StickNews Digest Issue #276 - 07/19/05
An online digest about The Chapman Stick® published by Jim Reilly.Please send your posts and responses here: sticknews@stick.com
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CONTENTS:
WELCOME
- Very pleasant surprises.
- Make those travel plans to SoCal.
- Some brand new old music.
- Some brand new new music.
- Tom is sharing the bill with yet another legendary group.
- More live Stick!!!!!!!!!!
- NS players rejoice, we've got Don!
- Chris Crain looks at some of your options.
- Steve shows us just how wonderful harmony is.
- Ron has got the blues.
- Surprise, surprise, Don has a story to tell.
- Steve's got one too.
- John Edmonds reviews a treat from the Middle East.
GREETINGS FROM KAMLOOPS
Hello All,
Pleasant surprises. Is there anything better than pleasant surprises? What could be better then something that you were expecting to be good exceeding all your expectations? Like when youÂ’re bored late one night so you take your rack apart, fool around with how things are set up and get a way better sound than you had before. I actually did that a couple of weeks ago. Or when a CD shows up in the mail that you knew was going to be good, so you pop it into your carÂ’s CD player while youÂ’re driving around doing all those menial little errands that you must do and what you were expecting to be good turns out to be fantastic. That happened a couple of weeks ago too.
The disc was Irene OrleanskyÂ’s 'Live The MusicÂ’ and I wonÂ’t go into it too much here, John Edmonds provides one of his lively reviews below. Suffice to say that it is something special. Loads of other special stuff below as well. How about a little NS/Stick lesson? Don Schiff has been gracious enough to share not only his wit and thoroughly entertaining road stories but also has done up a nice, funky groove lesson specifically for you NS/Stick folk. I can only hope that that is the first of many.
The usual cast of characters have signed in as well and even though IÂ’m no longer surprised by the wealth of information and entertainment they provide, I am still amazed that they keep getting better and better.
Momentum seems to be building around Tom’s seminar down in San Deigo. I’m looking forward to full reports with photos. Actually wish I were heading down there. Maybe I’ll keep my eyes open for a last minute flight deal. I have a feeling this is going to one of those ‘not to be missed’ events.
ThatÂ’s it from me for now.
Take care,
Jim
GO - SEE - DO!
From: Collins, Dave [david-collins@uiowa.edu]
Subject: Another convert? I doubt it, but you never know.
Date: Thu 16/06/2005
Yesterday I got to introduce Dan Zanes (frontman for the erstwhile Del Fuegos; now familiar to kids everywhere for his videos on Noggin and other children-oriented networks, and a number of surprisingly good albums of kids' music) to The Stick. He strapped it on, I plugged it in, and he immediately started to try & pick it with big horny banjo-playing fingernails. We got that straightened out, he floundered a bit trying to wrap his mind around the non-guitarness of it, and shortly gave up, saying it was the weirdest, wildest instrument he's ever tried to play -- with that huge face-crinkling smile of his that, I swear, renders every woman who sees it a little weak in the knees.
Will The Stick stick with him? We can but hope.
From: Tom Griesgraber [tom@thossounds.com]
Subject: S CA Seminar - some maps and lodging info
Date: Sat 18/06/2005
Hi again everyone,
I've had some inquiries as to lodging for this seminar and thought I would post the info for all to share.
Oceanside and MiraCosta College are in northern San Diego County. The school's actual address is: One Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056 They have a great map page at: www.miracosta.cc.ca.us/pio/maps/OCmap.htm
Your best bet for major airports is probably San Diego, which is about 40 minutes away (to the south). A second option might be Orange County (John Wayne) which is maybe an hour away. I would definitely not fly into LA (LAX) unless there was some other benefit to it (like a much cheaper flight). LAX is probably 90mins - 2 hours away depending on traffic.
