good and some is…well…I can only speak for the horns! I didn’t include the times, but most are around one minute. Some are less and none are longer than 2:40. (Mp3 Format). Have fun with these and check back often!” – Eric
Take It Uptown by David Ladd and the Downtown Allstars
- CD: Uptown
- Horn Section: EB – two trumpets & horn arrangement, Stephen “Doc” Kupka-bari sax, Tom “E” Politzer – tenor sax
- Additional Personnel: Mike Renwick – guitar & vocals, Myron Dove-bass, Clifford Coulter – keyboards, Jimmy Sanchez – drums.
- Description: Here’s the old Bill Champlin tune featuring some GREAT BayArea players including Tom & Doc from Tower Of Power. What a treat this session was!
AlleyOop by David Ladd and the Downtown Allstars
- CD: Uptown
- Horn Section: EB – two trumpets & horn arrangement, Stephen “Doc” Kupka – bari sax, Tom “E” Politzer – tenor sax.
- Additional Personnel: Mike Renwick – guitar & vocals, Steve Czarnecki – keyboards and bass
- Description: Here’s a funky bluesy version of the old rock tune. The chorus features my favorite riff, complete with “bari bumps” played by none other than the man who invented them, Doc Kupka.
Q by Evans & Haas
- CD: Uptown
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet & hornarrangement, Tom Politzer – alto sax, Doug Rowen – tenorsax
- Additional Personnel: Norm Haas – vocals & guitar, Rowland Evans – keyboards, John Wedemeyer – guitar, Drew Morganthaler – bass, Scott Smith – drums.
- Description: This was kind of “come as you are” song where I was given the freedom to do anything I wanted with the horns. Of course this is when I go for the Brecker Brothers sound since that’s not typically what people ask for. There’s only one passon this, and I think it was all done in one take. Very tight! Recorded at TRS Recording, Scott Smith & Jimmy Goings – engineers.
From The Ritz by Evans & Haas
- CD: Q
- Horn Section: EB – 2 trumpets (cup mute & Harmon) & horn arrangement, Tom Politzer – alto sax, Doug Rowen – tenor sax
- Additional Personnel: Norm Haas – vocals, Rowland Evans – keyboards, JeffLeeds – guitar, Drew Morganthaler – bass, Scott Smith – drums
- Description: This was a really fun tune to arrange and record. Rowland wrote the tune. It’s a fun swinger done in a Gerry Mulligan tentette style. Although I had to overdub the Harmon part, “One-take Jake” was in the house again! Nice mix on the horns here!! Recorded at TRS Recording, Scott Smith & Jimmy Goings – engineers.
StageBreakdown by LEMO
- CD: Passion
- Horn Section: EB – two or three trumpets & horn arrangement, Dave Gregoric or Marty Wehner – trombone.
- Additional Personnel: Lemo – vocals, composer, producer, Andrew Siedler – engineer
- Description: This is music in the Soca style which is native to the island of Trinidad. The music is very fast and on top of the beat, which made it difficult to play for us laid-back American horn players. Apparantly, this was a hit in Trinidad.
WestCoast Jam by Evans & Haas
- CD: LEMO
- Horn Section: EB – two or three trumpets & horn arrangement, Dave Gregoric or Marty Wehner – trombone.
- Additional Personnel: Lemo – vocals, composer, producer, Andrew Siedler – engineer.
- Description: More Soca music from Trinidad. This tune was a little easier.
Love & Need (You Gotta Know) by Mario Castaneda
- CD: Born To The Boogie
- Horn Section:EB – two trumpets & hornarrangement, Noel Catura – all saxes
- Additional Personnel:Mario Castaneda-vocals, piano, composer, Mike Sult – guitar, Paul Nemeth – bass, <Dave Gary Jr.-drums
- Description: I love it when the artist says “Here’sa tune, do whatever you want with it”. The hornarrangement was actually written before the tune waseven rehearsed, so I was able to writesome rhythm section figures to compliment the horns.This is a rare occurrence in the studiorecording world, as many people add horns when everythingelse is done. There’s some tight riffing followedby a slick horn soli and I edited to the tight outrolick.
Well She’s Mine by Mario Castaneda
- CD: Born To The Boogie
- Horn Section: EB – two trumpets & hornarrangement, Noel Catura – all saxes.
