Tag: artist
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Bjork + Bigband = Bjorkestra
Lately I’ve been enamored with experimental covers of pop musicians. My latest object of affection is the intersection of modern big-band and Bjork. The result is Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra. An incredible collection of jazz interpretations of music written and performed by Bjork. Take a listen, buy their albums…or go see them live.
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Latest Ear-worm
Somehow I can’t seem to shake two seemingly and completely different ear-worms. For those who don’t know what an ear-worms is, the best I can say is it’s a song or a piece of music that has worked it’s self into you mind and deep into the very fabric of your being. In any case…
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Music and Spaces
Recently I played a concert in concert recital hall. The space was very intimate and the concert was around mid-day. At first I thought this was an odd time for a chamber music concert featuring the Stravinsky Octet and a few other works for the era. Odd until I listened to the New York Times…
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Reminders Of Good Music
Sometimes I forget why I like certain composers and then I am reminded of how important some were to me as a young musician. I ran across this on NPR and once again I am reminded of why I love Aaron Copland’s music.
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The Bronx Pyramid
I ran across an album with a face I recognized from long ago. It’s not like this artist is difficult to find, however I think this is his first project as the leader of this recording project. His name is Carlos Henriquez and he is the bass player. His latest project The Bronx Pyramid is…
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The Mouthpiece Question
I know what your thinking, yet another trumpeter writing about the importance of mouthpiece selection and striking the perfect balance between back-bore and throat size. I happen to follow all those trends religiously but this isn’t another one of those rants. Coincidentally, I currently play a Laskey 75C with a standard throat and back-bore, not…
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Cool Article Bout’ Bjork
I’ve been a fan of her music for almost two decades now. I think Alex Ross has written an interesting piece for the Guardian about some of her favorite pieces of music. From Mahler to Steve Reich to Public Enemy… I love the diversity in her library. How Bjork broke the sound barrier
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I Was Feeling This Way Also
Recently I listened to an NPR classical music podcast call Conducting Business. The subject of that talk was related to my blog post Faces At Concerts. During the podcast the host Naomi Lewin facilitated a group discussion about the diversity of both audiences and members of major symphony orchestras in the United States. I’m glad…
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Best Seat In The Housemates
Generally, if you are on a stage performing, you are a fan of what you are performing. Either you like the act of sharing something with folk on a stage or you feel strongly about that specific artistic expression. I’m convinced every performer feels one of those mentioned before and I’m certain that I take…
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Fun With Tiny Desks
The NPR series Tiny Desk Concerts has been a great source of discovery for me and my students. One of my favorite episodes is from April of 2013. The Omar Sosa & Paolo Fresu duo add a level of freshness to what two musicians can do with a traditional chamber music ensemble. I love this…
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