The closest hotel I'm aware of is a Motel 6. It's probably "ok" quality and as cheap a price as anything around, but at some past seminars, attendees have stayed there and then said they'd rather spend more money and have something nicer. To the road warrior in me cheaper is always better, but.. most of you may have higher standards ;-) Your call there.. but it IS only about a mile from where we'll be working. The address is:
Motel 6 - OCEANSIDE
3708 PLAZA DR
SR 78 AT COLLEGE BLVD
OCEANSIDE, CA, USA, 92056
760-941-1011
It looks to be about $61.99 a night online (motel6.com) and I do recommend booking online as their rates might be higher by phone.
If you'd like to search for something better.. I'd recommend trying hotwire.com Hotwire divides areas into regions.. the closest they show to where we'll be are: Oceanside, Vista, and Carlsbad.
Other close cities to where we'll be are San Marcos.. and (slightly farther) Escondido and Encinitas.
Hope that helps some of you. Feel free to e-mail with any other questions.
Tom
Tom Griesgraber
www.thossounds.com
760-942-1031
From: Tom Griesgraber [tom@thossounds.com]
Subject: S CA Seminar update
Date: Mon 11/07/2005
Hi all,
A few new details have now fallen into place that I wanted to pass along.
First, we have another instructor on board. Emmett Chapman will now be coming down to do a special clinic on Saturday afternoon. Some of the topics he will cover include his unique "FingerSticking" technique and left hand motor rhythms. Emmett will also as previously mentioned be joining Greg Howard, Don Schiff and myself for the main Stick Night concert on Saturday night.
Also of note, I just managed to line up a performance opportunity for any and all of the seminar participants who would enjoy a chance to perform. Think of it as an open mic night for Stick players (or maybe we should call it an "open amp night"?) This will be happening Fri Aug 26 from 7-10pm at Old California Coffee House: 1080 San Marcos Blvd #176, San Marcos, CA 92078. For those that attended a similar event here maybe 2 years ago, it's the same place, but with a new name. Located just off San Marcos Blvd near where it meets highway 78, in what us locals call "restaurant row." The area is quite ripe with restaurants too, so an early Stick dinner should also be possible. My favorite is the Thai place right across from where we'll be.
If you are coming to the seminar and are interested in performing at the "open amp night," please let me know.
Lastly for this issue.. a few people have asked about flights and lodging. Oceanside is actually in northern San Diego County. Your best bet for major airports is probably San Diego.. which is about 40 mins away (to the south).. a second option might be Orange County (John Wayne) which is maybe an hour away. I would definitely not fly into LAX unless there was some other benefit to it (like a much cheaper flight). LAX is probably 90mins - 2 hours away depending on traffic.
There are no accommodations at the college. The closest hotel I'm aware of is a Motel 6. It's probably "ok" quality and as cheap a price as anything around, but at some past seminars, attendees have stayed there and then said they'd rather spend more money and have something nicer. Your call there.. but it IS only about a mile from where we'll be working. The address is:
Motel 6 - Oceanside
3708 Plaza Dr
SR 78 at College Blvd
760-941-1011
It looks to be about $61.99 a night online (motel6.com)
If you'd like to search for something better.. I'd recommend trying hotwire.com Hotwire divides areas into regions.. the closest to where we'll be are: Oceanside, Vista, and Carlsbad.
Other close cities to where we'll be are San Marcos.. and (slightly farther) Escondido and Encinitas.
The school's actual address is:
One Barnard Dr
Oceanside, CA 92056
They have a great map page at: www.miracosta.cc.ca.us/pio/maps/OCmap.htm
For more info on the S CA Stick Seminar, visit www.stick.com/events/seminars/sandiego2005/
As always, let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to seeing many of you soon.
Tom Griesgraber
www.thossounds.com
760-942-1031
From: Wayne Leechford [wayne120@bellsouth.net]
Subject: New Ozone Quartet CD, Cloud Nineology
Date: Tue 21/06/2005
New Ozone Quartet CD, Cloud Nineology
'Cloud NineologyÂ’ is the latest CD release from the Raleigh, NC instrumental prog-fusion band Ozone Quartet and is a collection of the band's early work. The songs were previously only available on cassette. The cassettes have been sold out for some time now, with the exception of the last cassette release in 1995, Cloud Nine Demo #3.
