thoughts and musings
I am currently making my way through a pre-release copy of one of our guest artist Joe McCarthy’s albums, called “Music of the Caribbean Jazz Project.” It’s a big band called the Afro Bop Alliance Big Band. The record features Dave Samuels and Roberto Quintero. Some really great afro-cuban type writing.
If you want to check out more of Joe McCarthy’s stuff, visit his website at http://www.joemcdrum.com/.
I’ve been checking out Bill Evans lately - started my way through the Complete Bill Evans on Riverside (12 discs!). I will be transcribing much of that stuff along the way.
This weekend I listened to Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” on vinyl. So many great tunes on that 2 record album.
As we careened across the Northwest on our tour, we listened to more music. Sunday was pop music day - heard some great Lyle Lovett, Irma Thomas, Johnny Cash, the Eels, Elliot Smith, etc. Listened to this jazz tuba player on Friday - that was out there. Coltrane was on his record too!
Elvin Jones Live at the Lighthouse also on Friday.
On Wednesday during my drive to Portland I checked out Dave Glenn’s “Journeys”. Great playing. Dave is the director of jazz studies at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.
I am currently on a tour of the Northwest with a great jazz sextet, Seven Minus (you can check out the myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/sevenminus). We played at Whitman College last night in Walla Walla and today will drive up to Spokane to play a jazz club there this weekend. Next it’s down to Sisters, OR and Eugene, OR to play two more concerts and give some clinics.
Since we’ve been driving a lot, we have gotten in quite a few albums. Yesterday was Andrew Hill’s “Point of Departure,” Monk and Coltrane’s “Live at Carnegie Hall,” Branford Marsalis’ “Trio Jeepy,” Brad Mehdau and Pat Metheny’s “Mehldau Metheny,” and snippets of a bunch of other albums. Good stuff.
I am listening to the original “Kind of Blue” on vinyl, scratches and everything. I got the record for $1 at a garage sale. It’s interesting to compare the original version with the remastered CD version. The original is about 1/4 step flat because of incorrect speed settings on the tape machine. It really gives it a darker feel, pretty cool.
I got Kenny Garrett’s “Black Hope” from iTunes and listened to it in the car while I was driving around all afternoon. I’m trying to check out Kenny Kirkland (piano) a lot lately, so this was a great one.
Listened to Ahmad Jamal’s “At the Pershing” on vinyl.
I was sick, and slept a lot. Blast.
I’m listening to a great old record from the “Grand Prix Series”: Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines and His Orchestra.
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