Straight To The Heart
1. Chicago Song


2. Straight To The Heart


3. Full House


4. Corners For Herbie


5. Snakes


6. Funky Sea Funky Dew


7. Gabes Groove #1 Trumpet Feature


8. Gabes Groove #2 Guitar Feature
1. Chicago Song____ I chose this for the opener
for the album because it has kind an "attitude dance"
built into the groove. I played my Monette FLUMPET
1 with a touch of chorus to thicken the sound.
2. Straight To The Heart____ I had been dreaming
of recording this for 20 years ever since the first
time I heard it. Pulled out my Kanstul 1525 Copper
bell Flugel, she sang like a canary!
3. Full House____A gritty dance-floor kinda tune,
Doc Severinsen's Straub-Destino (#12) was my
weapon of choice here. Pushing the record button while
I was pissed off gave the tune the extra zing I was
looking for.
4. Corners for Herbie____Back to the Monette
FLUMPET open at first, Ran the sound "live" through
a synth setting on the solo section which gave me the
nuance I was looking for.
5. Snakes____ Stayed with the FLUMPET all the
way through with the same "synth" setting through
the solo section. The synth texturing seemed more
interesting than harmonic exploration at the time of
the recording.
6. Funky Sea Funky Dew____The only horn I
could get to ring right was the Large Bore MT.
Vernon Bach. The short valve stroke gave be quicker
response, and the rock solid tone did the rest.
Couldn't resist the Lew Soloff Tribute on the very
last line of the Solo!
7. Gabe's Grove____I IV V Jam tune I banged out
on a machine with BeBe Bardot on 3 rhythm guitars.
Written for the youngest son Gabriel. The first
trumpet solo I had recorded in 23 years.
8. Gabe's Groove____Features BeBe Bardot
...First take. Rest in peace my friend.

My Father Robert Kappele Braendlein Sr.
made my brief performing career possible.
This album is a tribute to his lifelong belief in
me and his love for trumpeting.

Enormous emotional undercurrents exist
beneath each and every note played in
these tunes. Like an actor, I was able to
utilize many years of "baggage" .... finally,  
unloading it all here.

I never intended this to end up a Smooth
Jazz project simply because so much
"speaking" was taking place at the time of
each recording session. Fortunately I was
able to "speak my mind" in each and
every piece.

Both Cd's "Straight To The Heart" &
"African Skies" are my life's works, I am
very proud of them. A lifetime in the
making.

The repertoire was chosen to "stump the
trumpet player". In other words,  I chose
Saxophone material I loved but knew was
nearly impossible for most trumpeters to
pull off. A difficulty level of "10"(for me)
was what I was after.

Most of all, I believe I succeeded in giving
my family something to be proud of when
my name is spoken.

Dad, this album's for you!

Recorded
Apriil-May 2005