'Cloud NineologyÂ’ chronicles the pre-history of Ozone Quartet. The bandÂ’s original name was Cloud Nine. Due to trademark laws, the band changed it's name in 1997 before the release of their debut CD, Fresh Blood. All of the music on 'Cloud NineologyÂ’was originally released under Cloud Nine. And, as a bonus track, this CD includes the first ever-recorded cover song by Ozone Quartet, "The Barbarian" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. This track was recorded for an ELP tribute album that has remained unreleased by Hybernation Records. It was recorded in 1998 and has remained on the shelf ever since until now.
With two previous studio releases and a live CD, Ozone Quartet has established an international fan base and has sold thousands of its CDs through blood, sweat, and tears. The release of 'Cloud NineologyÂ’completes the story of the band. Anyone familiar with the band's music will notice the development of the band's unique sound as they listen through the CD from beginning to end. The recordings span a time period of six years from 1992-1998.
Ozone Quartet has always been a labor of love for it's members and the music made was a true collaborative effort - rare in today's music scene. The music wasn't made for financial gain or stardom. The music was made to be exciting and challenging for its players and it's listeners. Fans' positive responses and kind words from music journalists all over the world were the catalyst to keep it going.
No matter what style of music you play, working as an independent artist doing 100% original music is a hard road to travel. Ozone Quartet hopes its fans will be satisfied with what they have been given - a "quartet" of full length CDs and plenty of live performances over the last decade or so. Although Ozone Quartet will probably not pursue playing as a band anymore, please check out our web site often to follow the musical paths of Hollis Brown (electric violin), Fran Dyer (drums), Wayne Leechford (Chapman Stick), and Jeremy Shaw (guitar).
'Cloud NineologyÂ’ is now available directly from Ozone Quartet or CD Baby.
Thank You,
Ozone Quartet
www.ozonequartet.com
cdbaby.com/all/ozonequartet
From: Tom Griesgraber [tom@thossounds.com]
Subject: TG and Asia
Date: Fri 24/06/2005
Hi all,
Of possible interest to S CA types... I'm going to be opening for the band Asia on Sun July 24 at the CoachHouse in San Juan Capistrano, CA. As always with shows there, I've got discounted tickets I can pass along. You can order them straight off my website at: http://www.thossounds.com/store.html and save about $4-6 each.
Asia with special guest Tom Griesgraber
Sunday July 24, 8pm
The CoachHouse
33157 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano
All ages
Discount Tickets available at www.thossounds.com or call 760-942-1031
Asia was originally founded way back when by keyboard player Geoff Downes who made a name for himself as 1/2 of the Buggles (remember "Video killed the Radio Star"?) and was actually in the group Yes for a short time. When Yes broke up (as they do from time to time), Geoff and Yes guitarist Steve Howe started Asia with King Crimson/UK bassist and vocalist John Wetton and drummer Carl Palmer from Emerson Lake and Palmer. When their debut album was released in 1982, much to everyone's surprise it flew to the top of the charts (highly unusual for bands known as "progressive rock" outfits). The album sold over 9 million copies on the strength of the hits "Only Time Will Tell" and "Heat of the Moment." Since then, the band has gone through many changes but always with Geoff Downes at the helm. Since they're based in the UK, it's a bit rare to get a chance to see them here in S CA, and this should be a great show!
Seating is all general admission, but once you have tickets you can call the CoachHouse and make a dinner reservation for priority seating. Sorry, but due to my arrangement with the CoachHouse, there are no refunds on ticket purchases.
I've yet to do a show at the CoachHouse that wasn't really memorable. Hope you can join us!
