Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Yoron Isreal

I was lucky enough to be able to see a wonderful singer and member of the Berklee School of music staff Gabrielle Goodman last week at KCC. She brought the house down (no surprise there) and another cool thing was a cameo by Stephen Webber, playing a lovely samba on guitar.

She gave her backup (Matthew Truss) a solo appearance and I don't think there was one person who did not get "chickenskin". Amazing .....(grace).

But, I was stoked by the band. Will Lydgate, island resident and Berklee alum was as always, subtle yet stunning, the pianist (of whom I am unfamiliar with) Jiri Nedoma , definitely showed he will be going places...But most of all..give the drummer some. Yoron Isreal, who I have never had the pleasure of hearing live was a monster. Not a loud monster..a perfect monster.

Here is his website: http://www.yoronisrael.com/bio.html

Now I have heard him on several recordings, but I had not as a leader: check this out..


YORON ISRAEL & ORGANIC
Ronja Music


Yoron Israel - Drums
Kyle Koehler- Organ
Ed Cherry - Guitar
Jay Hoggard - Vibes, Marimba
Bill Pierce - Tenor, Soprano Saxophones
Ernesto Diaz - Percussion

Man, look at the line up..ed cherry, bill pierce...I tell you< its as good as it looks!

and there's more:
A GIFT FOR YOU
Ronja Music Company

Yoron Israel - Drums
Donald Harrison - Alto Saxophone
Phillip Harper - Trumpet
James Williams - Piano
("The Move" only)
Ed Cherry - Guitar
John Lockwood - Bass
Bryan Carrott - Vibraphone
Lance Bryant - Tenor/Soprano Sax... again a killer,

Yoron has a couple more. One with Joe Lovano and another with Eric Alexander. Man..I wish he had copies!
I guess its amazon for me:






5.
Dance World Dance by Rodney Kendrick, Graham Haynes, Arthur Blythe, Michael Bowie and Tarus Mateen (1994)

6.
The Telarc Collection, Vol. 9 by Eduard Strauss, Jean Sibelius, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1993)
Formats
Price
New Used
Audio CD, 1993


$19.99 $6.23


8.
Formats
Price
New Used
Audio CD, 1995


$49.99 $4.99

9.
Find all the CDs, MP3s, and vinyl, plus photos, videos, biographies, discussions, and more. Visit the store.


And I got to tell you, the Rodney Kendrick, dance world, dance...nice.

here is an article about the show:

Kaua‘i welcomed acclaimed singer-songwriter Gabrielle Goodman and Matthew Truss to the stage at Kaua‘i Community College on Jan. 8 to perform an incredibly diverse offering of spiritual and jazz standards, R&B and original compositions. The Berklee –Steelgrass Residency Program brings Boston’s Berklee College of Music faculty to Kaua’i with the support of the Kaua’i Concert Association and Tony Lydgate.

Goodman, a long-time Berklee College voice professor, has performed with musical greats Roberta Flack, Miles Davies, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle and Nancy Wilson. She wrote “You Can Make the Story Right” for Chaka Khan, which earned her a top 10 ASCAP songwriters award. She was magical Sunday afternoon with stunning vocals and a talented keyboard performance.

Truss sang backup vocal for Goodman during the first half and then took center stage for an acapella solo that brought everyone to their feet. Goodman and Truss were accompanied by Yoron Israel, Jiri Nedoma and Kaua‘i’s own Will Lydgate on bass. Truss teaches private voice instruction at Berklee and focuses on bringing music into the inner city, not just in Boston but in more than a dozen cities around the world.

Stephen Webber, a professor of music at Berklee, the world’s largest music college, accompanied on guitar for a few of the arrangements and granted an interview for this piece. Berklee College began in the 1940s focusing on the dominant musical style of the day which was jazz. True to its roots, John Mayer, Amy Mann and Quincy Jones graduated from their halls.

Webber is the executive producer of the Berklee-Steelgrass Residency program, which for five years now has come to Kaua‘i’s west side to host workshops and five weeks of resident training to aspiring students from all over the world.

Proceeds from the Jan. 8 concert will go to help sponsor a place in the residency program for a young musician from Kaua‘i. A recording studio also on the west side affiliated with the college is dedicated to help preserve the dialect, songs and music of the area. It also provides the college faculty and residents a place to concentrate on their art and to learn recording. The Steelgrass facility is sponsored by Tony Lydgate and interestingly. Will Lydgate, Sunday’s bassist, is a graduate from the residency program.

Sunday was a musical journey from “Misty” to a soulful duet between Goodman and local music teacher Leinani Springer for “Wade in the Water” before tribute tunes, from Marvin Gaye to Steve Miller. A finish with “God Bless the Child” earned Goodman a standing ovation and four minutes of applause that called her back to the stage to perform a soulful rendition of “My Funny Valentine.”

Berklee College of Music has a faculty of 525 teachers and 4,000 undergraduates. The college is introducing graduate studies in writing and scoring for film, video games and television, as well as the music business. Anyone wanting to help secure a spot in the residency program for a music student from Kaua‘i can contact Stephen Webber at swebber@berklee.edu.


Read more: http://thegardenisland.com/entertainment/music/a-whole-lot-of-soul-at-kcc/article_89c65366-3f24-11e1-9dfc-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1kVQ3wh4h

Here is the berklee site: http://www.berklee.edu/

a letter

Dear mr. president. I voted for you as did my wife. We believed "change" had to happen.
I am a life long democrat, I worked in campaigns both local and national. I applaud your decisive action regarding wall street. I that, I see the vision I had of the man I voted for.

But I implore you, please rectify the mistake made in the National defense Act bill. The language is obtuse, and it , in it's current form is not only unconstitutional but stands against all the values that made the republic.The detention of United States citizens and there possibility of no legal consul is horrifying

Sir, I will vote for you again. Please don't make it a vote of choosing the lesser of two evils.
It is your responsibility, as our leader to show the way. It is time to roll-back some of the powers that have been bestowed on the executive branch, rammed through without education of the public by your predecessor.