- Additional Personnel: Mario Castaneda – vocals, piano, composer, Mike Sult – guitar, DaveReigert – bass, Dave Gary Jr. – drums.
- Description: Here’s another taste from Da Boogieman himself (and fellow 49er fan).
Living On The Western Side by SPF (Stephen Foglia )
- CD: Island In The Sound
- Horn Section: Two trumpets, Tim Devine – alto sax, Tony Johnson – 1st tenor sax, Kris Strom – 2nd tenor sax, Nancy Moser – bari sax, Steve Barnhill – trombone.
- Additional Personnel: Stephen Foglia – vocals, guitar, keys, composer, Terry Carlton – drums, JR Johnston (whas up dude?) – bass.
- Description: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; It pays to stay in touch. I think it was the early 60’s when I did this recording. JWell here it is baby! I do remember doing sessions for Steve, but I’m not sure of the personnel. I think Tom Bertetta played 2nd trumpet, but I’m not sure. PROFANITY WARNING************
OaktownFunk (Solo) by David Ladd and the Downtown Allstars
- CD: Uptown
- Horn Section: EB – solo trumpet
- Additional Personnel: Zach – composer, keyboards, Robert Renteria – bass, Jerry Rojas – drums.
- Description: This is a fairly tasty morsel from yours truly. I only got one shot as we were running late, which we always are when it’s time for the trumpet player to take a solo.
OaktownFunk (outro) by DavidLadd and the Downtown Allstars
- CD: Uptown
- Horn Section: EB – two trumpets & flugel, Tom Politzer – tenor sax, Stephen “Doc” Kupka – bari sax, Doug Rowen – bari sax
- Additional Personnel: Robert Renteria – bass, Jerry Rojas – drums.
- Description: This ride out is great. Zachand his friend Robert arranged the horns. Doc and Dougie split the bari duties. Pay your respects to the rhythm section here.
Uptown by David Ladd and the Downtown Allstars
- CD: Uptown
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet & horn arrangement, Tom Politzer – alto sax, Doug Rowen – tenorsax, bari sax.
- Additional Personnel: Plane White Wrapper ..nuffsaid.
- Description: When left to my own devices, I gravitate toward a Brecker sound. And here it is again on a “add water, makes it’s own sauce” kind of song. The only overdub is Doug’s bari flatulence.
NeitherOne Of Us by David Ladd and the Downtown Allstars
- CD: Uptown
- Horn Section: EB – two flugels, Doug Rowen – two tenor saxes.
- Additional Personnel: Margo LeDuc – vocals, Myron Dove – bass.
- Description: I fought to keep this little intro on the project, and it was worth it. Nobody works in this town anyway. The producer was against me, the engineer who liked me couldn’t be there, and the horn section was in some union negotiation. Needless to say, I suffered dearly for these eight bars.
IvoryTower by Evans & Haas
- CD: Q
- Horn Section: EB – trumpets, Marty Wehner – trombones, Tom Politzer – all saxes.
- Additional Personnel: Norm Haas – vocals, Rowland Evans – keys.
- Description: Is it Latin? Is it funk? All I know is that I don’t work for Madonna.
Do You Believe by Evans & Haas
- CD: Q
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet & horn arrangement, Tom Politzer – alto sax, Doug Rowen – tenorsax, bari sax.
- Additional Personnel: Norm Haas – vocals, Rowland Evans – keyboards, Jeff Leeds – guitar, Drew Morganthaler – bass, Scott Smith – drums Recorded at <TRS Recording, Scott Smith & Jimmy Goings – engineers.
- Description: This is the outro part of the tune. The solo and the sound they get is really cool. Thanks for this one fellas!
The Dog Got Better by Mario Castaneda
- CD: Born To The Boogie
- Horn Section: EB – two trumpets & horn arrangement, Noel Catura – all saxes.
- Additional Personnel: Mario Castaneda – vocals, piano, composer, Mike Sult – guitar, Dave Reigert – bass, Louis Howard – drums.
- Description: Mario and I roomed for five years. I know what this song means. It was written for the Bear. The Bear was my friend.
Down To The Bone by Mario Castaneda
- CD: Born To The Boogie
- Horn Section: EB – two trumpets & horn arrangement, Noel Catura – all saxes.
