randissimo

I had the pleasure of meeting Roy Brooks in the late 70's when he would occasionally play at the Biermeister, a now defunct jazz club in Grand Rapids, MI with his band the Artistic Truth. I was sitting at a table when Roy Brooks called me up to the bandstand. He had a tune he was playing on a small mallet percussion instrument and wanted to have a drummer if possible, sit in, and unbeknownst to me, the club owner told Roy about me. After the shock of Roy calling my name, I walked up to the bandstand and nervously introduced myself to Roy. He gave me a warm smile and a firm handshake, and his first remark was, "You're a Cancer aren't you?" .. I tell him "I am a Cancer, how did you know?" and he smiles big and says, "Because you vibrate in the key A flat".. This really tripped me out because I have always written and improvised and almost always in that key whenever I sit at a piano! That night Roy played a beautiful rendition of Horace Silver's ballad "Peace" on the saw as well as a soulful "Body And Soul". Roy played brilliant and amazing solos that night as well as a profoundly deep and firey rhythmic approach to time. Roy in fact, gave me the idea of using flexible plastic tubes to change the pitches of my toms, which I started experimenting with again. I believe he was one of the first to discover the idea.. Roy Brooks was also quite an entertainer and would sometimes tell off the wall stories and share weird facts with the audience. During one of his performances at the GR jazz club, I remember him coming up to the mic and telling the audience, "NOW HEAR THIS,, NO MATTER HOW FAST A FISH SWIMS HE NEVER SWEATS" .. Roy Brooks was an amazing musician and percussionist and has inspired countless numbers of musicians as well as aspiring drummers. His contribution to the percussion group M'Boom in the late 70's / early 80's was magical! We have lost 2 great drummers in the last 2 years. Elvin Jones and now Roy Brooks. The two of them in fact grew up in and near Detroit. were innovative masters, and long time friends. I'm sure Roy & Elvin are having a warm re-union! God Bless you Roy Brooks, may you now rest in peace.

For raw, hard swingin' emotional playin' I like the Charles Tolliver LPs "Live At Slugs" vol 1 & 2 on Strata East.. Stanley Cowell-piano, Cecil McBee-bass, & Jimmy Hopps-drums swing with great passion on these sides! Jimmy Hopps kind of reminds me of Chicago drummer Wilbur Campbell. ← FYI randissimo, those albums are on disk #1 of the Mosaic set in addition to some unreleased tracks from the same dates on disk #3. ← Thanks for the info BFrank.. I'll have to get the box set..

For raw, hard swingin' emotional playin' I like the Charles Tolliver LPs "Live At Slugs" vol 1 & 2 on Strata East.. Stanley Cowell-piano, Cecil McBee-bass, & Jimmy Hopps-drums swing with great passion on these sides! Jimmy Hopps kind of reminds me of Chicago drummer Wilbur Campbell.

Here's an idea.. Next time you play a coat & tie affair, tie the 2 tunes together like a medley.

Just checked their calendar... Would any of the venues they are playing possibly work for us?

I'm with you... So f*cking what! ...

Three sets of 8 readouts all registering different input levels with some getting dangerously close to clippin' because of the loud drummer (kiddin'), kept me a bit distracted. I did leave my post a few times to check the room levels. I still haven't heard from Jim on how it all worked out. The first few tunes probably have some digital distortion and may not be usable, but I believe <crosses fingers> we got some good stuff. ← occasionally Paul, your friends are very nice people.. You guys really helped make the night happen.. I felt bad too that I didn't get a chance to say hello to Alison or Rachel.. I was sitting most of the breaks with the 3 German guys, one of which was the guy who occasionally stood near the organ, watching and admiring Jim's impressive ability to, and with all 4 limbs, operate, articulate, and cook so hard on that complex Hammond apparatus. That guy by the way, is very interested in getting our music heard in Deutschland and believes he may know some people who could maybe hook up some gigs & festivals.. So he has both Cds & a presskit and is on his way to Germany as I speak. After spending a few years here working for a Detroit based company, he is returning to his hometown of Dortmund, where the beer is really kiick ass! ..

Thanks Joe! I can tell you that we heard you fine this time. Last time at Baker's, it seemed your amp was not turned up loud enough, but we heard you digging real good (even with Randy's loud drumming.) ← When the the groove starts poppin' & hoppin' I get into the passion of the music and the moment and build the intensity.. The best shows I have ever attended have had dynamics, with drummers that can effectively play from PP (double pianissimo)- FFF (triple forte) .. The use of dynamics I think is what makes music interesting. Thanks again for coming Paul. Your presence and enthusiasm is always an inspiration. ← Yeah, after I read that first post about "Randy's loud drumming," I was wondering what Randy's response would be. Nothing pisses a drummer off more than saying he's too loud. ← I do sometimes play loud though.... Loud and proud

Thanks Joe! I can tell you that we heard you fine this time. Last time at Baker's, it seemed your amp was not turned up loud enough, but we heard you digging real good (even with Randy's loud drumming.) ← When the the groove starts poppin' & hoppin' I get into the passion of the music and the moment and build the intensity.. The best shows I have ever attended have had dynamics, with drummers that can build from PP (double pianissimo) a whisper to FFF (triple forte) loud! .. The use of dynamics I think is what makes the music so interesting. Thanks again for coming Paul. Your presence and enthusiasm is always an inspiration.

