Pete’s Random Thoughts

Pat Dursi piano and Pete La Barbera, congas

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:37:59 -0700

One of the highlights in my life has been the opportunity to play with the Hudson Valley’s outstanding and little known jazz pianist, Pat Dursi. Listen to us jam on the Sonny Rollins classic, St. Thomas. Also, listen to the first part of Star Eyes before the session is interrupted by the doorbell. I dug this treasure out from some old cassette tapes stored away for years now. I would guess that this brief session took place in 1979.

The Stolen Perfect Game By Peter La Barbera

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 14:26:57 -0700

When going to a major league baseball game, the question may be raised: Are you going to a sporting event, or for a sheer and unique theatrical presentation? Speaking personally, I’ve divorced myself from the game for several years now only because of how big business has infiltrated itself into the game and turned it into a corporate venture solely focused on producing a good bottom line.

Years and years ago I was a Brooklyn Dodger fan and suffered many times over when they would finally succumb at the end of a season to those dreaded Yankees. I hated everything having to do with that team from the Bronx, from their crotchety old man manager, Casey Stengel to their sponsor Ballentine Beer. Oh, and it wasn’t a tongue in cheek type hatred, it was the real deal with everything from damning them to putting the horns on them. In the end, Brooklyn would always pay the ultimate price thus creating the annual lament that rang throughout Bedford Avenue, “Wait until next year!”

Sooner or later “Next year” would finally arrive and when it did it released in all of us suffering Dodger fans a sense of joy and happiness we thought would last forever following us to our graves. But this too would have been short lived as the team left us in search of the eternal sunshine of Los Angeles.

But back to my theme, baseball as theater. An event in baseball happened this past week that had me sit up and pay closer attention in spite of my divorced association with this “National Pastime.” Something so enormous and dramatic that completely overshadowed anything that could be invented in any theater anywhere. Of course I’m speaking of the near perfect game that was stolen away from pitcher Armando Galarraga. Initially, this caught my fancy only because twice in about four weeks there were two other perfect games thrown, something unprecedented in the history of the game. Since, up until this year, only nineteen perfect games had been thrown. Think about that for a moment. Since the inception of major league baseball just nineteen times had this greatest of all feats been accomplished. To have this happen in the period of just more than a month was just overwhelmingly beyond belief. Think for a moment the amount of games played in a season multiplied by the amount of teams in each league. And further think about the amount of years that baseball has been played and records have been kept and I think you’ll agree with me, two perfect games in such a short time period is astounding to say the least.

Three perfect games in a short time period would have to be hyperbole. But it happened or almost happened and it was a theatrical event never to be forgotten from now until baseball becomes un-invented sometime in the twenty fifth century. This was the start of the moment waking me from my long reverie from this sport. “How could this be?” I wondered and decided to dig further into this incredible event utilizing the electronic tools at my fingertips - more clearly, checking it out on You Tube.

Unless you spent last week on planet Mars you would know exactly what happened. The pitcher, Armando Galarraga, clearly robbed of a perfect game by the distraught and tearful umpire, Jim Joyce, an umpire veteran of twenty one years stunning the fans and non-fans of baseball alike. And you would have noticed the unprecedented sportsmanship of Galarraga who shook it all off and forgave the umpire and moved on. It could be said that this entire script of events could have been created by Jim (James) Joyce. But that might be a stretch of the imagination. You cannot find theater as pure and as rich as this on any stage. This is awe inspiring and so fantastic as it even moved this writer to tears as I unfurled the entire story and became speechless. Had Bill Stern told this story on his radio show many years ago the sportscaster would have been accused of fabricating yet another sports story in order to gain a wider audience.

But it all truly happened and it has to stand the way it is, since baseball still exists by playing strictly by the rules, one of the things that makes this game so precious. If you participate in this sport you could walk away a hero and remain in the publics heart forever and forever eventually becoming a legend. Sort of like Bobby Thompson. On the other hand you may exit from the game as a failure and also be infamously remembered for eternity as well. Sort of like Ralph Branca. Since baseball is so uniquely tied to its rules so many greats have suffered from it throughout the times; The example of Pete Rose best serves that category. Major league baseball is a world by itself and the stories it has created throughout the years have enriched our culture. Everything from the fantastic to the ridiculous has graced its stages. When you’ve turned your back and walked away from its grip, as I have, it brings you right back like a boomerang just as Jim Joyce’s blown call has done to me.

Arturo Sandoval -Dream Come True

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:30:32 -0700

Tunes… Dahomey Dance, Once upon a Summertime, Little Sunflower, Con Alma, To Diz with Love, Giant Steps, blue 93, How do you keep the music playing?, Naima

There has always been two types of trumpet players in jazz. The lyrical soft articulate player, like Art Farmer, Clifford Brown and Claudio Roditi. And than there has been the players that play with fire and are able to reach the outer stratospheres of their instrument. This would be horn men like Cat Anderson, Maynard Ferguson and Roy Eldridge. Then there are the rare geniuses that we get once in a lifetime; we were fortunate to have three giants that left us, recently Miles and Diz; Louis Armstrong rounds out this trio of Gabriel's choir. Nods go to Bix, and all the others too numerous to mention that have made major contributions to our music.
Where does Arturo Sandoval fit in to all of this measuring? Dizzy described Arturo as having "Elephant Chops". I hear Arturo as capturing the best of both worlds, the lyrical and certainly the fire. There is a little showmanship in his style, it would seem unavoidable when trumpet players can reach the upper limits of their physical strength and not be a little flamboyant. This does not take away from the beautiful creativity this man has. He is an extremely gifted musician and, above all, is a fully rounded jazz man.
On this CD the quiet, melodic and sensitive part of this big man comes to the fore. He plays Michel Legrand's music with a deep conviction of spirit and respect. All of the music is done with a dedication that comes with Michel's touch of elegance. There is a unique collaboration between these two giants who have reigned from completely different musical environments. It's what can happen when the right musicians incorporate their artistry and skills and bring their cultures together for all of us to enjoy.

