David Marriott, Jr. is a jazz trombonist, composer/arranger, educator, and blogger. A two-time Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Award recipient and winner of the 1999 National Jazz Trombone Competition, David is active in a variety of Seattle jazz groups, including the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Zubatto Syndicate and his own critically-acclaimed groups Septology and Triskaidekaband.
I've already mentioned the Miles Davis biopic that is moving forward full-steam-ahead with Don Cheadle portraying the "Prince of Darkness", but I got to thinking that maybe there were more out there that I didn't know about. Sure enough, I was able to learn of two more that have been mentioned in the news of late:
However, it was this news blurb I saw this morning on the MTV Movie Blog, but apparently posted earlier on Contact Music, that really gave me a strange vibe:
All I could think of after reading this was -- hmmmmmm. I'm still not sure what to make of it. Snipes as Monk? Does he really have the acting chops for this? When was the last time he really acted in anything worth seeing? To quote a recent article at JoBlo, "Snipes can currently be seen filling the bottom shelf of video stores." I'd love to hear your feedback. The article also mentions Denzel Washington as a possible, but for me, Denzel Washington in the jazz world will always be Bleek Gilliam.
About a year ago, one of my roommates told me about a church he'd been to in Boston, the United House of Prayer for All People, where the music for the service was a giant of trombones and drums. I'v beenn looking into this off and on for a while, and there was some information out there, but I was lucky enough to find a recording from Smithsonian Folkways that documents what I found out is a musical genre all its own: trombone shout bands. The recording, Saint's Paradise: Trombone Shout Bands, is a musical feast of gospel, New Orleans and jazz thrown together into a true gumbo of expression. I strongly encourage you to check this album out -- I picked it up a few weeks ago, and have played it for many people with varying listening tastes, and everyone seems to enjoy it -- in spite of it being a bunch of trombones! It even went over well at a poker night!
I ran into an article this weekend in The Examiner about a group from Washington, DC, the Madison Lively Stones (featured on the CD), playing in the streets on Dupont Circle, and it reminded me to blog about this album. Here's an excerpt:
Twelve trombones wail over the quick beat of snare drums and cymbals as dusk settles on Dupont Circle. The musicians point their brass instruments to the sky as they hit the high notes, praising God.
They play and move with the symmetry of a gospel choir. The soulful sound draws in pedestrians like a magnet.
"Our music touches everyone, I don't care where you're from," said John R. Walker Jr., president of the Madison Lively Stones. "If you come out here and stand out here and listen to us play, you're going to move or rock or step side to side and clap your hands."
This "trombone shout band," similar to a gospel brass band, has staked out sidewalks across the District of Columbia for more than two decades. Noise complaints forced it to move from Georgetown to various street corners in Dupont Circle.
Carl Fontana was always one of my very favorite trombone players, starting with the time I heard him live when I was 17. It was at the 1991 Reno International Jazz Festival, and he was one of the guest artists. At that point, I knew of his playing only by reputation, but he sure cleaned out my ears that day! The photo to the left was taken at that concert by my friend Eirik Johnson, who gave me this print way back when. I thought I'd scan it today and post it on Flickr, so feel free to download the wallpaper version for your personal use. And for your viewing pleasure, courtesy of YouTube, a number of great videos, including Carl talking about warming-up (for all you students out there).
I've collected old sheet music for a long time -- mostly looking for music that will benefit me as a player in some capacity, either through methods, arrangements, or any other written means. I've got tons of obscure songbooks and piano music, books on improvisational concepts from the 1920s, method books by some legends, and much more. I'm trying to close out one of my many collections -- Combo Ork books. A mainstay of the 1950s, these books gave you a full arrangement for three horns and rhythm on one page, and about fifteen tunes in each book. You don't see products like this anymore, but I'm trying to get a complete collection of the Robbins Combo Ork books. I've got most of them, but I'm missing an Eb book for No. 1-4; Bb and Eb for the Waltz Favorites, Mamboettes and the Gem book. I'm also discovering multitudes of other publishers, but I'm trying to stick with what I know. I did find Latinettes from the same publisher as Mamboettes, so I guess I'll have to jump in to the bidding. Let me know if you know of these books or others like them -- I'll gladly trade PDF scans from my existing collection, and I'll be posting more on my other sheet music collections. For now, here are some cover scans:
There have been rumors about a Miles Davis biopic for a long time now, but the rumor mill seems to be picking up steam in the last few weeks. I've been tracking this on my radar since the beginning of June and found this at the LA Times:
"He has a complete calmness to him," says Ejiofor. "You need that if you're going to improvise, just a real relaxed assurance. That's a jazz skill. I mean, the great jazz musicians never break a sweat."
