Big Weekend of Music starting tomorrow night...

Busy time here.

Tomorrow night, 11pm, I will be playing guitar for Los Angeles songwriter, RJ Comer, at House of blues, New Orleans.

RJ Comer

Saturday night, I will be with my own band at Irvin Mayfield's Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta hotel.  Amazing band.  One of the greatest rhythm section in New Orleans musical history-

Rex Gregory-reeds
James Singleton-bass
Johnny Vidacovich-drums
Jonathan Freilich-guitar

Johnny Vidacovich

Original music there of course- and some other items from across the last 150 years of mostly local music.

Sunday I will be at Yuki Izakaya for a little Latin dance party.  We are getting back to the old days of Mas Mamones etc.classic Cuban rhythmic music- 

Hector Gallardo- Percussion
Andy Wolf-bass
Jonathan Freilich-guitar

Sometimes know as Johnny "Guitar Mambo" and His Hot Latin Combo.  Back where things started to get rolling in the Latin scene here.  Right inside the door that Hector always used to play on the street in front of.  And in the Cafe Brasil building.  Hector is also one of the greats.  Authentic Cuban, vegetarian, and impeccable Swiss timing.

Andrew Wolf/ Hector Gallardo

Part 2 of audio interview/ conversation with Geoffrey Douville of Egg Yolk Jubilee

Jeff Douville marching with Egg Yolk Jubilee

In this segment, Geoff goes on to discuss his involvements with film, more on Danny Barker, New Orleans Rhythm and Blues performer/ audience relationships in music and a handful of other interesting subjects.

Take a listen- get involved in some more sides of the New Orleans music world of today and the past!

The Interview can be found on the interviews page, here...

Tribute to Tim Green w/ Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton, Rex Gregory, Jonathan Freilich-At Snug Harbor Sept 28

Sadly, a major loss to the New Orleans music community happened a few weeks ago with the passing of saxophonist Tim Green.  He was to be on this show!

So come out, tomorrow night- Sept. 27th at Snug Harbor on Frenchmen St. 2 Shows 8 &10pm!

Tim was so important to my own musical development early on that kit is hard to put into words. There are luckily recordings of him playing with myself as well as all the others on this show at snug harbor.

This promises to be a great sunday evening of music.  

Johnny Vidacovich-drums
Rex Gregory-woodwinds
James Singleton-bass
Jonathan Freilich-guitar

Two shows in New Orleans this week

Solo at The Parlor on St. Claude Ave at 6pm on Wednesday- get your costumes! Music.  Drinks.

Friday Night- with the James Singleton Quartet at Chickie Wah Wah on Canal St at 10pm-

Stunning Lineup-

James Singleton- bass

Johnny Vidacovich-drums

Rex Gregory- sax

jonathan Freilich- guitar

Please come out.  Overjoyed to be back in town for an extended detour.

Satchmo Fest: Celebration of Louis Armstrong's writings

On Sunday 4th of August at 8pm, come to readings from the work of... 

Louis Armstrong- premier jazz journalist

Louis Armstrong

        New Orleans music journalist, John Swenson will be curating this presentation of Armstrong as first 'jazz journalist.'  The show is an effort by the New Orleans chapter of the JJA.  Come by and see notable New Orleans voices including Chuck Perkins (poet), Mark Bingham(engineer/composer), Joe Cabral (musician/composer), and many more reading selections from the writings of the jazz, and 20th century music mastermind, Louis Armstrong. This will be towards the end of the festivities for the  Satchmo Summerfest at Cafe Istanbul, New Orleans.  Armstrong was an all-round artistic voice; a prolific writer to boot and, as always his distinctive artistic bent and style pervade this medium as well as his colossal music contribution. Of course, he was also a central shaping figure of the 20th century art so his stories are ground central for an important viewpoint of the world in his time.  For more information and times check the calendar entry...

John Swenson

w/ James Singleton Quartet at Cafe Istanbul- Wed 31, July at 9pm

James Singleton- bass, composer, leader, legend

Mike Dillon- assorted percussion, stamina, and other experimental fits with a high creative yield
Tim Green- sax, deep thought, style, will cut through those barriers that perpetuate the isolation
 

I will be playing with that bunch.  The last few times have all been epic, and completely different from each other.  I think you like music...you should struggle to make it in a way that nonetheless doesn't compromise your basic recreational mindset.  We will handle the other imbalances. 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The Arthur Blythe Sextet!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my favorite groups ever.  Featuring Kelvyn Bell, one of my favorite guitar players in my favorite period!  So driving! So interesting!  So much there, given, in so many directions.  If there is one major influence...

Ellington and Joan Miro

Always been one of my favorite clips.  Check the Ellington piano attack at the end!

Part 1 of audio interview with Tom Mcdermott...

The first part of an audio interview with New Orleans pianist, Tom Mcdermott is now up on the interviews page.

If you are interested in exciting New Orleans piano styles you should take a listen.  Tom has interesting ways to engage with traditional forms and personalized composition style within those forms.

Take a listen!

Upcoming interview with New Orleans pianist, Tom McDermott

Tom McDermott talked in an interview the other day about his influences and current passions.  They are interesting- Brazilian Choro, French Musette, Stride, Ragtime are just some of the sounds playing a large part in how he composes and plays piano. 

