R.I.P. - Phil Everly 1938-2014

Hi y’all… So I haven’t had time to write much here what with so many gigs of my own this past year…but I would be very remiss to not comment on the passing today of seminal rock n roll and country artist Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers at age 74.

As members of both the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Everly Brothers string of 19 Top 40 Hits between 1957 and 1962 cemented their reputation as the premier vocal duo of the early rock era. Their songs "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Cathy's Clown" topped both Billboard's Pop and R&B charts. "Bird Dog" and "Bye Bye Love" were #1 Country hits and their first hit in 1956, "Wake Up Little Susie" rose to the top of all three charts. All told the duo charted 12 Top Ten hits. In the 55-year history of Billboard's Hot 100 charts only two other duos had more chart success, Hall & Oates and The Carpenters.

Performing professionally together since their childhood years, first on the family’s country radio show and a few years later as one of the most influential early rock acts of the music’s formative years, their music greatly influenced not only the vocal harmonies of The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, The Hollies, CSN, Gram Parsons and all of their progeny but their own songwriting and the writing of their main songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant have produced a rich catalog of pop compositions covered by artists from across the musical spectrum such as Simon & Garfunkel, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, . Most recently, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones have released an album, Foreverly of their interpretations of songs from the Everly's influential 1958 country album, Songs Our Daddy Taught Us.

For a brilliant documentary on their career through 1984 check out this wonderful offering from the BBC…



I was lucky enough to see them at a date a the Valley Forge Music Fair in Devon, PA on the 1984 Reunion tour. While I was familiar with there influence on my favorite acts via interviews and articles touting them, I had one greatest hits LP and really didn’t comprehend the scope and beauty of their musical world until I attended this show. I was at first taken with the band. I was already an Albert Lee fan from his work with Emmylou Harris but it didn’t take but a song or two to set my goosebumps arise. I’d not heard the Beatles sing together in person, nor Gram and Emmylou or Paul and Artie. But this night I couldn’t imagine anyone touching these guys. Every song was a classic. Even the new stuff like “Why Worry” or “On The Wings of a Nightingale” that came out on their follow-up releases were just jawdropping pop masterpieces of taste, precision and heart. Wow.

From that night on their influence on my own music and musical tastes have been greatly colored by the esthetic, songs and sound of the Everly Brothers. In SILVER MOON, we currently perform 56 tunes associated with the Everly Brothers. But we only perform half of any of them in that as a duo with only one singer something missing looms heavy everytime I sing one of these great songs. Everytime, I hear Phil’s invisible harmony in my head and while I always will, the sadness that his living voice will no longer be heard in real-time is a great shame.

Check out video from 1983-84 REUNION…



Unfortunately for my generation, chances to see the Everlys perform would be few and far between. Like many of the greatest sibling duos in rock the long familiarity and struggles for ego gratification between uber creative people living, working and existing in close proximity pulled the brothers apart again and again. Then again, those are often some of the same factors that makes their collaborations so essential, unique and unduplicatable. Think KINKS. OASIS. BEACH BOYS. BEE GEES. And no, the Ramones don’t count). Onstage fisticuffs, separate interviews and travel arrangements. Lawsuits. Not so easy it seems.

But seeing these teams work when things are right is hard to fathom that they could find any better partners for their musical creations.

By the way, rumor has begun again that a long awaited KINKS reunion is in the early talking stages. If it happens don’t miss this one. Dave Davies has recovered from a stroke and released a strong album full of guest stars such as and older brother Ray remains of songwriter of individuality and talent who is long overdue for a big creative splash. Cross your fingers.

Ten years ago, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel convinced Phil & Don Everly to reunite for a tour with both often fractuous duos on the bill and anyone who saw the shows will not see anything as sublime again.

Watching Phil & Don sing “So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)” while eye to eye in the videos above illustrates directly that no matter the divisive quality of our lives, our egos, and our differences that harmony, compassion and love are really what we all must strive for in life everyday. Another essential lesson that great art offers us if we only open ourselves to it.

