I just witnessed with a deep sense of pride and humility, the world première of our dear friend, trumpeter extraordinaire Bill Ortiz’s new video, “Winter In America“.
Please take a few minutes to watch why we must show more compassion towards our fellow-man. We must all help to defeat the winter of our discontent.
Bill,
Your new music video speaks for justice. Your trumpet is the voice that draws our attention to the winter of our discontent that is all around us in this nation. Poverty is the cause we must all help to end.
The vocals by Tony Lindsay and The Grouch accentuate the message that “Winter In America” is the plight of the human condition in our society we must eradicate.
I feel that Gil Scott-Heron is smiling down at how you extend his music to show the message of how we must all collectively help to defeat “Winter In America”.
I tip my hat to Ari Berger and domoarifoto for their wonderful visual abilities used in this video.
Peace, from the music of our heart,
Ed & Rosemary Jennings
One of my favorite artistic initiatives is the collaborative organization known as artistShare. It allows music fans to contribute to the development of an artist’s musical composition and production. I love this option as a patron of the arts. I have supported five previous projects on artistShare. I believe strongly in what Maria Schneider and artistShare are achieving for the arts.
Maria Schneider is embarking on a new Spring 2012 artistShare commission project. Her new orchestral work will have its world première at the Newport Jazz Festival on August 5, 2012.
My wife and I are planning to attend the Newport Jazz Festival for the first time in 2012. It is karma that we will be able to witness the Maria Schneider Orchestra performing live at that event.
Thank you for the opportunity to help you in your new project Maria.
Yesterday was just one of the coolest, laid back days in my recent universe. Rosemary and I headed down to the West Village section of New York City to celebrate my sixtieth birthday. We first stopped off at Tabouli Grill in the Bulls Head section of Stamford. Rosemary has raved about this eatery so we had a quick-lunch which featured a Mango Smoothie and roasted veggie pita. It was delish.
We then proceeded on to the Jazz Record Center at 236 West 26th Street in Chelsea. I have yearned to shop at this store for years. I had just read an interesting article in Jazz Times magazine about jazz retail which gave me more specifics about this jazz mecca. It was well worth the journey as I immersed myself in one of the most extensive inventories of jazz merchandise I had ever browsed before. I made a solemn vow to return at another time to look and buy more extensively. The amount of books, vinyl and t-shirts to look at were amazing to say the least. I purchased three CDS, Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colussus, Charles Mingus, The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, A Night in Tunisia.
We then checked into our hotel, the SoHo Grand Hotel on West Broadway. Catching our breath for a second we soon headed off to the West Village for dinner and a late evening jazz concert at The Blue Note.
We parked near our son’s apartment which saved us a parking fee. Matthew joined us as we walked to One If By Land, Two If By Sea. It is a contemporary restaurant that used to be the carriage house of Aaron Burr. The food is over priced but very delectable. We had a few laughs and it was nice to dine as a family in our son’s backyard.
My son gave me a great gift for my sixtieth birthday, The SMiLE Sessions Box Set by The Beach Boys, the long-lost now, happily resurrected music collection has finally seen the light of day in late 2011.
Trust me this going to get a serious listen on the Bose sound system the next few days
Music is God’s Voice – Brian Wilson
Rosemary and I bid Matt goodnight. We headed around the corner to 131 West 3rd Street to The Blue Note to catch Chris Botti and friends at the 10:30 p.m. show. We waited online outside the prestigious jazz venue. It was our first time attending a jazz concert at The Blue Note. It was cold and we were online for an hour before they let us inside. We were given really good center section seats directly across from the bandstand where Chris Botti would be stationed.
They squeeze you in tightly at the long tables but the chairs were more comfortable than they appeared. Chris Botti and his band took the stage at 11:00 pm and played an eclectic 90 minute set. This was our first Chris Botti concert. We liked his horn playing and his stage camaraderie a lot.
I have just become familiar with the music and mastery of Chris Botti. He is a very apt horn player, bandleader and composer. He cuts a great figure as a celebrity and he is a fashionable guy.
This is his seventh annual extended appearance at The Blue Note. He calls this jazz club his residency, deservedly so. Chris exudes a strong electric magnetism which increased my respect for his musicianship. He plays the horn in a very skilful way that is never intimidating, captivating your senses. He serenades on the trumpet as you find yourself being happily carried along.
