| Hi Good People, coming to you late in the day—the magic hour of light. Everything looks better than it really is. I like this. I like illusions in sight and trickery in sound! Heck, let’s go all the way and maybe just join me in tap dancing into an alternate universe. “Space is the place” sonic avatar Sun Ra once said…
I’ve been up super early, breaking the muso stereotype, surfing in the ocean by 6:30am. It’s been windy and bumpy but super fun. Today was special and after the morning ocean session I carved out some studio time and recorded a new vid of me playing solo on “The Susan Variations.” The music will make its way to YouTube in the next couple of days and I’ll be sure to let you know.  Looking at the chart and marking the hard sections with a red pen. I’ve read that that’s supposed to make it easier to play. Hah!  This is where I sit when I play those red markup sections. Coming right up tomorrow (Thursday), I’ll be back playing solo at The Roxy. I miss that place and I miss the gang that shows up there. See you soon! If you live out in the Vista area I’m scheduled to play a solo hit on Sunday at the Vista Library. Library gigs are the new frontier—high level of listening with good sounding rooms and the revolving option of SILENCE as part of the music. I hope to see you there.  Peter and the revolving option of silence. I’ve been going out to hear other musos lately (last week was some great music by Anthony Wilson and the Seasons Quartet) and this week on Sunday I’m heading over to the Athenaeum Studio to hear guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and his trio. I’ve never heard him live but I know he’s playing up a storm. Here’s the details for the concert and here’s a little backstory on him: Jazz guitarist Roni Ben-Hur has earned a sterling reputation as a musician and educator, renowned for his golden tone, improvisational brilliance, compositional lyricism, and ability to charm peers, students, and listeners alike. Eminent jazz critic Gary Giddins wrote in the Village Voice: “A limber and inventive guitarist, Ben-Hur keeps the modernist flame alive and pure, with a low flame burning in every note.” Ben-Hur—born in Israel in 1962 but a longtime American citizen, now based in New Jersey—has released nine albums as leader or co-leader, with Time Out New York calling him “a formidable and consummately lyrical guitarist.” The Star-Ledger of New Jersey summed him up this way: “A deep musician, a storyteller, Ben-Hur works with a warm, glowing sound and has an alluring way of combining engaging notes with supple rhythm.” Jazz guitar star Russell Malone got it right when he said: “Everything Roni does is beautiful. He has the magic touch.”
|