Tom Griesgraber
www.thossounds.com
760-942-1031
From: Kevin Beale [kevinb5108@hotmail.com]
Subject: My First Stick CD
Date: Thu 07/07/2005
Hello all. I just wanted to let everyone know that my first CD 'the still small voice' is waiting for people to give it a listen (and perhaps buy?).
I'm a fairly new Stick player, so this isn't one of those Stick-heavy recordings. 'the still small voice' is all mellow/instrumental music that uses Stick, piano, keys, percussion (on one song), and even some banjo! There are two Stick solo pieces, but mainly it's a CD where the Stick is used as part of a larger sound.
I'd love to hear what people think, so please check out these links: http://cdbaby.com/cd/beale - where you'll find 'the still small voice' www.5108audio.com/personal.html - my work site, where you'll find all sorts of other music I've done
Thanks for listening!
Kevin Beale
Richmond, VA
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night
Date: Mon 11/07/2005
I will be performing at Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night at Indy NAMM Show July 23, Saturday Showtime is 7:00 Indiana Rooftop Ballroom For a full roster of players and more info go to www.allstarguitarnight.com and click players
Also I'll be playing at the booths of Koch amps, Turser Guitars, and Gallien-Krueger amps
Steve Adelson
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: Jazz Improv mag
Date: Thu 14/07/2005
Just got my latest copy of Jazz Improv mag., George Benson cover. Lotsa' guitar text and interviews. There's also a 2 pager on a Stick guy. Those who subscribe or buy JI at your local Borders, I hope you enjoy. I still think this is the best music magazine out there.
Yu No Hu
From: Stickist@aol.com
Subject: upcoming Greg Howard shows
Date: Mon 04/07/2005
Hi folks,
Here's my upcoming itinerary. I'm playing both the ten-string Bari Melody and the Alto Stick at these shows. My set is solo unless otherwise noted.
Charlottesville,VA 7/20 Gravity Lounge, with John D'earth, Matt Wyatt, and Darrell Rose
Richmond, VA 7/21 Fusion, with Matt Wyatt
Annapolis, MD 7/23 Quiet Waters Park, with John D'earth, Jamal Millner and Matt Wyatt
details on all of these performances can be found at:
www.greghoward.com/events/2507
Thanks for supporting live music!
Happy Tapping,
Greg
www.greghoward.com
NEW CD "Ether Ore" now available
From: Michael Kollwitz [michael@michaelkollwitz.com]
Subject: July 2005 Performance Calendar
Date: Thu 30/06/2005
There are still lots of chance to catch Michael live in July. Watch for more in the near future.
Friday, July 15th EVERY DAY through Sunday, July 24th, 2005; 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Solano County Fair
Solano County Fairgrounds
900 Fairgrounds Drive
Vallejo, CA 94589
www.scfair.org
I'll be performing on the BandStand between 11:00 am - 2:00 pm EVERY DAY from 07/15 - 07/24.
Click link above for directions, ticket prices, etc.
Tuesday, July 26th, 2005; 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Novato Farmers Market
on De Long Blvd. in
Downtown Novato, CA
www.marincountyfarmersmarkets.org Price: $free
Thursday, July 28th, 2005; 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Sutter Street Thursday Night Market
Folsom's Historic Sutter Street
Folsom, CA
www.folsomfairs.com
Price: $free
Fri. July 29th, Sat. July 30th & Sun. July 31st, 2005; 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Gem Faire
Santa Clara Convention Center
5001 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054
www.gemfaire.com
Price: $5.00
I'll be performing at Gem Faire all 3 days (FRI, SAT & SUN) from approximately 11 am- 5 pm.
From: Tom Griesgraber [tom@thossounds.com]
Subject: New Marotta/Griesgraber tour
Date: Mon 18/07/2005
Hi all,
In addition to working on details for the upcoming Southern California Stick Seminar, I've been busy in the office lately getting things together for a few other upcoming events. Here's the latest:
ASIA and Tom Griesgraber show tickets still available
This Sunday July 24 is my show opening for the band Asia at the CoachHouse (San Juan Capistrano, CA). As I already mentioned this one, I'll leave the full details to my website (www.thossounds.com) but I wanted to pass along that discounted tickets are still available.