Joao Bosco - Ivan Lins - Gonzalo Rubacaba

Thu, 1 Apr 2010 21:14:24 -0700

Is This America? Music byPat Metheny

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 11:30:43 -0800

Pat Metheny

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:50:48 -0800

Pat Metheny has long been a musician I have much admired throughout the years. His style and creativity is his own and he has played with a wide array of jazz greats through out the years. He has created an entire genre of his own makings. Along with pianist and long time cohort, Lyle Mays, they’ve created a fusion of quality music that not only has a jazz feel, you can also get a sense of the American landscape through the writings and playing of these wonderful musicians. Check out my Photo Documentary “Is This America” on this blog

It wasn’t until last year that my feelings for Pat Metheny’s music elevated from great musician to a legendary guitarist. In my estimation, he may be one of the five most important musicians living today. This estimation came while seeing Pat in two different concerts at two very different locations.

The first concert was a duo with wunderkind Brad Mehidau and Mr. Metheny at the Center for the Performing Arts in Escondido California. The other concert, also last year, took place when Metheny made his first visit to the Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico. This was a completely different approach to jazz with his rich and illustrious trio made up of Christian McBride on Bass and Antonio Sanchez on drums. Metheny played a near three hour set that electrified the mass assembly of appreciative jazz lovers. One of the thrills that occurred during both of these concerts came at the beginning of each concert when Pat soloed on the Picasso guitar, a multi stringed guitar. The results were stunning and incredible to experience. (Check out the video below)

Pat Metheny is able to break new ground and explore or associate himself with anyone worthy of standing on the same platform with him, save for Kenny G, whom Mr. Metheny, an outspoken intellectual, made no bones about in an interview with Jazz Oasis.com.

For those not that familiar with Metheny’s approach to music, I would recommend any of his vast array of compact discs. If you would like to get a sense of experiencing his music live there are several DVD’s on the market that are absolute treasures to own. Two of them I’d like to mention are: “We Live Here, Live in Japan,” and “Imaginary Day Live.”
On both of these recordings I believe the listener will come away richer having experienced one of the world’s greatest innovators alive and on the scene today.

Alive at the Village Vanguard, by Lorraine Geller Review by Peter La Barbera

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:37:47 -0800

Antonio Sanchez

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 15:39:58 -0800

Antonio Sanchez is a driving dynamite drummer. Make no mistake about it, this guy smokes. A native of Mexico City, and playing since he was five years old, Sanchez has worked with and led several groups. Notably, his work with Pat Metheny is stunning and remarkable.

Antonio is a very musical drummer that creates a backdrop of wild enthusiasm and his uncanny sense of the solo sparks the improvisors. His foundation establishes and leads to the soloists greater creation sparked by the driving, articulate and accurate foundation created by Antonio.

This coming Spring he will be working with another stellar trio led by Chick Corea and will feature veteran bassist, Eddie Gomez. The interplay and musicianship that should result from this dynamic trio can only be left to the imagination. They will have a feature spot this coming June at the 2010 Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico.

Migration, an album showcasing Sanchez as a leader is vibrant and colorful. This piano-less group is held together by Sanchez’ powerful bedrock of support for all the soloists in the group. Sanchez has the artistry to drive and support without being overpowering and overbearing therefore leaving the soloist space and support to insert the ideas coming out of the driving drummers rhythms.

Kevyn Lettau and Russell Ferrante

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:23:16 -0800

Kevyn Lettau is an artist that takes several listenings to really get a handle on her craft. This past Thursday we had the chance to finally catch up with her and see her live at the wonderful venue in Temecula CA called “Jazz at the Merc.” She did a groovy duo with her long time collaborator and accompanist Russell Ferrante and the rest of the evening was magic.

For my ears there are two types of jazz singers, those with gorgeous voices and those that use their voice as an instrument. Kevyn wears hats for both these styles. Kevyn has been on the west coast scene for a while now. She has recently settled back into San Diego where her wine seems to be aging and mellowing well.

Her choice of songs ranged from some of the great standards like Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust and her mesmerizing rendition of I’ve Got You Under My Skin to the almost obscure evergreen, A Sinner Kissed an Angel. In each case Kevyn threw herself into the lyrics and explored all of the avenues and became one with the song and it rubbed off on the small but attentive Merc audience. Later in the set she and Russell had some fun with Sunny Side of the Street featuring some tongue in cheek strident stride piano bqcking.

Kevyn’s forte comes as a poet. She writes the poem and sends it off to Russell who puts music to the words and they become Kevyn’s art. The Cherry Tree and a song about Fathers she performed sounding between jazz and folksy however poignant. Kevyn’s interpretations are moving and she is a visual happening on stage.

Russell is the consummate pianist accompanist. Since they’ve performed together for as long as they have there is that uncanny marriage of styles that come together and make for a great program for the rest of us.

Kevyn can swing, make no mistake about it. She and Russell have a romp as she performed a real tongue twisting vocalese, Out of Town, from one of the Yellowjackets original lines, a group in which Russell was the keyboardist and original founder. She told the audience that her ex husband suggested that she put lyrics to this complicated line. Kevyn confessed, “Sure, but he didn’t have to sing it.”

While it is difficult for any quality jazz singer to get by in today’s culture we feel blessed that a duo with Kevyn and Russell is made available to us her in Temecula where we can go to dig and appreciate their contribution to the music.

Jerry's Big Mouth

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:26:37 -0800