(no subject)
2005...I don't really believe the "new year", or keeping time in general, but I feel that I get somewhat motivated to do one thing better every year, and I guess that's worth keeping up with. So much crap is coming up; 2 out of class bands, basketball band, solo, prepare a concerto, ensembles, state jazz contest, wind ensemble contest, learn trumpet, get better on clarinet, piano, guitar, saxophone, and composition. Man, I have a lot of work to do. I think I should take the time and list a few artists ALL of you should listen to: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Julian Adderley "Cannonball", Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, "Fats" Waller, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Jo Jones, Count Basie, Art Tatum, Cole Porter, Charlie Byrd, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Chet Baker, Coleman Hawkins, the list goes on and on...but there are some of the basics that everyone in the world should be familiar with. Jazz is the most liberating music in the known world, and one of the saddest things is knowing that not everyone will get the chance to listen to it. Another sad aspect is that my lifetime is during the height of hip hop and techno as the popular music. Honestly, what has happened to the quality of songwriting. What happened to meaningful lyrics? Not very many exist on what is now the popular music scene. I won't even start on music, or the absence of music...ah well, thats the beauty of technology, one press of the finger, and instant escape.