Now I don’t know about you, but I rarely remember the first time I heard a particular artist. They better be really good for that to happen! Well, Chieli Minucci is really good. What I had first noticed was Chieli’s guitar work, but it didn’t take long before it was just as much the music. The music of both Chieli as a solo artist and with Special EFX is very rhythmic and often upbeat. What stands out about his playing is his superb use of dynamics, even when playing fast lines, and also his use of volume control. Continue Reading
Dec
12
2009
Category : Musicians
Dec
09
2009
Category : Artists
I’m a big fan of Bert Monroy and his graphic ability. My uncle was a graphic artist and he invented “Instant Type” the dry press lettering. I was one of his helpers and delivery boys to CBS’s 60 Minutes. So, to see someone that moves graphics in a fascinating direction such as “painting with light” well, that grabs my interest, let me tell you!
Since Photoshop is something most people have at least heard of, and most people are fascinated by; you very well may be interested in knowing that Bert was the coauthor of the first book on Photoshop entitled “The Official Adobe Photoshop Handbook”. It was released in 1990 and then came another book that was the definitive book on one of Photoshop’s most challenging features called Channels. The book was named “Channel Chops” and was released in 1996. Bert himself was gracious enough to correct my error in thinking that Channel Chops was the first Photoshop Book – thanks Bert! Continue Reading
Dec
05
2009
Category : Musicians
On Friday (May 9th, 2008) the world lost a great musician and a wonderful human being named Wayne Wright.
Everyone that came to know Wayne Wright would have their own personal “Wayne’s World” story. Peter Pan must have still left some fairy dust on him, because he was always impish and wanted nothing to do with too serious a world. And yet it was Wayne that would always help someone to look at themselves when things kept going wrong. He gave out life lessons, while keeping his wonderful sense of humor. Continue Reading
Dec
03
2009
Category : Musicians
For a short while I took guitar lessons from one of the finest female jazz guitarists since Mary Osborn. I never became a great guitarist, but that’s because I never put in the time it takes to be a great guitarist. Emily on the other hand, lived and breathed the guitar.
One day I arrived at Emily’s apartment to take a lesson and there she was in a leg cast and on crutches, Continue Reading
Dec
03
2009
Category : Musicians
Ella Fitzgerald’s last concert at Carnegie Hall featured Joe Pass to play duets with her. I called the hotel earlier that afternoon to speak with Joe. The operator said he wasn’t in his room, but he might be rehearsing with Ella, should we connect you to Ella’s room? I couldn’t believe that she asked me that. I was thinking to myself, “what kind of idiot would refuse talking to Ella”, so I said sure. Continue Reading
Dec
02
2009
Category : Artists
Nov
30
2009
Category : Musicians
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The beauty that went on inside Jaco’s head never ceases to amaze me. Whenever I heard Jaco play a song his presence was always so strong. He didn’t have to overplay or overpower a song to make that presence known either.
- I only got to see Jaco play in a group setting 2 times, once with Weather Report in 1977 or 1978, when they played in Virginia Beach and the second time in Forest Hills Stadium, when Jaco was the leader of Joni Mitchell’s Band. Both times were amazing! Up to that point the best electric bass player I’d ever seen was Stanley Clarke, but Jaco had so many more sophisticated harmonies going on and to me his sense of “space” was perfect. Continue Reading
Nov
30
2009
Category : Musicians
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In the early 80’s, Joe Pass, one of the finest solo guitar players that ever lived, had just finished his last set at Fat Tuesday’s. I was alone that night, sitting at the bar. Joe looked in the direction of the bar and said “Is anyone going my way?” I asked where he was staying and he told me that he was around the corner from the Plaza Hotel. Since I lived in Queeens and I could go home lots of ways I told him I would drop him off.
- As I dropped Joe off, I told him that should he ever need a ride, I’d give him my number and he could call me. Joe told me “you pick me up tomorrow and you can get in for free” – So, I did that for the next 12 years.
You can learn more about Joe Pass Master Solo Guitarist