Here we are – another year lived, gone by, experienced, felt, spectated, partly forgotten. In recent years I’ve been increasingly drawn to writing music – the compositional work itself. Before the pandemic I had a group “Outer Space Caravan” – a quartet w. myself on electric guitar, Michael Attias on alto sax, Stephanie Griffin on […]
Fackpamp [Fuhk Puhmp] is a trio that will record its first album length opus before the end of this month! We are playing a set of the music on Monday 1/21, MLK day at 7pm @ Bushwick Public House, 1288 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn Wednesday 1/23 8:30pm Jeremy Danneman Quartet @ Troost, 1011 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn […]
Following a nice 3 weeks in Europe, I’m playing in a few local configurations this month: Twice with Singer/Keyboardist Malcolm Hunter, once at the Bushwick Improvised Music Series with old friends, and in the Red Hook Jazz Fest finale, a very fun outdoor festival! Welcome out! 9/7 9:30pm Malcolm Hunter & Makeshift Dream @ The […]
A while back I started jotting down some thoughts on the role of irreplaceable albums in my life. The albums that stand out are no surprise covering a wide range. Our exploded postmodern era is manifest in our record collections among many other objects. The way we have been living in the plugged in parts of the world since the mid-late 1900’s, it’s been totally […]
Sunday 5/15: l.e.s/e.v.Large groups mixing composition and improvisation are so very linked with the personality, perspectives, and dreams of the leader, thus the artistic results and experiences are starkly different between independent groups. It’s hard to find 2 big groups that sound this unique, while going in different directions with this, within a few blocks, on the same night. Needless to say the […]
I enjoy reading so I thought I’d share some book tips. Since moving to New York 16 years ago I’ve read American noir from the 40’s & 50’s (particularly Raymond Chandler, Charles Willeford and Jim Thompson) more than anything else. Some favorites include Willeford’s “Pick-Up” and Thompson’s “Pop. 1280”, brutal stuff that resonates today. I’ve also gone through artist’s […]
6/14/15 A few days ago Ornette Coleman died…a giant gone. That very Thursday evening I performed with the large group “12 Houses” at the Stone. The program was supposed to feature original music by Charles Waters but after the news reached us it was decided to forego those compositions and play an unscripted concert dedicated to […]
Standards I’ve been playing jazz standards since high school. Every now and then one of these tunes occupies my mind space for some time and I work extra on it. For whatever reason, some of these standards have the evergreen factor; it can be due to a built in mood, a melodic quirk, harmonic qualities […]