Miles Dewey Davis....Happy Born Day- May 26, 1926

If you've ever found any reason to talk to me about Jazz, I'm sure I have spoken of my general awe and undying love of the song ALL BLUES. This tune, along with MOOD INDIGO and BLUE BOSSA embody what...JAZZ IS...in my humble opinion.

ALL BLUES, Columbia Records, 1959 was originally recorded April 22, 1959 on arguably the greatest jazz album ever recorded, KIND OF BLUE. Kind of Blue became the standard bearer for practically every recording jazz artist of the era and beyond.

Kind of Blue personnel:
Miles Davis – trumpet, band leader
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley – alto saxophone, except on "Blue in Green"
Paul Chambers – double bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
Bill Evans – piano (except "Freddie Freeloader") liner notes
Wynton Kelly – piano on "Freddie Freeloader

Miles would have been 85 years old today...Gone too soon...

Video personnel:
Miles Davis - Trumpet
Wayne Shorter - Tenor Sax
Ron Carter - On the Bass...ATCQ style
Tony Williams - Drums
Herbie Hancock - piano

Happy Anniversary Bunny...

In the car, I tend to keep my IPod on shuffle. I have relatively diverse music tastes, so the music shuffle provides me with the formatting that I wish radio could be. I wish – not expect. The diversity of the music is pretty cool except when you hear Michael Jackson belting out songs about seeing his mother kissing Santa Claus…in May.

But this morning, ignition, thumb to play: MICHAEL FRANKS and BRENDA RUSSELL styling one my most favorite ballads, WHEN I GIVE MY LOVE TO YOU.

This tune is from the album, SKIN DIVE, Warner Bros. 1985. It was particularly apropos as today is my wedding anniversary. Michael Franks is one of only a few artists my wife commonly enjoy.

This one's for you Bunny…Happy Anniversary!!!


The video features VERONICA NUNN.

One O'clock....rock

Embarrassingly enough, I missed the first date of the best part of my summer – Thursday nights at the Dallas Museum of Art - Jazz Under the Stars. But I redeemed myself tonight.

If you, as I did, grew up playing jazz/stage band in DFW, you probably dreamed of playing in the University of North Texas’ (formerly North Texas State University) One O’clock Lab Band.

On this unseasonably cool May night, I got to listen to the fabled band that once featured some of my favorite musicians from as far back as the eighties and recently as the few years ago. I have always loved this band. The tradition of the One O’clock Jazz Band has always been a standard bearer for Jazz Bands in the area and by the very fact that they have been nominated for Grammys, all over the world.

Tonight, this band did everything a stage band is supposed to do; from the swingin’ saxophone line soli and screamin’ trumpets to the full trambone harmonies and the tight rhythm section. I was not disappointed. They played about 8 – 10 tunes total. Two of the tunes really stood out for me. First being a tune called HIP PICKLES. This tune was written by a student in the 70s and it sounded like it. It was a funk fusion piece complete with funky guitar rhythms and those screamin trumpets abovementioned. Also, there was beautiful ballad titled, YESTERDAYS. This tune was led by the lead tenor player. Real nice…I found a couple of videos of this band from 2010 playing these tunes. I recognized the players. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Meet Jason Davis...Again

Latest Project: GREEN

Just before I took a trip to the Dominican Republic, Jason Davis released is latest record, GREEN. On my 5 am flight, I played the record for the first time. No sleep for me. The record kept me relaxed, interested and entertained from beginning to end.

This record is a trio setting which is Davis on Tenor, Lamont Taylor on Drums and Mike League on Bass. The trio setting sans piano is and always has been tough for me to digest. I am harmonically challenged sometimes and when I don’t hear the colors from the chords, I get lost. My first experience with this type trio was Branford Marsalis, Jeff Watts and Robert Hurst – The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born…I still haven’t digested that record. So I won’t waste keystrokes trying to explain how I feel about this record, except to say, I really like it. I will say that this record was a lot easier for me to follow. I don’t know if my ears have grown up or Jason’s record is just that good. Jason’s driving style is reminiscent of the Texas Tenor tradition. His love for the tradition is guaranteed to keep it alive.

If I have one complaint, sometimes during Davis’ improvisation efforts he disappears. I believe it is the gorilla recording coupled with his physical style when he gets into the music.

I had chance to interview Jason.

