Drifting
For music lovers, YouTube can be a gold mine of videos from your favorite artists. Its also where you can discover new music and new musicians. Andy McKee is a phenomenal guitarist. I discovered him a little more than a year ago, and came across him again recently, so I thought I would share.
Warehouse
Goosebumps! I love music that gives me goosebumps! Seeing a band on the cusp of achieving something monumental, creating a once in a lifteime music experience is very special. From a twitter post leading to the Dave Matthews Band website taking me to MySpace, I was treated to a video (embedded above) that captures such a special moment. Please enjoy!
Delta City Blues (live)
Michael Brecker may be the greatest musician to ever play the saxophone. A generation of musicians have spent countless numbers of hours, days, and years studying him to reproduce his musical style. In January 2007, after fighting a long battle with leukemia, he passed away at the age of 57. I hope this video will give you some insight into the genius that was Michael Brecker.
What makes a great jazz solo?
What makes a great jazz solo? Is it the musician? Is it the listener? How about the technical aspects of the way the musician plays their instrument? How about the musician’s soul, attitude, or heart? Does the solo need to fit the style of the song it lies within? Is a great solo defined by the speed at which the musician blows through note after note? Can a slow passionate solo be a great solo?
I ask these questions because I don’t know the answers. For me personally, when I hear a great solo, I can hear the pain inside the musician being set free in a powerful release of emotion and musical creativity. Pain from life’s struggles, life’s regrets, overwhelming joy, or excruciating excitement set free in a moment of transparency. Is this because in my experience as a saxophonist, soloing provides this emotional outlet?
In all honesty, there are countless great solos and great soloists. Deciding what makes a great solo is a very personal choice. This is my opportunity to share with you the musicians and the solos that have impacted my life.
Moodswing, released in 1994 by Joshua Redman features Brad Mehldau on Piano, Christian McBride on Bass, and Brian Blade on drums. Fitting with the title of the album, the songs on this album range from the slow emotional blues ballad Sweet Sorrow to the 1970′s funk style of Headin’ Home with a variety of styles in between, but the song and consequently the solo that has me coming back to this album time after time is Mischief.
The upbeat Pink Pantherish blues of Mischief sets the perfect scene for a great solo, and Joshua Redman delivers on time. Beginning slow and salty, Redman quickly builds into a powerful solo characterized by precise timing and note choice, but also including that intangible pain I mentioned before, which others may refer to as heart and soul.
When deciding which solo to share first, I was unsure about picking a contemporary musician. Maybe I should have chosen one of history’s greats like Charlie Parker or John Coltrane. What about the recently passed Michael Brecker who I believe may be the greatest musician to ever play the saxophone? I am a saxophonist, so I knew I would start off with a musician of that instrument, but was unsure of whom. I can say that I believe choosing Mischief was the right choice.
In making Moodswing, Joshua Redman attempted to dispel the myth that Jazz was a forbidding and overly intellectual art form. Mischief is a great example of Redman’s success in transforming theory and technique into fun and emotion. I would love to share this song and solo with you. Click on the album art below to listen to the song, and please let me know what you think.