As many of you are already aware, I grew up listening to a lot of music. My earliest memories are of my father spinning his vast collection of jazz records. It was his appreciation of jazz that introduced me to the music of Duke Ellington and so many other jazz greats… My love of music carried over into my late teens and throughout high school. Most of my friends were musicians and I could always be found hanging out in the music room. Even though I’m not a musician, I still enjoyed the atmosphere in the room as the school band rehearsed for a concert. I found it cool to witness a group of musicians come together and capture a piece of music inspired through the minds of legends like Duke Ellington and others influenced by him…
Chops Just Released
This documentary directed by Bruce Broder made me think of those high school years and also some neat memories of my dad. For all jazz lovers, but especially the younger generation, the movie will be very inspiring indeed!
CHOPS tells the story of a group of kids with extraordinary musical ability who learn to make the most of their gifts in an acclaimed public school jazz program in Jacksonville, FL.
From their early, squeaky scales to soaring, improvisational solos, we have a front row seat for their fascinating transformation. We’re with them as they stick together and as they fall apart. And we see up close how the events of their daily lives are expressed in their music. We follow their musical journey from Florida to New York City, where they compete against the top high school jazz bands in the nation at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Festival.
Win or lose, the Essentially Ellington experience puts them at the threshold of their dream, and reveals the incredible growth they’ve experienced personally and musically
Are you familiar with the Essentially Ellington High School jazz competition? The passion and dedication of these young artists is hard to overlook. What do you think? Your comments are welcome below.
For the past several weeks I’ve been experiencing writers block. The first time I can say this has happened since I started TheBluesBlogger site. Usually I’m never at a loss for words when it comes to discussing music… So I thought perhaps if I share a little of what’s presently going on, it might help me work through this.
After months of doctor visits and collecting data, my wife and I received the news that our 13 year old son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome… I will not discuss
the details of Asperger’s as we are just beginning to understand ourselves. However, if you’re interested or curious, Tony Attwood’s site is a terrific source of information… The good news is my wife and I are beginning to find some answers to many questions. Now we can move forward with more awareness and structure in hopes of a bright future for our son…
I think we forget how confusing and challenging life tends to be in those teenage years. You face the confrontation of bullies at school, while trying to figure out all the things you have to do to please everyone. And all this while going through hormonal changes you know little about…
Just the other day my son asked the question,
“ Dad, what was going on in your life when you were my age?”
As I pondered this question, I started to drift off… It was always music that was my escape when life was hard to figure out…
During The Early Seventies
when my brother left town, some of his friends adopted me as their kid brother. As a result, my love of music continued to flourish while hanging out with the older crowd. I guess I was cool enough, because they took me everywhere. I never really had friends my own age because my interests were seen as peculiar to a normal 13 year old.
In my early teens, I started accepting the fact that the vibe was different in my household. Times were tough for us financially, and my parents had no other choice but to sell the house. My brother and sister would then move out and start a new chapter in their lives. This was probably my biggest angst at the time. The change in tone in my household was the reason I searched for different styles of music to occupy my imagination. It was just too quiet around the house…
In 1971 my parents and I lived in a small apartment. The scene was set for brand new tensions between my father and me… After my dad’s heart attack in 1969 things changed. It was a far cry from the times I remembered in the sixties… And I recall getting lost in my love of music and my newfound fascination for writing.
My son too would experience a father who suffered a heart attack. But modern medicine and technology would make life a whole lot easier for my family as compared to what we faced back in the sixties. ~tbb
Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
I remember receiving a new stereo system for my bar mitzvah. Man, I think my father regretted the day he agreed to that purchase. I would spin stuff on that turntable that no one ever heard before. As crazy as it may seem, it was the following two Return to Forever albums that set the tone for my teenage daze…
I recall most of the group I hung out with totally blown away by Return to Forever’s album Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy. In 1973, RTF’s music had more of a jazz/rock feel. This album was very melodic, but lacked the traditional jazz sense of their first two albums. It’s an LP that started my awareness of fusion. There were sounds on that record that were completely new to me and to many others. It combined elements of psychedelic rock, jazz, funk and avant-garde jazz… Not something that went over well with my father.
The guitar playing of Bill Connors was a central focus for me. I was speechless as I tried to digest everything that was taking place. Connors would leave shortly after the band’s release of Hymn of The Seventh Galaxy; deciding to focus on a solo career. He didn’t have the same reputation as his successor Al Di Meola, but Connor’s guitar sound and scorching licks remained the talk of the fusion world for years to come.