Please, don't fool me twice.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

David torns new album..........


As I write this, I am using my newest toy I-pod to CRANK this into my brain. It took me a bit to get this cd as I am Broke, but I bought it of a friend , who surprisingly found it too "straight".
He is a Prezen's guy....I love this, this is the first album with david that I have really connected to in the last few years. ( check out the soundtrack for "The Order").
I read some other reviews that we're not completely favorable, but I say this: BUY the freakin thing.
This is full of different flavors, almost an update to David's Door X but so much better!
Ok, I have been lame, the band rocks and Alan White is killer. Tony Levin is as always amazing but as I listen I am amazed buy the sounds produced by a trio. Oh yeah..Polytown...think Polytown. If you don't have this (and Polytown) get them.

This is both a throwback (fusion- prog-rock) and moving forward at the same time.
sorry, it's Torn.

01 - No Warning Lights
02 - Ultra Mullet
03 - White Noise
04 - The Hood Fell
05 - Monkey Mind
06 - Cheese It the Corpse
07 - Convergence
08 - Pillowfull of Dark Dreams
09 - The Egg Man Comith
10 - Sleeping Horse
11 - Prom Night of the Centipedes
12 - Crunch Time
13 - Brain Tattoo
14 - Lights Out


Tony Levin: bass and Chapman Stick
David Torn: guitar and textural events
Alan White: drums and percussion

just plain lucky



As a few of you have figured out, I live off in the middle of the Pacific.

It's a small Island , with musical opportunities..... yet, still enclosed.

I will be posting some events, recent reads and thoughts.

But, If you are American........wake up and see whats happening of late.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-quigley/ten-steps-for-radical-rev_b_1223404.html

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, or the NDAA, was inked by President Barack Obama on New Year’s Eve, despite immense opposition from Americans who were concerned by vague language that could allow the commander-in-chief to use military forces to domestically police the United States. Under Section 1021 of the NDAA, any person, US citizen or not, can be held without trial by American armed forces if they are suspected of being engaged in hostilities against the country by al-Qaeda or associated forces.

At this point, there is no definition of "terrorist" read: ORWELL, nor does it say just whom determines who is a terrorist.

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND this, ANYONE CAN BE THROWN AWAY without trial, for an "indefinite" period.
It means also, that the Military is free to act as a police force w/in the United States.....how would you like to get pulled over, and then thrown away. Taken away, in the middle of the night ...with no one to speak to.


Do you still think we live in a COMPLETELY free society?

Monday, January 16, 2012

10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free (Washington Post OUTLOOK)



Mark Nodwell Nemesis review


I know I am a bit behind...but I thought I'd write about some of my favorite things over the last few months......


Here is..a bit about a cd I got in the last year.

Nemesis was perhaps the best surprise of all the CD's I got, Its really a bit of a revelation, combining "free" and straight jazz texture's with electro-acoustic instrumentation. It's really quite good.
Nemesis the albums title, opens the set..you'd think looking at the artist listings that your are about to embark on a difficult, (hard to listen to) project. However, the sound here is straight ahead modern electric jazz...and to start out..almost mellow. Khabu is just such a superb player. Nodwells decision not to play, but to hire musicians to fulfill his compositions is curious, but clearly well thought out. Nodwell has picked well using the duo of Lande and Young along with long time collaborator Ron Miles crating a "rock" to build around has paid good dividends. The end result is an almost astonishing suite of music, that has me reminiscing to the "good old days" when the mix of electronics, jazz and rock was still fresh. The date is solid throughout, there's no dead weight in either band or compositions...but to me there are highlights: On Sortex, we really get an idea of what Khabu Doug Young is capable of. (what can Khabu do for you!) When my friend from Colorado and I were talking music, David torn came up and somehow we worked to Khabu Doug Young. I had never heard of him. He compared Young to Torn's playing. What I here is more of a young John Abercrombies tone and attack. In fact Sortex, to me feels like it could be a part of Enrico Rava's "the plot" date. Youngs playing has that early 70's Abercrombie sound with a distorted yet almost country tone. It has that Manfred Eicher sound and Ron Miles is so strong here. Ron Miles is such a great player, and another familiar with both Lande and Young. Fleet has the band in one of those goofy "downtown" rollicking messes....Young is again given the lead and he trades off finely with Lande. Flight of the Pterodacty is kinda a psychotic tango. the band blasts through vaguely Latin bizarre chord changes and odd meters, bouncing great solos off each other along the way. Nodwell's musician choices really show how well picked and thought out they were here. There is great chemistry here. Resurrection pulls it back in, Drew Gress's subtle underpinning's remind me why I think so highly of his work. Ron Miles pulls some lovely laid back trumpet out of his bag, sweet stuff. Art Lande's piano tops it all off Landes in charge. This is a definite 5 star effort, Hats off to all involved.

Mark Nodwell (leader)
Ron Miles (trumpet)
Art Lande (piano)
Khabu Doug Young (guitar)
David Gress (bass)
Tom Rainey (drums).


Nemesis
Sortex
Pitfall
Corpse
Fleet
Aura
Flight of the Pterodactyl
Resurrection
Dreamtime (epilogue)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Asaf Sirkis Great new players.... Tassos piliotopoulos


I recently got turned on to these fellows....