More of the passing of Phil Everly here…

http://music.yahoo.com/news/phil-everly-half-pioneer-rock-duo-dies-74-032650788.html

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5862255/don-everly-on-losing-his-brother-phil-everly

LINK HAZE: LINKS TO TODAY'S CULTURAL CLAPTRAP

Solid. Links to some cultural claptrap from the front lines. Random bits and species.

DEREK JETER BACK AT SHORTSTOP

ERIC CLAPTON’S NEW RELEASE

 

DAVID BOWIE'S FIRST RELEASE IN A DECADE 

36th ANNUAL FREIHOFER's SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP 

IGGY & THE STOOGES NEW ALBUM AND TOUR

JAZZ TIMES: CHARLES LLOYD TO PLAY 75th B'DAY AT KENNEDY CENTER

NEXT GENERATION JAZZ FESTIVAL

JERRY GARCIA SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION fet. WARREN HAYNES at WOLFTRAP

And more on the JERRY GARCIA SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION TOUR:

Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes:

A new symphonic project celebrating American music icon Jerry Garcia. This ground-breaking orchestral adventure features Garcia's storied original compositions as well as classic interpretations of timeless standards that were hallmarks of Garcia and the Grateful Dead's shows. Renowned vocalist/guitarist Warren Haynes collaborates with the nation's finest orchestras, lending his soul-soaked, introspective blend of rock, blues, R&B and jazz to Garcia's masterworks.

For pre-sale information on many of these shows check in at

 The Official Jerry Garcia Website

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013 - 7:30pm Heinz Hall - Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Presents Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
in association with Princeton Entertainment
Conductor: Fawzi Haimor
Ticket Price: $78, $56, $48, $40, $30
General On-Sale begins: Monday, March 25th at 9am ET via PittsburghSymphony.org

Saturday, June 22nd, 2013 -- 8:30pm Tanglewood Music Center -- Lenox, MA
Boston Pops Present a Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
Conductor: Keith Lockhart
Ticket Price: $79, $52.50, $23.50
Tickets available now via BSO.org

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013 -- 8:00pm The Mann Center for the Performing Arts - Philadelphia, PA
The Mann Center Presents Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
in association with Princeton Entertainment
Conductor: Fawzi Haimor
Ticket Price: $75, $52.5, $35, $19.5
Tickets available now via: MannCenter.org

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013 -- 8:15pm Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts - Vienna, VA
National Symphony Orchestra Present a Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
Conductor: Emil de Cou
Ticket Price: $75, $52, $42, $35, $20
General On-Sale begins Saturday, March 16th at 10am ET via Wolftrap.org

Thursday, August 1st and Friday, August 2nd, 2013 -- 7:30pm Davies Symphony Hall - San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Symphony Performs a Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
Conductor: Sarah Hicks
Ticket Price: $100, $75, $55, $30
Tickets available now via: www.garciaorchestra.tickets.musictoday.com and www.sfsymphony.org

Sunday, August 4th, 2013 - 8pm Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes and 55-piece Orchestra
Ticket Price: $100, $85, $70, $55, $40
General On-Sale begins: Saturday, March 30th at 10am PT via GreekTheatreLA.com

OSCAR PICKS

One of the hardest years in ages to pick my own favorites in all of the Oscar categories, in part because my favorite film of the year was only nominated for one major Academy Award and that was MOONRISE KINGDOM for WRITING (Original Screenplay). I think a nomination for Best Picture was warranted for this quirky, funny, moving though little-seen film from director Wes Anderson. Watch for an upcoming column going into my favorite films of the year in the next couple of weeks.

I'm currently up late with last minute prep for ur sold-out show at the Queen Theatre in Wilmington, DE. SHINE A LIGHT ON THE QUEEN is our 2nd annual benefit for the newly remodeled concert hall, a tribute to The Rolling Stones and the vibrant Wilmington music scene. But, again more on that later. Here are my Oscar picks for those keeping score:

