A little “Basin St. Blues” from a warmup session today at Berklee before classes. I love these classic old gems. Some great versions from Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson and Keith Jarrett.
Dana Sudborough a vibe player in Dallas, asked on Facebook why Don Byron had a cd called NO-VIBE ZONE with a picture of a vibe with the red circle and the line going through it. You know it. No smoking.
I forgot about this cd and saw it when it came out. It looks pretty negative about the vibes. Just don't know why he named it that. On the Facebook post they mention an interview.
https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/interview-with-don-byron/8/
A kind of independence exercise in 9 that I turned into a mini tune/interlude for my CD "Cubist." Also features African balafon and Indian tabla, with Randy Roos on guitars.
“Take the A Train” by Billy Strayhorn – warmed up today with this classic. I’m in a practice room at Berklee right next door to the hand percussion room. A little bleed through the room. Sorry about that. This may be a simple song but there are so many things that we can do with it within the framework of the form and harmony. One of my favorite versions is from the great pianist Oscar Peterson.
Benny Golson, Philly native sax player, composer and arranger was in town for Penn States annual jazz festival 10 days ago. Benny wrote many classics including Killer Joe, Whisper Not, and I Remember Clifford. At 90 years of age, he still played great sax solos and told rambling stories about how he came to write each song. It was great inspiration for guys in our band, several of whom are in their nineties, to see Benny still going strong. His work is all over YouTube, including Lionel Hampton introducing Benny’s rendition of I Remember Clifford.
"Loro" by Egberto Gismonti - A great (and somewhat tricky!) song by the superb Brazilian guitarist/pianist. I played this one many years ago and dug it up from the files recently. A very unique and beautiful composition.
Hi folks,
Happy to present my new record, "Sense of Place" featuring Jon Cowherd, Drew Gress, Johnathan Blake, and myself on vibes. https://destinyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sense-of-place
A beautiful and challenging jazz waltz by Bill Evans.
