Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Elias Tanenbaum, 1924-2008
I had the honor of performing and recording numerous works by Elias Tanenbaum. His music was original and very moving. His work "Last Letters from Stalingrad" (Albany Records, #TROY247) is a masterpiece, and extremely profound.
bio: http://composers.com/eliastannenbaumsbio
obit: http://www.sequenza21.com/index.php
Friday, August 24, 2007
"It's Time" - Max Roach 1924-2007
3 Haikus for Max Roach
Your bass drum
Soloing our Blood.
Sifting
Breaths into The
Beat......unbeat.
Your hands
Shimmering on the
Legs of rain
-- Sonia Sanchez
Reflections on Max's funeral today:
Performances by: Cecil Bridgewater, Reggie Workman, Billy Harper, Elvira Green, Randy Weston, Cassandra Wilson, Billy Taylor, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz
Readings by: Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr., Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Bill Cosby, Sonia Sanchez, Charles Rangel, David Paterson, Phil Schaap, Maxine Roach, Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts
Quotes of the day:
"Max Roach has modulated from time into eternity" - Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes
"When a great tree falls, it is wise to worship the ground from which it sprung" - Maya Angelou
"...and you played, and your hands reached out to God" - Sonia Sanchez
"Hey, Miles! Now that we've learned to play fast, Bird is gone!" - Max Roach, as told by Billy Harper
I wish I could quote Bill Cosby's monologue: "Max Roach is the reason I became a comedian"
Basically, Cos copped licks from well known drummers, until he saw Max play, and realized that only Max had hands that could move that fast. Years later, when he met Max, Cos told him, "You owe me $75 for that set of drums I bought."
Readings by: Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr., Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Bill Cosby, Sonia Sanchez, Charles Rangel, David Paterson, Phil Schaap, Maxine Roach, Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts
Quotes of the day:
"Max Roach has modulated from time into eternity" - Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes
"When a great tree falls, it is wise to worship the ground from which it sprung" - Maya Angelou
"...and you played, and your hands reached out to God" - Sonia Sanchez
"Hey, Miles! Now that we've learned to play fast, Bird is gone!" - Max Roach, as told by Billy Harper
I wish I could quote Bill Cosby's monologue: "Max Roach is the reason I became a comedian"
Basically, Cos copped licks from well known drummers, until he saw Max play, and realized that only Max had hands that could move that fast. Years later, when he met Max, Cos told him, "You owe me $75 for that set of drums I bought."
Monday, August 06, 2007
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Ryoanji performance with Lifedance
This is a link to a fabulous video of a performance I did with
Gloria McLean & Lifedance in April. There is some of my music,
and also John Cage's "Ryoanji" for oboe & percussion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAXmSwSqz1Y
Gloria McLean & Lifedance in April. There is some of my music,
and also John Cage's "Ryoanji" for oboe & percussion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAXmSwSqz1Y
Saturday, February 03, 2007
BT on Letterman
Brooklyn Philharmonic on Letterman, accompanying Nellie McKay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5NqWlnFBCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5NqWlnFBCE