Best Picture: LIFE OF PI
Best Actor in a Leading Role: DENZEL WASHINGTON (Flight)
Best Actress in a Leading Role: JENNIFER LAWRENCE (Silver Linings Playbook)
Best Supporting Actor: ROBERT DeNIRO (Silver Linings Playbook)
Best Supporting Actress: ANNE HATHAWAY (Les Miserables)
Best Director: ANG LEE (Life of Pi)
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): LIFE OF PI
Best Writing (Original Screenplay): MOONRISE KINGDOM
Best Foreign Film: AMOUR
Animated Feature Film: BRAVE
Cinematography: LIFE OF PI
Costume Design: LES MISERABLES
Documentary Feature: SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN
Film Editing: LIFE OF PI
Make-Up and Hairstyling: LES MISERABLES
Music (Original Score): LIFE OF PI
Music (Original Song): SKYFALL (Skyfall)
Sound Editing: DJANGO UNCHAINED
Sound Mixing: LES MISERABLES
Visual Effects: LIFE OF PI
Short film: I didn't see any of the nominations i nthis catagory while I did see 98% of the nominees in all other categoreis combined. There was a short film that blew me away this year which I didn't see until I watched the DVD versio of BRAVE and that was the wondrous and unforgettable film LA LUNA.

I will comment more on these later. Let me for now say that the closest races and most difficult categories for me to judge personally this year were the Best Actor (Cooper really was fantastic and SO Philly in his role in Silver Lining Playbook), Best Supporting Actor (Christph Waltz was truly memorable and inventive in Django Unchained), Make-Up and Hairstyling because I believe that the vastly under-rated CLOUD ATLAS was completely robbed of recognition for its major achievement in this category.

I also believe LAWLESS was a spectacular film from top to bottom and sorely ignored by the Academy as was BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, one of the most heartwarming and fun films of the year.

We'll be back after Sunday night's show to see how we did.
 

CLASSIC SONGS: "CROSSROADS" REVISITED

I had originally posted this Stills medley because it was just too good not to share with y'all. But a coincidental performance by Eric Clapton on the same day I found this Stills take was too cool to pass up so what we have here is an appreciation of one of the signposts of blues rock, the Robert Johnson song "Crossroads". You can delve into the history of the song here and the strange legacy of the great Robert Johnson has been explored endlessly elsewhere but for today here are some fun stabs at this essential blues rave-up.

First, Robert Johnson's slightly looser version leads the column above. His other version (also from 1936) can be heard here.

Vintage Stills, this solo acoustic version of his medley of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" and Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" is a very different take on the tune, uniquely Stillsian. Circa 1983 from TV's "Rock N Roll Tonight" show. See more of his set from this broadcast here featuring rare duo performances of Stills & Graham Nash.

Most of the electric versions here owe a huge debt to Creams's classic renditions of the song which we'll end the blog with. The version of "Crossroads" below is from Eric Clapton's recent set at Madison Square Garden for the 12/12/12 Sandy Relief concert. See more from his set here.

Here's one from jamband heroes Phish recorded live 12/29/97.

Before shredding was a musical term, the kings of shred. CREAM from the film Farewell Cream Filmed at their final concert at the Royal Albert Hall on November 26, 1968...

VIDEO: MIKE WATT + THE MISSINGMEN - COVER JIMI, WIRE, MINUTEMEN, ROKY, STOOGES, B.O.C.

Mike Watt + Missingmen on their recent "2nd heapin' helpin' of 3rd opera tour 2012"
have been performing Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsys' classic "MACHINE GUN" as part of their encores. Here's it is in a medley with Wire's "106 Beats That", Minutemen's "Glory of Man" both sung by Watson and "The Glory of Man" Blue Oyster Cult's "The Red & The Black" from October 6, 2012 & The Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, IA.

Mike Watt: thud staff, vocals / Tom Watson: guitar / Raul Morales: drums...I'm not sure who the two guest guitarists are. Sorry. Nevertheless, crusher.


"START A BAND!!!" Word.

This below is cool too...from earlier in 2011 in Seattle with special guests Dave Grohl, Pat Smear  and Eddie Vedder all of whom were in Watt's band in 1997...slamming into Watt's "Big Train" and Iggy & The Stooges "Fun House"...

 also a taste of last week's gig in Pedro courtesy of Skipper Jeff.. first covers of Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba" and below that Roky Erickson's "Sweet Honey Pie"... Watt's got it covered.

