Tim Price Bloggin' For Rico Reeds - Charles Lloyd, celebrating his 75th birthday in concert at the Kennedy Center. A triumphant world class concert.

~ Friday I drove to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC to hear Charles Lloyd. Every time I hear Charles it's an experience I'm glad I heard. The journey has many rewards,and inspirations.This was very special,with one of the greatest saxophonists in the history of jazz, Charles Lloyd, celebrating his 75th birthday with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, Alicia Hall Moran, Zakir Hussain, Maria Farantouri and Socratis Sinopoulos , at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on Friday, March 22. His live playing is a real treasure trove.The ECM Cd's are worth their weight in gold.The recordings have that very rare quality of becoming better each time you listen to them. Each time I put on a Charles Lloyd CD on, I get lost in it. These types of experiences, in which one can enjoy him live, is a wonder, a synthesis of cerebral and virtually telepathic musical intuition and communication between the musicians, as if suddenly they unite in their new found discovery and take a voyage down a never explored avenue, only to emerge in triumphant glory. I have to mention the interplay, the improvisation, the way each band member can feel each other like putting on an old glove.Not to mention the benediction from the legendary genius Dick Gregory! A bright moment and something very beautiful in the 75th birthday concert for Master Lloyd. In a very clear way,a Charles Lloyd live concert is the pivot point between the main phases of this masters career: the acoustic jazz idiom he inhabited , and revolutionized,and the beyond category music he is creating on a day to day basis. This makes for a one of a kind team, equally at home with groove and feverish exotic forward motion. Charles takes the ensemble through a series of atomized improvisations.I loved what everyone brought to the bandstand, the knowledge, soul, passion and imagination.They shimmer like stars in the night sky when they create together.Charles Lloyd,Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, Alicia Hall Moran, Zakir Hussain, Maria Farantouri and Socratis Sinopoulos - were phenomenal! The ensemble inventiveness here is among the most masterful, the most intricate, the most engaging in the history of jazz and modern music. Indeed, it is Charles Lloyd's playing on tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute and taragato that is immersed in the brilliance of universal invention. ~ This was of the highest historical importance. Jazz is ephemeral, everything has to be right for the best performances, and everything was perfect on this date. The players were all at the absolute top of their games, the tunes were great, the mood was right, it's a great concert in every respect.Thank you all- Charles Lloyd, the masterful Dick Gregory,Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, Alicia Hall Moran, Zakir Hussain, Maria Farantouri and Socratis Sinopoulos.I'll never forget this night- I can't recall a more sheerly beautiful gathering of spirits and simpaticos. ~ Charles Lloyd is a blessing to this music, and all within and around it. - Tim Price

Tim Price Bloggin' For Rico Reeds- “Great art presupposes the alert mind of the educated listener”

“Great art presupposes the alert mind of the educated listener”.....Arnold Schoenberg "I believe what I do and do only what I believe; and woe to anybody who lays hands on my faith. Such a man I regard as an enemy, and no quarter given!" -Schoenberg on his peculiar style of music. -- -Schoenberg's music can be difficult for the first time listener - that I admit. If you give it some time, though, it begins to make much more sense, and the passion and expression written into the score begin to come out. It may not happen the first or second time you listen, but if you put forth an effort, it will happen. Let's start with - Peripetie - Arnold Schoenberg. Take a week, listen to it once a day. Watch how what YOU hear in the music develops. The music is utterly seamless,The sound is rich and full-bodied.Arnold Schoenberg has become my "go to" choice for inspiration. Urgently recommended.He wrote for the muse of music. My kinda hero. Do not forget as well...Berks Jazz Festival.Sunday, April 7 Workshop: Tim Price's Jazz in the Classroom Time: 11:00 a.m. Admission: FREE (donations accepted) The Jazz in the Classroom workshop is part of Tim Price's popular "Adventures in Jazz Series." In performance-oriented settings, Tim Price works with young artists to improve both musical awareness and technical skills. When circumstances allow, it is informative and interesting for directors and teachers to help their students prepare materials to play in a master class setting. Students and faculty benefit from both the performance itself and Tim's expansion of musical ideas along with a fresh, creative perspective. FACTS...And answers learned from the masters and real life experience on the bandstand- come by and hang, study and have fun with Tim !In the clinic forum, Tim encourages students to participate by presenting relevant subjects and compositions by the masters , asking questions and sharing musical and, sometimes, personal concerns. Tim will then respond through discussion and demonstration. Tim will also urge participating faculty and students to express their thoughts and share their experiences and feelings on matters under discussion. These ideas provide a great point of departure and inspiration for students of all ages and musical levels. AND....Tim Price Jazz-A-Delic Thursday, April 11, 7 p.m. Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base Crowne Plaza Reading Tickets: $15 ORDER TICKETS Berks native Tim Price is no stranger to the Berks Jazz Fest. Price has appeared at the festival for over two decades and counting! For the upcoming fest, Price will showcase his Jazz-A-Delic project, featuring vibraphonist/percussionist Randy Sutin, who has been creating music with Tim for over 26 years; drummer/composer/educator Sean Kennedy; and superstar bassist Mark Amentt. - -- TAKE IT EASY...Catch you next week- Tim Price

