Benjie Messer

It’s been a few months since I wrote- I’ve just been having too much fun with Bad Cactus Brass Band! We had a packed December, performing at the Desert Botanical Garden’s twenty Luminaria Nights, as well as various tree-lighting parties around town. In the spirit of New Years resolutions, we’re shooting to record our first album soon. We’ll be recording it at a live show sometime in the next few months- I’ll post more details when I know more. We’re also looking ahead to Mardi Gras in February, which should be our next really busy season.

I’ve had a nice break from composing, but it’s time to jump back in. This month I’ll be working on the latest episode of Carol Benwell’s “Stand Up Guy”, and writing music for a short film by the Rebel Filmmaker AZ Group titled “Of Blood and Gin.”

At One Light Music, we finally released the first-ever complete karaoke Messiah, which helped push Spiritrax through a great holiday season. We’ve done a few musicals for Desert Stages Theater and a Sondheim collection for Stage Stars Records. We’re also working on some extensive back-end changes to improve the functionality of Productiontrax and give it room to grow.

I’ve been lucky to get out of the Phoenix heat during part of July- a week in Boston and a weekend in Colorado. But I’m back and diving back into music. At work, I’m sequencing a musical for Desert Stages, as well as arranging some common hymns and continuing to plow through the Messiah for Spiritrax.

Bad Cactus has had two successful gigs, and is booking events for the fall and 2010, as well as planning a record. I’ve also been playing with the Sugarthieves most Wednesdays, and hitting jam sessions when I get the chance.

In composing, I’m finishing up “Got Milk?” with director Chris Redish, and looking forward to working on the new episode of “Stand Up Guy.”

We have a lot of musicals in the office this month- one for Desert Stages here in Scottsdale, another for Children’s Musical Theaterworks in Fresno, Cali., mastering The Wizard of Oz and Little Shop of Horrors albums for Stage Stars, and David’s orchestrating an original Gerry Cullity musical for Desert Stages- all due in the next two weeks. I also fit in some karaoke arrangements of patriotic songs for Spiritrax, just in time for July 4th events, and they’ve been selling well.

In the composing department, I’m finishing a 5-minute comedy for SCC senior Chris Redish, entitled “Got Milk?” I’ve also been offered the next episode of the web comedy series Stand-Up Guy by local producer Carol Benwell, so that’s next in line. And Ryan and Jeremy (of At Best Derivative-fame) are starting pre-production for their next movie, a historical Western about Arizona lawman Commodore Perry Owens. I’m super-excited to do another feature- but I’m also glad I have another year or so before it takes over my life. Speaking of, the DVD of ABD has finally been released- it’s at the Friar’s Lantern store.

The Bad Cactus Brass Band has had a promising first month. We’ve recorded a solid demo, which is up at badcactusbrassband.com, and band photos and gigs are in the works. Our first show is on July 8, opening for the Sugarthieves at the Sail Inn.

I’ve also been practicing trombone every morning before work. Besides Bad Cactus, I’ve played this month with Renee Patrick, the Sugarthieves, the Jazz Alliance, and David Bernstein, as well as at the jam sessions at Pita Jungle and 98 South in Chandler.

Since we finished the Little Mermaid at work, I’ve been working steadily on South Pacific for local theater Desert Stages, and also for Stage Stars. It’s been all my work so far, but since it’s Friday evening now, the show is due on Sunday night, and I still have three main numbers to go plus reprises and stuff, my boss and I will both be at work tomorrow morning, and he’ll do one or two of these last numbers.

I wish I knew how long it took me, but I haven’t been keeping track. I’ve been working on it for either 2 or 3 weeks, but I’m not sure which.

Sorry I can’t post samples of the music, but it’s not really my property- I’m just hired to create it for other people who actually own it. When the CD hits Amazon, I’ll link to samples there.

PS Never mind- Stage Stars doesn’t seem to have samples to listen to on their Amazon page. This is the Amazon page for the Stage Stars album of Damn Yankees that I worked on nine months ago- no samples.

Spent last week at work stocking up Spiritrax for Easter. No vocals yet, but some of you probably know the Ode to Joy and the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Started today on our latest musical for Stage Stars, The Little Mermaid- yes, the Disney one, with music is by Alan Menken. I actually saw this in the movie theater when it came out and loved it- a 12-year-old romantic, and not the only one in the theater, I’m sure.

So my company, One Light Music, now produces all the music for Stage Stars Records, which puts out karaoke CD’s of musicals. I think we’re listed on their CD’s as “music programmers”. I’ve worked on Godspell, Damn Yankees and Hairspray since joining, but neither of them have been released yet. Anyway, we’re working on West Side Story now- I did “Something’s Coming” yesterday and “Tonight” today.

It’s fun! Wish I could play it for you, but you’ll just have to take my word for it.