Sunday, November 09, 2008
Musical offenses.
So I'm sitting in a Borders book store yesterday working on a book editing project, when over the PA system I hear the theme from Schindler's List - a beautiful piece of music, actually - being played as a smooth jazz piece by some damned Kenny G type on a soprano sax.
I don't know who the player was, and I don't want to know.
But if I ever see him standing in a courtyard, and I happen to be standing on the balcony with a high-powered rifle in my hands and I can get a clear shot, I swear to God, I'll be dispensing some poetic justice that day, let me tell you.
I don't know who the player was, and I don't want to know.
But if I ever see him standing in a courtyard, and I happen to be standing on the balcony with a high-powered rifle in my hands and I can get a clear shot, I swear to God, I'll be dispensing some poetic justice that day, let me tell you.
Labels: Crime, jazz, justice, Music
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Palette Cleanser
Tonight isn't all bad: I get to brag on a dear friend of mine, who also happens to be a wonderful singer (and who's finally on YouTube!), Ms. Alexis Cole.
Stick around for the scat...and then keep sticking around for the wonderful Ben Stivers on piano. Indeed, the whole band is first rate.
Alexis never ceases to amaze me. It is so rare to hear a singer who knows her way around the changes so well. Most singers you hear trying to scat are just scatting licks over a one or two chord vamp. Alexis understands where the changes are going, and the modulations and harmonic direction.
Her sense of pitch is exquisite. Her intonation is dead on. In fact, like a great pitcher who knows when how NOT to throw a strike, Alexis will take any musician to school in knowing when NOT to sing in tune.
You can't hear it on this cut. But download Night Train from her CD "Nearer the Sun." She knows where the blue notes are, without overdoing it.
I recommend Nearer the Sun for straight ahead jazz, and Zingaro for a bit more sultry sound.
Splash, out
Jason
Stick around for the scat...and then keep sticking around for the wonderful Ben Stivers on piano. Indeed, the whole band is first rate.
Alexis never ceases to amaze me. It is so rare to hear a singer who knows her way around the changes so well. Most singers you hear trying to scat are just scatting licks over a one or two chord vamp. Alexis understands where the changes are going, and the modulations and harmonic direction.
Her sense of pitch is exquisite. Her intonation is dead on. In fact, like a great pitcher who knows when how NOT to throw a strike, Alexis will take any musician to school in knowing when NOT to sing in tune.
You can't hear it on this cut. But download Night Train from her CD "Nearer the Sun." She knows where the blue notes are, without overdoing it.
I recommend Nearer the Sun for straight ahead jazz, and Zingaro for a bit more sultry sound.
Splash, out
Jason
Labels: Alexis Cole, jazz, Music, vocals
Thursday, October 30, 2008
For Guitar Players Only
The late Mr. Ted Greene. Send in the Clowns.
I didn't pick up the fiddle until I was 28 or so, when I found an old Hopf at Barry's Pawn Shop in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Prior to that, I was a chord-melody jazz guitar fanatic, from high school on.
I learned so much from Ted's book "Chord Chemistry," and consider it a must for any serious guitarist.
But it's nothing compared to simply listening to this great master.
Splash, out
Jason
I didn't pick up the fiddle until I was 28 or so, when I found an old Hopf at Barry's Pawn Shop in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Prior to that, I was a chord-melody jazz guitar fanatic, from high school on.
I learned so much from Ted's book "Chord Chemistry," and consider it a must for any serious guitarist.
But it's nothing compared to simply listening to this great master.
Splash, out
Jason