“Devastatingly creative” (John Fordham, The Guardian on Asaf Sirkis)Following on from Tony Williams’ ‘Lifetime’, the Asaf Sirkis Trio picks up the baton and finds new space for a drummer-led trio in the noughties. ‘The Monk’, the group’s recording debut, will be released mid-September through Sam Productions. Asaf, a self-effacing Israeli ex-pat living in North London cuts a refreshing dash through London’s fertile jazz landscape. He reflects in a characteristically understated way, “For me, music begins where ideas finish”. Whilst an afternoon spent with Asaf will find him flitting between themes of existentialism, fatalism, political propaganda and loss it’s never something he does to be elitist. Maybe it’s the years working with Gilad Atzmon and the politics that swirl around their BBC-award-winning live performances, or the military service in Rehovot or the spates of self-imposed exile due to extreme tendonitis (the latter of which gave him the required writing time for this album) that have made him such an intriguing figure and have left telling traces on his accomplished musicianship. This group, a new electric power trio plays original material by Asaf and ranges from delicate jazzy ballads to hard rock-ish improvisations. The line up features Tassos Spiliotopoulos (guitar), Yaron Stavi (bass) and on occasion Asaf's long time friend, drummer and keyboardist Gary Husband on keys. Although Sirkis has been described as having the ‘drumming muscle for a thunderstorm’, dust off the surface a little and a sensitive writer shines through. Opening track “Stoned Bird” takes in Chick Corea-esque jazz fusion, whilst ‘Without A Story’ has a more post-rock feel. A piano solo on ‘The Bridge’ shows the variety on offer from a composer with a broad tonal palette, and title track ‘The Monk’ shows the contrast of pastoral organ with the rock antics of Tassos’ guitar - swinging it back into Tony Williams territory. The gothic rock descriptions that floated around his past record may again be referenced, but this album has a subtle style of its own. Asaf has previously collaborated with luminaries including Tim Garland and Larry Coryell, he has traveled across the globe playing with some of the best figures in jazz and won vast critical acclaim for Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble. Whilst acknowledging the politics and challenges that have coloured his life, this album stands alone as a beacon of contemporary British jazzfrom a truly international trio.

With the zest and zeal of a thunder and lightning storm, Asaf Sirkis takes his new electric trio into blissful states of improvisational glory... and all amidst a multitude of subtle musical delights that can only be described as "pure joy." THE MONK is simply Asaf's best recording to date and his drumming is just phenomenal... every beat... every phrase... every single second!

For this album, Asaf has assembled a truly outstanding group of talented musicians that features Tassos Spiliotopoulos on guitar and Yaron Stavi on bass with the amazing Gary Husband adding keyboards to several tracks.

As a composer, Asaf has branched way out from his gothic jazz journeys with the "Inner Noise," yet still manages to push the jazz-rock envelope into very fresh territory. As any great monk learns from his Masters, Asaf has fused the multi-directional influences of Tony Williams and Jack DeJohnette with the adventurous song writing styles of Allan Holdsworth and avant garde composer, Erik Satie.

The overall mix of tunes on the CD runs the entire spectrum from harmonically gentle to brash creativity. Lightning does indeed strike numerous times throughout the album, but it is never overpowering... there is a calm and confident, almost illuminating attitude that is quite refreshing in comparison to Asaf's previous work.

The guitar work of Tassos Spiliotopoulos is gorgeously sparse and minimalistic on the title track, "The Monk" and "The Journey Home", yet can jump into hard rockin jazz genius at the drop of a hat on tunes like "Without A Story" and the very tasty "Dream". Check out Tassos' site at MySpace.com

On the bass, Yaron Stavi, holds down heavy hanging notes on "End of the Circle" and gets super melodic on "Stoned Bird", "The Monk", and "The Journey Home." Like the patience of a saint, Yaron, delivers a solid foundation for the music to build and grow upon. Check out Yaron's site at MySpace.

Not to be missed is the highly spirited fifth track, "Alone", which features soloing from the entire band, ending with an especially tasty bit of drumming between Asaf and guest percussionist, Adriano Adewale.

All in all, THE MONK delivers beyond expectations. It is an album by an ingenious composer and drummer who carries the listener into new and exciting musical heights! It's definitely not for the meek. This CD has balls, yet it is also very quiet and thought provoking. It's bold music coming from a higher plane and from a drummers perspective, it is a major slice of heaven.

Thanks Asaf, you have learned well from your Masters and are definitely walking the path of an inspired Monk of Rhythm!

Highly recommended with 5 stars.


Asaf Sirkis - Drums/Compositions
Tassos piliotopoulos - Guitar
Yaron Stavi - Electic Bass
Plus special guests:
Gary Husband - Keyboards & Piano
Adriano Adewale - Percussion
SAM Productions 9015 (2008)

1 Stone Bird
2 The Monk
3 The Bridge
4 Without A Story
5 Alone
6 End Of The Circle
7 Dream
8 The Journey Home

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Khabu Doug Youg (a slight return)






Ok ..the thing is ..I can be so effin lame. I guess everybody who really (really) loves music has a bit of madness/ (slash) depression going on.....between bits of creativity and so called normality.

Anyway, I feel like a bit of a shit.

Here's this guy...Khabu, who actually reached back out to me and mailed me a couple CD's MONTHS AGO...(ok, It took him a minute to get it together...but he did a hell of alot better than me.) but, as I said..I been in the grips of the blues.

FOLKS. one of the things I really really like Is when somebody reads my blog a discovers somebody they were absolutely clueless about.

I was clueless about Khabu till a bud told me 'bout him.

This is a killer player, wrapped up in a nice personality (apparently).

AND...to top it off...he's picking up the UKE!!

(I stay in Hawaii, Brah.)

Anyway...here's so updated info...

Nice pic here..and a good place TO BUY MUSIC.
http://downtownmusic.net/khabu-doug-young/ddygg-07-17-2004

these guys write better than me...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12817

Why, its the guy!
http://khabu.net/?page_id=2


I git this..if you are feeling adventurous...go for it. If you just want to put your fingers in the waters....check out the reviews below.


