Jazz Kat

(to Jim's post)

Now I can really respect that!

I can't believe I even tried this here. I respect you, you have your facts straight, but what you say is clearly all your opinion. They are a tight band, worthy of listen from some of their 1990's recordings, but I can't make you, nor do I care all that much. And no Samuels was not in it for the money. He stated in Downbeat in 1981 that "They are one of the few groups who still respect the art of improvisation and soloing. Normally when I play on a track, mostly once its mixed you can't even hear it. With Spyro Gyra, I have been a featured soloist on several of their recordings." (This was before he became an official member) So he indeed didn't just join for the money. Listen to a song like Breakout, or The Archer, which feature top notch playing. I absolutely love it.

What do you think of them. Now please only answer if you are very familiar with their music. Many people make the mistake of calling them a smooth jazz band, which is wrong, but then they don't give them the time of day because of that label. I have been a fan since the summer. They are a great band, IMO. Their debut release, is 100% funk. Then with their success of Morning Dance, they turned a little bit more commercial from album to album. Their highlights for me are Caranval, City Kids, Access All Areas, Rites Of Summer, Dreams Beyond Control, and Three Wishes. And no matter how successful their crossover hit, Morning Dance was, that album is a damn good album. I love when they brake into a straight ahead swing, as they do on several songs on the album. Their new album, Deep End, has a really funky piece, Chippewa Street. it's awesome! I went to a concert of theres in Jersey, they are a totaly awesome band live! Very enjoyable. What do you think, if you really know them?

My friend, who plays acoustic as well as ele. bass took lessons from Percy. Oh, I love you Percy!

Blah! American Idol and its participents suck. That's it. I hate trying to pick out ones even close to anything good. Because the bottom line, it's crap.

It was Percy's solo on Bags' Groove, on The Last Concert album, that hooked me.

That's cool you had an organ early. I just saw an organ out for someones garbage today on the bus on the way to school. Man, I just wanted to stop the bus and grab it.

Tell me about it. He was the soul survivor of MJQ.

Words, of a true comedian.

My guess not. No info shared here as been for sure.

Is there any recordings of Andy and Bill as sidemen, besides Blue Hour?

Did I turn you away by saying that? I'm sorry. So what did you play in your first gig? Was it organ?

I was just kidding.

You played organ in a country band? Now that's what I call a greezy country band!

An old picture.

I am the drummer for the local band, The Sparks. I joined because I was really good friends with the guitar player, and I met the drummer before and he liked me, so when he moved to bass, he wanted me on drums, so my friend, the guitarist told me about it. Anyways, I was interested in making my own band. With a lot of personell changes, with my friend, the guitar player for The Sparks being the only constant player, besides me. Anyways, the group started off with me on bass and him, (the guitarist) on drums. (he plays drums too) But then we needed a third member, so we found one of our good friends, who was an exceptional drummer, so I put him on the thrown and put my friend where he belonged, on the guitar. Set, right? No. Although he was a good drummer, I didn't feel he was right. So it has been just me and my friend from the Sparks for a while. A couple of other people had told us they would join, but with their busy schedules, they never had a chance to even practice with us! So this whole thing put a damper on all our excitement, mostly mine, of leading my own group. The band for which I drum for, The Sparks, is basically your average garage band. (Our first song was Sunshine Of Your Love.) Anyways... I needed to play some jazz, so it was my idea to through a lot of jazz in there, but not tell my friend, because if I did, he wouldn't like the idea. But if I don't tell him, and just write a lot of jazz style songs, he'll like it without knowing what kind of music it really is. Weird, I know... So we were practicing, (just me and him) yesterday. I dont have my bass at the present time, so I was just going to do the bass lines on the keyboard for now. So we're practicing, (I have my keyboard on organ sound) and I throw some right hand in there, to add color. So basically, it all came together for me right there. I would play, "organ," (controlling all the bass lines on my own, as well as solo with my right hand, and all that good stuff. ) I got my friend on guitar, and as soon as we find a drummer willing to play what we are, I'm all set. It's setup just like Organissimo, organ, guitar, and drums. (well, almost) I'm calling my band, The Backyards. I been real excited bout this the past few hours, and I just wanted to share. Out...

I envy you Dan!

At least he got to make one recording on his own, before he passed.

Oh my god! Two days shy of his birthday. Oh no. This truly is trajic. Gonna play some MJQ.

What part on Long Island? For some reason, I'm thinking Montauk, but that might of been where the festival he was going to be at was. I'm sure someone can help you with this.

So if I didn't buy KOB, there'd be exactly one less?

It was big on the rock scene too in the late 60's and early 70's. It's present in a lot of musicians' lives. That's all I got.