Tim Price Bloggin' For Rico Reeds- Jazz-A-Delic...more than ever.

The word is ~ imagination !! Using your intuition and feelings when improvising is most important be it at the most advanced level or just a basic beginner. To thoroughly approach this as an art form and something that has deep meaning is most important. The masters when they played, be it Johnny Dodds or Sidney Bechet or Bud Powell on through the greats like Wayne Shorter or Charlie Mariano all came from a very deep place. At times, this place is something that you must go to in a natural way. Nothing cosmic about it, it's almost like a trance. It's almost like when your telling someone a story and you close your eyes and you're taking them somewhere with you. Art Pepper wrote a song about this called "The Trip." Stan Getz called this frame of mind the "alpha state." Whether its experienced in dreams, altered states, or simply sitting in solitude, the artist must be aware of the visionary realm. In Buddhist culture and other forms of spiritual thought, this is called the "third eye." It is the sixth in the series of energy centers in the body known as Charka. The sixth Charka contains and controls knowledge, intuition, and perception. Inherent to any of these philosophies of the "third eye" is recognition and attention paid to the source of human creativity. This human creativity can be one of the deepest subconscious forms of communication in the world. Opening your thoughts to the unknown realms of your own imagination. Many times musicians inquest to unlock the force behind this theory of the eye has shadowed their colleagues throughout ancient history. In my humble opinion, the subconscious travel that one can take studying Buddhism or any of those particular forms runs a very strong parallel to the stunning body of work of many jazz saxophone players. ~ ~ The music chose me. When somebody has a situation where they're playing music at an age like I was in 8th grade. At that particular time there were only 3 TV stations. I had no distractions, I had already gotten the sports bug out of my system due to a bout with scarlet fever I had as a kid. So for a few weeks I was restricted from sports, at that same time I had started saxophone lessons in 8th grade. A woman who worked with my mother at the telephone company was a Gerry Mulligan fan, she had given my mom a Gerry Mulligan record for me with Chet Baker and Chico Hamilton. My attention span was captured by that music. A few days later I found a radio station in Philly that was on all the time. I heard Lee Morgan play the " Sidewinder" . I had no idea who Lee Morgan was and no idea that I was listening to Joe Henderson until I saw his name. Something in the music, whether it was the freshness of how Mulligan or Lee Morgan played or something else that I couldn't put my finger on drew me in. From then on I was listening to the radio, taking my saxophone lessons, and playing in school bands in Junior High. I saw an ad for Berklee in a Downbeat. I realized that at that particular point in time I had to go there. From then on I realized where my path was. What is your experience when you feel connected into the music? This question could be answered a number of ways. I'll be blunt-THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD! There's a euphoria and a feeling of deep interaction with what you're creating. You're inside something. I'm not standing there trying to be someone else by playing someone else's style or licks. My goal is to start from zero and try to add something to the music. This is something I've learned and been influenced by studying with masters such as Charlie Mariano, who has a great internalization of not only saxophone command but commitment to creativity. You have to understand even if you're playing simple triadic rock n' roll or the most harmonically ad vanced stuff. You're going for a groove. I have an unreleased CD that's called " Bombay Bar Walking" , and the vibe is no matter if you're at a corner bar in Philly and you're playing tenor in the pocket or you're sitting crossed legged with a tabla player to your right-no matter what you're going for that zone. I also stay neutral to all musical appetites.It's a personal thing.Personal is of supreme importance to me. That means to be oneself