121212 CONCERT for victims of SANDY - CLIPS

 

-- THIS VERSION OF THIS POST WHICH ORIGINALLY APPEARED HERE 12/13/12 NOW HAS UPDATED QUALITY AND/OR ADDED FULL VERSIONS OF MANY OF THE PREVIOUSLY POSTED VIDEOS AND HAS ALSO ADDED MANY FULL SONGS NOT PREVIOUSLY POSTED (this update posted 12/16/12)

The 121212 CONCERT for victims of Sandy was held last night with an amazing line-up of BIG NAME bands. If was broadcast for free across the web, in theaters across the country, on hundreds of TV and radio stations worldwide.

Here are some clips of highlights but don't forget, you can STILL donate money directly to the cause HERE at the 121212concert.org website

At top: Roger Waters performing "Comfortably Numb" with guest Eddie Vedder (full song, xlnt quality).

Full length versions HD versions of songs are now popping up available. Apologies for all of these lesser quality clips and partial versions but I thought I should get something up for those who missed it and who might be prompted to contribute. I will post updates here as they pop up on YouTube. If any of you have complete set or song links please forward them.

If you've got three hours here is a link to the part one of the complete broadcast or pick and choose some choice moments below. I'll post part two soon.

In the meantime, here are some clips to wet your whistle. Looks like quite an amazing night...performances by the Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Michael Stipe, Roger Waters with Eddie Vedder...Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Chris Martin, Eric Clapton, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Billy Crystal and many more...

"Born To Run" rocking for Jersey with The Boss and Jon Bon Jovi...(full song, good quality)

Paul McCartney and Nirvana reunion playing a new jam in the "Helter Skelter" mode called "Cut Me Some Slack" (full song, upgraded quality):

A retired Michael Stipe was asked by his buddy Chris Martin from Coldplay to chow up and sing one of R.E.M.'s biggest hits, "Losing My Religion"

Adam Sandler performs "Sandy, Screw Ya" with Paul Shaeffer to the tune of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" (full song):

Here's most of Billy Joel's version of "Movin' Out" (partial, marginal quality) and "River of Dreams"

The Who play "Pinball Wizard" (full song, updated quality):

The Rolling Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (only the last half is here):

Eric Clapton performing first an acoustic "Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out" and then a fierce electric "Got to Get better In A Little While" (both full songs in xlnt quality). Check out the post here for Eric's version of "Crossroads" from this concert as well.

Bon Jovi with The Boss guesting on "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (marginal quality):

also above Bon Jovi "Living On A Prayer"

Alicia Keys leads the finale "Empire State of Mind": (marginal sound quality):

and I'm just sayin' she needs to play Lena Horne in a biopic...

TRIBUTE TO STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN

Just feeling it just might be time for some end of the year blues. Here's an inspired, nearly 80 minute interview and live music tribute to the great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie's band Double Trouble, brother Jimmie Vaughan and special guests Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Dr. John and Art Neville all put it out there for Stevie. Great renditions of some of SRV's signature tunes and some archival footage from the Austin City Limits 1996 special. 

     

And while were at it, here the sweet 93+ minutes of Stevie Ray Vaughan at the Montreux Jazz Festival.  A force of nature...

A LITTLE JAZZ FOR YOUR HOLIDAY STOCKING

First of a series of weekly holiday music posts this season...here are some jazz favorites of mine...Dave Brubeck, Dexter Gordon, Louis Armstrong, Bob Dorough & Miles Davis, Duke Pearson and Vince Guaraldi. What are your favorite holiday jazz tracks?

MIKE WATT NOV. 10 IN PEDRO

DEETS: www.mikewatt.com

QUOTES OF THE DAY - DAVID HUME

"Nothing carries a man through the world like a true genuine natural impudence."

"Must our whole discourse be a continue series of gossiping stories and idle remarks? Must the mind never rise higher, but be perpetually,
                                          Stun'd and worn out with endless chat
                                          Of Will did this and Nan said that?"

-- Scottish philosopher David Hume as quoted by Daniel Menaker in his wonderful book on the art of conversation, GOOD TALK. 

QUOTES OF THE DAY - Einstein / Twain / Diller

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."
~Albert Einstein

 

 "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, 

it is time to pause and reflect."

