Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Any bass clarinetists out there? Have I got something for you...
Here's a YouTube video of famed electric bassist Jaco Pastorius with a tremendous small group including Randy Brecker on trumpet, Peter Erskine on drums, Don Alias on percussion, Othello Molineaux on steel drums, and Bob Mintzer playing bass clarinet. They're playing the bebop standard "Donna Lee." If you've never heard bebop performed on bass clarinet, check out Bob Mintzer's solo starting at 3:00. Awesome!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Let's restart this blog with some Phil Woods!
Hello! It's been quite awhile since I last updated this blog. So let's start again, shall we? Starting this week, I'll update the blog every week with interesting jazz sites, things to listen to on your own, and observations on things I'm listening to myself.
Let's begin this week with a YouTube video of the great Phil Woods on alto, backed by the European Rhythm Machine - that's George Gruntz on piano, Henri Texier on bass, and Daniel Humair on drums. This dates from 1972, and the tune is Phil's piece "Flowers."
As you watch and listen, remember my list of things to check out. How many items on the list can you hear? "Flowers" is not a blues or a standard song form, but it's got great "changes" (that is, interesting harmonies) and a simple, attractive melody - a good start for inspired blowing. Both Woods and Texier use some sequence during their solos - can you find those places?
Most jazz historians will tell you that Phil Woods is one of the greatest ever to play alto, and I agree. Check out his web site to learn more about him - you can even get a copy of the lead sheet for "Flowers" there!
Let's begin this week with a YouTube video of the great Phil Woods on alto, backed by the European Rhythm Machine - that's George Gruntz on piano, Henri Texier on bass, and Daniel Humair on drums. This dates from 1972, and the tune is Phil's piece "Flowers."
As you watch and listen, remember my list of things to check out. How many items on the list can you hear? "Flowers" is not a blues or a standard song form, but it's got great "changes" (that is, interesting harmonies) and a simple, attractive melody - a good start for inspired blowing. Both Woods and Texier use some sequence during their solos - can you find those places?
Most jazz historians will tell you that Phil Woods is one of the greatest ever to play alto, and I agree. Check out his web site to learn more about him - you can even get a copy of the lead sheet for "Flowers" there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)