The Blue Note jazz club creates an immediacy that allows you to interact with this popular jazz artist and his fellow musicians. Chris Botti was joined by Geoffrey Keezer on keyboards. I first discovered Geoffrey Keezer on Artist Share where I downloaded Aurea. He proved to be phenomenal live, proficient with his touch on the keys.
Carlitos del Puerto from Cuba played standup and electric bass. He articulated the instrument well. I enjoyed how he accented notes and chord progressions. He was fun to watch. Leonardo Amudeo was the lead and rhythm guitarist from Uruguay. He proved to be powerfully deceptive as the evening progressed. I was taken with his guitar playing, which I found confident and explorative.
The core musician who blew me away the most was Billy Kilson. He had such a way of popping the drums in his kit that I was never bored with any selection he played. He brings an excitement to the drums as Chris Botti pointed out. When Billy Kilson hit his stride I was bopping along enthusiastically and Chris Botti took delight in my enthusiasm for his drummer.
There were two special guests that added a rich dimension to the evening’s music. Caroline Campbell was a spirited and authoritative violinist. She had a very commanding style with the violin which you eagerly followed.
The other guest was Lisa Fischer who is a very strong r&b (and much more) songstress. Her demeanor puts you immediately at ease as she ranged from torch song to opera to popular song. I could see readily why Mick Jagger values her as a backup singer for the Rolling Stones. Chris Botti mentioned that Lisa Fischer has been singing with him these past 18 months and the benefits of that partnership were quite clear last night.
I love that Chris Botti made himself available after the show to sign his new CD. I had him sign his Chris Botti in Boston work. I thanked him for making my 60th birthday very special. He smiled as he looked up from signing and said, “Happy Birthday”. It was a cool way to end a marvelous evening.
Today is my 60th birthday. Wow, I can’t believe it. Who knows where the time goes….Its a day I have both welcomed and dreaded. But I have told myself the past few days that the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. A song by James Taylor. The strength of James Taylor’s words and conviction offer solace as I reflect on what my life has been and what I have accomplished.
I could not have completed this journey up until this point without my loving wife Rosemary and my son Matthew. They give me reason to live. I am excited that tonight we’ll all be together for dinner in Greenwich Village. I couldn’t have a better birthday present than enjoying their company.Then Rosemary and I will attend a jazz concert by Chris Botti at The Blue Note in the Village.
To me this is the secret of life, enjoying the passage of time with those I love and having music tie the bow neatly on the package of my existence. It truly is a good life that God has given me to live.
The Secret of Life
By James Taylor – Copyright 1977 Sony Entertainment, Inc.
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
Any fool can do it
There ain’t nothing to it
Nobody knows how we got to
The top of the hill
But since we’re on our way down
We might as well enjoy the ride
The secret of love is in opening up your heart
It’s okay to feel afraid
But don’t let that stand in your way
‘Cause anyone knows that love is the only road
And since we’re only here for a while
Might as well show some style
Give us a smile now
Isn’t it a lovely ride
Sliding down
And gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride
Now the thing about time is that time
Isn’t really real
It’s all on your point of view
How does it feel for you
Einstein said that he could never understand it all
Planets spinning through space
The smile upon your face
Welcome to the human race
Isn’t that a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride
Isn’t that a lovely ride
Oh mama yes
See me sliding down
And gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride
Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
I received an e-mail from Maria Schneider yesterday informing me of the death of jazz composer, Bob Brookmeyer. I was very moved by Maria Schneider’s sentiment for Bob Brookmeyer. This is what Maria Schneider wrote:
Dear Ed,
It’s with great sadness that I share news of Bob Brookmeyer’s death. I’ve loved Bob’s compositions and arrangements and his playing since the moment I first heard his music in the ’70s. It turned my life around. Bob became a wonderful teacher, mentor and dear friend. And he was enormously generous to those lucky enough to be his friend.