Although vocalists ranging from Betty Carter to Ann Dyer to Kitty Brazelton have made exciting contributions to avant-garde jazz, the vast majority of avant-garde jazz recordings have been totally instrumental. So when a vocal-oriented CD that is relevant to avant-garde jazz comes along, one tends to take notice. Avant-garde jazz isn't the only ingredient on OK OK's vocal-oriented Eating Mantis; most of the material combines avant-garde jazz with avant-garde rock, and some fans of art rock and alternative rock are likely to take notice of this experimental recording. But avant-garde jazz is certainly a major part of the equation for OK OK, who have a major asset in lead singer Kyoko Kitamura. Singing primarily in English but occasionally detouring into Japanese, Kitamura is an expressive vocalist who knows how to be quirky and eccentric but is also quite musical. In fact, that is true of everyone in OK OK -- not only Kitamura, but also, clarinetist Michael McGinnis, guitarist Khabu Doug Young and drummer Tony Moreno. For all its eccentricity and oddball experimentation, Eating Mantis is a highly musical album. An inside/outside perspective defines this 2006 session, which chooses melody and harmony over atonal chaos and is a long way from the type of harshness and claustrophobic density that some free jazz is known for. Anyone who expects this 45-minute CD to be a blistering vocal equivalent of Charles Gayle or post-1965 John Coltrane will be disappointed, but those who are looking for something along the lines of Dyer or Brazelton will find a lot to appreciate on Eating Mantis -- which is a promising and engaging effort from this New York City-based foursome.




Here's what the guys up to now............


Using ukuleles, guitars, cavaquinho, harmonica, and voice, Khabu creates music in a spirit of collaboration and interaction, exploring the continuum between improvisation and composition, sculpting sounds into musical journeys of the unknown. Born Doug Young in Lubbock, TX, he grew up in Houston and became known as Khabu while attending the High School For The Performing And Visual Arts (HSPVA). After two semesters at William Paterson College (Wayne, NJ), in hopes of being close to the NYC jazz scene, he found his way instead to Boulder, CO. While there, The Naropa Institute provided fertile ground for integrating his diverse interests in Tai Chi, Buddhist meditation, improvised music, health & healing, and anthropology. He soon became an adjunct faculty member and formed The Russian Dragon Band with Art Lande. Later, he moved to New York City to work with artists from all disciplines: theater, dance, spoken word, film, as well as musicians of many styles (often with unique instrumentation). Khabu has toured the US, Canada, Europe, and India with musicians such as Art Lande and Paul McCandless. Along with his cohorts Bob Bowen, Brian Drye, Mike McGinnis, and Jacob Sacks, he is a founding member of The Creative Music Workshop.


Khabu'Ukulele

This special EP of solo ukulele music is available for free exclusively from Yeah Yeah Records for a limited time only. To download, click "Add to Cart" below. You'll be asked to sign up and checkout as you would with a regular purchase, but at checkout you'll be charged $0.00.





http://yeahyeahrecords.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&products_id=51




Yes...you must do this.



ALSO>>>

I tell ya...Mark Nodwell is murderous.

The book of bhu ...will knock you on your ass.











Khabu Doug Young






Right after xmas 2009 a old friend got a hold of me (merry xmas) and we got talkin music as always, We talked about old favorites like Allan Holdsworth, David torn, Soft Machine and he asked me, what do you think of Doug Young? my answer was...Huh? Never heard of him. Well I checked him out..hell of a pedigree, plays with Art Lande..nice reviews. So I went to All Music Guide to check out what sessions he was on, looking good! then I went Amazon and found a bunch of cd's he plays on. I found some real nice deals and I bought about 4-5 for less than 30 bucks. IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT!

This is a major new talent people...go to AMAZON...and find the cd's I have noted in this post, they are all five star cd's!


http://khabu.net/ http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12817
The Book of Bhu

Khabu Doug Young and the Russian Dragon Band (2003)


By Farrell Lowe


Guitarist Khabu Doug Young's first outing as a leader is whimsical, musical, and deceptively deep. It seems he's been saving up his vast musical awareness to simply cut loose with this double album tour-de-force. The music is well-executed, well-conceived, and covers a dizzyingly broad tableau of styles and influences. On the second disc, Young explores guitar sonorities reminiscent of the most subtle of Jimi Hendrix's work on Electric Ladyland, or a delicate Sonny Sharrock approach, along with McLaughlinesque chops. From an overall compositional point of view, fans of Carla Bley, Frank Zappa, or John Zorn could find niches in this silly/serious brew of styles. Young is definitely someone to be aware of in the world of modern music, and if his freshman effort is any indication of what lies ahead for him, we're all in for treats ahead.

Visit Synergy Music on the web at www.synergymusic.com .



Track listing:

1.Brina Chorale;
2.Rhound Things;
3.Ahnimalism;
4.Bhutism;

5.Squishy;
6.Piece in the Middle East;
7.A Perfect Chance;
8.Gas Chamber;

9.NPR;
10.If You Can't Chew It, You Can't Drink It;

11.Old McBhugaloo (had some ducks);
12.Nukeyuler Pop-Tart;

13.Xibalba's Ball Court;
14.Puddin' Time;
15.Bhad,Ahwful Nhoises;

16.Eulogy;
17.Pain Uncramped;
18.Someplace Downunder;
19.Carnivale duh Stupido;

20.Played Some;
21.Ololiuqui;
22.Strange Visit


Personnel:


Art Lande-drums;

Dwight Kilian-acoustic and electric basses, tuba;
Shane Endsley-trumpet, drums;

Mark Miller- tenor, alto,and soprano saxophones, alto flute, flute;
Bruce Williamson-alto and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute, temper-tampered piano;
Khabu Doug Young-guitar, compositions, and arrangements


The following CD SLOG..is NUTS! man it is sooo freeking good! SLOG was just a real pleasant surprise for me. Its some crazy Garage-jazz stuff. Its gets out at time and others tight in the pocket funkyness. I don't think of myself as a Trombone aficionado, but Brian Dry pulls all kinds of sound out! And of course Khabu Doug Young tears it up.

Just a suggestion...get it. jayD

Slog - Drew Field 45

(NCM East Records 40125)


This concept drawn out by these instruments with this execution is not on the books yet. This said with no mention of the grace and passion that fills Drew Field 45, from compositions of blazing energy to ear-twisting brain prod.