- Additional Personnel: Mario Castaneda – vocals, piano, composer, Mike Sult – guitar, Dave Reigert – bass, Louis Howard – drums.
- Description: Just wait until we hit the stage with FIVE horns playing this! It’s gonna be right!
Ann Den Ben Toi by ?
- CD: Truc Mai
- Horn Section: Eric Bolvin – trumpet solo.
- Description: If you’ve ever visited beautiful and ever growing San Jose, you would appreciate the very large Vietnamese population. Over the years I’ve done dozens of recordings for many Vietnamese producers and artists, culminating in a session for the great Elvis Phoung.
Attack Of The Troll Farm by Billy Joslyn
- CD: Grip This
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet solo
- Additional Personnel: Drew Morganthaler – bass, Rich Davis – drums, Ben Bording – guitar, Eric Rangel – percussion.
- Description: This is a small bit of a solo from this very cool improvised track. This whole track is a blast and was a lot of fun to play on, although I still haven’t received my royalty payments.
Circles by Eric Bolvin
- CD: The Eric Bolvin Group
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet solo.
- Additional Personnel: Mark Gelfand – keyboards, Tom Politzer – sax, Joseph Devito – Bass, Chris Miller – drums.
- Description: From my first CD, “The Eric Bolvin Group”. We recorded the harmon so hot that it was distorting on input. That’s how Quincy does it!
A Good Coffee Spoiled by Nelson Said
- CD: Nelson Said
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, arranger, Tom Politzer – tenor and bari sax, Marty Wehner – trombone.
- Additional Personnel: Nelson Said – vocals, Scott Smith – instruments.
- Description: Here is a nice popping horn lick. Sometimes they leave eight bars in a tune and then along comes the horn section. That’s how Tower Of Power got started!
The Everglades Of Mars by Jeff Wood
- CD: unreleased
- Horn Section: EB-trumpet solo
- Here’s a solo with a lot of notes in it. Played on a Yamaha YTR639 with a Bach 5MV mouthpiece.
FadedDuck by Eric Bolvin Big Band
- Horn Section: EB, Rich Theurer, John Worley, Brian Booth – trumpets, Antony Picard, Rory Snyder, Steve Steinberg, Tom Politzer, Howard Cespedes – saxes.
- Additional Personnel: Bob Valderramma – keyboards, Ed Harris – guitar, John Gehman – bass, Chris Eaton – drums.
- This is an all-out big band tune featuring the best players in the Bay Area.
Get Easy by Nelson Said
- CD: Nelson Said
- Horn Section: EB-trumpet, arranger, Tom Politzer-tenor and bari sax, Marty Wehner – trombone.
- Additional Personnel: Another nice tune from Nelson Said and Scotty English.
- Description: I was listening to “So Very Hard To Go” the day I wrote this.
Harmonica Son by Billy Joslyn
- CD: You’re Soaking In It
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, arranger, Steve Steinberg – sax, clarinet, Mark Russo – bari sax, Dave Gregoric – trombone.
- Additional Personnel: Here’s a very cool arrangement a la Tom Waits.
- Description: The clarinet is perfectly “out of tune”!
Head Food by Quasi-Stellular Object
- CD: Hot Enough To Fry A Dogs Brain
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, Dave Gregoric – trombone, arranger, Ross Walters – sax.
- Additional Personnel: S.A. – Vocals, guitar.
- Description: This was actually part of 15 minute composition that has to go down as one of the toughest sessions ever. It took four hours to record eight bars!
HipPocket by Eric Bolvin Group
- CD: Unreleased
- Horn Section: EB-trumpet, EVI solo, composer, arranger, Dan Marcus-trombone, Steve Steinberg-sax, HowardCespedes-bari sax
- Additional Personnel: Ed Smith-drums, Spencer Chan-keyboards
- Description: This is the out chorus fromone of my old tunes. I play the old Crumar EVI on this.
I Know I’m Thinking by EricBolvin Group
- CD: The Eric Bolvin Group
- Horn Section: EB-trumpet, Tom Politzer-sax
- Additional Personnel: Mark Gelfand-keyboards, Joseph Devito-Bass, Chris Miller-drums
- Description: From my first CD.
