...and a fine spring it will be! Saturday March 27th is Nanaimo Daybreak Rotary's annual Swing into Spring event. It is a fundraiser for music student scholarships at Vancouver Island University, with more big bands than you can shake a stick at...I know, I've tried! Two bands from VIU, plus the Nanaimo Musicians Association Big Band (which is why we played a couple of tunes recorded at a recent NMA rehearsal). For more information, check out http://www.swingintospring.ca/
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
ERNESTO CERVINI QUARTET - LITTLE BLACK BIRD - NONNA ROSA
GUIDO BASSO - SOUND OF JAZZ SERIES - IN A MELLOW TONE
KIRK MACDONALD QUARTET - SONGBOOK VOL. 1 - MOULAGE
STEVE JONES - CHESTER'S WALTZ - MEXICANA STROLL
THE OCTOBER TRIO - LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO SNOW - SPRINGS
PEPPER ADAMS - THE COOL SOUND OF PEPPER ADAMS - BLOOS, BLOOZE, BLUES
MAYNARD FERGUSON - CHAMELEON - SUPERBONE MEETS THE BADMAN
MAYNARD FERGUSON - THE LOST TAPES, VOLUME 1 - WATERMELON MAN
NANAIMO MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION BIG BAND - DEMO - HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
NANAIMO MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION BIG BAND - DEMO - MY ROMANCE
THE CLAYTON HAMILTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA - LIVE AT MCG - SQUATTY ROO
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
ARTURO SANDOVAL - HOT HOUSE - FUNKY CHA-CHA
Friday, March 26, 2010
March 13, 2010 - Paralympic Ice Sledge Hockey
Otto Mattick took the reins for the show, so there is no playlist for you.
On the other hand, I got to see some Paralympic Ice Sledge Hockey action at the UBC Thunderbird Arena over in Vancouver. Sweden vs. eventual bronze medallists Norway. What an amazing game! Sweden took an early 1-0 lead which they very nearly held onto until the tail end of the third period when Norway tied things up. The Norwegians outshot the Swedes a gajillion to three over the course of the game, but the Swedish goalie was simply remarkable. Instead of "sudden death" overtime, they went to "sudden victory". Same thing, different language. With the teams going scoreless in the o/t, they went to "winning goals"...so much nicer than "shootout". The first two sledgers for each team scored...the Swedish player came in and rang his shot off the crossbar while his Norwegian counterpart scored on his attempt, making the final score 2-1 for Norway. An incredible game, and a beautiful sport!
On the other hand, I got to see some Paralympic Ice Sledge Hockey action at the UBC Thunderbird Arena over in Vancouver. Sweden vs. eventual bronze medallists Norway. What an amazing game! Sweden took an early 1-0 lead which they very nearly held onto until the tail end of the third period when Norway tied things up. The Norwegians outshot the Swedes a gajillion to three over the course of the game, but the Swedish goalie was simply remarkable. Instead of "sudden death" overtime, they went to "sudden victory". Same thing, different language. With the teams going scoreless in the o/t, they went to "winning goals"...so much nicer than "shootout". The first two sledgers for each team scored...the Swedish player came in and rang his shot off the crossbar while his Norwegian counterpart scored on his attempt, making the final score 2-1 for Norway. An incredible game, and a beautiful sport!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
March 6, 2010 - Yo, Victa!
What a week it has been! From March 2 - 4, I was attending a workshop at The Haven on Gabriola Island delivered by none other than Victor Wooten. For those of you who do not know, Victor is arguably (and for me it would be a VERY short argument) one of the finest electric bassists around. I am still articulating my thoughts on the workshop and will put those up in a later posting (and thank you Pam and "Living for the Health of It" for helping me get some of those thoughts over the air), but I will make a brief comment on the solo concert from the evening of Thursday March 4th.
Outstanding.
There, is that brief enough?
To begin, Victor's solo excursions were sublime. A brilliant technician, he is also a brilliant musician. He used, but did not overuse, a multitude of effects pedals that helped him creat a unique musical tableau for the evening. He invited a number of musicians from the workshop up on stage to perform with him, the highlight of which was a bass duet with a former Nanaimoite and Montrealer now Vancouverite by the name of Jim Bennett. I've had the privilege of performing with Jim in what was then the Malaspina University- College Stage Band, and the Pocket Rockets, and seeing him perform with Decadence and the Kiltlifters. I've always admired Jim's musicality and technique on the bass, and to see him with Victor was a special treat. The played Billy Cobham's "Red Baron", which morphed beautifully into Stevie Wonder's "I Wish", then back to "Red Baron". A magical musical moment, and talking with Jim afterwards, one of the musical highlights of his life.
