~ Exciting times. The last Friday of the month...there is a concert / workshop I'm producing in New York City. This is something for me like a dream come true as well.
John Gross is one of the unsung giants of the tenor sax.It's great to hear someone play from point zero. I am so looking forward to playing with him and Billy Mintz. Listen to John Gross on the Ninewinds c/d he did on Vinny Golias excellent label or
those Shelly Manne things that are coming back thru on c/d now. They sound like they were done yesterday.The deal is, I've been trying to deal some music like this in NYC for a few years now. The name game appears and I refuse to buy in to it. The clubs that force you to work for the door are always there, when musicians start to respect the fact that this is OUR LIFE, and we are trying to all exist together, well maybe something will change. Till then as Baretta sais- I gotta keep stroking. So I found a space where we can be serious, let John Gross and myself really get a groove.
It's also at 7:00 at night- so it's not to late. Case in point- it's all about the music.
~ This also is interesting because it is about the music. Not some internet profit that spends 22 and a half hours on line dousing others with his boccalone. Why these types do not try stepping into the shed instead of the the serious internet whining I dunno. I love to practice, it's food for my soul. I'm always trying to go deeper and connect to things I'm thinking about or hearing. But then to shed them- getting that sound you hear. Thank you Bob Rockwell. Yea- I haven't spent all these years in and out of NYC cafe and hood coffee shops,bodegas and not learn anything. Come on'...I'm on the case here. Ha!! INSTEAD....of doing what the person with the boccalone does- My path is clear. As Harold Ashby said- " I've got an agenda". I'm here to play, advance myself as a person inside the music. Music for musics sake as my man Charlie Banacos was famed for saying. If a player is REALLY aware of the time span we have as players ,it matters to me most that no matter what,those of us that are here to create will strive to survive and make our music thrive, because we love it. That's why my agenda is important on this John Gross- Billy Mintz- Tim Price concert. I got stuff to do.
JOHN GROSS...has been a lifelong inspiration- as you should be able to tell.This night at the end of the month I have been seeking my entire life, one of the real inspirations in my musical world. Try to make it dear reader.
The John Gross book is a major work for the sax and multiphonics.And its
easy to use.People like Gross and Bert Wilson have been on the trail of saxophonistic
advancement.Hunt his stuff down.I bought a Shelly Manne record in 1970
with him on and never forgot him. Need I say more?
Try your best to attend our concert this month too.
Friday September 28th New York City.
AT- MICHIKO STUDIOS ( Roberto's 2ed floor )
149 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
@ Roberto's Winds and Michiko Studios
At 7:00....Join jazz legend John Gross for a saxophone workshop on Multiphonics for the Saxophone & jazz improvisation.
John Gross is the author of "185 Multiphonics for the Saxophone, A Practical Guide" published by Advance Music.
At 8:15....hear tenor saxophonist John Gross & tenor saxophonist & multi-woodwind player Tim Price & friends perform a jazz concert.
FEE- FREE!Thank you Rico reeds! Dig it - this is music for the sake of music.
Remembering back...One was called...."Mannkind", then there was "Outside"...and "Live in London".The band was very advanced,on a par with Miles and Hancock.I am surprized that Miles never got Gross to play with him .
~ So many times people musically are concerned about harsh reviews that serve no purpose and just thrash the artist. The common sense of communication, respect and review are lost forever in this kind of situation.
The great teacher Charlie Banacos once shared the below quote with me of Theodore Roosevelt which sums it all up nicely.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
Here's a helpful hint to gain new dimension ;
Replace the same old videos you watch on youtube with classic jazz recordings.Start listening more to masters and study the real history of what your playing! Youtube can be a great starting point- but keep on searching. Listen to more String Quartets, more Woodwind Quintets, read more about composers. Open a book, listen to Bill Evans, Bartok, read Boulez.Study scores, and get past the same stuff. The world is out there go find it.Live music needs your support! I continue to explore and learn all I can about all music in the quest to develop a voice.The more I know about what’s behind the music the more profound the effect is on my musical psyche. Being a complete musician goes well beyond the notes- much more than that. I’m grateful for the era that I came up in, and the teachers, musicians that made me aware of these values. Balance! I hope my words on this issue, in the process inspire people to do the right thing.Go hear some live music, support the people playing NOW, be part of it.
In Pentatonic scale use you can use a C Pentatonic scale over these
chords;
C maj 7
C7
Dminor7
D7sus 4
Emi7b5
Fmaj7
G7sus4
Ami 7
B7b9sus4
Bbmaj7
F# dom7
F#mi7b5
ALSO- You got to think past your horn.Be prepared, as in knowing the music inside and out. ALSO- don’t judge yourself,get out of your own way.Stay in shape-eat right and don't be _that guy_who's hung over at a rehearsal or tired. Get your rest, this is after all your life and employment.Be responsible-nobody owes you a thing.
Learn to play in 3/4 ! Learn some jazz melody's in 3/4, anything from " Someday My Prince Will Come" to " Up Jumped Spring" and "West Coast Blues" -Monk's "Ugly Beauty", Denny Zeitlin's "I, Thou", Wayne Shorter's "Iris", Richie Bierach's "Nightlake", Sonny Rollins' "Kids Know", Herbie Nichols' "Love, Gloom, Cash, Love".
Take note! NEW YORK JAZZ WORKSHOP....My blues to standards class. Check it out.
~ FIRST CLASS...Starts Friday. Sign up ASAP- we still have room.
Blues to standards. Every Friday- in a great location and easy to get to place.
http://www.newyorkjazzworkshop.com/workshops.html#blues
Till next week be in the moment and make every moment the best it can be.
~ Tim Price
~~~ THIS WEEKS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO... ALL the people who have their own personal relationship with music. Keep on. Thank you.
