It's Alive!

It's been about two years. That means it's time I updated the blog. Actually, I got a rather brilliant idea from someone in the comments of my latest video. (Yes, sometimes I read them.) In fact, I get a lot of suggestions on my work on YouTube--some that kind of make me roll my eyes ("too much talking") and a few that are quite good--which is why I've sat down today. I got a brilliant suggestion that I had to follow up on that will revive this dead blog and be somewhat of a companion to my videos moving forward.

I'm feeling pretty good about my newest video. It was a lot of work, particularly the edit (about 7 hours this time to final upload). In fact, I'm not sure of the last video I produced that was over 15 mins long (and you know that's long for me). It was a labor of love for one of my favorite bassists, ever. I'm proud to have put some content out there about his great work and maybe some people will get to discover (or re-discover) him through my video. That's basically the mission of my channel.

I know that I put out a lot of information in my videos in a relatively small amount of time. There often can be a lot of pausing or going back to re-watch to catch bits of music or names that I include. I'm going to try to start using this blog to list the music I've talked about as well as maybe some additional thoughts on the video that might not have made it to the cutting room floor. There is so much to talk about when it comes to great music and great musicians that I'm happy to use this little corner of my internet space as a coda for those of you willing to spend a little extra time after the video to find out more. I can also answer an occasional question here or even share my feelings on a video subject or production after the dust has settled. So, how about we talk about Charlie?

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Someone wrote a comment that Charlie Haden was a "GOAT level bass player" and I have a hard time disputing that. In a world of NHØPs and Scott LaFaros (his roommate at one time), he found something completely opposite to that style and just as powerful. He was as honest as any musician you'll ever hear (the key to playing great music) and listened harder than anybody. This allowed him to play with so many musicians in so many genres during his life. He said more in one note that many do in 100. He should be talked about more, for sure.

My experience with him at 18 was brief but memorable. My college Jazz Band director (the late John Wilson) put a band together of mostly older musicians and a few college students, including myself and the pianist (I remember). I played a real turd of a bass at that point (plywood special from the 50's). I remembered we ended the concert with the tune "Silence" which finishes with the band kind of dropping out while the piano plays the chords at the end. In the rehearsal, Charlie said "I may come back and play a solo over those chords on your bass, okay?" Umm, YES. He absolutely sounded like GOAT-level Charlie. It was like he had touched me and blessed my bass. Ironically, after he finished, he handed me my instrument, looked it up and down and said "you need to get a good bass, man. It'll inspire you!!"

That started a deep-dive for me starting with Quartet West (which were pretty popular in 1992). I wouldn't really discover Ornette until '95 or '96 and the Keith Jarrett stuff would come even later--when I was in my 30s. It's almost like I keep discovering incredible music by him. I didn't even really touch on his world music connections or that time he got arrested in Portugal in 1971 for playing "Song for Ché" while they were under the Estado Novo regime (look it up). Conviction, honesty, heart. Isn't this what every musician should be striving for?

Music from the video:

"Lonely Woman" by Ornette Coleman (The Shape of Jazz to Come, Atlantic 1959)

"Una Muy Bonita" by Ornette Coleman (Change Of the Century, Atlantic 1960)

Old and New Dreams, Black Saint 1977

"The Survivors' Suite (Part 1)" by Keith Jarrett (The Survivors' Suite, ECM 1977)

Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories), Verve 1997

Rejoicing (Pat Metheny, ECM 1983)

"Two Folk Songs (1st)" by Pat Metheny (80/81, ECM 1980)

Michael Brecker, Impulse! 1987

"Silence" by Charlie Haden (Liberation Music Orchestra, Ballad Of the Fallen, ECM 1982)

"Wayfaring Stranger" (Traditional) (Quartet West, Art Of the Song, Polygram 1999)

"What Is This Thing Called Love?" by Cole Porter (As Long As There's Music, Artists House 1976)

"First Song" by Charlie Haden (with Geri Allen & Paul Motian, In The Year Of the Dragon, JMT 1989)