- Mark Twain 

 

"I wanted to become me, totally me. The more me, the better.

I instinctively knew this and I was right."

- Phyllis Diller 

...and they all use the same stylist.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Isn't the artist's real job to learn from nature? Instead of churning out pop hits, shouldn't the truly talented among us be listening to the flutter of a butterfly's wing?"

- Marvin Gaye

JAZZ NEWS - TIM BERNE

SAXOPHONIST TIM BERNE'S INTERVIEW IN VILLAGE VOICE

I've had the pleasure of seeing Tim Berne perform live in numerous settings and ensembles since the early 80s and it is always a mind-boggling experience. Testing the listener's pre-conceptions and notions of what music not only is made of but of what kind of physical and emotion sensations one is able to absorb from a musical experience.

Here is a fun and rare interview with the artist which delves into his perspectives on being an independent label owner (Screwgun) and creative musician in today's Internet driven landscape.

NEW REMASTERED MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR DVD from THE BEATLES

More info at THE BEATLES official website.

From BASS MUSICIAN:

Paul McCartney’s Rickenbacker Remixed On Restored Magical Mystery Tour Movie

55th MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL JUST AROUND THE CORNER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2012 www.montereyjazzfestival.org
Monterey Jazz Festival Enhances Its Services and Offerings for Patrons Including Live Webcast from the Night Club,  Free Wi-Fi on Fairgrounds, Free 55th Festival Apps for iPhone and Android Mobile Phones Festival Increases Greening Efforts in 2012 to Include U.S. Pure Water Stations, Food Waste Collection Program, Free Bicycle Valet Parking Festival Parking Arrangements Courtesy of Monterey Peninsula College and JAZZ Shuttles for Patrons Provided by Monterey-Salinas Transit September 12, 2012; Monterey, CA; Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce a number of enhancements to the 55th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, all to benefit the patron experience. Once again, nightly concerts from the Night Club’s Bill Berry Stage will be available through a free live Web stream, brought to a global audience through a partnership between Monterey Jazz Festival and StreamGuys. Nine shows will be available September 21-23, beginning with Friday Night’s Pedrito Martinez Group featuring Ariacne Trujillo; Gregoire Maret Quartet; and Gregory Porter streaming live starting at 8:00 p.m. Saturday’s shows, beginning at 7:30 p.m., include Christian Scott; Tierney Sutton Band; and Bill Frisell’s Beautiful Dreamers featuring Eyvind Kang and Rudy Royston. Sunday’s Web stream, starting at 7:00 p.m. includes the Hammond B3 Blowout with the John Abercrombie Trio; Larry Goldings Trio; and the Chester Thompson Quartet. All Webcasts are Pacific Standard Time. Visit montereyjazzfestival.org/2012/live for our 2012 live Web stream. Also returning for 2012 will be the free 55th Monterey Jazz Festival App, for iPhone and Android and free Wi-Fi on the Festival grounds, so patrons can use these apps with ease. Each version of the Monterey Jazz Festival App gives patrons the ability to build a customized schedule of events, read artist info and bios, watch the live Webcast, access photo archives, and many more interactive features. The App can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store or Google Play by searching for “Monterey Jazz Festival.” The free Wi-Fi is brought to Festival patrons by Meraki and Alvarez Technology Group. Continued efforts to make the Monterey Jazz Festival as green as possible include offering a self-service filtered water station, beverage container recycling, food waste recycling, and bicycle valet.  