I played the song “Watermelon Man” from Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters album for my kids a while ago. My daughter thought it was as interesting as I think it is. She requested that I play it for her in the car over and over again on our way to and from school. She began to enjoy…
Read moreBranford Marsalis: The Problem With Jazz
When laypeople listen to records, there’re certain things they’re going to get to. First of all, how it sounds to them. If the value of the song is based on intense analysis of music, you’re doomed. Because people that buy records don’t know shit about music. When they put on Kind of Blue and…
Read moreMax Roach
I know, I know. I’ve been delinquent in my jazz studies. There are a few musicians that I should have checked out long ago. I will keep their names to myself for now, but the one guy who I am listening to all day today is Max Roach. I’m “putting on” a bunch of albums of…
Read moreDennis Chambers, Mike Stern, Lincoln Goines & Bob Berg – Loose Ends 1990
THIS is what you call a “pocket” – the steadiness of the drummer. The solid playing of a drummer in a band setting where all else can musically blossom…I guess that might be a way to describe it. Ahhh! Dennis Chambers was, and still is an amazing pocket drummer – as well as a virtuoso. He…
Read moreAn Exclusive First Look at Audra McDonald in HBO’s Live Filming of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
I’m very happy to have been a part of this project. I had a great time working with Audra McDonald, Shelton Becton and George Farmer. I can’t wait to see how it turns out: HBO has filmed Audra McDonald in her Tony Award-winning performance as Billie Holiday in Lanie Robertson’s play with music Lady Day…
Read moreThe Drummer Who Invented Jazz’s Basic Beat
Kenny Clarke performs at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1968. He spent the second half of his career in Europe. JazzSign/Lebrecht Music & Arts/Corbis It doesn’t take an expert to identify this sound as a jazz rhythm: Musicians call it “spang-a-lang,” for obvious phonetic reasons, and it’s so synonymous with jazz, it no longer occurs…
Read moreLady Day At emerson’s Bar And Grill
Here are some highlights from the last show I was in a few months ago. I had so much fun playing this show. I can’t wait for the movie to be released. Yessir!!! We are shooting a movie of the show in New Orleans in a few weeks in New Orleans. Stay tuned!
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