in any given setting.I am an unabashed eclectic, meaning interested in many different musical idioms.This goes back to my formative years, when I was exposed to all styles of music which I was involved in. Great rock & roll bands, playing creative jazz everyday at Berklee where I graduated from,playing organ group funky jazz in the " Combat Zone",backing "soul" acts and big bands. Also sitting in the same room with my mentor Charlie Mariano playing, studying and getting life lessons from that master innovative genius. I was always attracted to many diverse areas of music and when I began to construct my own musical landscape I found a "zone" within' the path I was seeking. That's where its at. That zone that everyone looks for is as important as anything. That is my spring board. How many times have we witnessed a player deep in a trance way beyond the environment he is in, whether it's a club, or a concert or just in a corner practicing? He's in another space for sure! What I have experienced is a kind of network between the people improvising (a mental network you could say) where many are connected and there is a kind of dialogue going on without any words being spoken.Like the great bands of Miles Davis or Wayne Shorter or John Coltrane. I'm pretty sure that many times, a person sitting cross-legged in deep meditation is in the same spiritual space as a tenor sax player behind a bar with a screaming organ trio and his eyes closed...playing from the deepest spot in his soul. What I'm getting at here is nothing cosmic or nothing too whacked out...what I'm trying to bring your attention is music needs all the imagination from an individual it can get. When unconscious-unspoken communication, traveling at the speed of thought, becomes the only or at least the truest form of communication, you just know everything is clicking just like it should ... the energy is like a ball and bounces around through glances and body comunication.It is awesome, it's the inner spirit of your mind in it's highest form. At this point in time in jazz, everything seems to be published and everything seems to almost be written down. We are in a great educational state. But where are the people who are really reaching within and trusting themselves to their own creative muse? This is the element that I am addressing here. As a student of music, take some time to think about using your intuition. As Bird said, "First you master the music, then you master your horn, then you forget all that shit and just play!" We need to keep that in the front part of our minds and make that a slogan similar to the many people who look to their "third eye." As you see, I'm trying to point out a parallel in creative paths. It's not easy. But it is easy when you bring it into your own consciousness and try to practice these aspects. Sure, licks, lines, inversions, and all that good stuff is of paramount importance. But let us not forget to keep the magic in the music. Give all that you have and you shall receive more than you can imagine experiencing when playing jazz! Lively Up Yourself ! Only 31 days...till Tim Price Jazz-A-Delic @ Berks Jazz Festival. Sean J. Kennedy....Mark Amentt...Randy Sutin & I will be "Steppin Out"...because... " Love Has No Pride". We talkin'...Jazz-A-delic shuffle "SK" grooves with jah Natty Dread mixed with stritch, vibes, bass-ooga-boo-galoo & nipple gongs , straight tenor...Datta tenor...electro-bassoon whammy and Libby Titus meets Pee Wee Russell & straight up fun. Mark your calendar's and....Lively Up Yourself with the Jazz-A-Delic. IMAGINATION...on the set. Come get some. Your gratitude empowers others to play even better. Remember fear destroys the souls ability to create. So start now and use the power of love to encompass all your decisions so fear has no room to exist in your life. Remove fear from your thoughts and you remove and limitations. All is illusion and all illusion is yours to control. So be connected. Everything happens for a reason. Chance is limited to a coin. Decision is limited to free will. We are limited to our decisions. So decide to burn and get down with the music you love. Decide to bring something to the music. The word is ~ imagination ! Jazz-A-delic...and more! ~ TIM PRICE

Tim Price Bloggin' For Rico Reeds- Self Expression.

