Colossus!

Sonny Rollins turns 80 today! Happy Birthday, Newk!!!!!

See NPR's story here.

The Sound

I am listening to Stan Getz.

Any time I put one of his records on my first thought is "why do I EVER listen to anyone else?!?!" Getz often gets "sorted" into kind of a holdover from the swing era - nothing could be further from the truth. His playing in the 80s right up until he passed (my favorite period, by the way) is as rhythmically, harmonically and sonically advanced and adventurous as anyone but to me, and unlike other adventurous players, Getz steeped everything through a deep well of swing and taste.

One of my favorite things about Stan's playing is what I call the sense of inevitability that his lines have. A great example of this can be heard on "Stan's Blues" from the album "But Beautiful" recorded with Bill Evans. He takes several unaccompanied choruses and EVERYTHING, time, harmony and melody is so clear that as I listen to it, my reaction is that there could be no other choice. His lines are THAT definitive. That kind of clarity is what I strive for every day.

I think I'll be listening to Stan for a while...

Here's a nice clip of Getz with musical soul-mate Kenny Barron:

At Last!

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Dave Liebman. When I received his latest newsletter announcing that he has been awarded the NEA's 2011 Jazz Master award I was thrilled. Here is a link to Lieb's newsletter with the announcement and he speaks very eloquently about the award and the idea of being recognized by the country that created the music (he often garners many more accolades in Europe). To me, Lieb is a total inspiration. Absolute commitment to the art, more artistic courage than just about anyone I can think of, and an absolute dedication to teaching.

It is in this last area that I have had my closest relationship with him. Through studying with him, my own aesthetic solidified and I gained a very concrete path into researching and studying the saxophone and, more importantly, this music for which I will be forever grateful. Not to mention the spirit of brotherhood that he engenders. All who have studied with him will know what I mean. If you ever were his student, you are his family forever. Studying with Lieb really shaped my entire world view in a way few teachers do.

Congrats, Brother

Quote of the day...

“This music, jazz music, has a discipline that comes from practice, that’s very good for life in itself.”

~ Muhal Richard Abrams at the 2010 NEA Jazz Masters Awards

Happy Birthday...

 John Coltrane

I will be listening to Trane for most of the evening, the playlist I have put together has material from all three of the big periods.  His music never ceases to inspire, everything about him is superlative.

Here is one of my favorite videos of Trane in performance.  Such beautiful intensity and dig the steam pouring off of Elvin...  

Nick Hornby, please sign in...

Inspired by this, I thought this might be fun.  

What are your top-ten tracks by a given artist?  Every so often, I'll post my 10 for whatever artist catches my fancy and I hope you'll chime in with yours.  There is no rank ordering, any track is just as good as any other...

We start at the top:

John Coltrane:

Moment's Notice (Blue Trane)

Liberia (Coltrane's Sound)

Wise One (Crescent)

Crescent (Crescent)

After The Rain (Dear Old Stockholm)

Giant Steps (Giant Steps)

I Want to Talk About You (Live at Birdland)

One Down, One Up (One Down, One Up)

Welcome (Transition)

Evidence (Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall)

---Disclaimer---

This list is subject to change at any time...

Please add yours!

Original Jazz Classics

One of my many gift card purchases arrived today.  The OJC 2003 remaster of Tom Harrell's Sail Away.  

Sail Away and Form were two of my favorite LPs when I was In college.  Great compositions, burning soloists (On Sail Away: Harrell of course, but also Lovano, Liebman, Abercrombie et al.) very nice small ensemble playing (use of backgrounds, sectional writing etc..).  The drag was that they belonged to one of my housemates and when we all went our separate ways, his records went with him.

Listening to this again was a great treat, especially now that I now own it.  Next I need to get Form...

Yesterday's post has sparked some great conversation.  I will have more thoughts along those lines soon...right now it's back to Tom...

Lee Konitz

Heard about this today thanks to Intervals, David Liebman's newsletter.

Andy Hamilton's new book on Lee Konitz looks like a must read.  Here is another sax player that I have always been aware of, his recording Motion continues to be in rotation at my house, but I have never checked him out in a really deep way.  Reading Lieb's review of the book sparked my interest a bit and I came across this.  I have heard discussion of  "The Ten Steps" but I have never seen it shown so clearly.  I like this approach because:

 - It is a very organic way to learn/develop a tune

 - It keeps the improviser's mind on the idea melody and melodic embellishment

In my own playing I have noticed a tendency to jump into the harmony and almost disregard the melody.   Writing has been a good antidote to this - I am focusing on constructing melodies rather than harmony for harmony's sake.  

This is something I love about music.  There is always a new inspiration.  I'll be looking to check out some more Lee...