To order, please visit www.thossounds.com/store.html
After today, all new orders will not be mailed, but will be left at will call the night of the show. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me or call at 760-942-1031.
NEW MAROTTA/GRIESGRABER and ERIK WØLLO TOUR
Coming up in a few weeks, my "partner in time" Jerry Marotta and I will be doing another tour up the west coast. As most of you will have heard me say before, Jerry is an amazing musician who has drummed with a who's who of top music stars including Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, the Indigo Girls, Tony Levin, Elvis Costello, Cher, John Mayer, Robert Fripp, Hall and Oates, Tears for Fears, 10,000 Maniacs, Sara Mclachlan and many others. He's also quite a character live and almost always steals the "banter" part of the show right out from under me.
This tour will be made a bit more special too as we'll have an amazing artist named Erik Wøllo joining us. Erik is a Norwegian based and born composer/guitartist/keyboardist who creates very textural and layered pieces. His music is very scenic.. richly detailed and widely acclaimed. His latest album was actually picked by both the iTunes music store and Echoes (a nationally syndicated radio show) as one of the top 10 ambient/electronic/new age albums of 2004.
Erik will be presenting his own solo set and we'll probably manage to do some things together as well. It's a very rare treat to have Erik here in the states, so I hope you can catch one of these shows.
You can find Erik's site at www.wollo.com and Jerry you can find at: www.jerrymarotta.com
MAROTTA/GRIESGRABER and ERIK WØLLO
Fri Aug 5, 8pm
Los Angeles, CA
Remo Recreational Music Center
7308 Coldwater Canyon
North Hollywood
(818) 982-0461
All Ages
Sun Aug 7, 7:30pm
San Diego, CA
Dizzy's
344 7th Ave (between J and K)
$12 all ages
www.dizzyssandiego.com
Tue Aug 9, 8pm
Monterey, CA
Monterey Live
414 Alvarado St
www.montereylive.net
$13 in advance, $15 day of show
Wed Aug 10, 8pm
Felton (Santa Cruz), CA
Don Quixote's
6275 Highway 9 in Downtown Felton
www.donquixotesmusic.com
$13 in advance, $15 day of show
Thur Aug 11, 8pm
Palo Alto, CA
Little Fox Theatre
2209 Broadway
Redwood City
www.foxdream.com
$14 in advance, $15 day of show
Sat Aug 13 - Eugene, OR
Cozmic Pizza - TENATIVE.. please check www.thossounds.com for updates, or contact the venue through www.cozmicpizza.com
Sun Aug 14, 8pm
Portland, OR
Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi
www.mississippistudios.com $15.00
21 and up
limited space! Please purchase tickets in advance by calling 503-288-3895
We're also trying to put together a 1 day Stick and drum workshop in Portland.. more on that as it happens.
Mon Aug 15 - Seattle, WA
Tenative... if anyone in the area would like to help make this happen, please let me know.
"STREET TEAM" HELP WANTED
In order to have the best shows possible on this upcoming tour, we of course need to spread the word about them as far as possible. But with no major label behind us, promo generally falls on our shoulders and there's only so much a group of musicians trying to get ready for a tour can do.
If you live in one of the areas we're headed towards and would like to help make things happen.. we'd love to have your help! Please e-mail me at tom@thossounds.com and we'll chat about it. Thanks!
That's it for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you "out there" soon!
Tom Griesgraber
www.thossounds.com
760-942-1031
www.jerrymarotta.com
www.erikwollo.com
www.asiaworld.org
ALL THAT AND NS TOO
From: Don Schiff [donschiff@sbcglobal.net]
Subject: NS/Stick Lesson
Date: Sun 17/07/2005
So here's the "Wah Funk" tune/lesson. I took the nicest licks off the mp3 as a lot of it repeats as you'll hear. So's not to make a giant road map of a chart I broke it down to it's two sections.
