music, songs, publishing, scores, jazz, band, orchestra, trumpet, sax, composer, arranger, musician, songwriter, conductor Rob Birdwell's musical site showcasing music, products, services, recordings and creative works.

I'm Rob Birdwell - thanks for visiting! Explore my music, videos, projects, arrangements & articles.  Contact me anytime! My latest release is "Quietly" and available on all major streaming platforms.

 

Morning was written during the late summer of the pandemic in 2020. I'd recently purchased a ukulele as I was feeling a bit down (who wasn't?) and thought it might cheer me up. (If I were a stand-up comedian, I'd open this story with, "You know, a guy needs something small to play with once in a while.") The ukulele was sort of my own pandemic pet, only this one didn't bark and all I needed to do was strum it. As I began to learn chords and fumble my way on the instrument I found myself writing songs on it. I honestly didn't expect that to happen. I normally write at the piano, so this was sort of a new experience. As many may recount, the pandemic produced a fair amount anxiety in friends, family, co-workers, and in the community. And though I was privileged in so many ways (able to work from home, family close by, a community that encouraged mask-wearing and social distancing, and a pool that I could finally swim in regularly) I still found myself experiencing a sense of dread like I'd seldom experienced before. The ability to be creative, to laugh and be at ease - these things seemed elusive, especially at night. But waking up after a fitful night's sleep I would find those feelings mostly gone, vanishing with slumber, at least for a while. The morning was a welcome time and with the sun shining there was hope even during a very uncertain time. So the song became a bit therapeutic for me in some ways. It's a song I wrote for me and sang to myself, over and over, night after night. Playing and singing it got me through a funk and allowed me to imagine a world where there wasn't an awful weight of despair.
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Rob Birdwell Performing Live (Little Ukulele in New York)

Rob Birdwell performing a live version of Little Ukulele at Richard Thompson's Frets & Refrains camp at the Roadhouse of the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY.

Little Ukulele Live in New York

Little Ukulele - live at Richard Thompson's Frets & Refrains Camp

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Quietly

Quietly contains nine songs written, performed, and produced by Rob Birdwell.

The following is an excerpt from the second track, Punkie and the Spitfires.

It's a song about a three-piece band - perhaps the ultimate band - who save the world!

she was a young woman living in dystopian times

fighting "The Forces" any way that she could...

More About Quietly

Feeling Good

Rob Birdwell's arrangement of Feeling Good for Halie Loren and her band. Words and Music by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse. Featuring the Corvallis-OSU Symphony Orchestra, Halie Loren (vocals), Matt Treder (piano), Mark Schneider (bass), Bill Marsh (guitar), Brian West (drums), Rob Birdwell (arranger/conductor).  Audio engineering/recording by George Relles and Diana Robson.

More Rob Birdwell Arrangements

Memories of Senegal

LMNO perform Memories of Senegal live for a Funk in the Forest concert. Featuring Rob Birdwell (trumpet/keys), Nick Rivard (guitar), Page Hundemer (bass), and Brian Bucolo (drums)

More About LMNO

Arrangements by Rob Birdwell

I've always been interested in ways to express ideas and emotions through music. As a kid I would write my own lyrics to popular songs. As I learned to play trumpet I would create my own melodies. As I became interested in singing I began to learn more about chord progressions. By the time I was in college I started to get more serious about trying to compose and arrange - turns out it was hard! I attended the Grove School of Music and Dick Grove's teachings would provide me with a solid foundation and I'm still building upon that and continue to learn with every new song, composition or arrangement.

More Arrangements by Rob Birdwell

Cry Me A River featuring Katie Smith

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Public posts from Rob Birdwell on @birdwellmusic@mastodonmusic.social

Friday, June 28, 2024, 8:04 PM

D'Petal Tones - snippets from our first performance!
youtube.com/watch?v=vq3duuW_MQ

Rob Birdwell - trumpet, ukulele, vocals
Emily Looney - alto sax, flute
Cheryl Leckie - bass
Michael Burand - guitar, banjo
Andy Weiss - drums

Musical excerpts:
Dancing Birds (Rob Birdwell)
Down New Orleans Way (Rob Birdwell)
The Hummingbird Song (Rob Birdwell)
Sway (Ruiz/Gimbel)
Blue, Red and Grey (Pete Townsend)
Cumbia Moura
Squeeze Box (Pete Townsend)

Musical arrangements by Rob Birdwell

Special Thanks:
Randy Greb - video clips
The Regent - staff and residents

Monday, June 10, 2024, 3:44 PM

The Adventures of Sam and Caw: Spring Has Sprung

Full episode!
youtube.com/watch?v=5GLQq8WlMH

Story, music & lyrics by Rob Birdwell

There are six original songs in this episode:

1. Mother Nature's Way
2. Sun In The Sky
3. Walking On Air
4. When
5. Crossroads
6. The One

Friday, June 07, 2024, 12:37 PM

Walking On Air - this is a song I wrote for a little audio musical series called "The Adventures of Sam and Caw"

youtu.be/FU5XKy2oaIc

Wednesday, April 03, 2024, 6:29 PM

@stevenrosenthal @howlinhobbit

I agree about - hearing her play flute inspired me to give it a try.

And we can't forget as of course! ;)

Wednesday, April 03, 2024, 2:46 PM

This struck me as funny as I've been (sort of) learning flute for a bit... I had no idea I was part of such a golden age!
mastodon.online/@stevenrosenth