Slog is:

Brian Drye- Trombone
Khabu Doug Young- Guitars, Baritone/alto double neck guitar
Bob Bowen- acoustic and electric Basses
Greg Joseph- drums


Special Guest: Bruse Williamson - Bass Clarinet & Alto Saxophone on Tracks 7 & 9

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=8276

The russian Dragon band...When Kentucky was Indiana is a real solid opening effort from this band, I had heard mention of "The Russian Dragon Band" but somehow, I had mixed them up with the Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki (why does the brain do this...hmmm.)

I mean, check this out:

Russian Dragon Biographies

Art Lande

art

Grammy-nominated Art Lande is considered one of the premiere improvisational jazz pianists today. He began piano at age 4, studied at Williams College & moved to San Francisco in 1969. He has mostly carved out his own singular path throughout his career, taking the innovations of Bill Evans several steps further. In 1973 he recorded with Jan Garbarek and Ted Curson and in the mid-1970's had started his own jazz school. In 1976 he formed the quartet Rubisa Patrol which recorded for ECM and performed until 1983. After teaching for three years in Switzerland, Lande, in 1987 moved to Boulder, Colorado.

Art appears in many of the "Who's Who in Jazz" encyclopedias available today for his role in the development of "Chamber Jazz." He is also a noted teacher having divised innovative courses for improvisation and ear training and has lead improvisation workshops in many parts of the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Khabu Doug Young

khabu

I create music in a wide variety of settings and purposes. The underlying feature to any ‘Khabu’ performance is improvisation, although I have an equal affinity for composition – which I see as opposite ends of the same spectrum.

I use ukuleles and guitars (both acoustic and electric) to create a rich and colorful tapestry of sounds, moods, and atmospheres, in order to tell musical stories of journeys into the unknown. Usually the context is a concert type setting, where the art of the moment can hopefully penetrate the surface layers and offer an engaging adventure or possibly a lucid meditation on the web of existence. At other times, I’m simply plucking along with the family sing-a-long or spontaneously creating the soundtrack along with a gathering.

I’ve worked with artists from all disciplines: theater, dance, poetry (spoken word/storytelling), film, visual forms (painting, etc), as well as musicians of many styles (often with unique instrumentation). My favorite mode of play is collaborative and interactive. Teaching is no different in this regard. I play and create art with my students, regardless of level or style. And my favorite way to teach is team-teaching with my cohorts. Communal work and individual work both are necessary and vital for art to be a transformational process. This is where I find the most love and joy in art.

Dwight Killian

dwight

Dwight grew up in Kansas, the “heartland” of America. He started his musical journey by playing guitar, which led to tuba and finally to electric and acoustic bass. He graduated from Russell High School in 1981and received a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University in 1986. From 1982 to 1988, Dwight was a “Kansas Jazz Artist in Residence” and a member of the “Kansas Touring Arts”. He also taught jazz bass at WSU, Bethel College, and Hutchinson Community College. In 1988 he moved to Denver CO. and free-lanced with local and national artists.

Dwight has performed with many top jazz artists such as Sheila Jordan, Art Lande, Herbie Mann, Teddy Edwards, Mark Murphy, Ernie Watts, Richie Cole, Mose Allison, Myra Melford, Jerry Hahn, Milcho Leviev, Claudio Slon, Paul McCandless, Nick Brignola, Lee Konitz, Ken Peplowski, Bob Florence, Lennie Niehaus, and Marvin Stamm. He has performed at many of the major jazz festivals in the Midwest and also at the Holland Blues Festival.

Dwight relocated to Phoenix Arizona, in November of 1998, as bassist with the Discovery Jazz Trio at The Boulders Resort in Carefree AZ for six years. He currently freelances throughout the valley doing Jazz Concerts with some of the area’s top musicians. Dwight’s festival performances while living in Arizona include: 1999 Wichita Jazz Festival, Carefree Music Festival from 2003 to 2007, and the Prescott Jazz Summit from 2003 to 2006. While in the valley he’s taught Jazz Bass at Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, and Arizona State University from 1999 to 2006. He is currently teaching applied bass lessons and leading Music Serving the Word seminars at Southwestern College. In 2005 Dwight became Executive Director of Music Serving the Word Ministries and the bassist for The Inner Journeys Trio led by pianist Bob Ravenscroft. He also co- leads a concert series in Glendale at New Hope Covenant Church called Jazz For The Soul the 2nd Sunday of each month.

Mark Miller

mark

Mark Milller plays flute, saxophone and shakuhachi, the traditional bamboo flute of Japan. He has toured and recorded with Art Lande, Paul McCandless, Peter Kater, R. Carlos Nakai, David Friesen, Tuck and Patti and Nawang Khechog as well as poets Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg. With jazz pianist Art Lande he has recorded three albums of improvised duets, The Story of Ba-Ku, Prayers, Germs and Obsessions and World Without Cars, as well as two award-winning children's albums featuring Meg Ryan and Holly Hunter. With pianist Peter Kater, he has recorded seven albums including Migration, Honorable Sky and Rooftops, as well as sound tracks for television and Off-Broadway.

Mark is a member of the core faculty of Naropa University, a Buddhist inspired liberal arts college in Boulder, Colorado where he pursues an interest in meditation practice and contemplative education.

Bruce Williamson

bruce

Bruce Williamson (sax, woodwinds, piano) has performed with a wide variety of jazz instrumentalists; Art Lande, Fred Hersch, Mark Isham, Gary Peacock, Benny Green, Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Jim Pepper, Paul McCandless, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Jack McDuff. He has also appeared with the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra, the NYC Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Manhattan New Music Project, Partita Chamber Ensemble and Spit Orchestra (Bang On a Can Festival). He has worked with director Julie Taymor and composer Elliot Goldenthal on theater projects “Juan Darien” and “The Green Bird” and the films “Titus”, “Frida” and “Across The Universe”. He was recently a featured soloist (along with clarinetist Richard Stoltzman) with the Slovakian Radio Orchestra.

Bruce has received two NEA grants for Jazz Composition. He can be heard on dozens of recordings, including his debut CD as a leader, “Big City Magic” (featuring Randy Brecker) on Timeless Records. Bruce is also on the Music Faculty at Bennington College, Vermont.

