Slapstick - literally!

This YouTube video hit my funny bone at it's core.  I'm not exactly sure why I find it so amusing, but I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.  (I'm guessing that one or two of the musicians out there will find it funny too.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGDAlc2XrhI

Bob Dorough

This looks like it will be a great event: Feb. 26th at the Ivoryton Playhouse.  My former student, Jimmy Macbride will be playing drums with Bob Dorough.

Bob will also be giving a master class at UConn's von der Mehden Recital Hall on Tuesday, March 29th, at 2 p.m.  For this presentation there will be no entrance fee, and it is open to the public.  You won't want to miss it!  Until then, listen to Bob singing "Blue Xmas" with Miles Davis (one of my all time favorites).

What To Wear, What To Wear...

With the recent news of my Juno nomination, the question du jour has become, "What on Earth will I wear?"

My immediate thought was that this event presented a great opportunity to don my MacDonald tartan tuxedo jacket.  My wife does not agree.

I've decided to conduct an online poll.  What do you think?

Sordid Sort of Fellow

If you missed the New Directions Ensemble's performance last weekend at Szechuan Tokyo, here is a video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lVSY2pO8sU

Considering that we had just one short rehearsal, I think it came together quite nicely. Performing to a sold out, full capacity audience always helps! On this track there is some truly stellar soloing from trumpeter Josh Evans, trombonist Sara Jacovino, and bari saxophonist Lauren Sevian.

Enjoy!

Farewell, Knut

I was saddened this week to learn of Knut Haugsoen's passing.  Knut was an inspired and thoughtful jazz pianist & composer who's music and creative spirit strongly influenced me during my formative years in Winnipeg.  On many occasions I went to hear his band, Virkrama perform at the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Center and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.  At Knut's performances you could always count on hearing cohesive, rehearsed sets of clever, highly-original music.  Musicians often commented that you could tell he had a background in architecture because of the interesting formal structures within his pieces.

I believe Knut was the first musician to turn me on to the concept of reharmonizing American Songbook standards.  His rendition of Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" is especially memorable.

Knut's first album, "Hands On", was engineered by Jan Erik Kongshuag, who recorded many albums for ECM records.  After reading the liner notes of this disc I started to "dig around" and learn more about the ECM catalog and its extraordinary depth and importance in the realm of creative, improvised music. One of Knut's frequent local collaborators, bassist Steve Hamilton, was especially helpful to this end.

Whenever I played in Winnipeg, Knut and his wife Mary were often in the audience.  He was always very encouraging and eager to discuss my latest compositional and improvisational approaches.  I truly enjoyed our conversations about music.  Its hard to believe he's gone.

Thanks Knut for your music, creative spirit, friendship and encouragement.  You will be missed.

Top 10 list

The Canadian jazz journalist and radio DJ, Ray Alexander was kind enough to include my CD in his top 10 list of jazz albums for 2010.  Thanks Ray!

Here is the list:

(1) A Time For Love - Arturo Sandoval (Concord)
(2) Rockin' In Rhythm-A Tribute To Duke Ellington - John Pizzarelli (Telarc)
(3) This Could Be The Start Of Something Big - ANdy Farber & HIs Orchestra (Black Warrior)
(4) Last Train To Hauteville - Martin Taylor's Spirit of Django (the guitar label)
(5) For All We Know - Jose James & Jef Neve (Universal Music)
(6) Ages - Lorraine Feather (Jazzed Media)
(7) Do Not Disturb-John Bunch Trio (Arbors Recs.)
(8) Moody 4B - James Moody (IPO Recordings)
(9) Re:Visions - Earl MacDonald's Works For Jazz Orchestra (Death Defying Recs.)
(10) Sing Me A Love Song-Harry Warren's Undiscovered Standards-David Berger Jazz Orch./Freda Payne/Denzal Sinclaire

You can hear Ray's radio show online and via podcast at: http://www.umfm.com/

Fascinatin' Rhythm
CJUM Campus and Community Radio (University of Manitoba)
Sundays, 10 AM - 12 PM

Yule Be Swingin!

An afternoon of seasonal favorites performed by the UConn Jazz ensembles, to put you in the holiday spirit. Saturday, Dec. 4th, 2010 at 3 p.m. in von der Mehden Recital Hall on the UConn Storrs Campus. Admission charges have been waived.  Instead, donations will be accepted for W.A.I.M. (Windham Area Interfaith Ministry)