What’s your main instrument? Tenor Saxophone
What other instruments do you play? Clarinet, Flute, Piano, Baritone Horn, Organ, Harmonica, Vibraphone, Drums, Bass Guitar
When did you know music would be your life? September 1984 @ Pearl C. Anderson Elementary School.
What song do you remember most as a child? Ava Maria
How do you describe the music you play? Husic; it is Healing Music that presents Hues, Shapes, Textures and Spiritual Intentions
What is the name of latest project? Green
Describe that project? When I recorded Green I wrote down a list of the 25 things that I do on sax better than anyone else. Then I called up Mike League and Lamont Taylor and asked them to come record some originals with me. I told them that this session would be very loose and have lots of time a directional changes. Green is an improvised recording that is the way I sound when no one is watching.
If you could pick one song that describes music for you, what would that song be? To God Be the Glory.
What is your favorite moment in your own personal music history? Standing on stage this year in front of my new Jazz Big Band called "Stage Band South" for our first gig.
What do you think about when you are improvising? Nothing
What is your biggest career challenge right now? I need my own music venue (Concert Hall) so that my audiences can see me without reserve.
What are your biggest creative influences?The Texas Music Tradition that comes out of South Dallas and Lincoln High School.
Who is your biggest fan? My dad - James Davis Sr.
Who are you trying to reach with your music? Im trying to reach everyone that dares to listen.
What is your approach to live performances? I want to be vernacular and take an Illinois Jacquet (Texas Tenor) approach.
If it is true that you write what you like to perform over and over, what song(s) have you written that you love to perform? #1 song is called "Put That Meat on The Grill" #2 song is called "Cozumel"
If you only had one song to play before you left the earth, what song would that be? Hymn #162 "Pass Me Not"
What are you doing now? Viral Marketing all over the web with videos, CD releases and blogs. Looking for funding for my Big Band Concept.

Without music, I would be I would be searching for my purpose in life.

Music is a gently twisted tool that can get you through anything

Video links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt3khwNPEDY
Social Media Links: http://www.facebook.com/wellingtonhancock
Music Links: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/green/id42723220

Jason Davis' Equipment:
Reeds: Benz-Reeds #3 or Vandoren Java #3
Mouthpiece: Claude Lakey 6*
Ligature: Rovner
Horn: Band Now
Mics: AKG C419
Effects: Presonus Audio Box with Mac Book

James Moody - Rest In Peace

Saxophone Master James Moody has passed away at age 85. Moody's greatest claim to fame, of course, was MOODY'S MOOD FOR LOVE, loosely based from the song I'm In the Mood For Love.

Links to some of my favorite Moody performances:

Cherokee and The World is a Ghetto - on flute

First Thing in The Morning

The Making of MOODY'S MOOD FOR LOVE

and of course the song: MOODY'S MOOD FOR LOVE

and an awesome remake by Take 6 and Patti Austin

Thank you for sharing...

Happy 90th to Dave Brubeck....

Happy Birthday to Dave Brubeck. I meant to do this yesterday. Better late than never...like he will ever read this...

Who among us doesn't LOVE the standard Take 5...Take 5 and enjoy...

Bach to Blues

I think part of the reason I’ve had such a hard time catching the blog back up is because I owe someone a review of his album. I don’t know if I really believe in karma to that level but I do feel a kind of way about not offering this review months ago when the gentleman asked me too. Don’t get wrong, it’s not because I didn’t listen to it - it even got space on the Ipod. It’s just because I didn’t finish writing my review.

I received an email from Dave Leonhardt inviting me to review his record. Mr. Leonhardt honed his chops with the likes of Jon Hendricks and the incomparable David "Fathead" Newman. He's produced and arranged and performed with for Stan Getz, Slide Hampton and Lewis Nash. Needless to say, he's got alot of good music infused in his playing.

I read the title BACH TO BLUES and knew instantly what the theme was – of course that’s not hard to figure out. So I was interested in what I was about to listen too. I admit that I love music that makes me think. But as I read the title of the songs and saw that they were direct copies of Bach song titles, I pushed the play button with a little fear of being disappointed. I didn’t know if I wanted to hear Bach’s music with a swing beat. I was pleasantly surprised! This isn’t that! Well not really that…

I wanted to go into this recording with an open mind. I wasn’t familiar with Leonhardt or his music so I didn’t read his included bio. I downloaded the record and listened to the music. Basically, what Leonhardt does here is to use the themes from Bach’s music and comment on them in his own way.

I was only slightly familiar with most of the tunes. I really enjoyed his take on Ava Maria. He kept it a ballad of course, however a well placed minor third here and well placed seventh there made for beautiful song.

All and all I like this record alot. I like to refer to this album as "dinner music". It’s soft, unimposing but gives the right vibe for a delicate evening in front of the fireplace or over Merlot, T-Bone and conversation.

Thanx Dave for offering me this record. It has certainly been a joy to experience.