As I noted earlier, I'll have more on the workshop in an upcoming post...with any luck, we'll have a link to a podcast of the show below, where I managed to squeeze in a brief interview with Victor.
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
ALEX CLEMENTS - WAITING FOR YOU - WAITING FOR YOU
STEVE KALDESTAD - BLOW-UP - A FLOWER IS A LOVESOME THING
BRUBECK BRAID - TWOTET/DEUXTET - IT'S NOT WHAT IT WAS
DWYER/JONES/WHITAKER - LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY DAY - I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME
JAMES CARTER - THE REAL QUIETSTORM - THE STEVEDORE'S SERENADE
VICTOR WOOTEN - WHAT DID HE SAY - MY LIFE
VICTOR WOOTEN - WHAT DID HE SAY - NAIMA
JACO PASTORIUS BIG BAND - WORD OF MOUTH REVISITED - TEEN TOWN
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES - LIVE AT THE QUICK - HOEDOWN
BUDDY RICH - SWINGIN' NEW BIG BAND - WEST SIDE STORY
Outstanding.
There, is that brief enough?
To begin, Victor's solo excursions were sublime. A brilliant technician, he is also a brilliant musician. He used, but did not overuse, a multitude of effects pedals that helped him creat a unique musical tableau for the evening. He invited a number of musicians from the workshop up on stage to perform with him, the highlight of which was a bass duet with a former Nanaimoite and Montrealer now Vancouverite by the name of Jim Bennett. I've had the privilege of performing with Jim in what was then the Malaspina University- College Stage Band, and the Pocket Rockets, and seeing him perform with Decadence and the Kiltlifters. I've always admired Jim's musicality and technique on the bass, and to see him with Victor was a special treat. The played Billy Cobham's "Red Baron", which morphed beautifully into Stevie Wonder's "I Wish", then back to "Red Baron". A magical musical moment, and talking with Jim afterwards, one of the musical highlights of his life.
As I noted earlier, I'll have more on the workshop in an upcoming post...with any luck, we'll have a link to a podcast of the show below, where I managed to squeeze in a brief interview with Victor.
Bright moments!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
ALEX CLEMENTS - WAITING FOR YOU - WAITING FOR YOU
STEVE KALDESTAD - BLOW-UP - A FLOWER IS A LOVESOME THING
BRUBECK BRAID - TWOTET/DEUXTET - IT'S NOT WHAT IT WAS
DWYER/JONES/WHITAKER - LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY DAY - I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME
JAMES CARTER - THE REAL QUIETSTORM - THE STEVEDORE'S SERENADE
VICTOR WOOTEN - WHAT DID HE SAY - MY LIFE
VICTOR WOOTEN - WHAT DID HE SAY - NAIMA
JACO PASTORIUS BIG BAND - WORD OF MOUTH REVISITED - TEEN TOWN
THE HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES - LIVE AT THE QUICK - HOEDOWN
BUDDY RICH - SWINGIN' NEW BIG BAND - WEST SIDE STORY
February 27, 2010 - Looking forward, and glancing back home...
Good to be back, and on the air! While the Women's Ice Hockey semi-finals were fantastic, ol' Doc misses our usual Saturday morning meetings. A highlight of this week's show was getting a taste of Christine Jensen's newest album "Treelines". She's put together a Jazz Orchestra involving some of Montreal's (and New York's) finest musicians and creates a soundscape like no other. There is a real maturity and sophistication to her compositions and arrangements that comes through clear to the listener. I must share a brief passage from her liner notes...
"I caught the big band bug when I was fifteen years old while playing baritone saxophone in the Nanaimo Musicians' Association Big Band with my sister Ingrid as the trumpet soloist. I played the baritone saxophone, where I was positioned to soak up the rich bottom end of the orchestrations as we wailed through classics like Pennsylvania 6-5000 and String of Pearls on many a Saturday night."
First, one of the things I have come to appreciate about both Christine and Ingrid Jensen over the years is their respect for and acknowledgement of their musical beginnings and roots back here in Nanaimo. There isn't a release that either of them have put out that does not, in some way, pay respect to the scene here and to those who showed them leadership, guidance, and mentorship. They give back (to the community) what they got, and then some!
