Category Archives: Profiles
The Day Cannonball Fired Charles Lloyd
Thanks to old buddy Alex Coke, I recently finished reading a book on the life of Julian ‘Cannonball Adderley called Walk Tall: The Music & Life of Julian “Cannonball” Adderley. Alex was kind enough to gift me the book he just read before he hopped a plane back to the more jazz-friendly, or at least …
In Praise of Z
One of the best things about this profession is the opportunity to work with people who are great at what they do. There have been scores of them, and I learn from every single one. Quite often, it’s somebody from the rhythm section, because they have the greatest need to ‘roll with it’ and make …
Jelly Omelette
Yesterday I went out to lunch with my Mother (age 94) and my Younger Daughter (age 19). My Wife (age undisclosed) recommended the restaurant, then wisely bailed out on the proceedings. Oh, the place was fine in a Groovy Austin Coffee Hang kind of way. Counter service, tiny painted tables, art for arts sake dominating …
This guy doesn’t like the spin classes up north.
OK, so I’m feeling a little motivated lately and hitting the gym more often. It keeps me off the streets. One day last week, I woke up ridiculously early—why?–oh yeah, the wife had to leave the house at 5:30 a.m. Bless her heart! <grrrr> Anyway, once I’m up I’m up, so I decided to put …
Pete Townshend–The Man, The Myth, The Mensch
It seems to be the time of the season for rock star dinosaurs–those who survive, at least–to pick over the bone-yards of their lives and offer up answers to the burning questions all of us flower children have nursed for so many years. Such as, “Just how large is Mick Jagger, really?” First it was …
Remembering Tina Marsh
In just two weeks, it will have been three years since Tina Marsh left us. Even though I never worked with her on her own musical projects, I did hire her for some of mine–and the AJW is much the richer for the experience. Tina had a whole different bag than I work out of–much …
Remembering Marty Allen and Bill Kirchner
No, not the comedian and the saxophonist. Those are two different fellows. Marty Allen was a pianist and dear friend who moved to Austin from the Bay Area some seventeen years ago. A remarkably gifted musician with a highly original approach, Marty worked with many people, and as a soloist, until he died unexpectedly of …
Babes in Bopsiland
One of the things I appreciate about the AJW project is how it encourages the presentation of types of music that may be outside my comfort zone as a player. I mean, we have done Monk, Gershwin, Jobim, Ellington, Rahsaan, etc. Now we’re doing Miles, which is to say four distinct musical movements as we …
James Polk, Living Legend
One of the best things about working the AJW project is that it has given me the opportunity over the years to work with some tremendously talented people. And in the jazz world, one mark of great stature is not only an individual’s performing skill, but also how he or she supports their fellow musicians …
Ron Westray: Man or Machine?
It’s a fair question. Ron Westray is one of those rare individuals who breezes into town for a while, assumes the throne of Jazz Royalty, and then leaves for greener pastures when the “Live Music Capital of the World” reveals itself to be…well, something other than that. Ron is an amazing trombonist, and we were …
saxsalon 