by admin
November 3, 2007 in Articles
This site, powered by Gracenotes (the company that provides lookups for CDs via computers), shows a map and a list of what people are listening to. Though, you have to take it with a grain of salt. It is a stats map of CDs people put into programs such as iTunes, and then iTunes looks up the CD on the internet and provides track names. Doesn’t track anything else. I didn’t see any Jazz artists on there at all………
by admin
July 29, 2007 in Reviews
Two related items I finished recently. The first is a very interesting CD, Marcel Tabuteau’s Lessons, which Tabuteau himself explains his phrasing system. Well, it is more than that, it is lessons on music from a great master. It was started in August of 1965, using a tape recorder in Tabuteau’s apartment, and abruptly finished in 1966, the last recording made the day before he died (or, as Tabuteau called it, his audition date with St. Peter). It is oboe specific in areas (reeds), but most of it easily applies to saxophone (or any other instrument for that matter). Well worth a listen if you want to gain insight from a master on how to play music.
The second item is Note Grouping by James Morgan Thurmond. This is basically a written down version of what the Tabuteau CD is. Same idea, different author. Keep in mind, this book was originally a thesis paper, and reworked/written to be a book. Parts of it are very “thesis paperish”, but the information contained within is invaluable, especially the insights into how modern music has come about.
by admin
April 9, 2007 in News
iBrecker.com has a link to a video teaser of an upcoming new album from Michael Brecker. Pilgrimage can also be pre-ordered via Amazon.com as well. Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, and John Patitucci. 30 second clips of all the tracks are available on the Amazon link.
Album is scheduled to be released on May 22nd. For all you Brecker fans, this is a must have.
by admin
October 7, 2006 in Reviews
If you haven’t heard this album, Ray Sings, Basie Swings, you need to. A live performance of Ray Charles and the Count Basie band, archived and forgotten, then rediscovered, and re-recorded. It’s a great CD, maybe not as good as Sinatra at the Sands, but it’s up there.
by admin
November 18, 2003 in Reviews
You’ve probably seen this album advertised on TV. I did. Rod Stewart – It Had To Be You – The Great American Songbook and Rod Stewart – As Times Goes By – The Great American Songbook Volume II. I generally like the albums, though some people (*cough* Tom “T” Moran) say they don’t swing. I think the real problem is over engineering.
Yes. It sounds too polished I think. The strings are too perfect. The balance is too perfect. Actually, I think the vocals could be more present than they are. I think what the albums lack is intensity….
My favorite track off these albums is Time After Time. Somehow, Rod’s voice fits it perfectly. At the same time, while listening to this album, I keep wondering what would have happened if he was….well, say belting in front of a screaming big band? I think there could be something in that. I mean, the nice, packaged string section with rhythm section and a horn or two is nice. But it got old. Really fast.
There is one track that features Michael Brecker. Woohoo. Actually, its kind of interesting cause it isn’t the standard Brecker solo. He sounds like he might be using that rubber Otto link again that he supposedly used on the The Nearness of You album.
Anyhow, I enjoyed a few tracks off these albums. I think Rod might want to try the big band thing, though topping Frank Sinatra in that idiom would be hard. Rod, if you happen to read this, email Rory or something and maybe you can come sing with the Night Band sometime.
I give this album a 6 1/2 out of 10. I got issues with all the same sounding arrangements and the “too perfect” backgrounds. I want some grit damn it!
by admin
September 28, 2003 in Articles
Gordon Goodwin’s last album, Swingin’ For The Fences was really good. No, not good, excellent. Charts like Count Bubba and Samba Del Gringo was hot. Could he top himself with this release?
Yes. There are some awesome songs his latest album Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – XXL. My favorites so far are The Jazz Police and Hunting Wabbits. Great arrangements and great songs. A Game Of Inches features Michael Brecker, and Thad Said No and Mozart 40th Symphony in Gm feature Eddie Daniels on Clarinet. Good stuff.
Missing from this album however is Dan Higgins. I suppose Eric Marienthal is an ok substitute. Hopefully Dan will be on the next album and help further set the bar high on this band and the music it makes!
10 out of 10 (just for Hunting Wabbits and The Jazz Police).
by admin
September 11, 2003 in Reviews
I received Michael Brecker’s latest release, The Michael Brecker Quindectet – Wide Angles, last night after a long day of teaching and then a rehearsal. I put on the first track, Broadband, and was hooked. Awesome stuff.
Michael has assembled quite an interesting array of performers for his Quindectet. A String section (2 Violins, a viola, and a cello) with John Pattitucci on Bass, a woodwind section (Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Oboe/English Horn, Flute/Alto Flute), a brass section (trumpet, trombone, french horn), and a rhythm section (Guitar, Bass (Pattitucci), Drums, and percussion). No piano. The arrangements are by Michael Brecker and Gil Goldstein, and orchestrated by Gil Goldstein. It’s some of the coolest stuff I’ve heard in a while. I mean, the opening track, Broadband, features a hip little bass clarinet/acoustic bass line. Very addicting.
As usual, I’m impressed with a Michael Brecker release. He’s really done something different with this album, and I’m hooked. Go get it…..NOW!
by admin
August 15, 2003 in Reviews
After posting this story about how I had it on LP but have never seen it on CD, I FINALLY found it and bought it. It showed up on my Ebay search last week, and I bought it. Amazing, it had been in the search for about 2 years and NEVER had any hits with Threshold until last week. Anyhow, thanks for those who offered to send me a copy of the CD. I now own it.
by admin
May 1, 2003 in Reviews
I can’t tell you how long I spent searching for this album. It’s vintage 70s Jazz. I heard it once in College, and had a tape copy of it for a while. It’s been on my Ebay watch list for almost 2 years. I’ve never seen it.