Shane Endsley

shane

A Denver native, Shane is a CU alum (if two years of hanging out at the rec center counts as alum) and graduate of the Eastman School where he studied trumpet, drums/percussion and composition.

He has toured and recorded extensively with Ani DiFranco and Steve Coleman and has been doing work around NY with Josh Roseman, Dave Binney, Ravi Coltrane, Donny McCaslin, John Hollenbeck, Erin McKeown, Anna Egge and others. His most consistently working project is with Kneebody. The NY/LA based electro-acoustic quintet that has been garnering international attention during the last few years.

He is currently playing drums and trumpet in a trio with Ralph Alessi and Tim Berne and leading his own group, "Feature", and doing regular work wih Steve Coleman vocalist, Jen Shyu.

Peter Sommer

peter

Peter Sommer, saxophonist and composer, is in demand as a performer, clinician and recording artist throughout the state of Colorado and across the nation. Since establishing himself among the Denver area’s elite jazz musicians, Peter has contributed his muscular tenor playing and creative spirit to a wide variety of musical projects ranging from mainstream bebop to avant garde and beyond. This Spring, Peter is releasing his second album as a leader, Crossroads on Capri Records, which features a two-tenor frontline with New York saxophonist Rich Perry. Peter is also featured on Terra Firma (Synergy Music) by the Ken Walker Sextet, Unfailing Kindness (Capri Records) by Chie Imaizumi, and the debut release from Ninth and Lincoln (Dazzle Records), as well as his first release as a leader, Sioux County (Tapestry Records) which features his duo with jazz piano legend Art Lande.

The Peter Sommer/Art Lande Duo has recently given concerts and clinics at Middle Tennessee State University, Portland State University, Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, Baylor University, the University of Colorado, and at the Jazz School in Berkeley, California. This Spring they will also perform and present clinics at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Peter has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, and has appeared at many jazz festivals throughout the state including the Telluride Jazz Celebration, Jazz in the Sangres and the Vail Jazz Festival. Peter was featured as a guest soloist with the University of Wyoming Jazz Ensemble I as part of the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 1 Conference held in Laramie, WY. Peter has also performed at IAJE International Conferences in Anaheim and Toronto, Canada (Jan. 2008), and performed at the World Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain. Peter has performed in concert with Greg Gisbert, Ron Miles, Brad Goode, Bobby Shew, John McNeil, Clay Jenkins, Bobby Watson, Dave Pietro, Don Aliquo, Gary Smulyan, Paul McKee, Dale Bruning, Jim McNeely, Joanne Brackeen, Chip Stephens, John Riley, Roseanna Vitro and Ernie Andrews. He has also played for Tony Bennett and John Pizzarelli with the Colorado Symphony.

Peter Sommer is Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Saxophone at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. At CSU, Mr. Sommer directs Jazz Ensemble I and the CSU Jazz Combo program, in addition to teaching courses in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Pedagogy.



Mark Nodwell:
Nemesis

(Songlines 1539) Art Lande


Mark Nodwell, composer

Ron Miles, trumpet
Khabu Doug Young, guitar
Art Lande, piano
Drew Gress, bass
Tom Rainey, drums


Nemesis
Sortex
Pitfall
Corpse
Fleet
Aura
Flight of the Pterodactyl
Resurrection
Dreamtime (epilogue)



Canadian saxophonist/composer Mark Nodwell surfaces as a formidable modern jazz composer on Nemesis, where he puts down his sax in favor of having others carry out his musical plan. Nodwell handpicked these musicians for this set consisting of nine original compositions. Notables such as Colorado-based trumpeter Ron Miles, pianist Art Lande, and others execute the artist's material in superb fashion. With this production, the listener will embark upon a multifaceted expedition, brimming with subtle intricacies and poignant dreamscapes. Electric guitarist Khabu Doug Young is apt to put matters into overdrive on occasion. Yet Lande, bassist Drew Gress, and drummer Tom Rainey often engage in odd-metered rhythmic exercises amid a few atypically constructed passages, derived from the free jazz scheme of things. In addition, Miles executes some knotty bop lines via linearly devised themes. The thrust of this outing resides within the rather supple flow, dappled with soft melodies and the soloists' often-striking harmonic excursions. Overall, the musicians perform Nodwell's works with a burning desire as programs like this might insinuate a bit of renewed faith for modern jazz aficionados. ~ Glenn Astarita, All Music Guide

RON MILES

Nemesis was perhaps the best surprise of all the CD's I got, Its really a bit of a revelation, combining "free" and straight jazz texture's with electro-acoustic instrumentation. It's really quite good.
Nemesis the albums title, opens the set..you'd think looking at the artist listings that your are about to embark on a difficult,
(hard to listen to) project. However, the sound here is straight ahead modern electric jazz...and to start out..almost mellow. Khabu is just such a superb player. Nodwells decision not to play, but to hire musicians to fufill his compositions is curious, but clearly well thought out. Nodwell has picked well using the duo of Lande and Young along with long time collaberator Ron Miles crating a "rock" to build around has paid good dividends. The end result is an almost astonishing suite of music, that has me reminiscing to the "good old days" when the mix of electronics, jazz and rock was still fresh. The date is solid throughout, there's no dead weight in either band or compositions...but to me there are highlights: On Sortex, we really get an idea of what Khabu Doug Young is capable of. (what can Khabu do for you!) When my friend from Colorado and I were talking music, David torn came up and somehow we worked to Khabu Doug Young. I had never heard of him. He compared Young to Torn's playing. What I here is more of a young John Abercrombies tone and attack. In fact Sortex, to me feels like it could be a part of Enrico Rava's "the plot" date. Youngs playing has that early 70's Abercrombie sound with a distorted yet almost country tone. It has that Manfred Eicher sound and Ron Miles is so strong here. Ron Miles is such a great player, and another familiar with both Lande and Young. Fleet has the band in one of those goofy "downtown" rollicking messes....Young is again given the lead and he trades off finely with Lande. Flight of the Pterodacty is kinda a psychotic tango. the band blasts through vaguely Latin bizarre chord changes and odd meters, bouncing great solos off each other along the way. Nodwell's musician choices really show how well picked and thought out they were here. There is great chemistry here. Resurrection pulls it back in, Drew Gress's subtle underpin's remind me why I think so highly of his work. Ron Miles pulls some lovely laid back trumpet out of his bag, sweet stuff. Art Lande's piano tops it all off Landes in charge. This is a definite 5 star effort, Hats off to all involved.









some vids..................


