A bit of nostalgia...my 1990 Xmas Archangel party at the Ardri Irish Club in Hulme.
Plus some short excerpts from rehearsals at Arden College.
What a line-up of music stars!
Steve Hopkins, Lyn Oakey, Ged Green, Mikey Wilson, Eryl Roberts, Chris Horniman, Sylvan Richardson, Steve Hall, Andy Hickey, Helen McKilveen, Doreen Edwards, Neil Shaw-Hulme, Ian Laing,
Trumpet Anon, Andy Scott, Paul Cummings, Andy Williams, Gary Stabana, Jason Glover, Sax Anon,
Steve Purslow
All songs are original, composed and arranged by Steve (Dr Hoppo) Hopkins.
Videos...
Light Me Up Rehearsal
Light Me Up, Helen McKilveen
Now I'm Home, Paul Cummings
Now Or Never, Helen McKilveen
Persuasive, Helen McKilveen
Red Rehearsal
Red, Paul Cummings
Revolution Sky, Andy Williams
Sad Old Song Rehearsal
Sad Old Song, Doreen Edwards and Paul Cummings
Say You Will, Andy Williams
Take Five
Original Archangel mission statement (1990)
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
The Archangel Orchestra is an ambitious new group formed by Manchester musician Steve Hopkins. The spectacular line-up consists of 21 highly-talented local musicians, many drawn from local 'name' bands. The orchestra plays a style of music which Steve has christened 'Hi-cal' - essentially contemporary soul and latin dance music with jazz overtones.
Six lead singers take turns at the microhone, in front of two drummers, a percussionist, two guitars, bass, three keyboard players and a six-piece brass section.
Steve:- " I would like to be the first of a new wave of contemporary big bands - just as the original big bands played 'swing', the popular dance music of their own era, the Archangel Orchestra plays 'Hi-cal', the dance music of the nineties".
A vital part of his Philosophy is that music is at its best when it is live...
Steve:- " I always feel cheated when I see a band posing in front of backing tracks or computers. And I'm disheartened by the growing tendency of talented musicians to lock themselves away with computers with a view to creating masterpieces by themselves. I believe that music thrives on the interplay between musicians and minds...."
The ultimate grooves are not metronomically perfect, but have a human ebb and flow. Trying to capture that with more sophisticated programming misses the point...music can be a kind of spiritual force, a moment shared between performers and listeners. Some of the best performances exist only fleetingly - in the present, in the mind of the listener.
The Archangel Orchestra can be seen at Club Archangel at the Ardri in Hulme, a new home for discerning bohemians.
Photos by Paul J. Hopkins - SmartArtsPlus