Oddly, Bob’s newest recording came out last week–an astoundingly beautiful vocal album of arrangements where every cut is a perfect gem. It’s one of those that you just want to listen to again and again. I’ve received calls from Jim Hall, Scott Robinson–numerous musicians who are in disbelief at the depth of it. His musicians give a spectacular performance that’s vividly full of love. I was asked by Bob to write the liner notes, which was easy to do, and at one point I wrote:
“… there are two silent gaps that come near the end of this arrangement that are almost painful they’re so sudden. It leaves you scared it’s over. What a wonderful feeling to not want it to be over.”
The same could be said by all of us about Bob and his music. It’s so sad there won’t be more. On the other hand, what a gift Bob has been giving us all for decades. There’s so much to be grateful for. And here is one final, spectacular little gem that he’s left with us.
Thank you, Bob. What a life! What an incredible life. Thank you for making this world a better place. You will be deeply missed.
Wishes of love, peace and happiness for your holidays.
Maria
To be very honest until Maria Schneider’s e-mail I wasn’t aware of Bob Brookmeyer in the theater of jazz. I have made it a point to correct that grievous error.
I have purchased and downloaded from artistShare (an organization I support and believe in strongly, again thanks to Maria Schneider) Bob Brookmeyer’s recording Standards. It is a breathtaking work that you owe it to yourself to own and learn from..
We are very fortunate to have been left with Bob Brookmeyer’s legacy of jazz music. I count myself among the newly blessed to know him and his gift of music. God bless your soul Bob Brookmeyer.
We all like to back a winner in this life. As a patron of the arts, I love to help fellow creative people achieve their goals with their music and film projects.
Kickstarter is a direct avenue for people to help people contribute to their dreams. The first Kickstarter project that I backed was Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie in April of 2010. I figured Wavy Gravy and the Hog Farmers fed half a million people at Woodstock and kept our dream alive. Why not repay that favor? I just rented it from iTunes and watched via my PC/HDTV. It doesn’t get any more direct grass roots than that Gotta love when it all comes full circle!
I have backed four Kickstarter projects since which all got funded and moved forward!
This project by Charles Mingus’s grandson, Kevin Ellington Mingus and Valeria Rios is a creative team formed to develop and promote the relationship of film and music through performance.
The feature-length documentary is the journey of a grandson searching for the truth behind the legend of the grandfather he never knew. Surrounded by controversy for his polemic actions and his unpredictability, the enigmatic figure of his grandfather became a jazz icon. The documentary opens doors to unknown facets of a composer who left one of the largest musical legacies of 20th Century American music. It is the path of his grandson, looking at the life of his grandfather through the eyes of those he touched and inspired, and through the locations where he lived and composed his art. The film rediscovers both, the man and the artist: Charles Mingus.
I urge my readers and fellow lovers of the jazz music idiom to embrace and support this project. What appeals to me the most is Kevin’s journey to discover and get closer to his grandfather Charles Mingus. I feel each of us will gain a stronger appreciation of the affinity we have for family, kinship and music by helping this project come to fruition.
Together we can make Kevin and Valeria’s vision a reality for jazz fans all over the planet.
For those who wish to know more about the Mingus on Mingus forthcoming documentary, please browse on over to the OrangeThenBlue production Web site.
I have read a perceptive article about Charles Lloyd, “The Fires Are Still Burning”. The JazzTimes story is authored by my favorite jazz music journalist, Ashley Kahn. (Webzine edition can be found here.)
Ashley Kahn is the author of several pivotal jazz books in my collection. I have come to depend upon him to unlock the inner secrets of jazz legends and he has never failed my expectations. His article expands the depth and vision of Charles Lloyd spiritual saxophonist/band leader.
I saw the Charles Lloyd Quartet at the beginning of this year in concert at Wesleyan University. I wrote about that stellar experience in this blog post. Wesleyan University was so taken with my concert review I was awarded two free tickets to a concert of my choice, anytime in the future.
The year got busy on me and I lost sight of Charles Lloyd’s musical output. ECM released Athens Concert on September 13, 2011 and I meant to get a copy at that time. The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.
Fortunately life provides second chances and as luck would have it I found the JazzTimes article so I ordered a copy of Athens Concert. It’s due to arrive today by parcel post from Amazon. I am eager to delve into this double-disc package recorded live at the outdoor Herodion amphitheater at the base of the Acropolis. Every bone in my body tells me this is a monumental work consisting of 18 well articulated, melodic songs.