I sure wish I could be there for that one... I've been diggin' Charles Tolliver since the mid 70's when he did all those cookin' Music Inc sides for Strata East records.. Jimmy Hopps was the drummer back then and man did he swing hard! The piano player was Stanley Cowell, and the bass player was Cecil McBee...

My 2 bikes are a Giant NRS2 mtn bike and I have an early 80's Miyata Pro racing bike.. I love mtn biking the most,,,, but don't always have the time to get to a good single track trail. I am however only a couple of miles from a nice paved rail trail..

Thanks Mark, Larry, and Sal .. You guyz along with Mitchell, RJ, and of course Stone, made the gig worth that long ass drive home! But where was Jazzy Paul?? I hope he makes the Hothouse gig...

I kick into a provocative and colorful mode when I play BSL. I really like playing tunes with that kind of straight eighth note feel..

what on earth possessed you to post a picture of stooge imposters?!? here's the real thing: ←

Hey brother Theo, thanks for your support and note of confidence in this here trio...

I got this from Rosco, an outstanding harmonica player from Bay City. Rosco is a member of an interesting band called " "may.be au.gust" .. I have been hearing about Rosco for years and stumbled upon him performing with his band at Union Street Station in Traverse City last Thursday night. I heard this outrageous harmonica on the street outside of the bar and had to go in and find out who this dude was! He posted this on his website: A guy sat in with the trio on harp last Thursday at USS. His name is Randy Marsh. I'd heard of him & that he is also a great drummer. He gave me a CD of his band, organissimo. They are a band out of GR. The CD is fantastic!! Randy is a great harp player, but he is also a world class jazz drummer. Some of you who make it to the GR, AA, & Lansing areas may have heard this band. They are getting national airplay & some very good gigs. They deserve it. Check them out if you can. Rosco

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN... YOU DA MAN!

