Okay - I'm back from my wedding in Banff (which was amazing btw!!!) so I haven't had a chance to update my blog recently.
I am making a subtle change. A few people have commented on how long my blog takes to load....and I think this is because the content has started to pile up.
So I'm going to archive my posts and you'll only be able to see ten posts at a time.
However, please take the time to view my previous posts and check out all the goodies I've posted in the past.
(i.e. kick ass recipes and cool youtube videos)
I'm still trying to get organized following our return from Banff, so I'll get to get around to posting something about something jazz drumming related sometime soon !
P.S. I'm playing with a great band this weekend at the Beatniq Jazz & Social Club in Calgary.
(Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 9pm)
The band is a Wynton Marsalis themed Septet and we'll be playing music composed my Marsalis and diligently transcribed by Mark Wilson for the band.
Come on by and say hello !
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
What am I Listening to These Days ? July 2009
I've been on the road quite a bit during the past few weeks.
Here are some great albums that have made my playlists during my recent travels:
Tom McCaslin Solo Tuba
"Inside Out"
Christian McBride
"Kind of Brown"
Carl Allen - Drums
Donny McCaslin
"Recommended Tools"
Johnathan Blake - Drums
The Brenan Brothers
"The Throw Down"
Dana Hall - Drums
Trio Da Paz
"Brasil From The Inside"
Duduka Da Fonseca - Drums
Circles Quartet
"I Understand"
Nico Dann - Drums
Gary Smulyan
"Saxophone Mosaic"
Kenny Washington - Drums
Here are some great albums that have made my playlists during my recent travels:
Tom McCaslin Solo Tuba
"Inside Out"
Christian McBride
"Kind of Brown"
Carl Allen - Drums
Donny McCaslin
"Recommended Tools"
Johnathan Blake - Drums
The Brenan Brothers
"The Throw Down"
Dana Hall - Drums
Trio Da Paz
"Brasil From The Inside"
Duduka Da Fonseca - Drums
Circles Quartet
"I Understand"
Nico Dann - Drums
Gary Smulyan
"Saxophone Mosaic"
Kenny Washington - Drums
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Prairielands 2009
Well, I'm finally back in Calgary after a fabulous week spent teaching at the annual Prairielands Jazz Camp in Regina, Saskatchewan. I'm completely exausted but, as per usual, it was a great experience, the students were outstanding and the hang with the other faculty members all contributed to a great time.
It's always an intensive week however, we managed to put together 4 big bands, 8 combos, 1 "Monster" combo and 1 Jazz Percussion ensemble and present two impressive concerts at the end of the week.
The faculty concerts were also a highlight with two small group concerts and a big band concert held throughout the week.
I've been involved with this workshop since its inception in 1994. For the first two years I was a student and used those experiences to prepare myself for my eventual foray to Montreal to study jazz at McGill University. For a number of years afterwards I was hired as camp assistant and did everything from making photocopies, moving pianos and music stands to teaching rhythm sectionals and theory classes. I always felt lucky to be a "fly on the wall" and check out the other teachers such as Mike Downes, Kevin Turcotte, Andre White and Kirk MacDonald. Since 2002 I've been working as the full-time drum set instructor and consider myself very fortunate to do so.
I'd like to thank all the following people for all their hard work and great music last week:
Ian Tulloch - Camp Administrator (aka the Prairielands MVP !!!)
Brent Ghiglione, Greg McLean, Val McWilliams, Gordon Foote, Donny Kennedy, Andy King, Nick Fanner, Aryeh Korbrinsky, Jeff McLeod, Rob Sommerville, Carter Powley, Sam Minevich, David Dick and Chris Jacklin.
And a special thank you to all the volunteers - the Nehers and the Bashinsky's in particular - who kept the wheels of the Prairielands Jazz machine rolling smoothly !!!
And last, but not least, I'd like to thank all my students for all their hard work and great music.
Hope to see you all again in 2010 !!!
For more information go to:
www.prairielandsjazzcamp.com
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Questionnaire 3.0
A few more responses to my music questionnaire arrived in my inbox this week.
MORGAN CHILDS - Vancouver-soon-to-be-from-Toronto Jazz Drummer
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
SKylark - Hoagy Carmichael
2. Harmonic language:
Michael Brecker
3. Rhythmic feel:
Dewey Redman
Wes Montgomery
Shadow Wilson
4. Classical piece:
Dimitri Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 3 in F Major (Op. 73)
5. Jazz album:
Silver's Serenade - Horace Silver
6. Book on music:
Miles On Miles: Interviews and Encounters With Miles Davis
7. Name a great recording(s) by someone that has influenced you:
Thelonious Monk "Criss Cross"
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
The Who and The Band... which sets up some dialouge that sounds like it came from an Abbot and Costello routine... also Public Enemy.
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
In the pantheon of greats: Joe Chambers, Louis Hayes, Frankie Dunlop
A contemporary of mine: Joe Poole!
RYAN PURCHASE - Ottawa Composer and Trombonist
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
Pat Metheny - Letter From Home
2. Harmonic language:
Harmonic minor mixolydian
3. Rhythmic feel:
Terkisher (eighth quarter eighth quarter quarter)
4. Classical piece:
Mahler 9, 3rd mvt.
5. Jazz album:
Mingus Ah Um
6. Book on music:
American Klezmer - Slobin
7. Name a great recording by someone that has influenced you:
Four Seasons In Buenos Aires - Gidon Kremer
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
Bjork
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
Walter Weirbos
CARLO PETROVITCH - Regina Bassist and Band Leader
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
Basically all traditional Cuban music has nothing but melody. So all music Cubano!
