October 28th, 2009 by groundswell
Peter Hum posted this on his stellar blog. Note, this is Ottawa pianist Steve Boudreau’s last dispatch from the New England Conservatory’s celebrations marking four decades of offering jazz studies, and it’s a doozy, featuring the Wayne Shorter Quartet (the pictures, however, are from the quartet’s appearance this summer at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival.)
Notes from the masterclass:
“Brian Blade emphasized the importance of recording yourself, saying how we all have such great access to devices now (”a phone that drives you to school”) that there is no excuse to not listen back to what you played, compare it to masters, decide what material is missing in your playing and how best you can work on it. He also suggested pairing off and playing tunes in duos and really playing together.”
Read the full story here.
October 26th, 2009 by groundswell
“John Patitucci’s sinewy bass and Brian Blade’s dancing drums seemed in constant conversation.” – Boston.com. Read more here.
October 26th, 2009 by groundswell
Enjoy this article on the recent Black Dub show in LA by Steve Krugman.
October 21st, 2009 by groundswell
Tune in quick…just about to be interviewed on NHPR.
October 19th, 2009 by groundswell
ED YEVELEV/ILLUSTRATION
“Rarely has any drummer shown such extraordinary dynamic range. With brushes, mallets and his bare hands, he played scarcely above a whisper. With sticks, he thundered bombastically on his set in a way that really heightened the drama.” Read the evening’s review here.
October 19th, 2009 by groundswell
“Without a doubt, one of the single most moving musical experiences I have had.” Photographer Jeremy M. Lange. Read about it on his blog.
October 17th, 2009 by groundswell
An indisputable master of the tenor and soprano saxophone and one of the most remarkable minds in jazz history, Wayne Shorter has been electrifying the music world for more than 40 years. The saxophonist got his start as a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers before moving on to a six-year tenure with the legendary Miles Davis Quintet of the ’60s. Shorter also was intrumental during the trumpet player’s important early steps into electric jazz, providing Davis with a melodic foil on such seminal albums as ‘In a Silent Way’ and ‘Bitches Brew.’
The musician went on to co-found one of the most successful fusion groups in history, helming the pioneering jazz-rock band Weather Report with keyboard player Joe Zawinul through much of the ’70s. His impressive list of accolades includes winning Downbeat’s poll on soprano sax for more than 15 consecutive years and receiving three Grammy Awards, including one for his soundtrack to the Charlie Parker bio-film ‘Round Midnight’.
Though Shorter laid low for much of the ’90s, he made a triumphant return to music making with his current powerhouse quartet. Backed by talented young lions Danilo Perez on piano, John Patitucci on bass and Brian Blade on drums, Shorter performs classic material as well as songs recorded with the talented foursome including their most recent offering, 2005’s ‘Beyond the Sound Barrier.’
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m. $28-$52
Zellerbach Hall
October 17th, 2009 by groundswell
Sounds like this was a great show! Read up here.
October 17th, 2009 by groundswell
Read this nice article on John Pattucci