For the "Wah" effect on the top side (hence the name -or lack of a better one) I used the "MoogerFooger" stomp box by Moog. It gives ya that auto wah effect dependent on how hard ya hit. A lot of times I like the 'feel' of 'wah-ing' that way instead of a peddle.
I'm sure you'll recognize these well placed late 60's funk parts for both bass and guitar, we just happen to be able to do them both at the same time on one instrument...very deluxe and cool.
Don's NS fun continues here
From: Chris Crain [stickmusic@earthlink.net]
Subject: Less is more. More or less
Date: Thu 30/06/2005
In this issue, I'm going to share my arrangement of the song "Ebb Tide". Don't worry if you are not familiar with this tune, because we are focusing only on the left-hand chord changes.
I have taken a song with a lot of chord changes (one per measure) and added even more in the theme (two per measure). The left hand arpeggiates each chord from low to high to low (1-2-3-2), each note being an eighth. Excluding the sustained notes at the end of each phrase (G7) and the final C, the left-hand will play a constant flow of notesÂ…
The full lesson is here
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: SCALE TONE CHORDS
Date: Tue 12/07/2005
Often students ask me how to put chords together for a song. Trial and error is just that. An educated musician has a better ear just because they have a musical understanding and anticipation of vocabulary. Knowledge can do wonders.
Here's a simplification of a harmonic concept:
A "C Major" scale we understand to be C D E F G A B C. All natural notes within the Major scale formula. Triads are based on stacked thirds, so if we wanted to build chords based on the scale tones, then here's the results:
Read the rest here
From: Ron Baggerman [rbaggerman@yahoo.com]
Subject: Fools Blues
Date: Sun 17/07/2005
ThereÂ’s nothing quite like a trusty blues progression to get the fingers going. This month Ron has put together a tasty little blues for us to sink our teeth into.
If youÂ’re not familiar with the blues progression, take a few minutes and get familiar with the chord movement. In itÂ’s most basic form, if you stick to those chords and move them at the right time, youÂ’re well on your way to playing the blues. Many musicians have had long, successful careers simply cycling through those chords.
Once youÂ’ve got a handle on the harmony chords, how theyÂ’re moving and what they sound like, take a stab at the melody. As always, I suggest listening to the MP3 to get a sense of what itÂ’s supposed to sound like but when you try to play it yourself start out slow and get the feel. In all music, the feel is the most important part. With blues, itÂ’s absolutely critical. Nothing is worse than blues music without feeling. So get the feeling, the vibe, the sound of the blues down first, then work on the speed.
Get the rest of the blues here
SOME LIGHT READING
From: Don Schiff [donschiff@sbcglobal.net]
Subject: The NS/teeth and coupon tour
Date: Thu 16/06/2005
Hi All,
I still haven't changed my strings, I think it's been 6 months... Hey a good tone is a good tone. AND they still have all the previous good gig and session vibes in them. Soooo we'll keep on checkin' in with 'em. Hey, maybe my new set thats been sittin' in the case will wear out first!?
Vegas was a blast and a couple stories evolved nicely. For one, on the last show of the run I'm talkin' to the sax player. A wonderful man who has been in Vegas since 1960. Played and toured with all the greats.
He looks a little worried before the gig and starts to tell me the story. My mind thinks... "Ya know your playin' with older musicians when :
1. The sax player tells ya, "yikes I just called my wife at home to tell her to come to the gig! I forgot my teeth!
2. AND when little kids come runnin' in the dressing room happily yelling "Grandpa" to the Star you're playing for!
It was actually very heart warming- the kid stuff not the teeth, that was just plane funny. Speaking of getting older " and wiser"-I have a new "road rat" technique...
You can't stop there. Read on.
