I’m trying to get back into the blog thing. Years ago, I used to keep a pretty ridiculous blog at this web address. That was 2003-2005 (about). I think I can be more articulate and focused now than I was back then.
The Internet exploded yesterday after the news of Michael Jackson’s death broke. Darcy James Argue wrote about how stunning Michael Jackson’s talent and work ethic were, even from a young age. At work today, The first thing I did was put on The Essential Michael Jackson. “Got To Be There,” the title track from his album of the same name came on. The studio track is impressive, but I found this earlier today on YouTube. Listen at 0:53.
Incredible.
In 1972, MJ was 13 and already years into his career as a professional musician. I believe when I was 13, I had just made the decision that wearing sweatpants to school everyday was not going to happen anymore. Whatever. I had my accomplishments and he had his.
Because of the sheer volume of pop music produced, statistically there are going to be a lot of good songs heard. Michael Jackson wasn’t great because he had a hit or two. He was great because he made great songs consistently for DECADES. Songs that I (and pretty much everyone else) can listen to over and over again. This is because his songs are valuable.
Especially with the addition of Quincy Jones to his musical world, Michael Jackson’s songs are astonishing. Sean “Philly” Jones and I had a pet project last summer of trying to recreate “Rock With You.” It took a really long time and by then end of summer we had a lot of stuff going on. Initially, Philly had laid down the drums (a direct transcription I believe) to a click track. I a placeholder bassline which Scott Mulvahill eventually replaced. Kelyn Crapp laid down guitars and Melissa McMillan did vocals. We then added the little details (horns, strings, synths) piece by piece. The summer ended before we completely realized this project, but it was an eye opening experience. There is SO MUCH going on in the original track, yet it sounds so well blended.
Here’s what we came up with. It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to it.
Since being home, I have had a good amount of free time. I’ve been practicing a good bit, working some and subbed in a gig and a rehearsal for the Nova Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. I have some Finale projects that had been put on hold that I probably should now be getting to. There’s no excuse now! Here is a video of “Architect Flagmen” that I combined with the good audio on my music page.
I just spent a week in New York City. I’m moving there in August and I spent some time scoping out potential neighborhoods to live in. I also saw some more shows including the Vanguard Orchestra on Monday night and the N Result last night. There is a LOT of good music happening here constantly. It’s exciting.
John Guari Graduate Recital. April 23, 2009. Kenton Hall, UNT College of Music. 8:00PM
All tunes written or arranged by John Guari
No Hesitation, quintet. Solos: John Guari (trumpet), Sylvester Onyejiaka (tenor)
Lilacs and Landmines, nonet. Solos: Adam Hutcheson (alto), Sylvester Onyejiaka (tenor)
Blue Lobster, jazz trombone ensemble. Solo: Nick Wlodarczyk
Someone To Watch Over Me (Gershwin/Gershwin arr. John Guari), a capella vocal. Solo: Melissa McMillan
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Dylan arr. John Guari), big band. Solos: Tatiana Mayfield (Vocals), Thomas Eby (Trumpet)
Rifts, big band. Solos: Evan Weiss (trumpet) and Kelyn Crapp (Guitar)
November, big band. Solo: Brian Girley (alto)
Architect Flagmen, big band. Solos: Sylvester Onyejiaka (tenor), Kelyn Crapp (guitar)
This is now linked on the music page as well
I have the uncompressed .aiff files of my graduate recital. As soon as I convert them to a smaller size (mp3), I’ll post them to this site. It was a great night and there was music made that I’m really proud of. Videos on youtube will also be put up, once I do all the technical stuff.
I’m in New York right now for a week. Hanging out and seeing shows. I saw the Le Boeuf Brothers at the Jazz Gallery last night.
Here’s a live video of Tatiana Mayfield and The Two O’Clock Lab Band playing my arrangement of “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right.” It’ll be performed on my Grad Recital, which is this Thursday at 8:00PM in Kenton Hall on the UNT Campus. Quality recordings of that night will be available here when I receive and upload them.
I have my grad school orals on Monday, as well as a lot of Finale related business. This blog has a chance of becoming something actually interesting to read, but not until I’m done with school. Ugh.
My Graduate Recital is on April 23rd in Kenton Hall in the UNT College of Music Building. Recordings will be made and posted when I have them.
Hello to my threes of readers.
This post is me putting up links to mp3s of a BUNCH of music that I haven’t gotten around to uploading. I’ll copy this to the recordings page. Most of these are one or two-takes recorded and edited with bare bones audio software (Garageband).
An epic chart I wrote and revised last year. This is a 2nd reading. The tune with kinks worked out and face melting licks having been shedded will close my Grad Recital, which is Thursday, April 23rd at 8:00PM in Kenton Hall on the UNT College of Music Campus.
This is a recording from a performance by the Three O’Clock Lab Band featuring Melissa McMillan on vocals. This was meant to be Basie-ish, complete with stolen riffs.
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Another arrangement for Vocalist and Big Band on one of my favorite Bob Dylan tunes. Tatiana Mayfield is singing on this recording.
A vocal jazz ensemble arrangement with accompaniment. Rhythm and vocal tracks were recorded separately and combined.
My first a capella vocal jazz arrangement. Pretty chords.
Scant posting is my pattern, but I’ve been filling in the gaps of my musical listening.
On the classical side, I’ve listened to Beethoven’s Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, Holst’s Planets and Copland’s Rodeo. These pieces are about as well known as classical rep gets, and I had listened to portions of them, but not the whole things in their entireties.
On the jazz side, I’ve discovered the joys of Stan Kenton’s Portraits on Standards. We played it last week in the Three O’Clock Lab Band (more on that later). Also John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman is of course superb and essential. Lastly, I finally picked up Snarky Puppy’s latest album, Bring Us the Bright. It’s vastly different from their last record, which was vastly different than the one before that. It’s amoebic music, through and through. Snarky Puppy can exist as a quartet/quintet or have as many as a dozen or more people onstage, and the various styles mash and intermingle with each other. It’s pretty cool stuff.
I’m well into my final semester at UNT. I’m back in the Three O’Clock Lab Band, and excited to be there. The level of musicianship is very high in all sections and we can put stuff together quickly. I’m only taking Lab Band and doubling up on jazz composition lessons this semester, but I always feel like I could use more time. Deadlines are a good thing though, as they make you just cut the crap and do things.
Speaking of which, I should probably hop back on Finale now.
After a 16.5 hour drive from Minnesota, I’ve arrived back in Denton for my final semester. There were exciting events after the new year. I rehearsed once more with the Nova Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and had a rehearsal and performance with the Stan Bann Big Band. I also took a trip with Siri to Chicago. I walked around DePaul a little bit and met with Bob Lark to say hello and introduce myself. Siri and I caught a show at the Second City, which was hilarious. There wasn’t enough time in the trip to see any music, but perhaps next time, there will be.