Joe Saylor: Jazz Cowboy

My previous post featuring Art Blakey got me thinking about other Jazz drummers that wear and look good in cowboy hats and of course this led me to the Late Show's Joe Saylor...

Art Blakey Speaks

A trio of short interviews today with the legendary Art Blakey in which he talks about Jazz music and his perspectives on life in general:







And here's a bonus! Max Roach speaks to his own impressions of Art Blakey:



As always, when the Masters speak....we listen.

Jesse Simpson: Cymbal Smith

For those of us who are into the current state of the art of cymbal making, the name Jesse Simpson should be all too familiar. Based in Brooklyn, Simpson has been hammering and crafting his own cymbals for a while now (and with great results too!)

Personally, I've employed Jesse's services to modify, re-hammer and re-lathe existing cymbals of mine with great success. I've also really dug the original cymbal works of his, currently owned and played by the likes of Jesse Cahill and Jeff Sulima.

Check out this feature on Jesse Simpson:



For more information about this emerging cymbal smith, check out his website (and buy his cymbals!): www.jessesimpson.com/cymbals

The Calgary Jazz Composers Collective, Vol.1

Here's a few words about an upcoming project and jazz series that I am currently part of here in Calgary (and quite proud of!)

The Calgary Jazz Composers Collective, Vol.1 is a co-operative ensemble that creates and presents new and original jazz music and arrangements.

About this Event:

The Calgary Jazz Composers Collective is a co-operative ensemble that creates and presents new and original jazz music and arrangements. The personnel of this group changes, morphs and evolves from concert to concert, featuring various forward thinking members of the Calgary jazz community. The constant theme of this group is the creation and presentation of new music, providing a showcase for local jazz artists to present their original works in a concert venue. Future editions of this on-going collective will present a various roster of artists and instrumentation. Musically, "the future is now!" and the music and artists presented in this series represent the current state of contemporary jazz composition in Calgary. Bringing together a diverse and variety of sounds and musical influences, the Calgary Jazz Composers Collective seeks to explore new sonic territory and become a forum for original music by Calgary jazz composers and performers.

About Jazz@1308:

Curated by jazz drummer Dr. Jon McCaslin, the original and creative voices of Calgary's jazz scene come alive, on stage at Theatre 1308.

This concert series features a diverse collection of sonic ideas, visions, styles, instruments and ensembles, all of which of fall under the wide reaching definition of jazz music. The central theme that binds these diverse and eclectic sounds together is that the artists involved represent the creative and forward thinkers of Calgary's Jazz community. These are the artists who have committed themselves to their craft, as improvisors and composers, and seek to create, collaborate and inspire. These local jazz artists aspire to share their diverse experiences and talents, and to create dynamic and original music in their own community. Come witness the present and the future of jazz in Calgary at Theatre 1308.

========================================================

The Calgary Jazz Composers Collective, Vol.1

Saturday, November 23rd 2019

8pm

Theatre 1308

1308 Edmonton Trail NE


Featuring:

Nate Waters - Tenor Saxophone

Carsten Rubeling - Trombone

Mark Limacher - Piano

Jonathan Wielebnowski - Bass

Jon McCaslin - Drums & Cymbals


For more information please visit:

https://www.theatre1308.com/presents/jazz

Tickets available at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-1308-the-calgary-jazz-composers-collective-vol-1-tickets-73907819277

Ra Kalam Bob Moses - Tribute to Alvin Fielder

From Marcelo Perez' recent Generations project at the New England Conservatory, featuring many famous drummers all on stage together, here's Ra Kalam Bob Moses' percussive tribute to the great Alvin Fielder:



Those who follow this blog might recall that I am always a fan of drummers playing together (despite this being a rare occurrence!) I look forward to digging into the rest of the performances from this project, also featuring Billy Hart and Dafnis Prieto!

Jerome Jennings: Heart

Jerome Jennings, a wonderfully musical and hard-swinging drummer of considerable accomplishment and acclaim, recently released his newest album Solidarity, a follow-up to his first release The Beast. I quite enjoyed Jerome's last album of original music and I look forward to hearing what he's come up with this time.

Lucky for us, Jennings has offered us this in-studio recording of his solo drum composition entitled Heart which is also featured on his latest album. Now dig this:

The Sessions: Jimmy Cobb

Another great interview from Dom Famularo's series The Sessions, this time featuring words of wisdom from Jazz legend Jimmy Cobb:



As per usual, when the Masters speak...we listen.

The Sessions: Jack DeJohnette

A big THANK YOU to fellow blogger and Canadian Jazz drummer Ted Warren who recently shared this interview with Jack DeJohnette, from Dom Famularo's artist series The Sessions, over at his blog Trap'd:



As per always, when the Masters speak...we listen.