Anthony Braxton on Woody Shaw

Thanks, Woody Shaw III for sharing this historically significant reference. Quoting Professor Braxton, from his interview:

"He was a brilliant man. And he was fighting for his music, even though he had proved so much, there was still a struggle he was involved with to get the jazz world to acknowledge him, that he was separate from Freddie Hubbard, that his music was evolving in its own space. He was involved in his own struggle to advance his music."

repost: Sonny Simmons Quartet @ Cafe Oto 13.05.10

A masterful quartet performance. It works because everyone is listening !

Musicians, if a bandleader tells you to NOT listen to each other, you should exit that group immediately !

Thanks to the artists for sharing this recording.

great advice from Mr. Parker --

priceless words by Andrew Hill

"...Parker was important, and it was with him that I first discovered that it is not enough to play melody, but that rhythm is also important and that melody is rhythm..."

"...Jazz is part of a tradition from before the word 'jazz' was invented; there was ragtime and other music building on harmony, and Afro-centric in that melody and harmony were an appendix to the rhythm. To keep the structure. It's important to check out the rhythm first. Do you understand it, or does it need more of an explanation? The rhythm was dominant, but to be what we call jazz, music must consist of certain elements of structure and form. In the Western world, melody is most important with rhythm and harmony as accompaniment. Always check out the rhythm, if it's static it means the music is dead. If you use an academic approach, you can learn the melodies, but they will lack rhythmic interaction..."

link to article

Contemporary Figurative Art by Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze

Marvelous presentation by this great international artist. Her painting, Faith / Homage to Freedom appears on my second album.

http://www.edlinger-kunze.com/Edlinger-Kunze_Fine_Art/Welcome.html

Andrew Hill on his composition, '15/8'

New Music: 'Robert's Return', with RWH Jazz Triad

Master percussionist Robert Houtman's RWH Jazz Triad hosted a benefit performance at Angelica's Bistro in Redwood City on November 12. This most expert trio -- with Robert on drums, the bassist Carl Herder, and the guitarist David Copeland -- performed their wonderful, original music, and included my piece 'Robert's Return', which was written specifically for this concert.

Here are the concert tapes, which are posted to YouTube.

Thank you all for your support.