So I just joined this ska punk band as a tenor sax player. They are pretty established and already have a ton of music. Before I came in it was just a trombone in the horn section (there have been trumpets and saxes in the past though). They mentioned to me that they want me to try to spice up the horn parts, as they are all pretty much what you would expect as ska musicians and don't have much knowledge of music theory, although they are pretty decent at what they do.
Some of their old recordings have more than just the trombone player on there (trumpet and alto sax usually) and it's 99% octaves and unison. And as I've been learning the songs, I've just been playing unison or octaves with the trombone player. And it sounds fine like that. But I've been trying to add some harmony, and I'm having a hard time with it sounding a little bit too "sweet." Their sound is pretty edgy (it's basically hardcore punk with horns, plus the occasional ska guitar parts) and I don't know if maybe I should just leave it alone and play octaves/unison with the trombone player. I would definitely like to do more than that though. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Some of their old recordings have more than just the trombone player on there (trumpet and alto sax usually) and it's 99% octaves and unison. And as I've been learning the songs, I've just been playing unison or octaves with the trombone player. And it sounds fine like that. But I've been trying to add some harmony, and I'm having a hard time with it sounding a little bit too "sweet." Their sound is pretty edgy (it's basically hardcore punk with horns, plus the occasional ska guitar parts) and I don't know if maybe I should just leave it alone and play octaves/unison with the trombone player. I would definitely like to do more than that though. Does anyone have any suggestions?