My first experience listening to Pharoah Sanders was as a teenager in the middle 1970`s. I purchased "Live At The East", and for some reason I associated Live AT The East with Pharoah Sanders` "The Creator Has A Master Plan". I cannot remember much about this album, but I do recall the album cover having a photo of Pharoah Sanders performing live in what I assume was a club. This was not my favorite album, but it did bring me closer to jazz.
Pharoah Sanders (Ferrell Sanders) was born on October 13, 1940, in Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from high school Ferrell Sanders moved to Oakland, CA. While in Oakland he befriended John Coltrane as he played gigs on the West coast. In 1961, Ferrell Sanders moved to New York City. While taking-on odd jobs to make a living Ferrell Sanders worked as a chef in a coffee shop called the Playhouse, and there he met Sun Ra.
Ferrell Sanders played with Sun Ra and his Arkestra for a brief period, and it was Ferrell Sanders` brief association with Sun Ra that influenced his name change from Ferrell Sanders to "Pharoah Sanders". After Pharoah Sanders` time with Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders reestablished his contact with John Coltrane. Pharoah Sanders would remain with John Coltrane until his death.
In November of 1966, Pharoah Sanders recorded his first album with the Impulse label called Tauhid, at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Englewood, NJ. John Coltrane greatly influenced Pharoah Sanders` playing, while Sun Ra would go on to influence Pharoah Sanders` celebrity. Pharoah Sanders` incendiary shredding of his sound is a direct result of his time spent touring with John Coltrane. It is with John Coltrane that Pharoah Sanders began overblowing, shrieking, and using extended techniques on saxophone. Pharoah Sanders` sound is a combination from his time spent with John Coltrane in Japan, and his interest in reading about ancient Egypt. This mixture influenced and gave the jazz world Tauhid. "Tauhid balanced the incendiary sax shredding of Sanders` years with Coltrane with a newfound lyricism and patience, letting each song unfold at a natural pace" (How Pharoah Sanders Brought Jazz To Its Spiritual Peak With His Impulse! Albums, May 5, 2016, by Andy Beta).
Pharoah Sanders received much criticism on Tauhid (and other recordings) for his use of overblowing techniques. Vocalist Leon Thomas recorded Tauhid with Pharoah Sanders, and would go on to record the LP "Karma". "The Creator Has A Master Plan" is on the Karma recording. The Creator Has A Master Plan is a recording that goes for 33 - minutes between soul music and free jazz. The Creator Has A Master Plan is said to be vary sacred, as well as mystical and beautiful. In terms of free jazz, The Creator Has A Master Plan was a hit. Other albums to follow during those Impulse years from 1966 through the 1970`s are Jewels Of Thought, and Summun Bukmun Umyum. Pharoah Sanders and his nonet would go on to tour.
Pharoah Sanders` music draws from world religions centering on the message of peace. Other albums to be recorded during the Impulse years are "Black Unity" and "Elevation". In all, Pharoah Sanders recorded and released 11 albums during seven years, leaving Impulse in 1973, but continuing on his musical journey.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Arts and Crafts - Making Homemade Drums
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Arts and Crafts - Making Homemade Drums: Looking for a great activity to do with your kids? How about making drums with your children. This is a great arts and crafts activity ...
Arts and Crafts - Making Homemade Drums
Looking for a great activity to do with your kids? How about making drums with your children. This is a great arts and crafts activity to do with your kids, and afterwords you and your kids can march around the house with the marching band.
To make drums and shakers all you need is an oatmeal container, or any snack container you can find. Open one end of your container, and put beans and rice inside your container. Also consider using beads and pebbles. Please, make sure to use hot glue of tape to secure any spills or choking hazards, and by all means, have an adult supervise at all times when making homemade toys. Very important, and NOTE! Avoid using kidney beans as they can be DANGEROUS if consumed uncooked.
Decorate your drums and shakers with wrapping paper. Cut your paper to fit and cover your entire container with packing tape. If having your toddler, preschool or school aged child construct their instruments decorate with stamps, stickers, and color or paint them before covering with contact paper, or packaging tape.
