Recap 1: Feel the Need/Make a Difference

There's nothing like playing with other musicians that makes you want to just play. The inspiration that springs forth from other people makes me want to write and play music all day. Sorry I haven't been on in a while. I wanted to make sure I had something to write about and had enough to fill up the space. Now, I have a lot to write about. Maybe, too much...Anyway, let's start from November.

We started recording and it has been an amazing experience. First off, let me say "Thank you" to the members of the Chris Hodges Band. I'm glad to be surrounded by so much living talent. We get along well in real life so naturally things just work out musically. By "living talent" I mean that when we play, it's not just sequenced music, organized into a specific mold. We start playing, and anything we play evolves on the spot, becoming so much more than what we originally intended, be it on purpose or by mistake. Eric Ward on set is awesome. He does great work. Probably the best drummer I've ever played with (sorry P.J.). Rusty Firth on guitar. He's just awesome. He never ceases to amaze me. And of course, Chris Hodges on bass....do I even need to say anything? Without him, this probably wouldn't happen. We (He) are the only ones really all that active in jazz in the area from what I can tell. I've heard of groups having gigs in the surrounding areas (Dothan or Montgomery, if you can consider that "surrounding area") but usually after the fact...I mean, besides the groups on campus. Most of the stuff I hear about now is coming out of Birmingham. In fact, we are making history (technically...hopefully) with this recording. We may be the first jazz group to have an album to come out of Troy without any official affiliation with the campus, i.e. TUJE, TUSB, etc. Our last session will be coming pretty soon and with that, the release of a yet-to-be-named album....I wonder where the release party will be?

On a different subject, 2 weeks ago, I was provided the opportunity to play with a man by the name of Raymond Reach. You may have heard of him. If not then go here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Reach). Yeah, "That" Ray Reach. The gig was for ThyssenKrupp, one of the world's largest steel producers. They were opening a new factory in Calvert, Alabama (yeah, I had to look it up too). It is one of the most advanced steel factories on the planet. It cost something to the tune of 5 million dollars to build. It will provide hundreds of thousands of jobs in the U.S. and help to bolster U.S. and German relations. There were representatives from the White House and Germany with full blown Secret Service detail. They even wore sunglasses...inside....at 9 o'clock....at night....yeah, I had no idea. I was just going to play a gig. Mind = Blown. I'm glad that I could be a part of something that actually effected so many lives on a global scale. I didn't find all that out until half way through the gig.

Before that, I was amazed by who I was playing with. Now, to drop a couple of names. Mart Avant of the Tuscaloosa Horns on Trumpet. Wow! He's top notch! An 'A' class musician and I got to sit right next to him. P.J. Spraggins on set. He picked up on everything...everything, like he knew the future...but just of what we were playing at the time. Carlos Pino on guitar....yeah, so apparently this dude is just out of this world on guitar. Richard Moten out of Louisianna on upright bass. The name sounds kind of familiar, right? He's a relative of Bennie Moten....jaw on floor. By the way, he's beyond excellent. Larry Wade on alto and clarinet. Just killer. Last but not least, Dave Amaral on Tenor and Flute. Stellar! What an awesome group of people! I felt very out of place. After a while, I finally settled in and started playing like I had some sense though. I also have to give a shout out to Casey Farris on Bari Sax. He's a hell of a reader and a driver. Thanks!

So, after all these mind-blowing experiences in the last month, I was kind of shocked. After a drought of not performing, I experience so much, with so many talented professionals, I can't help but wonder what I can do next? I want to go places and play now. I've always wanted to but just never did. I think I'm ready to go out there and do something. I was talking with Dave Amaral at the ThyssenKrup gig. He asked me what my "day gig" was. I told him that I worked at a restaurant. He immediately told me,"You need to get in a band!"....I'm kinda already in one but I know what he means. I need to do something with this...or die trying...sorry, I had to.

Jaco Pastorius

I seriously doubt there is a single electric bass player who don't know who Jaco Pastorius is. Whether or not you play (or even dig) jazz, you have to give Jaco his props! His first album, Jaco Pastorius, is, as Pat Metheny put it, "...without question the most auspicious debut album of the past quarter century..." and, along with Word of Mouth, is a study on what can be done with an electric bass, expanded harmonies and a big band.

One great but relatively unknown project of was an instructional video called Modern Electric Bass [VHS]. You can now get it on DVD, too. along with exercises and the like, it includes some really great jams with John Scofield and Kenwood Dennard. I can't even begin to count how many times I've watched that video (I have it on VHS even though I no longer own a VCR). This was my introduction to the energy of an improvisational performance and Scofield and Dennard blew my hair back every time I saw it. Remember, this was mid 90's and the internet was ssslllllooooowwwww and unreliable so this type of media wasn't readily available.

Here is a clip from the video where the dream trio plays one of Jaoc's most popular tunes, The Chicken. Enjoy.



I put together a list of esential Jaco recordings. Check them out and let me know what you think!