And....we're back.
Sorry for the relatively infrequent posting recently. I've been on the go lately and going a few different directions these days...Anyways, regular posting will now resume (hopefully!) and thanks for all your kind messages.
I recently spent some time in Ireland and had a chance to connect with the Guilfoyle brothers, Ronan and Conor, who, in addition to being two of Ireland's finest Jazz artists, also happen to be two really nice guys. We shared more than a few laughs together to say the least!
Ronan is an exceptional bassist and the author of the acclaimed book "Creative Rhythmic Concepts" and this text comes highly recommended (in fact, NYC tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin recently cited Ronan's text as something he himself was personally currently studying during a recent masterclass at Mount Royal University in Calgary...)
In addition to being a world-class bassist and author Ronan is also quite an articulate blogger and writes some very insightful articles and commentary over at his blog Mostly Music http://ronanguil.blogspot.ca
I read his blog regularly and find his writing always to be quite informative but in particular check out his excellent recent interview with Steve Coleman. The students at the Newpark Music School in Dublin are very lucky to have Ronan as their teacher!
His brother Conor is also a very accomplished drummer, busy educator and he regularly posts some great lessons on his website and via youtube.com. Here is one of Conor's on-line lessons demonstrating how to improvise a snare drum solo using Alan Dawson's Rudiment Ritual as a source for vocabulary:
Conor is also the author of two very fine drum books entitled "Rhythmic Reading for Drummers" and "Odd Meter Clave for Drumset". Check out more of Conor's music at his website: http://www.conorguilfoyle.com
- Who am I listening to these days?
Being on the road recently has afforded me the opportunity to do a lot of listening while driving, flying, waiting in airports, hanging around hotel rooms, etc. Here's a few things that have inspired me lately:
Wynton Marsalis "Black Codes from the Underground" - Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)
Jason Marsalis "In A World of Mallets" - Jason Marsalis (vibraphone), David Potter (drums)
Jeff "Tain" Watts "MegaWatts" - Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)
Duke Ellington "Ellington Plays the Music of Mary Poppins" - Sam Woodyard (drums)
Fly "Year of the Snake" - Jeff Ballard (drums)
Milford Graves "Grand Unification" - Milford Graves (drums & percussion)
- Speaking of the one & the only Jeff "Tain" Watts (!) here's a nice one of Mr. Watts in action at the 55 Bar with Oz Noy on guitar and John Patitucci on bass playing "If I Were a Bell":
- Drummer Johnathan Blake never ceases to impress me and here he is playing a very impassioned solo with Kenny Barron:
- I've got an exciting concert coming up on Saturday, April 20 with my jazz orchestra, the Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble:
We'll be featuring our special guest, the great Brad Turner on trumpet from Vancouver on a program of music by iconic Canadian Jazz composer Kenny Wheeler. If you are in Calgary, don't miss this show!
The Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble Plays the Music of Kenny Wheeler Featuring Special Guest: Brad Turner on Trumpet
Saturday, April 20
7:30pm
Central United Church
131 7th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
Adults: $20/$25 Door
Students/Seniors: $10/$15 Door
Advance Tickets Available at:
http://calgarycreativeartsensemble.eventbrite.ca/
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