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Fans still can enjoy the Atlanta convention's sights and sounds 9/29/2009

Vince Johnson of the Freshmen socializes with fans. Photo: Yas Ichiura

Fans still can take in many of the sights and sounds even if they weren't at the Aug. 20-22 Four Freshmen alumni reunion and fan convention in Atlanta.

The convention was the "best covered" in the history of these gatherings, with lots of videos and audio recordings made available via the Internet during and after the convention.

There also were frequent daily news updates from the convention posted online via the Four Freshmen FanFare site on Twitter. (Those can be found at twitter.com/fffanfare which you can access whether or not you have a Twitter account.)

Here's a list of all video and audio recordings available online that we know about, with descriptions and simplified links. Most take you to either the Four Freshmen Society Web site or YouTube:

Thursday Jam Session: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantajam

FF conventions begin with Thursday night jam session where fans are encouraged to perform. Since FFS members really care about the Four Freshmen sound, songs from the Great American Songbook and both big band and small group jazz, that and the very informal format of this event makes it a favorite of many. This year's lineup included the Greg McLean Quartet to back up the performers. They were Greg McLean (trumpet), Mark Tucker (piano), John Ivy (bass) and Bill Norman (drums). Four Freshmen alumnus Ray Brown again was the evening's host. Follow the link to open a FFS Web site page where you can click any tune/artist listed to hear it.

Friday Dinner Show: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantafrieve

The best-selling Four Freshmen album of all time was "Four Freshmen and Five Trombones." That Friday night for the first time anywhere, the Freshmen performed tunes from that original LP, with the rhythm section (and, of course, five trombones) of the Georgia Perimeter College GPC Jazz Ensemble. The band also performed four numbers alone and then welcomed the Four Freshmen to the stage and backed them for 11 more tunes.

Click on the appropriate link which at the above Web page to hear each individual tune or scroll down the page to watch the 72-minute video from the session.

(Click here to read Wayne Corey's review of this concert.)

Chick Trafford Memorial: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantafrieve

Before the Friday night concert, outgoing FFS President Dick Baldwin and FFS Midwest Communications Director Wayne Corey spoke briefly about longtime Fresh News editor Chick Trafford, who died after a lengthy illness just before the convention. You can watch the video of this memorial to Chick on this page.

Saturday Dinner Show: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantasateve

Saturday's concluding concert following the dinner was "all Freshmen all the time," performing self-contained in two sets. Click on the appropriate link on this page to hear any tune from both sets.

"Fresh Talk": http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantayaz

You can hear the one hour 35 minute audio transcription from Saturday's "Fresh Talk" with current and alumni Four Freshmen by downloading this 109 MB mp3 file made available by Yas Ichiura.

Yas Ichiura Convention Photo Album: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantayazphotos

See dozens of photos taken by Yas Ichiura at the Atlanta convention, displayed at this link in a grid format. Scroll to the bottom if you prefer another format. The options are slideshow, mosaic, or carousel. See who you can spot.

The Freshmen's Memorable Take on "Blue Moon": http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantabluemoon

This 5 min. 16 sec. YouTube video produced by Tom Kilbride shows the Freshmen doing a hilarious version of "Blue Moon" on their Saturday night show, the segment that sealed this as the "Blue Moon" convention. You'll also get to see and hear all current and Four Freshmen alumni present on stage singing "Day In, Day Out," with a surprise "Blue Moon" riff. This is quickly becoming a classic.

Bob Flanigan Birthday Tribute: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantabobf

This YouTube video produced by Tom Kilbride shows Bob Flanigan at the Saturday night show receiving his cake marking his 83rd birthday that day. 1 min. 22 sec.

Friday Show Snippets: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantafritaste

Here are snippets offering a quick overview of Freshmen songs from the Friday concert. Produced by Tom Kilbride and available on YouTube. 2 min. 7 sec.

Ross Barbour leads Wannabees: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantawannabees1

Original Four Freshmen Ross Barbour leads convention attendees in this afternoon session, with all singing "The Day Isn't Long Enough" and a trombone solo by Yas Ichiura. Ross closes on the "air violin." Produced by Tom Kilbride. 3 min. 12 sec.

Opening Day: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantaday1

This is the first video from the convention, with scenes from the first day of the convention, produced by Tom Kilbride. It opens with shots of the hotel where we were meeting, then visits the registration table and the "Club 113" room where the Four Freshmen Society Music Mart is set up for business, a silent auction is being held for a variety of Four Freshmen items, and other activities are underway.

The concluding section shows Ross Barbour leading fans in singing a Four Freshmen arrangement, "It Happened Once Before," one of many we sang during that day's two-hour songfest. The trombone solo is by Yas Ichiura. Fans are shown reading from songbooks available for loan or sale ($20). 3 min. 22 sec.

Song List: http://tinyurl.com/ffsatlantasonglist

Yas Ichiura compiled and posted this song list for the Friday and Saturday Four Freshmen concerts.