Viewing: Pop Culture - View all posts
HOW TO MAKE THE PAULIE WALNUTS SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE GANTHET SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE ATTICUS FINCH SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE CH'P SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE BETH DAVENPORT SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE ITTY SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE KWISATZ HADERACH SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE JOAN HOLLOWAY SMOOTHIE
HOW TO MAKE THE NIGHT KING SMOOTHIE
EVERYTHING IS NOT YET LOST
WHO WE ARE
A FEW THOUGHTS ON JAZZ & COMPETITION
To my ears, “Jazz Competition” is an oxymoron.
We’re going to have a contest to see who can be the most vulnerable? The most sensitive or sincere?
To find out who among us can best lay bare our soul and play from the heart?
Every year on tour I hear dozens of excellent high school groups, all over the country, investing hours of rehearsal time, polishing the same Duke Ellington charts in preparation for the annual Jazz Hunger Games.
While it’s gratifying to witness Duke’s music being disseminated so widely, I wonder if these young musicians might be better off exploring a larger repertoire of sounds and styles, learning to sight read, listen and improvise.
Of course, there is such a thing as “healthy competition” in the arts. Setting challenges and overcoming them is how we improve.
Competitive, however, is not the correct mindset for quality music-making. This art form is interactive. It’s about listening and openness. Conversation, not competition.
Personally, I don’t feel that I’m in competition with other artists. I’m competing with Netflix, spectator sports, video games, social media and all the other distractions that vie for your leisure time, attention and dollars.
I welcome opportunities to work alongside and learn from my betters. I always try to surround myself with talents greater than my own. Art Farmer said “if you’re the smartest cat in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
One time Nicholas Payton dropped by my gig in San Francisco and schooled me on a ballad. It was like a ten-minute graduate seminar on understatement and grace.
This week I had the opportunity to participate in a tribute to one of my longtime heroes, Tom Harrell, along with Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Sean Jones, Johnathan Blake, and several other world class musicians, including the man himself, who has never sounded better.
Everyone involved was more capable and experienced than I. It was humbling but thrilling. I learned a lot and felt nothing but love and support in the room. There was no vibe. Everyone was there for Mr. Harrell.
Wynton Marsalis says a cutting session is like a debate. And debates have their place, especially in the classroom. But wouldn’t you really rather have a conversation?
Personally, I think cutting sessions are a drag. Everyone posturing, posing, showing off, going for house. The atmosphere of a cutting session is like a Michael Bay movie full of explosions. I usually end up resenting the audience for enjoying such tripe.
Here’s a challenge: let’s play lower, softer, slower -- with intensity.
Let’s play more soulfully.
Let’s just play.
LIFE IMITATES ART
a pale misunderstood shut-in, watches silently as
the devil-may-care youngling SCOUT plays outside.
SCOUT-CAM 2/9/16
SCOUT-CAM 2/7/16
The Federation, however, was utterly DESTROYED today
by the exhausted Wolf Baby.
SCOUT-CAM 2/1/16
Scout has already accumulated too many nicknames:
Anderson Pooper
Barkarella
Barker Little
Bitey
Booger
Bossy Aussie
Critter
Diggy Doo
Dirty Dawg
Girlscout
G'nort
Ida Lupine-o
Khaleesi
Kissyface
Luv Puppy
Maniac (On The Floor)
Miss Thang
Muddypaws McGee
The Night Fox
Nipsey Fussle
Noodle
Principessa
Pigly Waggly
Pooless Jo
Prancy Drew
Rain Dancer
Scamp
Scooby Doo-Doo
Skittles
Smoochy
Snarfle Snout
Snickerdoodle
Snoopy
Snuggles
Soft Serve Suzie
Spaz-Lassie
Speed Racer
Stinker
Stix Pooper
Superstar
Toto
Waggles
Wolf Baby
Woof Blitzer
SCOUT-CAM 1/29/16
Scout Puppy Playtime is a lot like the TV show ALIAS.
It makes no sense at all, but she’s cute, there’s a lot of action,
and the costumes are fabulous.
SCOUT-CAM 1/27/16
SCOUT-CAM 1/26/16
has there been a tug-o-war champion so fierce + beautiful.
DRESSING FOR SUCCESS
My new sidekick and I are training hard over here in the Flugelcave,
preparing for our first road trip together next month.
Now I know what you’re thinking, and I agree:
If Scout is going to be the hero we need her to be,
she’s definitely going to need a costume.
Any ideas?
IRON CHEF : PUPPY EDITION
Idea for a cooking show:
Contestants must prepare a salad
while simultaneously babysitting
a very curious, rambunctious,
partially housebroken puppy.
SCOUT-CAM 1/22/16
New Puppy Tricks:
1. Fetch
2. Back Up
3. Roll Over
4. Kobayashi Maru
5. The Corbomite Maneuver
Thanks, Jasper Klabunde!
SCOUT-CAM 1/19/16
Amok Time
SCOUT vs KLINGON
Thank you, Jasper Klabunde!