Originally composed by Rachael Price and recorded by the band Lake Street Dive for the 2016 album Side Pony.
Brass quintet version Recorded by Sugar Brass featuring Paige Durr (drum set) at the Eastman School of Music in March 2021.
Program Notes
The booming city of Boston, Massachussetts has held many claims to fame over its history, especially in the realms of musical development. With fine conservatories and storied musical institutions like the Boston Symphony around the corner, it is no wonder as to why Boston has bore some truly exceptional professional musicians and ensembles. One example of such a group is Lake Street Dive, an American multi-genre defining band that was originally formed at the New England Conservatory of Music. Lake Street Dive has gone on to record some fantastic music since its founding in 2004 and one of their most memorable yet soulful tracks lies on their fifth studio album Side Pony. The track in question is entitled Mistakes, composed by the group’s vocalist Rachael Price and featuring founding member Mike “McDuck” Olson on trumpet throughout. The brass spotlight from the original rendition inspired the creation of a brass quintet version with drum set, arranged in 2021 and later recorded The Eastman School of Music. The introduction of the brass quintet version begins much dreamier then the original recording, with the tuba taking the lead line into the stratosphere. The drum set then announces its presence with the groove finally kicking in a la Lake Steet Dive drummer Michael Calabrese, and the french horn and trombone play the role of Price has she gloriously serenades through her song. Olson’s trumpet lines make their appearance in the trumpet parts as well, hopefully creating an arrangement of Mistakes that fans of both brass and Lake Street Dive can enjoy in any setting!
Shawn W. Davern 