Before long, Cheadle will be calling upon his jazz training even more directly. Through his new shingle, Crescendo Productions, he is poised to star in, produce and make his directorial debut on a biopic of jazz legend Miles Davis. In preparation, Cheadle — whose musical background encompasses saxophone, drums, piano and vocals — has already begun practicing the trumpet for about two hours a day.
Then, I clipped an article at the end of June from Star Pulse, where Don Cheadle talks a bit about preparing for the role:
Don Cheadle received no help from Miles Davis' family while researching his role as the jazz man - because no one had any recollections about the music icon's secret life.
The Hotel Rwanda star felt sure recollections from Davis' family members would help him master the essence of the legend but Cheadle discovered he knew more about his subject than they did.
He says, "I asked them about parts of his life and they don't have any idea. They don't know what was going on.
And now, as I check my feeds before bed, I find out that movie news site extraordinaire Rotten Tomatoes has a new article (thus compelling me to finally write a post on this topic), including this about his preparation:
"I'm playing now, yeah," said Cheadle. "I've been touring so much and traveling so much, I haven't been able to jump back into the lessons so much but I play every day."
He won't have to be perfect for the film. It's just an acting exercise really. "It's a work in progress, I'll tell you that much. It doesn't sound good to me but I'm not going to play in the movie. I just have to play so I'm comfortable with it. We have all of Miles' archival music. I'd never try to play it personally."
I know I'll be waiting in line opening day if-and-when this movie finally comes out. I'll never forget seeing Miles in the Australian flick Dingo at the old King Theater, or actually getting to see him live in 1990 and 1991. Hell, I'll probably give the DVD out as Christmas presents.
Here's some classic Miles courtesy of YouTube - be sure to check out the last video, an interview with Bryant Gumbel:
Ghost of Louis Armstrong: Too bad. You fouled my music forever. Would Bob Ross put a fluffy little cloud over Guernica? Would Ethan Hawke stick a Reality Bites reference in "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking"? No! Tonight you dine in hell! [advances towards Kenny]
Kenny G: AAAHHH! [Reaches into snack dish on granite-topped kitchen counter] Eat Kisses, Satchmo! Eat Kisses!!!!
Ghost of Louis Armstrong: NOOOOOOO! [Floats out onto lawn]
Kenny G: [Winds up for super long throw] Eat PowerBar, you gravelly-voiced phantom!
Nine-Year-Old Brooke Porter: Ow, my fucking head!
Kenny G and Ghost of Louis Armstrong: Oh shit! [Run/float away]
SCENE
A van on the way to bassist Victor Wooten's jazz camp crashed in Nashville - sadly, the driver was killed, but thankfully no student fatalities (WMC-TV)
It may not be killing our young people, but jazz music sure is trying hard...
I read a number of different blogs, among them a fair amount on technology, gadgets, and gear. I've run across a few great items of late -- though well out of my own price range -- that might have to go on that "dream theater setup" list for sometime down the road.
These are fun items -- I have no idea if the Phonofone is available for sale, but I'm dying to get one. Maybe I'll have to inquire about the possibilities...
I've already mentioned the Miles Davis biopic that is moving forward full-steam-ahead with Don Cheadle portraying the "Prince of Darkness", but I got to thinking that maybe there were more out there that I didn't know about. Sure enough, I was able to learn of two more that have been mentioned in the news of late:
Carl Fontana was always one of my very favorite trombone players, starting with the time I heard him live when I was 17. It was at the 1991 Reno International Jazz Festival, and he was one of the guest artists. At that point, I knew of his playing only by reputation, but he sure cleaned out my ears that day! The photo to the left was taken at that concert by my friend 
