Stories & Strategies
On April 5th, the great American musician and poet Cecil Taylor passed away at the age of 89. An appropriate lifespan, perhaps, for the legendary free jazz pianist, so willing to push the boundaries of his instrument's 88 keys. During his long and rich life spent trespassing on the outermost frontiers of coherence and... Continue Reading →
You wouldn't think it possible, really. That in this day and age the world's largest jazz festival would commission a white theatre director to create SLĀV, a major dramatic work based on African American slave songs starring a white singer and featuring a predominantly white cast. And yet, as anyone following the cultural news knows,... Continue Reading →
On June 3,1989 I spent the better part of three hours onstage at Alice Tully Hall in New York's Lincoln Centre alongside Gunther Schuller, John Handy, Wynton Marsalis, John Abercrombie, George Adams and literally dozens of other legendary jazz musicians in what was called by the New York Times, “the jazz event of the decade.”... Continue Reading →
This is the fifth in a series of new posts that explain how you can apply the lessons of jazz to collaborate successfully. * Define Roles “I don't believe music can be free unless it has something to be free from." Chuck Mangione Collaborating successfully requires everybody to know their role and to stick to... Continue Reading →
This is the fourth in a series of new posts that explain how you can apply the lessons of jazz to collaborate successfully. * Never Say No “It’s impossible for me to feel like there’s only one way to do a thing. There’s nothing wrong with having one way of doing it, but I think... Continue Reading →
This is the third of a series of new posts that explain how you can apply the lessons of jazz to collaborate successfully. * Make Room "Only play what you hear. If you don't hear anything, don't play anything." Chick Corea A collaboration is a set of relationships and as in any relationship both parties... Continue Reading →
Listen to One Cylinder by the Backtalk Organ Sextet https://ia801509.us.archive.org/2/items/backtalk2017-02-10.ca-14.flac16/backtalk2017-02-10d2t08.mp3 Scene Where: Irene's, Ottawa Who: Backtalk Organ Sextet Don Cummings - Hammond Organ and leader Mike Essoudry – Drums Chris Swain – Guitar Ed Lister – Trumpet Zakari Frantz – Alto sax Me – Tenor sax Report Risk Factor: 7 (my first gig with this... Continue Reading →
This is the second of a series of new posts that explain how you can apply the lessons of jazz to collaborate successfully. Listen “My first relationship to any kind of musical situation is as a listener.” Pat Metheny Collaboration is all about listening. Listening for needs, listening for opportunities and listening for cues. Jazz... Continue Reading →
This is the first of a series of new posts that explain how you can apply the lessons of jazz to collaborate successfully. Respect “Music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one.” Duke Ellington Jazz - like any collaborative process - is rooted in respect. Respect for oneself. Respect for others.... Continue Reading →