Fun activities for homemade instruments would include shaking them at various speeds. Roll your container between your hands and on the floor for different sounds. Use your hands or an object like a wooden spoon to hit or strike your instruments. Also, you and your child can have fun with your homemade instruments by dancing and shaking these instruments.
Benefits for your homemade drums are in further development of gross and fine motor movement and skills, and visual discrimination learning about sizes. In other words, these are developmental and educational benefits in this arts and crafts activity. Besides, it`s fun.
To make drums and shakers all you need is an oatmeal container, or any snack container you can find. Open one end of your container, and put beans and rice inside your container. Also consider using beads and pebbles. Please, make sure to use hot glue of tape to secure any spills or choking hazards, and by all means, have an adult supervise at all times when making homemade toys. Very important, and NOTE! Avoid using kidney beans as they can be DANGEROUS if consumed uncooked.
Decorate your drums and shakers with wrapping paper. Cut your paper to fit and cover your entire container with packing tape. If having your toddler, preschool or school aged child construct their instruments decorate with stamps, stickers, and color or paint them before covering with contact paper, or packaging tape.
Fun activities for homemade instruments would include shaking them at various speeds. Roll your container between your hands and on the floor for different sounds. Use your hands or an object like a wooden spoon to hit or strike your instruments. Also, you and your child can have fun with your homemade instruments by dancing and shaking these instruments.
Benefits for your homemade drums are in further development of gross and fine motor movement and skills, and visual discrimination learning about sizes. In other words, these are developmental and educational benefits in this arts and crafts activity. Besides, it`s fun.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Jazz Musician, Classical Musician, What`s the Diff...
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Jazz Musician, Classical Musician, What`s the Diff...: Classical and jazz musicians are both on average highly skilled instrumentalist. However, jazz musicians are more sensitive to experime...
Jazz Musician, Classical Musician, What`s the Difference?
Classical and jazz musicians are both on average highly skilled instrumentalist. However, jazz musicians are more sensitive to experimentation and unexpected shifts in music. In general, a jazz musician is better able to react and respond to changes in music, where as a classical musician may have a technique awareness due to years of technical study. Classical musicians focus on technique and personal expression they add to music. Jazz musicians focus on being prepared to improvise and adapt notes they`re playing.
In a study of 30 musicians, all pianist; 15 jazz pianist, and 15 classical pianist found differences in the way these pianist process performing the same piece of music. Jazz pianist re-planned sooner than classical pianist on a study of playing a sequence of chords on a screen. This study was conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, in Leipzig, Germany. They found "the brain creates pathways over time in response to different musical activities". Neuroscientist speculate different procedures established in their brains while performing make it difficult to switch between styles. Repeated actions influence and change how musicians think. Musicians practice on areas of music that meet the demand posed by their chosen art. "Repeated actions change the structure of the brain".
In conclusion, there is a difference in how jazz and classical musicians process performing music. The brain creates pathways to musical activities that differ from jazz and classical musicians. Repeated actions influence musicians thinking, and musicians practice to meet the demand of their art. So what`s the difference, it depends on the musical genre you have chosen.
The Brains of Jazz and Classical Musicians Work Differently, New Research Shows. (2018, September 25).
Retrieved from openculture.com/2018/09/brains-jazz-classical-musicians-work-differently-new-research-shows.html
In a study of 30 musicians, all pianist; 15 jazz pianist, and 15 classical pianist found differences in the way these pianist process performing the same piece of music. Jazz pianist re-planned sooner than classical pianist on a study of playing a sequence of chords on a screen. This study was conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, in Leipzig, Germany. They found "the brain creates pathways over time in response to different musical activities". Neuroscientist speculate different procedures established in their brains while performing make it difficult to switch between styles. Repeated actions influence and change how musicians think. Musicians practice on areas of music that meet the demand posed by their chosen art. "Repeated actions change the structure of the brain".