2. Harmonic language:
Wayne Shorter
Bill Evans
3. Rhythmic feel:
Ray Brown
John Clayton
Christian McBride
4. Classical piece:
Bach Cello Suites
5. Jazz album:
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
6. Book on music:
I've have never completely read a book on music
7. Name a great recording by someone that has influenced you:
Gettin' To It - Christian McBride
Kansas City Shout - Count Basie
Maree Bass - Michel Donato
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
Early Periods of Iron Maiden & Black Sabbath
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
Michel Donato
MARK DUGGAN - Toronto Vibraphonist and Master Percussionist
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
Evergreen by Barbara Streisand and Paul Williams
2. Harmonic language:
Dice Thrown by Benoit Delbecq and François Houle
3. Rhythmic feel:
"Aguas de Março" sung by Rosa Passos and the album "Peace Beyond Passion", Michelle N'Degeocello
4. Classical piece:
Le Chant du Rossignol - Igor Stravinsky
5. Jazz album:
Almost Certainly Dreaming - Chris Tarry group
6. Book on music:
Poetics in Music, lectures by Igor Stravinsky
7. Name a great recording by someone that has influenced you:
The Sound of Summer Running - Marc Johnson
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
Rock groups Yes and Rush
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
Michael Mainieri
MORGAN CHILDS - Vancouver-soon-to-be-from-Toronto Jazz Drummer
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
SKylark - Hoagy Carmichael
2. Harmonic language:
Michael Brecker
3. Rhythmic feel:
Dewey Redman
Wes Montgomery
Shadow Wilson
4. Classical piece:
Dimitri Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 3 in F Major (Op. 73)
5. Jazz album:
Silver's Serenade - Horace Silver
6. Book on music:
Miles On Miles: Interviews and Encounters With Miles Davis
7. Name a great recording(s) by someone that has influenced you:
Thelonious Monk "Criss Cross"
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
The Who and The Band... which sets up some dialouge that sounds like it came from an Abbot and Costello routine... also Public Enemy.
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
In the pantheon of greats: Joe Chambers, Louis Hayes, Frankie Dunlop
A contemporary of mine: Joe Poole!
RYAN PURCHASE - Ottawa Composer and Trombonist
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
Pat Metheny - Letter From Home
2. Harmonic language:
Harmonic minor mixolydian
3. Rhythmic feel:
Terkisher (eighth quarter eighth quarter quarter)
4. Classical piece:
Mahler 9, 3rd mvt.
5. Jazz album:
Mingus Ah Um
6. Book on music:
American Klezmer - Slobin
7. Name a great recording by someone that has influenced you:
Four Seasons In Buenos Aires - Gidon Kremer
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
Bjork
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
Walter Weirbos
CARLO PETROVITCH - Regina Bassist and Band Leader
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
Basically all traditional Cuban music has nothing but melody. So all music Cubano!
2. Harmonic language:
Wayne Shorter
Bill Evans
3. Rhythmic feel:
Ray Brown
John Clayton
Christian McBride
4. Classical piece:
Bach Cello Suites
5. Jazz album:
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
6. Book on music:
I've have never completely read a book on music
7. Name a great recording by someone that has influenced you:
Gettin' To It - Christian McBride
Kansas City Shout - Count Basie
Maree Bass - Michel Donato
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
Early Periods of Iron Maiden & Black Sabbath
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
Michel Donato
MARK DUGGAN - Toronto Vibraphonist and Master Percussionist
Give us an example of an interesting:
1. Melody:
Evergreen by Barbara Streisand and Paul Williams
2. Harmonic language:
Dice Thrown by Benoit Delbecq and François Houle
3. Rhythmic feel:
"Aguas de Março" sung by Rosa Passos and the album "Peace Beyond Passion", Michelle N'Degeocello
4. Classical piece:
Le Chant du Rossignol - Igor Stravinsky
5. Jazz album:
Almost Certainly Dreaming - Chris Tarry group
6. Book on music:
Poetics in Music, lectures by Igor Stravinsky
7. Name a great recording by someone that has influenced you:
The Sound of Summer Running - Marc Johnson
8. Name someone whose music has influenced you, but that people who know your music would probably be surprised by:
Rock groups Yes and Rush
9. Name a player on your instrument whom you think is very underrated:
Michael Mainieri
Friday, July 3, 2009
BILLY HIGGINS
Drummer Billy Higgins has long been one of my favorite jazz drummers. His huge grin from behind the drums earned him the nickname "Smilin' Billy" and he was in high demand as a sideman over the years. His comping rhythms and sensitivity make Mr. Higgins a great example of how a jazz drummer can musically accompany a soloist. His drumming style is required stuff for any serious students of this music.
The joy, happiness and spirit that he brings to the music is always a nice reminder of what this music is supposed to be all about in the first place:
HAVING FUN !!!
Here are a couple of clips of Higgins playing some nice drum solos. I really dig the way he switches from sticks to brushes to mallets, etc. It's almost like he creates a sense of different "movements" within his own symphony of rhythm.
Check out how Dizzy Gillespie is standing in the background, totally immersed in Higgin's drum solo. Haha...no pressure !!!
And here is Mr. Higgins playing a duet with Charles Lloyd shortly before he passed away. Apparently he was very sick when they recorded this. Again, the sense of joy that he exudes when playing the drums is really inspiring stuff.
Thank you Billy !