Robin D. G. Kelly's Thelonious Monk: The Life & Times of an American Original---to me one of the truly stellar jazz biogs.
Anything by David Hajdu; especially Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life and his biog on Nat Cole. (I've also corresponded w/him and he seems truly nice).
Frank Buchman-Moller's You Just Fight for Your Life---the Story of Lester Young. (All the Pres biogs are worth reading).
Art Pepper's autobiog (written with Laurie Pepper); and Miles (written with Quincy Troupe) are self-gratifying and hampered by loads of BS, but I've read them both numerous times. Pepper is a spellbinding raconteur, and his insight into other musicians' work is interesting to read (if his comments about his own 'genius' are slightly delusional). Miles talking about music has been great food for thought.
The Benson book was mentioned. One thing that cracked me up: some poetic justice. I knew Eddie Diehl for years, and he had a bug up his ass about Kenny Burrell. It had to do with a record date where he was sent home and replaced by Kenny b/c the company wanted a 'name'. He neither ever forgot nor stopped bad-mouthing Kenny's playing til it came out of your ears. I guess it's SOMEWHAT understandable. Eddie WAS one of the best, and a truly good-hearted guy underneath it all. We're all sensitive, and rejection---perceived or real---can really hurt.
Anyway, in George's book when he got the call to go with McDuff he was to replace Eddie. His comments---and they were respectful---were (paraphrasing): '(Eddie) was a formidable musician----not on the level of Kenny Burrell...., but he definitely could play'. Eddie was still alive when that came out. I hope he read it---it MAY have shut his mouth. I doubt it though---shutting Eddie's mouth about ANYTHING, especially guitar players he was jealous of (their stature in the biz, not their playing), was a tall order. But I had quite a chuckle over that one...
Not really. I still do scales (and patterns based on a given scale), but I never considered it ear training. Dexterity, knowledge, ability all that, but not ear so much.
Or just a...
From Mark's Gallery: "Serial #3570109 Custom 16" – this double cutaway custom was built for Michigan guitarist Steve Correll. Steve plays ‘lefty strung righty’ and wanted this guitar to function as...
Julian played with his trio last night in Amsterdam. The venue holds 725 people and was sold out. He used his Nachocaster through a Deluxe. He checked its tuning before the first song and never again...
Woah... please, let's avoid name calling! Mr. Smith is certainly not dumb but prone to hyperbole at times. I just don't think terms like "better," "more advanced," etc., apply for the reasons I gave...
Don't recall that tune but Somewhere Over the Rainbow does that too.
First two notes of Norah Jones "Don't Know Why" are a major 7th and then a descending Maj.7 chord arpeggio (7-5-3-1).
...
My 2 cents: I have tried a lot of ear training in different sauces
Ear master pro: good but not great
Complete ear trainer: 5 euro smartphone app that is a game changer. try it.
^ Good God no. I hate tippy taps.
2nd no drummer and proceeding with the gigs as is. If you eventually find a good replacement then cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzlYSCiRCqA
Julian Lage Trio, Amsterdam, April 17 2024
Today, 02:19 AM in The Players