Friday 30 September 2011

Kenny Barron!!! The Only One

I had the good fortune of studying with Kenny Barron, he is a great teacher and a great guy to hang and talk with. I learned a lot from him! He always made a lot of time for his students. I found this interesting bootleg clip of him, it's a great track of him and his trio playing The Only One



Wednesday 28 September 2011

Red Cat: The Void

I stumbled across this video on youtube and have been showing it to friends whenever I get a chance. I thought I'd just post it here instead. I was originally just checking out the saxophone player but the drummer on this track is really fun to listen to. The best part of the tune (in my opinion) is the drum solo sections, they start at about 5:40. I hope you enjoy!



Thursday 8 September 2011

Well....I did it!


Ok, I finished the 30 day challenge and I learned quite a bit. For starters I really like music. I know this seems obvious, who doesn't like music? but I "really" like music and something inside was reignited. I want to listen to more music. I want to explore new and old music and I notice that I am listening with a different ear. I am enjoying music much more. Another benefit of all this listening has been the amount of practicing I am compelled to do. Some of you know I am a bit obsessive when it comes to shedding, after all this listening I am even more interested in getting into more music-I have made a list of at least 2 dozen things I want to start working on! its so nice to be reminded about what needs work. The third thing I noticed is I'm thinking more like a composer these days. I hope it lasts, I write about 3 tunes a year, and am very very slow about it. I definitely have to step up this side of my development. I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome of this experiment. Now I need to find a new challenge, I'm thinking about writing music everyday for thirty days, I just need a way to post what I have done......I'm working on it! until then enjoy this Chaka Kahn post with Michael Brecker. I love how everyone is waiting expectantly for Brecker to unleash!! 1981 funky goodness!

Friday 2 September 2011

DAY 30: Cannonball Adderley and Strings and Jump For Joy [1955/1958]

I first heard Julian 'Cannonball" Adderley while I was in high school, I loved the sound but didn't focus too much on him as he was an alto player and I was playing tenor. As I continued in school I eventually had the opportunity to play alto; One stolen alto (long story) a huge book of cannonball solos (thanks Jeff Antoniuk!) and I was hooked.

I found this "Two-Fer" at south side sound and at the time was a bit disappointed. All of the tracks from these two records featuring cannonball with strings are 2-3 minutes long, not exactly the burning soloistic explorations I was used to. I haven't listened to this many times and maybe it's because today is the final day of my 30 day challenge but for some reason these beautiful melodies and short but perfect solos are just what I needed. Cannonball sounds wonderful! the orchestrations are soothing and lush (Jump for Joy is a bit more adventurous), and although some of the solos are shorter than I'm used to they are every bit as majestic as Cannons other works. Highly Recommended!!!

Thursday 1 September 2011

Day 29 John Coltrane A Love Supreme [1964]

I almost didn't make it today! But here I am, with a classic John Coltrane Record. Some call this the most important John Coltrane record of all time.

The first exposure I had to John Coltrane was when I was 13, the album was "Sun Ship" it wasn't a good relationship. It took three years before I would try again, this time with "Soultrane". Soultrane was a much better pick, in fact it would start my lifelong love affair with Trane and his music and particularly the thirteen records he made on the Prestige label. I got into A Love Supreme about twenty years ago and didn't really know what to make of it, it was only when I decided to play the music about 8 years ago (transcribing good chunks of the record) that I started to see it a bit differently. The blues nature of the album seemed to jump out at me. The forms are so simple yet the genius captured at the moment was so rich. It was a great lesson in the complexity of form versus the complexity of harmony and how the two can relate. I spent a whole year listening to the disc every morning, starting my day with that iconic line (C# F# G# C#)-it was a wonderful experiment, one I definitely recommend. One of my all-time favourites!!! (but not my favourite Trane record :)) That reminds me to go and pick up one of those ipod alarm clocks!!! enjoy