Music for the soul; a treat for the brain. Thought you’d like to hear a mini excerpt from a new CD.
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on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 at 7:27 pm and is filed under Music.
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November 23rd, 2008 at 11:32 am
A few personal words.
I am so very proud of Jim – yes, a wife is always proud, but this double cd is very special. Much of it was recorded between hospitalizations and seeing Jim play his heart out after a 12 week hospital stay involving major back surgery and rehab – well, it was an emotional five hours. Joy was the major emotion. Joy about the music, the other musicians, the camaraderie, the vibe, the listening, and of course the love that permeated the studio. These men are heroes for me. All in their early 40s, Joey Baron is a slim, smiling guy whose head is shaved. He is probably the most inventive drummer playing today – in jazz and other forms of music. Bassist Scott Colley has been working with Jim for years – tall, also bald, the father of Nika, an adorable 5 year old, and the husband of Sophia, a beautiful woman of chinese origin from Chicago where her father is a well known architect. Bill Frissell – long ago one of Jim’s students – is unique. His playing clearly reflects his personality – inventive, funny, adventurous, and next to Jim, one of the sweetest people I know. He is also the only one with hair in the group. The privilege of witnessing and listening to these musicians create what is in my mind Jim’s best music is one I shall always treasure. Brian Camelio, the producer and chief of Artistshare, where fans contribute ahead of time for a project, thereby making it possible, allows the musicians to earn 95 % of the royalties. When musicians record for major labels they make something like 12 to 14 %. In jazz music as opposed to hip hop and rock this is not a very good deal. I always liken jazz to psychoanalysis, something that will always be alive but never commercial. Special things are priceless anyway. Jim developed an infection after the recording and so more hospitalization. The musicians kept his spirits up – people like Sonny Rollins and James Moody and Joe Lovano and so many others visited and called. The world of musicians is a world of love and appreciation of each other. Jim is on the mend and looking forward to playing many more notes. This project came at a very good time.
The music itself shows many sides of Jim. Many pieces are improvised on the spot. Some are improvisations on standard songs like I’ll Remember April.” Bill wrote some songs and Bill and Jim collaborated on others. Even Bob Dylan is represented. My favorites are “Owed To Freddie Green” and “Migration” – two originals. Freddie Greene was the guitarist in Count Basie’s band and he’s the one who made it swing with his rhythm guitar. “Migration” is a free piece – and as I listen it reminds me of the safari I took during the migration from Kenya to the Serenghetti. Seeing 3 million wilderbeests, along with elephants, zebras, gifaffes, and other animals, peacefully for the most part, moving so many miles together was an experience unlike any other.
Thank you for indulging me – but sharing all this has done me good.
Jane Hall
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Dear Jane,
This is beautiful. Thank you for posting this for all of us to enjoy.
Your loving comments add depth and meaning.
Please give Jim all best wishes for healing and more beautiful music, which I hope you will again share with us.
It is a gift to us and no effort at indulgence is at all expended or required!
Judy Logue