The second interesting bit of minutae is that yours truly currently holds down the aforementioned baritone saxophone chair in the Nanaimo Musicians' Association Big Band (and yes, we still play Pennsylvania 6-5000 and String of Pearls on rare occasion)! One of the the things that I have soaked up / absorbed in that band has mostly been the drippings on my shoulder from John Capon's bass trombone...ewwww! Just kidding...I can speak from my own experience that getting to work with such great musicians as John Capon, Claudio Fantinato, Larry Miller, Cameron Wigmore, Morris Macklin, Greg Bush, and (in my book one of the best lead trumpets anywhere) Lee Patten, not to mention two of the finest band leaders on this or any other planet in Steve Jones and Bryan Stovall...well, all this has done wonders for me and what I may loosely refer to as my own musicianship.
Thanks Christine, for tipping your beret back home, and for the great new music you create!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
JODI PROZNICK QUARTET - FOUNDATIONS - HELP ME
CHRISTINE JENSEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA - TREELINES - DANCING SUNLIGHT
SHARON MINEMOTO QUINTET - CELLAR LIVE: THE FIRST FIVE YEARS - SLEEPING PEACEFULLY
LORI CULLEN - CALLING FOR RAIN - I THINK ITS GONNA RAIN TODAY
WIBIJAZZ'N - IN THE POCKET - WIBI FM (TAKE 2)
AL JARREAU - THIS TIME - SPAIN
VICTOR WOOTEN - A SHOW OF HANDS - WORDS OF WISDOM
CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET WITH ERIC DOLPHY - CORNELL 1964 - FABLES OF FAUBUS
ELVIS COSTELLO LIVE WITH THE METROPOLE ORKEST - MY FLAME BURNS BLUE - WATCHING THE DETECTIVES
HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND - GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND LIVE - CHEROKEE
"I caught the big band bug when I was fifteen years old while playing baritone saxophone in the Nanaimo Musicians' Association Big Band with my sister Ingrid as the trumpet soloist. I played the baritone saxophone, where I was positioned to soak up the rich bottom end of the orchestrations as we wailed through classics like Pennsylvania 6-5000 and String of Pearls on many a Saturday night."
First, one of the things I have come to appreciate about both Christine and Ingrid Jensen over the years is their respect for and acknowledgement of their musical beginnings and roots back here in Nanaimo. There isn't a release that either of them have put out that does not, in some way, pay respect to the scene here and to those who showed them leadership, guidance, and mentorship. They give back (to the community) what they got, and then some!
The second interesting bit of minutae is that yours truly currently holds down the aforementioned baritone saxophone chair in the Nanaimo Musicians' Association Big Band (and yes, we still play Pennsylvania 6-5000 and String of Pearls on rare occasion)! One of the the things that I have soaked up / absorbed in that band has mostly been the drippings on my shoulder from John Capon's bass trombone...ewwww! Just kidding...I can speak from my own experience that getting to work with such great musicians as John Capon, Claudio Fantinato, Larry Miller, Cameron Wigmore, Morris Macklin, Greg Bush, and (in my book one of the best lead trumpets anywhere) Lee Patten, not to mention two of the finest band leaders on this or any other planet in Steve Jones and Bryan Stovall...well, all this has done wonders for me and what I may loosely refer to as my own musicianship.
Thanks Christine, for tipping your beret back home, and for the great new music you create!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
JODI PROZNICK QUARTET - FOUNDATIONS - HELP ME
CHRISTINE JENSEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA - TREELINES - DANCING SUNLIGHT
SHARON MINEMOTO QUINTET - CELLAR LIVE: THE FIRST FIVE YEARS - SLEEPING PEACEFULLY
LORI CULLEN - CALLING FOR RAIN - I THINK ITS GONNA RAIN TODAY
WIBIJAZZ'N - IN THE POCKET - WIBI FM (TAKE 2)
AL JARREAU - THIS TIME - SPAIN
VICTOR WOOTEN - A SHOW OF HANDS - WORDS OF WISDOM
CHARLES MINGUS SEXTET WITH ERIC DOLPHY - CORNELL 1964 - FABLES OF FAUBUS
ELVIS COSTELLO LIVE WITH THE METROPOLE ORKEST - MY FLAME BURNS BLUE - WATCHING THE DETECTIVES
HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND - GRP ALL-STAR BIG BAND LIVE - CHEROKEE
Saturday February 20, 2010 - Otto Mattick
The Doc wasn't in this week, but as happens on occasion, our old standby DJ Otto Mattick came in and put on a playlist for your listening pleasure (ok, that's what we call the Winamp DJ...either Otto Mattick or Otto Maited...get it? Good!). In reality, DJ Doc was catching some of the Olympic activity over in Vancouver...
