Please return your seatbacks and tray tables to their full-upright position...

So, it has been over 2 months since my last post.

In the blogosphere this is roughly equal to the amount of time it takes for light from Alpha Centauri to reach Earth, so I am grateful for anyone who is still following. If you are new, welcome!

My move to Rhode Island has been a very positive step for me. The energy of New England is a much better fit and the location is perfect, close to Boston and New York. Being able to drive 1.5 hours and hear an artist of the caliber of Jerry Bergonzi (with only 10 people in the club!) is a true blessing.

The scene in Rhode Island seems to be positive. I have met and been working with some great players including: Joe Parillo, Joe Potenza, Gene Rosati, and Jared Sims. I'll be starting my Master's Degree at The University of Rhode Island this fall so I have a feeling that most of my projects will be focused in that direction for the next couple of years. The program at URI is very interesting and seemingly very progressive. It's a performance degree but the curriculum is quite ad-hoc. Lots of opportunity for independent study and research coupled with traditional lessons, recitals etc.

The Spring has been exciting in the listening realm. I've been on a big Joe Henderson kick lately. His sense of time and harmonic individuality are big inspirations to me lately. I have read in interviews and also heard from some of my teachers who studied with Joe that he was big on writing etudes on tunes under study. I have been doing a bit of this in my practice and it is a very valuable way to understand a tune. The trick for me is to write etudes that don't sound like etudes. Greg Fishman (one of the teachers mentioned above) is great at this. He has several books of etudes that are great examples of the process.

I have also been listening to a lot of Rich Perry. I am in love with this guy's playing. Beautiful sound, rich harmonic and melodic ideas and a soft and subtle concept that really appeals to me.

I've taken a bit of a break from writing, although I currently have an "itch" that I keep messing around with at the piano, so something may be coming soon.

Finally I must state me sorrow at the passing of Charlie Mariano. I have been listening to a wonderful arrangement of Ravel's Pavane for a Dead Princess by Vince Mendoza that features him.

Bud Shank (1926-2009)

I was saddened to learn of Bud Shank's passing this weekend.

When I was an undergrad student at NIU, the program was great about bringing in artists for long residencies and performance tours. Bud was the guest artist during the Fall semester of my Freshman year.

I was entranced by his playing and his lectures and clinics we very formative for me. I was really effected by his honesty, frankness and depth of knowledge without being pedantic. I remember a great conversation we had about how I felt there there was too much polarity in music and he paid me a very nice compliment about my "mature outlook". Needless to say, I was buzzing for weeks on that. His alto playing continues to knock me out and his music will be in heavy rotation today.

Here is a link to Doug Ramsey's remembrance and a KILLIN video...

Lovano KILLIN it!

I just came accross this footage from 2008 Jazz Baltica's Trane tribute.  Dig them in order...

1

2

3

4

Pack up all your cares and woe...

A busy 2 months...

That is the only way I can describe what has been going on around here.  In addition to my usual gigs and projects (more on that in a moment) I have been processing some big upcoming changes.

We are going to be moving soon.  I've taken a job in Newport RI; I move up there in April and the family will follow in late June/early July.  This is an incredibly positive thing. 

I've enjoyed living and working in Hampton Roads VA.  The scene here is very healthy and there is work, even now, to go around for everyone.  The jazz scene is small, but forward thinking and there is a good public following for creative music.  I'll truly miss some of the cats I have been working with, namely:  Chris Brydge, Jeff Smith, Jim Nesbit, Keith Philbirck, Joe Camarda, Roy Muth, Jackie Friend, John Toomey, Rob DeDominick, Woody Beckner and so many others.  

I have to admit, though, I am really looking forward to the move to New England.  The chance to be close to Boston (an hour) and NYC (2 or so hours) is really exciting as is the opportunity for study.  I am applying for some grad schools up there and I hope to complete my Master's within the next couple of years.

There have been some great moments in the past couple of months.  I have been doing some very creative work with Chris Brydge's quartet.  Alto, Tenor, Bass and Drums.  The colors between the alto and me on tenor are really refreshing and Chris can GROOVE!!!!  Also, the Virginia Arts Festival Jazz Orchestra (AKA The Roy Muth Big Band) recently performed a tribute concert to Frank Foster.  Fos' lives in Hampton Roads and it was such and honor to work with him on his music, some brand new and some the original ink from Basie's band!

Postings here will continue to be sporadic as the family and I prepare for the big move, but I will drop in from time to time.  I have a few more projects pending down here that may merit discussion.

Lastly, I would like to add my thoughts to the many who have already paid tribute to Gerry Niewood.  My thoughts are with Adam and his entire family...

A Wonderful turn of events!!!

This update from Virginians for the Arts says it all...

Thanks to all who wrote their Congress-people!

Washington...we have a problem

An amendment to the stimulus package has passed that has taken any hope of arts funding to a new low.  At Parabasis, they're calling this the "How To Make Sure None Of The Stimulus Money Will Go To Enriching Or Bettering People's Lives Amendment" and I think that sums up my feelings on the matter.

Americans for the Arts is sponsoring a letter writing/email campaign to let both our Senators and the local media how we feel about this.  It takes very little time, please make your voice heard!

I quote Darcy James Argue on his post on the issue, "Remember last week when people were all worried that America might indulge in too much arts funding...or that Obama might appoint an Arts Czar and that would be bad, somehow?  Good times."  Ain't that the truth!!

We're better than this...

Happy New Year

I can't believe...insert cliché here.

There are a few things that make me a bit thoughtful as I look back on 2008.  Many of which have already gotten considerable press such as the Election, the new administration, the economy, and Illinois politics.  Others, less so:  Freddie's passing, IAJE's passing, and the future of the arts in said economy.  Considering the latter, I have been so grateful to the group of bloggers that I read for giving a voice to some of those issues.  Thanks to Darcy, Majikthise,  DonnaTroy, Howard Mandel, Dave Douglas and so many others.

As for my part, I look back on some of the posts for the last year and I see an evolution from some posts about the artistic process and aesthetics to mainly a links clearing house I feel a slight tinge of disappointment and concern about what this blog is "supposed to be" and the types of posts that "should" be here.  Neither of these are healthy.  I will continue to post but I will also try to be much more mindful and post thoughts that are important to ME vice things that "should" be on the blog in order for it to be what it's "supposed" to be.  There may be more time between posts, but there will continue to be posts.

As a final note, tis the season for resolutions and I do have some this year.  They are very general and they are as follows:

Less Driving...More Biking

Less Speaking...More Listening

Less Buying...More Making or Making Due

Less Electronic Media...More Reading

Less Facebook...More Facetime (sorry, that is a cliche waiting to happen!!!)

Less Division...More Inclusion

Less Expecting...More Accepting

and finally...

Less Planning...More Doing