very very cool! ← Just got this email from Paul Keller! WEMU JAZZ REPORT 742 BASED ON AIRPLAY FROM AUGUST 29 TO SEPTEMBER 4, 2005 SUBMITTED TO JAZZWEEK.COM AND RETAIL OUTLETS COMPILED BY LINDA YOHN, MUSIC DIRECTOR 1. Mary Stallings/Remember Love/Half Note (9) 2. Dave Brubeck/London Flat, London Sharp/Telarc (9) 3. Joe Zawinul And The Zawinul Syndicate/Vienna Nights: Live At Zawinul’s Birdland/BHM (8) 4. Ray Barretto/Time Was-Time Is/0 + Music (8) 5. Gerald Wilson Orchestra/In My Time/Mack Avenue (8) 6. Tim Ries/The Rolling Stones Project/Concord (6) 7. Wynton Marsalis/Live At The House Of Tribes/Blue Note (6) 8. Greg Burk Trio/Nothing, Knowing/482 Music (6) 9. Organissimo/This Is The Place/Big O (5) 10. Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra/Not In Our Name/Verve (5) 11. Ron Blake/Sonic Tonic/Mack Avenue (5) 12. Sean Jones/Gemini/Mack Avenue (5) 13. Javon Jackson/Have You Heard/Palmetto (4) 14. John Scofield/That’s What I Say: John Scofield Plays The Music Of Ray Charles/Verve (4) 15. Terry Lower/Step By Step/terrylower.com (4) 16. Jeremy Pelt/Identity/Max Jazz (4) 17. The Moutin Reunion Quartet/Something Like Now/Nocturne (4) 18. Joshua Redman And The Elastic Band/Momentum/Nonesuch (3) 19. Bill Frisell/East, West/Nonesuch (3) 20. Derrick Gardner And The Jazz Prophets/Slim Goodie/Impact Jazz (3) 21. Ilona Knopfler/Live The Life/Mack Avenue (3) 22. Reuben Wilson/Fun House/Savant (3) 23. The Miami Saxophone Quartet/Midnight Rumba/Fourtitude (3) 24. Melvin Sparks/This Is It!/Savant (3) 25. Nachito Herrera/Bembe En Mi Casa/FS Music (3) 26. Murphy, Black, Harper And Newman/Cookin’ At Murphy’s/Sophia (3) 27. Eric Alexander And Vincent Herring/The Battle: Live At Smoke/High Note (3) 28. Sammy Figueroa/…And Sammy Walked In/Savant (2) 29. Pearl Django/Chasing Shadows/Modern Hot Records (2) 30. Stan Hope/Put On A Happy Face/Savant (2) 31. Terry Gibbs/Feelin’ Good: Live In Studio/Mack Avenue (2) 32. Poncho Sanchez/Do It!/Concord (2) 33. Adam Rogers/Apparitions/Criss Cross (2) 34. Sara Caswell/But Beautiful/Arbors Jazz (2) 35. Richard Galliano’s New York Trio/Ruby, My Dear/Dreyfus (2) 36. Nnenna Freelon/Blueprint Of A Lady/Concord (2) 37. The City Rhythm Orchestra/Vibrant Tones/Limehouse (2) 38. Ximo Tebar/Goes Blue/Sunnyside (2) 39. Mingus Big Band, Orchestra And Dynasty/I Am Three/Sunnyside (2) 40. Bill Mays Trio/Live At Jazz Standard/Palmetto (2) 41. Mulgrew Miller/Live At Yoshi’s, Volume Two/Max Jazz (2) 42. Dave Stryker/Big City/Mel Bay (2) 43. Flora Purim/Flora’s Song/Narada Jazz (2) 44. Steve Carryer Trio/From Where We Stand/carryermusic.com (2) 45. Buddy Budson/On With Their Heads/ursulaandbuddy.com (2) 46. James Carter Organ Trio/Out Of Nowhere/Half Note (2) 47. Freddy Cole/This Love Of Mine/High Note (2) 48. Tierney Sutton/I’m With The Band/Telarc (2) 49. Bonerama/Live From New York/bonerama.net (2) 50. Sara Morrow/And The American All Stars In Paris/0 + Music 51. Lafayette Gilchrist/The Music According To Lafayette Gilchrist/Hyena (2) 52. Tia Fuller/Pillar Of Strength/tiafuller.com (2) 53. Harry Connick, Jr./Occasion/Marsalis Music (2) 54. Miguel Zenon/Jibaro/Marsalis Music (2) 55. The Banda Brothers/Acting Up!/WJ3 (2) 56. Terence Blanchard/Flow/Blue Note (2) 57. Dave Valentin/World On A String/High Note (2) RECENTLY ADDED RECORDINGS 1. Sonny Rollins/The 9-11 Concert/Milestone (4) 2. Cintron/Back In The Day/Cam Jam (2) 3. Bujo Kevin Jones/Tenth World/Motema (2) 4. Alex Graham/Grand: Live In New York/Alexander-Graham.com (2) 5. Clairdee/Music Moves/Declare Music (2) 6. Denny Zeitlin/Solo Voyage/Max Jazz (2) HISTORIC RECORDINGS RECEIVING SIGNIFICANT AIRPLAY 1. Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers/The Drum Suite/Columbia Legacy (5) 2. Dizzy Gillespie And Charlie Parker/Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945/Uptown (3) 3. Luiz Bonfa/Solo In Rio: 1959/Smithsonian Folkways (3) 4. Pat Metheny And Ornette Coleman/Song X: Twentieth Anniversary/Nonesuch (2) 5. Gerry Mulligan/Jeru/Columbia Legacy (2) 6. Horace Silver/Silver’s Blue/Columbia Legacy (2) 7. Dexter Gordon/Manhattan Symphonie/Columbia Legacy (2) 8. Various Artists/2005 Detroit International Jazz Festival Sampler/Mack Avenue (2) 9. Omar Sosa/Ballads/Ota (2) 10. Ahmad Jamal/The Legendary Epic And Okeh Recordings/Epic Legacy (2) Here are the artists and groups WEMU listeners liked: Cintron, Ada Rovatti, Mary Stallings, Sonny Rollins, Irvin Mayfield, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Oscar Castro-Neves, Gil Scott-Heron, James Booker, Les MCann & Eddie Harris, Charlie Parker, Olu Dara, Wynton Marsalis, Reuben Wilson, Vince Seneri, Bill Frisell, Murphy-Black-Harper-Newman, Stan Hope, Jeremy Pelt and Dizzy Gillespie. Linda Linda Yohn WEMU Music Director lyohn@emich.edu 734.487.2229 www.wemu.org

Greg, make a call to the club and find out what they say about the parking and load in logistics..

It's $2.99 a gallon at most stations around west Michigan.

All true....including those legs! I was just comparing the bizarre discrepancy in sales of two artists on two major labels: One artist who, at the time, had crossed over into three or four markets and the other a jazz veteran with legendary status. Krall, the phenomenon, is probably not a good example. Still, many independents think that chart position means sales. It makes sense but it usually doesn't work that way. ← Diana Krall is a gorgeous babe and that is a big part of her market appeal. Of course she's a talented vocalist-pianist, but a lot of guys comment about how sexy she is more than the music and will buy her cds to look at the pictures of her.. Another female I think sold Cds more because her sex appeal is Eliana Elias... And then there's Rachel Z!

Joe - I don't think so. ←

This thread is nutz ...

I really dug the series a lot and enjoyed the last episode.. I also am in mourning.. I'm really going to miss the Fishers & all the brilliantly developed characters and stories.. HUGE Kudos to Alan Ball & the entire staff of the show!