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=509qQ321xLY



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIeyTfM_hno

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Kauai eden tours


here's a shot of my wife an I from her Eden tours website.


beauty and the beast, eh? ( I'm the beast in the Tilley hat).

here's a link, If you are coming to Kauai.

http://www.kauaiedentours.com/About_Us.php

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Interview with Richard Hallebeek


I have been having some correspondence with a few of my favorite artist's ...bugging them for brief interviews. Richard was kind enough to send me this via e-mail..

Hi Jay,

Here's some anwers, feel free to change my rusty English here and there if necessary.
If you have additional questions, let me know.
Rich


(NOTE HERE) I am always impressed by Many European artist's and their command, both in speaking and writing the English language. I could find NO editing issues with Richards reply.

Here is what he had to say..my sometimes trite questions are in this color...its been awhile since I have done any interview.


Do you remember the moment you decided to become
a musician full time?

I was 10 when I started playing the guitar and started taking lessons. I have been gigging since age 12 and started teaching when I was 14 years old.
I never thought of doing anything else really, but when I started my study at the conservatory at age 17 I decided I wanted to make a living making music. Never looked back since.


What was the first record that turned your head.

Around different ages, different records turned my head. Around 10 years old it was The Beatles and Frank Zappa, my sister had all their albums. I played them on my pickup for hours after school. When I was around 12 it was Charlie Parker and Pat Metheny and Weather Report. Later on I found out about Holdsworth and Henderson. I cannot really name one record that did it for me, it has to be different records that you discover at different periods in your life that change the way you look at music and hear music. If I have to name some:

John ColtraneMy Shining Hour

Pat Martino – Road Song

Wes MontgomeryD Natural Blues

Pat Metheny – First Circle

Allan Holdsworth – The 4.15 Bradford Executive

Weather Report – A Remark You Made

And the list goes on..


What would you tell a young kid about playing music.

I teach children from 6 years old.. the main focus is on having fun. If I would try to teach them sight reading or other boring stuff, they would be gone after one lesson. I have to make money so it’s also an economic choice to keep them interested so they keep coming back!

I think it works for adults in the same way. Nobody wants to do boring practice sessions alone at home. The key is to challenge yourself and keep being inspired and keep coming up with fresh ideas. Also try not to be stuck with the image and style you think you should have or the person you should be. Try to reinvent yourself all the time. Have fun.

Do you have any musical favorites/heroes?

All the great players of course continue to keep inspiring me; Wes Montgomery, Allan Holdsworth, Van Halen, John Coltrane, Django Reinhardt, Lalle Larsson, Bach, the list goes on…….


What do you listen to.
Right now there is Jacques Loussier who does a fresh take on Bach with a jazz trio. Incredible stuff!


Is there a musician/group you feel like should
receive better recognition.

I don’t really understand people complaining this or that should receive more recognition. For instance Shawn Lane was a very small artist but he was touring the world and doing his own thing 100%. Being a bigger name means lots of times pressure, signing 5 album deals and coming up with what the audience wants and not what you really would want perse. I think being a small artist has a lot of advantages and gives a lot of freedom. I know of a lot of small artists that are financially starving so to speak, but they also have the freedom of doing their own thing, whatever that is. There is something to say for that freedom. I still don’t make much money making music, but at least I always do what I want whenever I want.

Have you been to "the states".

Sure, I studied at GIT in L.A. for a year and stayed there for a while after my graduation. Been back numerous times to L.A. Great city and great vibe. Lots of musicians and lots of small talk too haha…!



If you had a "soapbox" what would you say.

Anybody here plays anything? Wanna jam?? Let me hear what you can do…!



What are some things you'd like to have
happen/accomplish while you are in "this mortal coil".

Learn how to play the guitar! That answer is too easy.. I’m interested in writing songs and playing an instrument and trying to play what I hear in my head. My head is always ahead of my fingers, so I guess there is always something to work on. You never reach that point that you are satisfied.


What art, including books and movies moved, or move you.

Last book I read was ‘Het Diner’ from Dutch writer Herman Koch, a great read.
I try to stay in touch with the latest movies. Avatar 3D was pretty impressive! Also, I watched 'The Machinist' for the 3rd time last week.

Besides that, anybody creating something original and moving that’s made with heart and soul, I’m interested in checking out.


What music are you listening to now, TRUTHFUL! don't try
to impress!

Jacques Loussier and while writing this, my iTunes library switched to Philip Glass, ‘The Witches Of Venice’. Great album. Thruthful answer!

Whats your world view, do you follow politics?

I try to avoid it as much as I can. Too much sneaky stuff going on there. My job is making music and I think music should be an escape from daily life. I do care about the rainforest and the children in Africa, but I don’t want to write songs about it. Music should be an escape.


Name some musicians you like to play with...
different than who you play with now. Musicians
that would challenge and change you.

Pff… Philip Glass would surely challenge my harmonic knowledge.. and I would like to have been the guitar player in the band with Pekka Pohjola, the Finnish composer who sadly died a couple of years ago. I saw him live a couple of times and he was a great bassplayer and composer.

What sessions can we look forward to there release in the next year.

There’s a new Rene Engel album coming up, Weaveworld from Lalle Larsson is just out. I will have to start writing some material for a new album, possibly RHP II in 2010. Keep an eye on www.richardhallebeek.com for details.



Thank you R.H.!