Where Have I Known You Before
was the band’s fourth album. It marked even more changes to the group’s style and line-up at the time. Corea explored a more synthesized sound and together with Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and the debut of then 19 year old guitarist Al DiMeola, created a rock filled funky jazz masterpiece.
The band continued to echo the sentiments of other well known artists such as John McLaughlin & The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report; music that also fueled my imagination. The new sounds on these albums would increase the band’s commercial success… Return to Forever helped expand and characterize the fusion genre. They were responsible for adopting many rock fans into the jazz world for the first time…
During Those Teenage Daze
I thought about all the effort that must go into the making a final product like the ones I have mentioned here… And I fantasized how cool it would be to one day work in a recording studio as an engineer…
Return to Forever and its incredibly tight musicianship inspired me. Five years later, I would move and pack many of my albums; these being two LP’s making trip with me to New York City in 1979. The move eventually brought a new set of experiences I never would have dreamed…
When RTF Reunited in the Summer 2008
I was asked by their online promotion team to include a spot on TheBluesBlogger site. It certainly felt like I came full circle from my bizarre teenage influences to the honor of this request. If you’re interested that post can be found by clicking the link located here. ( Return to Forever will be coming out with a new CD called “Returns” on March 2nd,2009; assembled from last year’s tour. And also a live DVD that is to be announced in the near future.)
As I come back to the present times, I want to take the opportunity to tell my son how very proud I am of him. Son, I know it’s not easy, but we are all here for you. Life will toss many curves, but stick to your convictions and be patient. Keep studying and don’t lose your sense of humor. Stay positive and you’ll find your niche… And thanks for being there for me too!
What were you listening to when you were a teenager? How many of you were digging the sounds of Return to Forever in the seventies? Any thoughts musical or otherwise you would like to share? Your comments are most welcome.
marks what would have been the 100th birthday of the greatest drummer who ever lived. This post’s intention is take you back and reflect upon this great man. And perhaps for those that are younger, create some awareness of this extraordinary and influential musician… I didn’t want this Thursday to be an afterthought… I wanted to write something because I always felt connected to Krupa’s music through my father’s admiration of him.
Last spring I wrote an article called Gene Krupa:The King of Cool. It was very special to me, as I so fondly recall my early youth when my father seemed to play Krupa’s LP’s daily… One of the comments from that article mentions how Krupa achieved “Supreme Greatness.” Tough to dispute! Just ask any knowledgeable drummer alive today and there will be very little argument… Clicking the above link will take you to that article.
Father of the Drum Solo and Modern Drum Set
Prior to Krupa drummers were mostly known as time keepers. Gene introduced extended drum solos into jazz swing music… He is also known for convincing H.H. Slingerland, of Slingerland Drums to make tunable tom-toms and was a loyal endorser of theirs from 1936 until his death in 1973. He was also called on by Avedis Zildjian to help develop the modern hi-hat cymbals. Gene’s very first recording session in December 1927 was very historical as well. It represented the first time a drummer recorded with a bass drum. Producer Tommy Rockwell was noted as being hesitant, but eventually gave in saying…
“All right, but I’m afraid the bass drum and those tom-toms will knock the needle off the wax and into the street.”
I will never claim to be an expert on any genre of music. I’m just a guy who is deeply moved and inspired by music in general. But for me the music of Gene Krupa is where my love of music truly began. In fact it was the first beat I probably ever heard; as my father would swaddle me and swing back and forth to the rhythm of the music.
Today I find Krupa’s music nurturing to both my heart and soul… Even though my father and Gene Krupa are no longer with us, the era and musical spirit will forever live deep inside my fondest memories of being a kid.
The following quote from Anatomy of a Drum Solo, best describes in my opinion Krupa’s influence on a modern day drummer:
…before I ever touched a pair of drumsticks or knew what a snare drum was, I saw The Gene Krupa Story on late-night TV. To the boy I was then, the notion of being a drummer seemed exciting, glamorous, elegant, and dangerous, and my eyes must have been shining with inspiration and desire. I remember thinking, “I wanna do that!”
—Neil Peart
All of your thoughts and comments on this amazing man are most welcome… Do you have any memories of Gene Krupa you would like to share? I know I will definitely have some of Krupa’s music on my playlist for this Thursday…
The music seen and heard on this site are meant to enhance the enjoyment of the articles and the reader's overall experience. My intention is to honor the artists that have inspired me by weaving my personal experiences together with my love of their music... If you like the music you hear, I urge you to support them by attending their performances and/or purchasing their music. If you hold the copyright and would like me to remove your song or picture then please contact me. I will do so immediately upon request.
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