The self-service filtered water program, in association with U.S. Pure Water, will help to eliminate the need for and the waste of single-use plastic bottles at the Festival.,  All Festival attendees will be provided free access to multiple USPW filtered water stations (using compostable coconut shell carbon) throughout the three-day festival. Patrons are asked to assist in the success of this new program by refilling and reusing drinking containers, leading to a huge reduction in plastic bottle waste from the event. Water bottles will also available for purchase, with the proceeds benefiting the Festival’s life-changing jazz education programs. Ecology Action of Santa Cruz, in partnership with Pacific Grove’s The Offset Project will continue to implement comprehensive beverage container recycling programs and collect the food waste from the vendor areas, to help get closer to zero waste. The Monterey County Fairgrounds received hundreds of blue recycling barrels that are currently used during all venue events, and in 2011, the program transported nearly 3,000 pounds of food waste. Returning to the Monterey Jazz Festival for the fifth year in a row is the free Bicycle Valet Parking for patrons who are able to commute to the Festival from local hotels and residences, provided in partnership between Monterey Jazz Festival, the Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey Green Action, and Green Pedal Couriers. The free Bicycle Valet Service is located at Fairgrounds Gate 3, on the corner of Fairground Road and Garden Road, at the southwest end of the Festival grounds. Monterey Green Action is committed to minimizing the environmental footprint of the city of Monterey, promoting green policies and practices, raising awareness, and spurring community action. General Paid Parking for the 55th Monterey Jazz Festival will be at Monterey Peninsula College, a short distance from the Fairgrounds, located at 980 Fremont Street, Monterey, CA 93940. The Monterey Jazz Festival will charge $10 to cover parking costs. Complimentary Bus Service, provided by Monterey-Salinas Transit, will be available every fifteen minutes throughout the Festival weekend, offering easy and eco-friendly transportation between the parking areas at Monterey Peninsula College and the Monterey County Fairgrounds. The new JAZZ bus line will be unveiled for Festival patrons, which will serve the most heavily travelled route across Monterey beginning fourth quarter of 2012, reducing local travel times by as much as 25%. The JAZZ line will also connect over 30 custom designed shelters that feature displays highlighting the Monterey Jazz Festival’s 55-year history. Complimentary Bus Service to the Festival will begin when the parking areas open at Monterey Peninsula College, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21; 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 22; and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 23. All buses will be wheelchair accessible. We encourage all patrons to visit the Monterey Jazz Festival Web site, montereyjazzfestival.org  to view maps and more information regarding the parking for this year. Tickets for the 55th Monterey Jazz Festival September 21-23 are available by phone at 888.248.6499 through the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Web site, montereyjazzfestival.org, or through walk-up service at the Monterey County Fairgrounds beginning Monday, September 17 at 10:00 a.m. About Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates the legacy of jazz and expands the boundaries of and opportunities to experience jazz through the creative production of performances and educational programs. The Festival, now in its 55th year, is the world’s longest continuously-running jazz festival.
### The 55th Monterey Jazz Festival partners include Alaska Airlines, Amoeba Music, Big Sur Land Trust, Carmel Road Winery, DownBeat, Gallien-Krueger, Inns of Monterey, The Jazz Cruise, JazzTimes, Jazziz, Jelly Belly, KGO 810, KUSP 88.9, Monterey Peninsula College, North Coast Brewing Company, Remo, San Jose Mercury News, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, StreamGuys, Yamaha Instruments, and Casa Vinicola Zonin. Monterey Jazz Festival also receives support for its Jazz Education Programs from AT&T Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Community Foundation of Monterey County, D’Addario Music Foundation, Joseph Drown Foundation, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Fund, Harden Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Quest Foundation, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, Rotary International, Upjohn California Fund, Union Bank Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Robert & Audrey Talbott Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, and generous individual contributors. THANKS TO TIM ORR AND MJF FOR PROVIDING THIS PRESS RELEASE...

