Maurice Ravel has been my favorite composer for many years. Studying his life and music has been a real passion for me. I have visited Ravel’s house (museum) in Montfort L’Amaury, which is 50 km from Paris, several times. I own 23 different books in English about Maurice Ravel’s life and music.
I certainly don’t intend to get anyone riled up but I want to vent on a topic I have given a lot of thought to. In the realm of jazz guitar (and almost especially in the realm of gypsy jazz) it seems that some soloists think that simply stitching a series of well-executed prepared licks together constitutes a good “improvised”
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I have been aware of Jim Hall for many years. Anyone interested in jazz guitar knows about Jim Hall. He was a very melodic, tasteful and measured player However, when I was in my late teens my taste ran toward players like Django and Pat Martino. Still, I always liked Jim Hall and knew that someday, with some maturity, I
Jim Hall (1930-2013) Read More »
Since Wes Montgomery passed nearly 47 years ago (June 15,1968) there has been very little “new and unheard” material released. But there is a “new” Wes Montgomery recording released this month. “In The Beginning” is now available on Resonance Records. It is a two CD set which is also available on 3 vinyl discs as well. When Buddy Montgomery (brother
There is a long list of musicians who have turned my head but among those at the top of that list is certainly Wayne Shorter. Though it may not be apparent at first blush, he has influenced me tremendously as a composer. The almost “Webern-like” compression of his forms and highly efficient use of space and harmony is wonderful and
If I had to name my top five Jazz guitar albums it would go something like this: 1) Intercontinental- Joe Pass (1970) 2) Live- Pat Martino (1972) 3) Down Here On the Ground- Wes Montgomery (1968) 4) A Night at the Vanguard- Kenny Burrell (1959) 5) any Django Reinhardt “greatest” collection
Favorite Jazz Guitar albums Read More »