Jokers Jargon by Woodworks
- CD: Woodworks One
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, flugelhorn, arranger, Tom Politzer – sax, Chris Braymen – trombone.
- Additional Personnel: Norton Buffalo – harmonica.
- Description: A funky bridge.
Koala Springs Jingle by Eric Bolvin Studio Group
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, arranger, also keyboards and programming and producer.
- Additional Personnel: Ed Harris – guitar, Ed Smith – drums, John Gehman – bass, Don Heinsen – engineer.
- Description: I produced the first U.S. jingle for the Australian soft drink company. When they heard it, they asked “How did you get Herb Alpert to play?”
MeuAzul Viver by Janny Choi
- CD: Summer 2002 release.
- Horn Section: EB – flugel solo.
- Google is a great search engine. Use it and you will find recordings of yourself that you never knew existed!
My Shelf Of Importance by Daisyhead
- CD: Drip
- Horn Section: EB – trumpets and solo.
- Here’s like 10 EB’s all recorded in a room the size of a closet right on the beach in Santa Cruz.
OneWay Street by Joice Walton
- CD: Downsville Girl
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet solo.
- Additional Personnel: Tony Baker – guitars, Louis Howard – drums, Walter Bankovitch – piano, Ian Fugate – bass.
- Description: I really preferred the flugel solo I did on this, but the producers went for the cupmute.
Pick A Finger by QSO
- CD: Hot Enough To Fry A Dog’s Brain
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, Dave Gregoric – trombone, arranger, Brad Hecht – sax.
- Description: Don’t listen to this if you are offended by anything!
RedMan’s Shadow by Jeff Wood
- CD: Unreleased
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet and solo, Tom Politzer – sax.
- Description: Here’s one of my favorite solos. Too bad the producer didn’t see it that way.
Runniní Free by JeffWood
- CD: Woodworks One.
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, flugelhorn, Tom Politzer – saxes, Chris Braymen – trombone.
- Description: A cool intro in the Jeff Lorber style.
Smokomo by “TheJoz”
- CD: Grip This.
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, arranger, Steve Steinberg – tenor sax, Bill Murphy – alto sax, Mark Russo – barisax.
- Description: Some funky horns in the Bay Area tradition. Where’s my 25%??
Tell Me True by Rick Odario
- CD: Roko 97.
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, arranger, TomPolitzer – saxes, Ross Wilson – trombone.
- Description: This was recorded at the famous Fantasy studios in Berkeley.
Ten-Minute Major by Eric Bolvin Group
- CD: The Eric Bolvin Group
- Horn Section: EB – EVI solo, composer, arranger, producer.
- Description: This is played with the old Crumar EVI.
Time After Time by Rick Odario
- CD: Roko 97
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, arranger, Tom Politzer – saxes, Ross Wilson – trombone.
- Description: More from Rick Odario complete with “bari farts”.
Tribute To Chase by Billy Joslyn
- CD: Unreleased
- Horn Section: EB – four trumpets, arranger.
- Description: This is a rare unreleased thing that was never completed. Check out the double A’s, trumpet freaks!
Want You Around by The Eric Bolvin Group
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, composer, producer, Steve Steinberg – sax.
- Additional Personnel: Ed Harris – guitar, Spencer Chan – keyboards, John Gehman – bass, Ed Smith – drums.
- Description: Another chestnut from backin the day.
Where Did My Love Go by Matt Lord
- CD: none
- Horn Section: EB-flugel solo, keyboards, bass, arranger, producer.
- Additional Personnel: Jimmy Goings – drums and percussion, engineer.
- Description: Here’s something from Oh Look productions. Nice work Jimmy!
Zebra Tribe by Ben Bording
- CD: Age Of Light
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, flugel, arranger, Tom Politzer – saxes.
- Here’s a little ditty from Bay Area guitarist Ben Bording. But where’s the trumpet solo??
Getting Johnny Out by RotatingHead
- CD: unreleased
- Horn Section: EB – trumpet, arranger, keyboards, Keith Blocher – saxes.
- Additional Personnel: Ken Masuda – guitar, vocals, composer, Glen Masuda – drums, Drew Morganthaler – bass.
- The 80’s. Big hair. Loud synths and horns. Seriously though, this one comes from the archives and it really rocks!
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