Check it out on the music interviews page...

Naked On The Floor rides again at Snug Harbor this Sunday

...and with the old majestic lineup (we have been playing since 1995) but with the addition of one very esteemed guest, Mr. Johnny Vidacovich.

so, Naked On The Floor will be...

Jonathan Freilich- guitar

James Singleton- bass

Johnny Vidacovich- Drums

Tim Green- saxophone

Rick Trolsen- Trombone

 

All the music is original, and some very recently composed and, most of all, it will be exciting.

There are two shows at Snug Harbor, 8 & 10.

Part 1 of new audio interview with saxophonist Dan Oestreicher

The interviews are back!

This interview was recorded during jazzfest (5/2/12) and Dan, riding high on the Trombone Shorty wave, ponders, philosophizes, and argues about music and what he is doing with it.  

This has much of interest about New Orleans music and the burdens and freedoms of its positive and negative associations.  There is also a good deal of general chatter about the art form in general and some intriguing particulars.

If you are interested in the music around New Orleans, you'll want to take a listen.

The interview is here...

New Recording by Carl LeBlanc

My old guitar teacher, friend, and brilliant New Orleans musician, Carl Leblanc has just released his brand new recording- Those Who Have Ears.  It's available at CD Baby amongst other services and... help out an artist and pick up a copy.

I wrote a string quartet arrangement for one of the pieces on the record and am honored to find out that he wanted to use it on its own for the finale of the record.  It's called Hesed if you pick up a copy.

Carl is a great guitarist and all around musician who always comes out with a landscape of musical statements on record that really shows all he can breathe life into for a listener.  He has played on some key New Orleans recordings and has played in many of the greatest groups associated with the city including the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Allen Toussaint- (actually the list is so extensive- I'll let you music fans seek out the rest of the bio information).  He was also guitarist for the Sun Ra Arkestra for about 9 years and luckily my generous guitar teacher for a long time. 

This one is worth checking out and many great musicians were involved...

Conversation with creative drummer, Dave Capello

I always feel that more people should know about one of the most individual voices on drums in New Orleans.  Dave Capello is quite a unique personality and there are experiences that he clearly had that contributed on the musical level.  For a few musicians in town it's known that if you want to get a boost into the unknown with a project, and prevent the threat of staleness, then Dave is the man to call...(if you aren't afraid of the reactions of many, both musicians and audiences, who can't recognize more naked kinds of beauty in music.)

Dave Capello(dr.), Helen Gillet(cello), my Chip Wilson custom 7-string guitar(r)Part 1 up on the interviews page now.

Interview with Tim Green

Tim Green is one of the most interesting saxophonists that you can hear in New Orleans.  Occasionally he travels, but most of his career has been within the city.  Over the years he has played with many of the greats that people associate most with the city- Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Irma Thomas, Cyrille Neville, Mem Shannon, Herlin Riley and many legendary others. In fact, he is one of the greats, but he plays a unique role by very particular design and musical conviction. 

His affection goes out most to original, creative, music projects.  He is interested in so much music and, has brought himself to a place where he can insert very creative ideas in almost any context without breaking the balance or excitement of a piece of music or its setting.  He was a large figure in many explorational bands from, Gulfstream and the Stick Band in the 80's, to Michael Ray, Naked On The Floor, and James Singleton, Dennis Gonzalez, and others like  Fred Wesley in the 90's.  In fact, he was a huge supporter of my own musical developments and projects and I think there are many things in life on which we see eye to eye and this really is something, speaking as a grateful collaborator, that Tim is able to show just by playing- support!

Tim has a very deep linguistic or conversationalist playing style that really has its best place on stages for live audiences.  Where the musical "moment" happens is where he strives to be and his best work is there.  For that reason, you won't find records under his name.  One day perhaps someone will be brave enough to release some of the extensive collection of recordings he keeps of his involvements in truly epic improvisational moments.

Tim's genius and where it resides really emerge in this relaxed, and probably pretty rare, interview. 

Better than coffee!

He can take 500 playing like that...!

Complete interview with Jeff Albert, Trombonist and curator of the Open Ears Series.

Jeff Albert is more than just a trombonist.  In starting the Open Ears music series he provided a new local forum for improvisational music, as well as for other forms of music that do not have any easy time getting on the stages of New Orleans venues.  Many groups and associations of musicians have found each other, temporarily or over the long term, from playing in the series and this has changed the face of the creative music scene in New Orleans. 

How did he do it?  What has he done?  Why has he dunnit? What might he do? Listen to him remove some veils.

Parts 1-5 of an audio interview with Jeff Albert are up now here...

All interviews are also available as a podcast through itunes here...

or by clicking on the RSS link further down on this page (right side.)

Rex Gregory interview pt.2 is up.

Part 2 of the interview with reedman, Rex Gregory is up.  He's got some things on his mind.  Check it out here...

Podcast also available here...

Rex Gregory Interview up.

Part 1 of the interview with reedman, Rex Gregory is up.  He's got some things on his mind.  Check it out here...

Podcast also available here...