From: Don Schiff [donschiff@sbcglobal.net]
Subject: NS/Wedding ceremony
Date: Sat 25/06/2005
Hi All,
I'm in Northern CA. where I was asked to play (NS) during a wedding ceremony for my wife's nephew (Free food just like when I started giggin' back in the day). All went well, I was given a few requested tunes to play and all set until at the last moment the church wedding coordinator gave me a 'few' more moments in which I should play during the ceremony and so I looked at it like a movie score gig and decided I'd put original music to all the different sections of the ceremony.
I had some nice seating music as the different members of the wedding party entered the church, parents, brides maids, best man etc,. Each group receiving their own musical theme. I saw the bride and groom where entering and so held a high note by rubbing it back and forth against the fret. Very violin-esk. The audience noticed the previous theme music had stopped but felt the 'tension' of the high note building the 'moment' of there entrance. Ohhh it was good and quite serendipitously. Ah, made my heart proud to score the "movie magic moment" for our nephew as it went LIVE.
I used a reissue Fender blues deluxe amp. set dry and let the church reverb to the rest. It sounded BEAUTIFUL. For the ceremony exit music I ended with a simultaneous (and at the same time too!) tap/pluck/strum technique to the tune "Wonderful World". THEN exited myself to the tune of "FREE FOOD" to the reception. Didn't have to play the reception and so could concentrate on the cake(Cake was good too!)
Excellent,
Don
www.donschiff.com
From: SteveAFran@aol.com
Subject: What is Jazz by Yogi Berra
Date: Wed 29/06/200
Interviewer: Can you explain jazz?
Yogi: I can't, but I will. 90% of all jazz is half improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are playing something they never played with anyone who played that part. So if you play the wrong part, itÂ’s right. If you play the right part, it might be right if you play it wrong enough. But if you play it too right, it's wrong.
Interviewer: I don't understand.
Yogi: Anyone who understands jazz knows that you can't understand it. It's too complicated. That's whatÂ’s so simple about it. Interviewer: Do you understand it?
Yogi: No. That's why I can explain it. If I understood it, I wouldnÂ’t know anything about it.
Interviewer: Are there any great jazz players alive today?
Yogi: No. All the great jazz players alive today are dead. Except for the ones that are still alive. But so many of them are dead, that the ones that are still alive are dying to be like the ones that are dead. Some would kill for it.
Interviewer: What is syncopation?
Yogi: That's when the note that you should hear now happens either before or after you hear it. In jazz, you don't hear notes when they happen because that would be some other type of music. Other types of music can be jazz, but only if they're the same as something different from those other kinds.
Interviewer: Now I really don't understand.
Yogi: I haven't taught you enough for you to not understand jazz that well.
From: John Edmonds [je@johnedmonds.net]
Subject: CD REVIEW: Irene Orleansky's "Live the Music"
Date: Sun 10/07/2005
What would happen if Tony Levin and Basia got together for a late-night rendezvous in Tel Aviv or Moscow? Or if Sting picked up Caroline Lavelle for a binge of swirling, thumping rhythm? Or how about if Don Schiff and Kate Bush absconded into modal midnight, or if Robert Fripp took Linda Cushma out for some enchanted evening?
If you've ever been both a progger and a connoisseur of a particular pop, maybe you've come up with some interesting ideas of what a really hot date might be like. It gets complicated (of course) because your wild and varied sensibilities are not so easily catered to in the company of just one flame.
If you're a red-blooded American bloke, perhaps you imagine a fanciful fling with, oh, let's just say all of the fair ladies mentioned above. What a feast of companionship, a profound and complex blend of passion, grace, and intellect.
Or you could simply put on a new CD, "Live the Music," and spend an intoxicating 53 minutes and 53 seconds with Irene Oleansky: one woman, one voice, one Chapman Stick, a small but flavorful supporting cast, and a baker's dozen tracks served up fresher than a real dozen doughnuts. It's all so sweet that you won't even mind missing your goodnight smooch at the end of the affair.
Read the rest here
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End of StickNews #276.