JAZZ NEWS - GUITARIST REZ ABBASI 9th CD COMING 10/9

Guitarist REZ ABBASI Releases His Ninth Album Continuous Beat on Enja Records, October 9, 2012 Voted #2 Rising Star Guitarist in 2012 Down Beat International Critics Poll  Inventive guitarist Rez Abbasi takes the pulse of the modern guitar trio on his ninth album, Continuous Beat. Embracing the use of electronics and effects to broaden his sonic palette to a much further extent than he ever has in the past, Abbasi evolves the scope and range of possibilities of the traditional guitar/bass/drums format far beyond its apparent limitations. “People often think of the jazz guitar trio and relate it to all things historical,” Abbasi says. “That's not to say that the Jim Hall trio records aren’t some of my favorite albums of all time. But it’s 2012 now and we've heard a lot of purely ‘warm’ guitar trio albums. I wanted to stimulate the listener’s aural perception throughout the album - to give them a sense of textural surprise from start to finish that embodies both that warmth and the desire to push away from the commonplace.” The occasion for Abbasi’s first ever trio release was his discovery of the very special chemistry between himself, bassist John Hebert, and drummer Satoshi Takeishi. He has known and played with both for over fifteen years, but their uniting as a trio was a fortunate accident brought about by unfortunate circumstances. In late 2011, Abbasi was looking forward to performing for the first time with one of his musical heroes, the legendary drummer Paul Motian. He had composed a number of new pieces for the date, which was to be a trio with Hebert. Unfortunately, a week before the gig Motian was forced to cancel due to the health issues that would lead to his passing last November. Instead of canceling the date altogether, however, Abbasi tapped Takeishi to step in, knowing the Japanese-born drummer’s openness would mesh well with pieces composed with Motian in mind. “I knew Paul's playing intimately from recordings and seeing him live multiple times,” Abbasi says. “I felt this was a good opportunity to write a few tunes with his character in mind, the operative description being ‘complexity within simplicity.’ In other words, music that was comfortable enough to play without a rehearsal, yet stimulating enough to create an interactive trio sound. That seems to encapsulate his aesthetic.” Two of those pieces feature on Continuous Beat, whose title acknowledges the “immortality of great artists” like Motian, Abbasi explains. With Motian’s death, the album became something of a loose tribute and includes pieces from two composers associated with the drummer: Gary Peacock’s “Major Major” and Keith Jarrett’s “The Cure.” The trio also offers an evanescent arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s “Off Minor,” a Motian favorite. “Paul's life galvanized this project,” Abbasi says, “but then it went further from there.” The disc begins with the solo “Intro,” which offers a key to the album’s transformation of Abbasi’s approach. The piece is based on an Indian raga that the Pakistani-born guitarist has played often, but by using a reverse delay the material is mutated into something alien and unpredictable that Abbasi can play against, almost a duo with himself. That piece is bookended with Abbasi’s warm yet melancholy solo rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” which closes the CD. “Recording that was kind of cathartic in the sense that being an American at this point in history can be confusing, especially when you were born in Pakistan,” he says. “The question of ‘what it means’ arises given the climate of terrorism, the state of the union, the economy, immigration, et cetera. So I essentially tried to put the beauty back into my faith, although I'm not a ‘patriotic’ type at all. The melody has so much energy behind it that it simply felt right to do a modern day version with modern harmony.” Another meaning behind the album’s title came out of the fact that at the same time that Abbasi was mixing the session, his mother-in-law was undergoing triple bypass surgery. Alternating between the ER and the studio “was strange and emphasized the vitality of the heart,” he says. That vital heartbeat is evident in the trio’s interactions as soon as they appear on “Divided Attention” and is maintained throughout Continuous Beat. Both “Rivalry” and “iTexture” were written with Motian in mind, the latter also being a tribute to Apple founder Steve Jobs following his death. “Back Skin” is a piece built on an Indian form that Abbasi has explored in different fashion in saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition. In projects like that trio and throughout his own work, Abbasi continually explores the conjunction between jazz and South Asian music. The guitarist moved to the US from Karachi, Pakistan at the age of four and went on to study at the University of Southern California and the Manhattan School of Music. He studied Indian music with a disciple of Ravi Shankar and performed and recorded with jazz greats including Billy Hart, Dave Douglas, Marilyn Crispell and Greg Osby. His own music has fused those two sounds in intriguing and surprising ways throughout his nine releases. Most important on this latest album for Abbasi was the chance to reconnect in such an intimate fashion with two longtime collaborators. “We've always had a connection,” he says of his triomates, “partly due to the way we interact as humans, partly due to what our vision of what music can be, and partly due to our unspoken telepathy. As jazz musicians we tend to move forward and make new relationships but there also comes a time to look back at some of our more meaningful relationships.” Release Date: October 9, 2012

www.reztone.com Publicity Contact: Matt Merewitz - Fully Altered Media 347-384-2839 matt@fullyaltered.com fullyaltered.com twitter.com/fullyaltered