In conclusion, there is a difference in how jazz and classical musicians process performing music. The brain creates pathways to musical activities that differ from jazz and classical musicians. Repeated actions influence musicians thinking, and musicians practice to meet the demand of their art. So what`s the difference, it depends on the musical genre you have chosen.
The Brains of Jazz and Classical Musicians Work Differently, New Research Shows. (2018, September 25).
Retrieved from openculture.com/2018/09/brains-jazz-classical-musicians-work-differently-new-research-shows.html
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: NPR`s Tiny Desk Concert, featuring Roy Ayers
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: NPR`s Tiny Desk Concert, featuring Roy Ayers: Fans of National Public Radio have heard of the Tiny Desk Concerts. On my computer I have enjoyed Tiny Desk concert performances by Esp...
NPR`s Tiny Desk Concert, featuring Roy Ayers
Fans of National Public Radio have heard of the Tiny Desk Concerts. On my computer I have enjoyed Tiny Desk concert performances by Esperanza Spalding, Tower Of Power, August Greene (a group that features Common, with Robert Glasper, and guest female vocalist such as Brandy), and Roy Ayers. In this blog I will share with you my thoughts and opinions on Roy Ayers` performance on NPR`s Tiny Desk Concerts.
If you have not had a chance to watch and hear NPR`s Tiny Desk Concerts you are missing-out on some wonderful performances. One performance I reviewed is vibraphonist Roy Ayers. In this concert Roy Ayers gives us some of his most popular pieces for a 24:20 performance. Of three songs he performs "Searching" is one of my favorites. "Searching" sounds great! However, I would love to hear tenor saxophone and trumpet punctuate the background like on his 1976 Ubiquity recording.
After "Searching" was Roy Ayers` performance of "Black Family". I cannot say I am familiar with this piece, but Roy Ayers released it in 1983, on his "Lots Of Love" album recorded on his label called UNO MELODIC. If you are looking for "Lots Of Love", well, good luck finding it. "Black Family" was re-released in the 1980`s on his "Drive" album. Also, "Black Family" was recorded on "My Vibes", in 2005. "My Vibes" represents the best of Roy Ayers` defunct UNO MELODIC label. Written by Roy Ayers and Dwayne Perdue, "Black Family" is inspired by Fela Anikulapo Kuti`s Afro-beat style.
What is a Roy Ayers performance without his signature piece "Everybody Loves The Sunshine". Roy Ayers did not disappoint. This was truly the way to close-out his Tiny Desk performance. "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" is such a cool mystical piece, and his band, comprised of Mark Adams (keyboards), Trevor Allen (bass), and Christopher DeCarmine (drums) performs with such spirit and creativity. These guys are right in the pocket.
If you have not had a chance to watch and hear NPR`s Tiny Desk Concerts you are missing-out on some wonderful performances. One performance I reviewed is vibraphonist Roy Ayers. In this concert Roy Ayers gives us some of his most popular pieces for a 24:20 performance. Of three songs he performs "Searching" is one of my favorites. "Searching" sounds great! However, I would love to hear tenor saxophone and trumpet punctuate the background like on his 1976 Ubiquity recording.
After "Searching" was Roy Ayers` performance of "Black Family". I cannot say I am familiar with this piece, but Roy Ayers released it in 1983, on his "Lots Of Love" album recorded on his label called UNO MELODIC. If you are looking for "Lots Of Love", well, good luck finding it. "Black Family" was re-released in the 1980`s on his "Drive" album. Also, "Black Family" was recorded on "My Vibes", in 2005. "My Vibes" represents the best of Roy Ayers` defunct UNO MELODIC label. Written by Roy Ayers and Dwayne Perdue, "Black Family" is inspired by Fela Anikulapo Kuti`s Afro-beat style.
What is a Roy Ayers performance without his signature piece "Everybody Loves The Sunshine". Roy Ayers did not disappoint. This was truly the way to close-out his Tiny Desk performance. "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" is such a cool mystical piece, and his band, comprised of Mark Adams (keyboards), Trevor Allen (bass), and Christopher DeCarmine (drums) performs with such spirit and creativity. These guys are right in the pocket.
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