Number 60 December 25, 2010

A couple of weeks ago I saw the great John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension at Zellerbach.  With Gary Husband  on keyboards and drums, Etienne M'Bappe on bass, and Mark Mondesir on drums, the group is one of the more fully realized electric bands John has had in recent years.  They play with a high degree of empathy and energy.  Like his idol, John Coltrane, John has always had an overtly spiritual aspect to his playing.  He is trying to take you somewhere.  My label, Valence Records had an ad in John's tour book, which was a thrill.  Kai Eckhardt , who has recorded The Search and Reincarnation with me, is also on The Valence Project.  And of course Kai played with John on the legendary Live at The Royal Festival Hall and Que Alegria recordings.

Number 59 December 8, 2010

Mike Stern brought a true super group to Yoshi's SF last weekend:  Dennis Chambers on drums, Anthony Jackson, on bass, and Randy Brecker on trumpet.  They have all played together in various permutations many times over the years.  And in keeping with my ideas of direct transmission, Mike played with Miles in his comeback band in the early 80's.  Dennis has played with John McLaughlin, and now plays with Santana.
Benny Rietveld, who is a dear freind and produced my record Come To Me, played with Miles for about 10 years, and has been with Carlos since Miles' passing.  The music was fresh and wild and inspirational!