If self expression is the pinnacle of art (or if you at least agree it is very important) and if you desire (and attempt) to express yourself in music, you are an artist. In the past, I would not have used the label "Artist" to describe anyone that was not already great at creating genuine art. I typically reserved the words, art, artist and musician for only the highest levels of excellence. But as a teacher of saxophones, bassoon, flute, clarinet, and the many forms of jazz I have changed my use of these terms for the benefit of all students. SO..... I believe "Self Expression" is the pinnacle of all art. Anything less, "is less" in my opinion. I'm not going to debate that view or try to persuade any of you to also believe it. Instead I am going to assume you already hold that view and discuss ways in which I may be able to offer you both philosophical and practical advice. Street sense, if you will. The first step is to stop thinking of yourself as merely a musician. I'll take this one step further and recommend against thinking of yourself as a musician! You are, or are at least learning to become, an artist. Music just happens to be your medium and oboe just happens to be your instrument, but YOU are the artist. From this day forward when someone asks you what you do or who you are, don't reply by saying you are a saxophonist, clarinetist or musician. Tell them (in a non-arrogant way) you are an artist. If they want more details than that, go ahead and tell them music is your medium. I guarantee you will put an entirely different impression in other people's minds than if you were to. But beyond the impressions of others, you will begin to put stronger impressions in your own mind that you are in fact an artist (even if you are still in the learning stage of fully becoming one). The way you view yourself (as an artist and not merely someone who owns a guitar and plays it sometimes) is very important to the way you will think about what you are doing musically. The way you see yourself will also effect the results you will get as you are expressing yourself. To be truly self expressive one must actually know what one is trying to express! Did you ever look back on a conversation you had and fantasize about talking to that person in a more authentic way than you did? Perhaps it was someone who mistreated you and instead of telling them how you felt about it, you walked away feeling dis-empowered and wishing you had stood up for yourself. For some of us, speaking our truth, in the moment, may be difficult because of fear of confrontation and lack of confidence, but not speaking our truth can have damaging effects on self-esteem and even health. “People often say that this person or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something that one finds.When we think about ourselves, we tend to think in a certain way about our skills, strengths and talents. We narrowly define ourselves, meaning we live life from a certain way of thinking and being, which limits our experiences. We can re-create ourselves at anytime and choose to define ourselves in other ways. Explore new ways of thinking and being, and you may discover that you have talents and passions you never knew existed. THINK ABOUT IT. We can help birth ideas and create new possibilities for our life with creative techniques. Some creative techniques to try include: writing daily about anything that’s on your mind,( HOW DO YOU THINK I DO THESE BLOGS? ha ha ) keeping an idea book that you can carry with you, using mind maps for creative problem-solving, brainstorming, and creating vision boards. Many of us rarely, if ever, take time out from our harried schedules to become an observer of our own life and who we are being. We get so bogged down in daily activities and obligations that days, months, and years fly by. Take time to step back from your life and see whether you are truly happy, fulfilled, using your talents, and pursuing your passions. You can even hire a life coach to help you with self-exploration to gain knowledge that can open up new possibilities for you. ~ These are things that are on my mind. Thinks like self expression, finding better ways to open the channel and so on. As well as this amazing _Straight tenor saxophone_made by Sax Dakota. The avenue of self-expression and fun abound here. Why? Because the sound inspires me. It's very unique, it's organized via the straight tube of the tenor. I'm really knocked out by how it inspires me. But more on this as you hear me play it live too. Till next week...be well and stay on your path. ~ Tim Price ............The thing always happens...That you really believe in;And the belief in the thing...Makes it happen Don't bunt, aim out of the ball park....Aim for the company of the immortals....Shifting our misbeliefs is our assignment....Carlos Santana - 2013