About 30 years ago I bought a gross of guitar picks, and I recently discovered that I was down to about six. So when I was atGuitarCenteron Pico to drop some of my meager funds on some other items, I was dismayed to find that they were out of my brand (Fender extra heavy, if you must know). So I rolled up to West L.A. Music, where I encountered sheer …more…
Arts America Blog
Jazz to Take to a Desert Island
June 27, 2012 by
Years ago, deejay and old acquaintance John McNally had a segment on whatever at the time was L.A.’s premier jazz radio station (it might have been KKGO), in which he identified tunes or albums that he would take to a desert island. Continuing in that tradition, here are a couple of albums and tunes, which if I had to live without might tempt me into less constructive pursuits.
“Out of the …more…
Jazz to Take to a Desert Island
June 27, 2012 by
Years ago, deejay and old acquaintance John McNally had a segment on whatever at the time was L.A.’s premier jazz radio station (it might have been KKGO), in which he identified tunes or albums that he would take to a desert island. Continuing in that tradition, here are a couple of albums and tunes which if I had to live without might tempt me into less constructive pursuits.
“Out of the …more…
Grant Johnson
May 20, 2012 by
These days it’s possible for any jerk with a Fender Squier, a peace button for a pick and a bootleg copy of Garage Band to create a CD. And wading through the mountains of discordant dreck to find that one diamond in the rough can be daunting, if not downright depressing.
But every once in a blue moon a real gem shines through the dense strata of muck. Such is the …more…
Improvisation
March 22, 2012 by
I recently spent an evening with some good friends, enjoying a terrific paella and a few bottles of Cabernet. The conversation turned to music, and the host said something to the effect that jazz must be the most liberating and fun type of music to play, because jazz musicians are able to make everything up as they go along. Although she isn’t a professional musician, she is substantially better-informed than …more…
Sharon Marie Cline at Angels
January 17, 2012 by
Over the years, many of us in the L.A. jazz community have been dismayed to witness the closure of some of our favorite venues, such as Donte’s and Shelly’s Manne-Hole. So we definitely have something to cheer about when a new club materializes on the scene.
A few weeks ago when I caught the Red Hill Quartet’s recent gig (*), the group’s vibes player, Ricky Luther, told me about a new …more…
Guitarists Tommy Emmanuel and Joe Bonamassa
December 30, 2011 by
As a jazz and blues fanatic, I tend to have a significant case of tunnel vision when it comes to my taste in music. But as a guitarist I’m more open-minded and willing to check out other guitarists, regardless of their genre (punk rock and rap excluded).
And it just so happens that when I was channel surfing the other day, I accidentally landed on an episode of PBS’ “Great Performances,” …more…
The Red Hill Quartet
December 8, 2011 by
You never know where you’re going to run into top-caliber jazz in L.A., as I was reminded of the other day. I was checking out an art sale when I happened to encounter a particularly intriguing band playing outside the art gallery in the frigid weather we’ve been hit with lately.
As described on their website (http://www.redhillquartet.com/) the members of the Red Hill Quartet “bring the influences of African, Indian and …more…
The Incomparable Ted Greene
November 28, 2011 by
Here in my home town of Los Angeles, the term “genius” is generally conferred upon anybody who makes $25 million a year. But there is unwavering consensus among top-level guitarists, including Lee Ritenour, Steve Vai and Larry Carlton, that Ted Greene (1946 – 2005) was a genius of the highest order.
Ted was an unparalleled master of solo guitar, often playing the melody, chordal accompaniment and bass lines simultaneously in a …more…
