I'd imagine a couple years off would have negative effects on anybody's chops. How much do you guys think they're rehearsing in preparation for next month? Anybody know of a specific, unguarded location where this type of thing might happen?
They probably practice everyday on their own accord. Being a musician myself not a day goes by where I don't play. The groove you get by playing with certain people is easily rekindled after time off with one good practice. Songs that you have played hundreds or thousands of times aren't easy to forget. It's hard to explain if you have never gone through something similar. But imagine writing a song, most songs take some time to get them to where you want them to be. Then you have to record that song, so how ever many instruments have to lay their tracks down and/or do a bunch of live takes to see where its at. Then you go out and tour the hell out of what you just worked your ass off to complete. You would have to be wasted 24/7 or have your memory blanked to forget all that.
That said, the fact that they are playing with the brass band I think would add a little complication, no? Working out arrangements, etc...
The brass section would most likely have the arrangements ahead of time and practice on their own. When you play at a high skill level and/or professionally you don't need to play with everybody who plays on stage to practice. Say you start a cover band, everybody can learn the songs together at a rehearsal space when you can all be there, or everybody can learn the songs on their own and then come together and play them with relative ease. The better musician you are the easier it should be. I'm not trying to say they don't practice, i am trying to define what kind of practicing that actually goes on through a down town.
The first performance in a line of engagements would be a practice or run through? of sorts, I suppose.
they're professionals.
Quotethey're professionals.
and highly skilled!