Number 40 April 29, 2010

Charles Lloyd at The Palace of Fine Arts as part of SF Jazz this last Sunday was magical.  He is one of my biggest musical influences.  I realized years ago that many of the open voiced major ninth chords I love to play, and which are unusual voicings for a guitarist, come from Keith Jarrett's work with Charles' early quartet.  The current quartet, with Reuben Rogers on bass, Jason Moran on piano, and Eric Harland on drums is perhaps his best since that fine group.  I just redicovered his first recording, "Of Course, Of Course",  with Ron Carter ,Tony Williams  , and Gabor Szabo.  Charles Lloyd was the music director for Chico Hamilton when Gabor was in the band.  I had the priviledge of being in Chico's band in 1979 and 1980, and I was flattered that I reminded him of Gabor.  It amazes me what a direct link there is between musicians.  Along with Wayne Shorter and Cecil Taylor, Charles Lloyd remains at the forefront of pushing the music forward, something very few artists can do at an advanced age.

Number 39 April 21, 2010

I saw Pharoah Saunders at Grace Cathedral Friday.  It was interesting having recorded Emily Palen solo there in January to listen to a completely different instrument and approach.  I've seen many beautiful concerts there over the years; Don Cherry and Cecil Taylor being perhaps among the most memorable.  I've seen Pharoah many times over the years, and have always been struck by how profoundly African his sound is.  Lat night I saw Baba Maal at Zellerbach, and again am reminded of the debt we owe Mother Africa.  A wonderful feedback loop of cultures, as Baba is influenced not only by Senegale traditions but also Afo-American and Afro-Cuban music.  And the contribution of salsa and Puerto Rican rhythms are there also. On the latest Valence Project song, "I Am Shiva" I was wondering what to do for a guitar part.  And the music of Tanariwen    came to mind for the rhythm guitar part, and I was on my way.

Number 38 April 14, 2010

We are mixing a new song for The Valence Project.  It was written and recorded the way we have been working so far.  Kai Eckhardt  laid down eleven bass tracks.  Then Brain recorded a drum track, also to 2 inch tape.  While he was looping the tracks in Logic, Melissa Reese and I were writing lyrics.  We often like to incorporate several themes and even points of view.  I had been speaking with her about the origin of the words thugee and hashishin.  Also, a freind had mentioned to me that men looked at her as if they wanted to put her in a cage and own her.  We spoke of some people's need to feel betrayed. All of these ideas somehow wound up in the song, "I Am Shiva".  Our producer Cookie Marenco has been invited to be an Artist In Residence at Indaba  and will be writing a weekly blog for 2 months on how The Valence Project collaborates in the studio.  The blog will be entitled "The Art of Collaboration".

Number 37 April 6 2010

This speech was forwarded to me by my good friend Mark Baillie.  It is Greg Bennett addressing the NAMM SHOW attendees.  I think it is one of the most wonderful expositions on why we create music.

Enjoy!