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Saturday February 13, 2010 - Hangin' around in PJ's
Well, more accurately, it should be "Hangin' around WITH PJ". P.J. Perry was in town last night (the 12th) as Special Guest and clinician at JazzFest 2010. This event is in its 11th year, and provides a wonderful opportunity for young student musicians to essentially work as professional musicians for a day. They spent the morning in a clinic with PJ, performed a noon-hour matinee concert for over 800 elementary school kids, debrief that show with their teachers and the staff at the Port Theatre, and then come back for an evening performance in front of a paying audience...and a capacity audience to boot!
PJ sat in with the Harbour City All-Stars, as well as with the Instructor's Combo, and played to his usual extraordinary standard. I had the good fortune to act as the MC for the evening's activities, and one of the quotes that I found (to use in my comments) described it along the lines of "PJ Perry plays like Shakespeare wrote". It is so true. The after party was great, and I enjoyed chatting with PJ...if I ojnly had time to get a more formal interview with him!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
LOUISE GIBBS AND KIRK LIGHTSEY - EVERYBODY'S SONG BUT OUR OWN - SPRING CAN REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST
GUIDO BASSO/DOUG RILEY - A LAZY AFTERNOON - MY FOOLISH HEART
JOANI TAYLOR/BOB MURPHY - THE WALL STREET SESSIONS - I WANNA BE LOVED
BRAD TURNER TRIO - QUESTION THE ANSWER - THE STAR CROSSED LOVERS
CRIMSON JAZZ TRIO - KING CRIMSON SONGBOOK VOLUME ONE - I TALK TO THE WIND
VICTOR WOOTEN - WHAT DID HE SAY? - NORWEGIAN WOOD
P.J. PERRY AND THE EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA -JUSTIN TIME RECORDS 20TH ANNIVERSARY COMPILATION - HARLEM NOCTURNE
STEVE JONES - CHESTER'S WALTZ - SERENADE FOR SILVER
FREDDIE HUBBARD - NEW COLOURS - RED CLAY
HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
JACO PASTORIUS BIG BAND - WORD OF MOUTH REVISITED - TEEN TOWN
BILL WATROUS AND THE MANHATTAN WILDLIFE REFUGE - MANHATTAN WILDLIFE REFUGE - FOURTH FLOOR WALKUP
WOODY HERMAN - HERD AT MONTREUX - FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN
STAN KENTON - KENTON '76 - TIME FOR A CHANGE
PJ sat in with the Harbour City All-Stars, as well as with the Instructor's Combo, and played to his usual extraordinary standard. I had the good fortune to act as the MC for the evening's activities, and one of the quotes that I found (to use in my comments) described it along the lines of "PJ Perry plays like Shakespeare wrote". It is so true. The after party was great, and I enjoyed chatting with PJ...if I ojnly had time to get a more formal interview with him!
CHARLES MINGUS - MINGUS AH UM - BETTER GET IT IN YOUR SOUL
LOUISE GIBBS AND KIRK LIGHTSEY - EVERYBODY'S SONG BUT OUR OWN - SPRING CAN REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST
GUIDO BASSO/DOUG RILEY - A LAZY AFTERNOON - MY FOOLISH HEART
JOANI TAYLOR/BOB MURPHY - THE WALL STREET SESSIONS - I WANNA BE LOVED
BRAD TURNER TRIO - QUESTION THE ANSWER - THE STAR CROSSED LOVERS
CRIMSON JAZZ TRIO - KING CRIMSON SONGBOOK VOLUME ONE - I TALK TO THE WIND
VICTOR WOOTEN - WHAT DID HE SAY? - NORWEGIAN WOOD
P.J. PERRY AND THE EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA -JUSTIN TIME RECORDS 20TH ANNIVERSARY COMPILATION - HARLEM NOCTURNE
STEVE JONES - CHESTER'S WALTZ - SERENADE FOR SILVER
FREDDIE HUBBARD - NEW COLOURS - RED CLAY
HUGH FRASER QUINTET - RED & BLUE - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
JACO PASTORIUS BIG BAND - WORD OF MOUTH REVISITED - TEEN TOWN
BILL WATROUS AND THE MANHATTAN WILDLIFE REFUGE - MANHATTAN WILDLIFE REFUGE - FOURTH FLOOR WALKUP
WOODY HERMAN - HERD AT MONTREUX - FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN
STAN KENTON - KENTON '76 - TIME FOR A CHANGE
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