I "borrowed" this....


www.richardhallebeek.com/





Richard Hallebeek has been playing guitar professionally for over 25 years and has recorded with Shawn Lane, Scott Henderson, Brett Garsed, Frank Gambale, Scott Kinsey, Dan Gilbert, Carl Verheyen, to name just a few.

Born august 2, 1969 in Bilthoven, Netherlands, Richard Hallebeek started playing guitar at age ten and took lessons from local teachers. He formed some local bands and started performing in various Jazz and Rock groups. Influences early on were Pat Martino, Allan Holdsworth, Scott Henderson's first album 'Spears', Eddie Van Halen, Pat Metheny, the radio and every album he could get his hands on at the local library. Already at the age of 17 he was submitted to the Hilversum Conservatory, a conservatory best known for it's strong Jazz history drawing musician's from all over Europe. Richard studied with Jazz legend Wim Overgaauw and Maarten van der Grinten, a.o.

In 1989 Rich was the winner of the Dutch 'Yamaha Band Explosion' with his band 'What A Gig'. The Yamaha Band Explosion is a world wide talent search for bands writing their own material. The grand finale was held at the Budokan Hall, Japan, Tokyo for a 17,000 people screaming Japanese audience. In the jury were, a.o. Bon Jovi, Europe singer Joey Tempest and Casiopea guitarist Issei Noro. Hallebeek finished fourth with "Question of Love'.


In 1993 Richard was chosen out of more then 300 contenders to take part in the International Ibanez Guitar Award for 'Best All round Player'.

The finale was happening in Ahoy, Rotterdam and in the jury were a.o. Alex Skolnick (Testament) and Dutch session ace Lex Bolderdijk. Performing the Jazz Standard 'Road Song', the Rock Classic 'After Midnight' in an 'all instrumental' version and playing an unaccompanied solo, Hallebeek became the second price winner.

Around this time, things start to get real busy, besides already playing in different groups, there's also teaching and doing countless sessions and studio hours for radio, movies, commercials, (Dutch PTT Phonecompany, Hooghoudt, Region Police, Fokker, etc.etc.) and TV.

In 1994 he received a scholarship for a foreign study from the Prins Bernhard Fonds. At the end of '94 he leaves to Los Angeles for a one year study at the Musician's Institute to study ear training, composition and improvisation. He studies with Scott Henderson, Dan Gilbert, TJ Helmerich and Brett Garsed, a.o. He graduates with an honors degree.

It's at Orchid Avenue, Hollywood, where Richard meets his 'improvising over strange chord progressions' neighbor, Antti Kotikoski, a young guitar player from Finland. Antti has a big influence on the way Rich looks at music, composing and improvising. Together they team up to do a weekly performance at the Musician's Institute with various musician's at first, but later notably with Jan Fabricky on drums and J.K. on bass. Their goal is to write strong material, while still staying true to their guitar roots and leaving a lot of room for improvisation. Influences in their music can be anything, ranging from Rock, Fusion, Jazz to Pop and Heavy Riffs since they both have such a varied background. They continue to perform all year and record their first album in the M.I. studio, (now known as 'Tommy Tedesco' studios where numerous artists have recorded CD's since the first recordings of Richard and Antti) which was an initiative from engineer and eight finger tapping guitar wonder TJ Helmerich (now with Planet X). Some players who stop by to jam at those recording dates are Scott Henderson, M.I. teacher Dan Gilbert, Carl Verheyen and Frank Gambale.

At the end of '94, Richard gets the call from guitar guru Mark Varney well know for his monthly 'Spotlight Column' in Guitar Player and his Legato Records label who had featured so many great players Richard was heavily into before moving to L.A. Mark had heard some rumors about two hot new players and was interested in hearing some music.

At the beginning of '95 Richard and Antti sign a four album contract with the Legato label and Mark Varney. The first CD 'Generator' was released in November '96. Featured on that album are also Scott Henderson, (Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul) Frank Gambale, Dan Gilbert, Scott Kinsey (Keyboardist from Tribal Tech) and Carl Verheyen (Probably the most recorded guitarist in L.A session history.)

In '98 back in Amsterdam, Holland, 'True Colors', from Richard's rock group Maximum Brain Disfunktion is printed in a small quantity and sold at local gigs around Holland.

The beginning of 2000 brings a welcome distraction from the usual fusion stuff: Rich plays a 6 month tour, playing 6 nights a week, performing Händel’s classical masterpiece ‘The Young Messiah’ throughout the Benelux.

Rich also starts gigging around with drummer René Engel, probably best known for his CD project 'Jazz Sick' with Mike Stern and Danny Gottlieb.
In march '98 'Spheres of Samarkand' is released which features alot of outstanding guitarwork. Featured on that CD are also:Jeroen de Rijk (Mezzoforte), Nippy Noya (percussion legend). In 2003 ‘Nostalgia’ is released which further showcased the style of Rich which is moving more and more in his own original direction.

2003 Rich thinks it’s about time to do it his way, all the way. He initiates the Richard Hallebeek Project and gets help from some of his musical friends: Shawn Lane and Brett Garsed both contribute four solos. The band consists of a few of his musical heroes, young drummer Bas Cornelissen and keyboard virtuoso Lale Larson both contribute songs for the RHP and are heavily involved in the creative process, making it more of a band effort. Within a month after it’s release on the new guitar oriented U.K. Liquid Note Records label, RHP tops guitar9.com being the best selling and most popular fusion album and the album gets rave reviews through out the world.

There have been interviews and reviews with and about Richard in the 'Guitarist' and the Dutch 'Music Maker', American 'Guitar World' and 'Jazz Times' and the Japanese 'Young Guitar' and the Italian 'Axe'.

Richard Hallebeek has an endorsement with Brian Moore Custom Guitars USA (playing a C-90),KOCH guitar amps and speaker cabinets and Diezel amps. He has a habit of using too many pedals.

Where does the journey end? Stay tuned and we will see.


and some vid links....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McvEQhLwU2k




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_E-0S7SteQ



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3M9_8RzZJo




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAMyyGD5Ip4