I’ve never been to Greece nor have I sat in an outdoor stone amphitheater to listen to jazz under the stars. Athens Concert affords me the rare opportunity to carry out both without leaving the comfort of my listening chair.
I can’t wait to report back to you what I have discovered about Athens Concert. (Reserves this space to share with you what I will learn and absorb shortly…)
Keith Jarrett’s latest solo recording, Rio is a masterpiece of poetic justice. Find a quiet space, breath deeply and be ready to be swept away by the piano fortissimo’s that exude from Keith Jarret‘s fingertips. The resonance of his touch combined with his exuberance will immerse you in the warmth that is Rio de Janeiro.
Rio is 15 delicious tracks of 100% improvisation.
I have not been this moved by a Keith Jarrett recording since The Köln Concert in 1975. I recall opening the rice paper sleeve and placing Side One of this classic ECM vinly record on my Technics turntable. Those were the days I owned a high-end separates system. The sound of Keith Jarrett’s solo piano wafted through my KEF speakers expanding my consciousness an astral plane of intellect. Each subsequent side of The Köln Concert expanded that tapestry of thought.
Rio and Keith Jarrett are stirring my longings to play the Baldwin piano we have in the family room again. Why should such a beautiful instrument sit idle? I am inspired to begin my musical journey anew…..inspiration leads to creativity and with it follows the sweet rewards of accomplishment
Today, Friday September 23, 2011, we celebrate the 85th Birthday of John Coltrane.
As a Sirius/XM subscriber and rabid jazz music fan, I am enthralled that Sirius XM is offering a four-day music tribute to John Coltrane. It’s sympatico that Carlos Santana is hosting this event. Carlos Santana is a subject matter authority on Coltrane. He is directly responsible for expanding my field of vision for John Coltrane’s music. I welcome the further education of gaining valuable insights from Carlos Santana, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Ravi Coltrane and others during the width of this broadcast.
I have attended 16 Santana concerts and it never fails to touch my spiritual core when the Santana Band performs, “A Love Supreme”. I lift my arms in praise of God during the chanting of this hymn. It is a magnificent way to thank God for the gifts of spirituality and healing power of music channeled by John Coltrane and Santana.
If you study the book site Web link closely you will see that there was an event at Joe’s Pub in NY City on November 12, 2002 which was a tribute to the reissue of the Deluxe Edition of A Love Supreme. We attended that event and I was very honored to meet Alice Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane and Ashley Kahn that evening.
I felt the most wonderful spiritual vibe when I shook Alice Coltrane’s outstretched hand backstage. She had not seen the CD packaging before I asked her to sign it for me. She was so pleased to have a physical copy as she shared it happily with her family and friends. Then she asked me, “May I borrow your silver pen to sign other autographs? I said, “Certainly, Alice”. She made a special point of saying to me, “Do come back for it in a little while.” Which I did. Her smile was so radiant, I still beam thinking of her aura.
Carlos Santana Hosts John Coltrane Radio
In celebration of the legendary jazz saxophonist and composer’s 85th birthday, John Coltrane Radio airs on Real Jazz from Thursday, September 22, the day before Coltrane’s 85th birthday, at 9 am ET through Sunday, September 25 on channel 67.
John Coltrane Radio will be hosted by Grammy® Award-winning musician and Coltrane aficionado, Carlos Santana, as well as his wife, musician Cindy Blackman-Santana and Coltrane’s son, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, featuring the music spanning the jazz legend’s career, including his over 100 albums, performances and music from his years playing with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk.
The channel features performances by the Asian-American Jazz Orchestra and Devin Philips recorded at the Portland Jazz Festival, as well as a special tribute performance by Roy Haynes and His Fountain of Youth Band recorded at the SiriusXM studios in New York. Additionally, you’ll hear musicians such as Roy Haynes, Hugh Masekela and Stanley Clarke and share personal stories and memories about Coltrane.
One of my favorite artistic initiatives is the collaborative organization known as 
We all like to back a winner in this life. As a patron of the arts, I love to help fellow creative people achieve their goals with their music and film projects.
Gotta love when it all comes full circle!
I have read a perceptive article about 
Keith Jarrett’s latest solo recording, 
