Backstage at the Blue Note: Chick, Eddie Gomez, John Scofield
Let’s just say I asked you to make a list of the ten greatest artists of modern jazz. Who would you place on that list? Well, for me, Chick Corea and John Scofield would most certainly be on that list and at, or near, the very top. Well, when Bill Rooney, Chick’s great manager, invited me to attend one of …
A Birthday Concerto in the Spirit of Mozart
In the summer of ’06 I got to realize a musical dream. I was commissioned to write a piece of music “In The Spirit Of Mozart” by the “Wiener Mozartjahr 2006” – one of Mozart’s musical homes – and to premier it in Vienna, one of the most musical cities in the world. The whole experience was a wonderful experiment …
Five Decades of Music In a One-Hour Interview
When I was told that Chick Corea would be given the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award for his many contributions in virtually every style of ensemble music imaginable by Chamber Music America at their 2010 conference here in New York and that one of the various events celebrating Chick would be a one hour interview that they wanted me …
Interview with Myself: Herbie in Germany
“Interview With Myself” You seemed really content and smiling after the show tonight. What was the reason(s)? Are you kidding? Tonight was Special! When do I get a chance to play solo piano in concert and have one of my favorite pianist/composer/musicians of all time there in the audience? Herbie was there tonight (Hancock of course). He brought John Axelrod …
With Roy Haynes in Germany
What a thrill it was to meet up with Roy Haynes the other night in Germany. It was Roy’s first Euro gig for his tour. I’ve been out now for a few weeks. So when I walked into the hotel after a long day’s travel, there was Roy sitting in the restaurant by himself having an 11 p.m. salad. Of …
Interview with Myself: Being on Tour
What’s it like to be on tour with yourself? After the intensities of the RTF Returns and Five Peace Band tours over the last 2 years, playing in my smallest, most intimate band has been a nice contrast. I get to “practice the piano” – something which becomes rarer and rarer as I become busier and busier.
