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Trumpet Guy

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  7. Female Jazz Singers

    in Artists

    Posted · Edited by Trumpet Guy

    I absolutely adore Sara Serpa. She has made two records with Ran Blake that rival (IMO) his work with Jeanne Lee, though the two are very different. Both albums are equally sublime-- Camera Obscura (Inner Circle, 2010) & Aurora (Clean Feed, 2012). Her own quintet, with which she works in vocalese, is a thing of beauty. Mobile (Inner Circle, 2012) is the latest and best. I can't wait for her next release.

    Here is her take on "When Sunny Gets Blue" with Ran, which was performed by Lee on Newest Sound Around in 1962.

    http://saraserpa.bandcamp.com/track/when-sunny-gets-blue

    :tup :tup OTOH -- sorry Phil -- I don't get Kristen Slipp at all.

    You're not alone! I love her! End of A Love Affair :) Love Sara Serpa & Luciana Souza too!

  10. Don Joseph "One of a Kind" LP- worth getting?

    in Discography

    Posted

    Alright Nino- I can take a hint. :rlol I'll just spit out what I can remember.

    He always said Don reminded him of a tall David Niven. In his Wikipedia entry (which was poorly written by what seemed like a well-meaning friend of Don's), it said that DJ was a full-time teacher at a Catholic HS, but actually, he just helped the band teacher out a little with the trumpet players. he didn't seem capable of holding down a FT job of any kind to my friend, who used to drive him around and help him out. The SI musicians worshipped him, and he'd sit in on their gigs, but his chops were not in the greatest shape. Sadly, one younger SI musician, Drew Francis, who was in that crowd, also picked up on DJ's junk habit, and OD'd at a too young age. Drew played both the piano and tenor equally well, and used to be consulted by Michael Brecker on sax matters. He was also a gifted composer. A terrible, terrible loss...

    Don was subject to panic attacks when driving over bridges or tunnels, and couldn't fly. He was supposed to play the trumpet solo for the Jackie Gleason Show theme, but he couldn't take a plane for the session. I think Jimmy Nottingham played it. :shrug[1]:

    One time Don was going to a gig with a friend, and they had to drive through the Holland Tunnel to get to NJ. He got so frightened, he just bolted out of the car before they entered the tunnel, and left his trumpet in the car, never making the gig!

    I opined to my friend that maybe DJ's junk habit was self-medicating for his case of Panic Disorder, but my friend started describing DJ's descriptions of the rush that he got from shooting up, and I dropped that line of reasoning pretty quickly.

    My friend asked Don how he could achieve success as a musician, and Don's answer was, "YOU GOTTA GIVE IT YOUR ALL!"

    He and Don used to listen to an older Italian concert pianist whose name I can't recall, all the time. DJ also worshipped great prizefighters.

    DJ had replaced his junk habit with alcoholism, but then replaced alcoholism with a deep religious faith (it was either Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness), and was intensely neurotic about it.

    The whole SI crowd he'd play with seemed to be on the Chuck Wayne LP "String Fever", along with Eddie Costa. I wish i could've asked Don about that fellow jazz genius (EC).

    This was back in the 80s, when I used to play in a band with said friend, so it's kind of hazy, but the last thing I can remember was his account of Don's funeral (he died of a sudden heart attack). It was very solemn, until an older woman who claimed to be either a former girlfriend or wife of DJ walked in, looking like a reincarnation of Chan Parker(!) and started telling funny stories about DJ that had everybody laughing their heads off, making it into a joyous affair!

    I haven't spoken to my friend in about fifteen years, but maybe I'll give him a buzz.

    Thank you SO much for all this interesting info!!!

    As this person says above, Don Joseph died of a heart attack quite a few years back now :(

    I know there are more recordings from Staten Island sessions of Don Joseph & I want to hear them :)

  13. Jerry Bergonzi Quintet "Shifting Gears"

    in New Releases

    Posted

    post-316-0-12130800-1346339285_thumb.jpgJust wanted to let anyone interested here that Jerry Bergonzi has just released a new quintet CD entitled "Shifting Gears". The album features Bruce Barth on piano, Dave Santoro on bass, Andrea Michelutti on drums and myself, Phil Grenadier, on trumpet and contains all compositions by Jerry. I am proud to be a part :)

    Available at all the usual sources...I hope some of you are able to check this out :)

  14. New CD-Phil Grenadier-Bruno Raberg Duo:Plunge

    in New Releases

    Posted

    Put it on my IPod and listen while I'm walking in the Great Outdoors. Excellent. Fascinating to hear you playing without (much of) a safety net, so to speak. The "purity" of your sound and overall approach is very moving. More please.

    Wow! Thank you so much Larry! That means bunches coming from you! Thanks for the encouragement :) Am on a recording binge lately, so more to come hopefully...

  16. New CD-Phil Grenadier-Bruno Raberg Duo:Plunge

    in New Releases

    Posted

    References?

    I guess a lot of it could be heard as a Miles/Dave Holland duet album ca. 1970 or so, only you don't sound like Miles, Bruno don't sound like Holland, and the music doesn't really sound like ca. 1970. But it's got that "flavor" to it somehow.

    That's meant as a high compliment, hope it sounds like one.

    Makes sense to me :) very high compliment :) Thanks again!

  17. New CD-Phil Grenadier-Bruno Raberg Duo:Plunge

    in New Releases

    Posted

    Listening to this right now & very much enjoying it.

    Very organic creative processes at work here, meaning that any number of "references" can be heard and/or are suggested, but not self-consciously. Just a very natural speaking in the vernacular. Same goes for the electronics when they are used, they don't sound like ELECTRONICS, if you know what I mean, they just sound like a part of the music.

    No "lofty artistic platitudes" or jismatic word-jacks from me for this one, just deep, honest enjoyment at hearing music that makes good sense coming in and going out.

    In a world gone wrong, balanced people making balanced music is certainly welcome. Here some is!

    Thank you so much Jim for your thoughts and deep ears! I really appreciate your purchasing, taking the time to listen and sharing your ideas. I'd be interested to hear the 'references' you mention :) I'm thrilled you enjoyed it!

    Thanks again!

  21. New CD-Phil Grenadier-Bruno Raberg Duo:Plunge

    in New Releases

    Posted · Edited by Trumpet Guy

    Announcing the new release of bassist/composer Bruno Raberg & trumpeter Phil Grenadier on Orbis Music---

    Plunge

    Available on itunes, Amazon & CD Baby.

    http://www.amazon.com/Plunge/dp/B0081KS68Y

    This is an Avante Garde offering :)

    Only available as MP3 files? I like a disc I can play on my nice system, not on my computer. But I assume there's a way I can download the files and then burn them to a CD, right? (I know, i'm an idiot.)

    We have CDs for sale too--no problem! :) CD Baby has CDs of "Plunge".

  25. Detroit Jazz Festival

    in Live Shows & Festivals

    Posted

    Hi, Phil!

    I just discovered I'm staying right near the Astoria Pastry Shop, which gets rave reviews. Looking forward to morning pastries...

    Hi Pete! Still a foodie :) I remember you recommending take out restaurants in Brooklyn when recording my 1st CD :) Maybe I'll see you in Detroit!

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