Now, I found the LP thanks to fellow teacher, Rich Fongheiser. I like this stuff. Vintage Tom Scott on Flute and Tenor. Enjoy!
Not the whole album, just 3 songs from it. I think the flute solos Tom Scott does on these songs rock. And his gorgeous tenor sound at the end of Threshold……great stuff.
by admin
April 8, 2003 in Reviews
Jim Snidero latest album, “Strings” is a must have. All I have to say is wow! All the compositions are originals by Snidero, for 10 piece String Orchestra and Jazz Quartet. Sound quality is superb. Musicality outstanding. I’m keeping this review short. It’s something to listen to. The lyricism, the musicality, the…..well, you get the point. It’s a great album. Love Jim Snidero’s tone on alto, and he’s not a bad flute player either!
by admin
February 19, 2003 in Articles
grainman writes ” I am not a sax player. I play some jazz guitar . I have , in my possession, two cassette tapes of Dexter Gordon playing in a jazz club in Toronto back in the 80′s. I have only listened to them once . I am sure these would be of value to someone reading this. They were taped “off the board” and so are good quality.”
So, ok, well…..want to mail them to me so I can put them up for all to enjoy?
by admin
January 24, 2003 in Articles
Justin Weaver writes “I have been using recording software at home for about a year now. I’ve been using it off and on and only know a little bit more than the basics. I was wondering if anyone knew how to take a song and specifically take out on instrument. E.g. A song that has a saxophone leading throughout the song. After taking out leading part I just want the background instruments left. E.g. the bass, piano and drums. Please help me out if you can.”
As far as I know, there is no way to do that. There are various software things that will supposedly remove vocals, but they really mess up the recording. It would be easier I think to recreate a song using something like Band in a Box or searching for Midi’s of the song on the net.
by admin
December 15, 2002 in Articles
The History Channel has a program on December 26th about Saving Our Recorded History. The Library of Congress has thousands of recordings that are endanger of being lost these include:
"Lead Belly's last sessions recorded in 1949; radio broadcasts from the bombing of Pearl Harbor; and one of the most precious American recordings - Woody Guthrie's 1944 acetate disk of his song This Land is Your Land, complete with extra verses it was thought he had never recorded."
Wonder what early Jazz tresures exist and are endanger of being lost? There is also a Website dedicated to this.
And, via a Slashdot.org article:
"A company by the name of Bandlink is providing technology to record companies that allows a cd played in a personal computer to contact their server and relate statistics such as what track you're listening to and when you're listening to them. This information is then compiled into customizable reports that allow the record company to develop user profiles."
Great, like we need more of this…..
by admin
December 3, 2002 in Reviews
Rory Synder gave me a copy of Mike Vax’s latest CD, entitled BIGBANDJAZZ.NET. Yes, that is the title.
There is some good playing on the CD, however, one thing that I thought while listening to it was that something seemed off. It’s not the playing. In fact, the playing is excellent. Scott Peterson is an awesome saxophonist, and his solos are great. Rory also lays down some great solos. It’s not the arrangements. It’s something to do with the mixing of the CD. Somehow it seemed that most all the tracks the balance between the horns and the rhythm section is off. And there seems to be a lot of reverb on the horns, but not as much (if any) on the rhythm section. Even the soloist seem to be softer than the rhythm section.
It’s hard to pin down what exactly doesn’t quite make the CD a slam hit for me. For example track 9, Naked Gun, the drums seem to stay at one level the whole tune. Even when the trumpets come screaming in.
I think what it comes down to is how you record a Big Band and make it sound good. Some of my favorite Big Bands, and Big Band recordings are live recordings. Buddy Rich, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Basie, etc, etc. All live recordings. They seem to capture the Big Band sound. I think Mike Vax’s CD suffers from “too much engineering”. The album has great playing, great arranging, great musicality, but it doesn’t capture the Big Band sound. The Toshiko Akiyoshi Concert the DVC Night Band did captures the Big Band sound better.
I give the BIGBANDJAZZ.NET CD a 8 out 10. The 2 points are deducted purely because, to me, it doesn’t sound right. The mixing, or whatever. It doesn’t capture the sound of the Mike’s Band.
by admin
November 18, 2002 in Articles
I am always interested in different microphone and technologies for capturing sound. That could be some of the reason for the growing inventory of mics I have.
AKG has released a FREE enhanced CD that lets you hear the differences between it’s microphones.
"The main goal of this enhanced audio CD is to provide the reference points that are needed for the consumer to make a more informed and, ultimately, better purchasing decision. Listeners can hear for themselves the uncolored difference between microphones on many different instruments.
On saxophone they used the C2000B, C3000B, C414B-ULS, C12VR and C451B. Needless to say that the more expensive the mic, the better it sounded. However, the difference between the C2000B (which sounds good to me) and the C3000B is quite apparent. I was a little disappointed that they did not use a C1000S on saxophone. In order, I like the C451B the best, followed by the C414-ULS, C2000B, C12VR (that and the 2000 are pretty damn close) and then the C3000B. The C3000B sounds bad on saxophone.
The CD does not include any flute tests, and just two clarinet tests (C2000B and SolidTube). It is an interesting CD and very well done.
M-Audio also has a very informative PDF about choosing Mics and recording.
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