#24. 22 May 2020

​dearest all,


i hope you're all doing at least as well as can be expected. for my part. i'm doing fine. i've been writing and playing lots of music by myself. which isn't the only way i like to do it, but it is one way...

anywho, i have a couple things coming up, and i've been listening to some good stuff, too. check it out!


listen to this/these!

Vinnie Sperrazza, Jacob Sacks, Masa Kamaguchi :: Play...

wow! these guys! why didn't i know about these records?? i love vinnie and jacob and i love their playing. masa is new to me and is great. this trio has released a MESS of recordings organized by composer. so far they're done Cy Coleman (!!!!!), Johnny Mandel, Lee Morgan, Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins, Tadd Dameron... i haven't even listened to them all. but i recommend them all. they've selected great tunes. they approach the music with a dead serious irreverence that is very near and dear to my heart. and their group sound is totally ace go listen!


James Shipp :: Everything and also his instagram

composer singer percussionist comedian former roommate james shipp is just such a joy. he's been making short music videos on his instagram. catch up. talk about irreverent. he also makes some of the most unironically beautiful music i've ever heard (see Rose of Trolley also on his insta) and this gorgeous duo record with Nadje Noordhuis. just go to his website. there's SO MUCH great stuff there. www.jamesshipp.com


Becca Stevens :: Wonderbloom

becca and i have been buds for a long long time. and though we don't really keep in touch anymore i think back fondly on a time when we would hop in her subaru together and go on short solo tours, me playing experimental saxophone music while wearing a pair of these (she actually took this photo i think), and she would play a gut twisting set of solo voice with guitar / ukulele. i fell in love with her band when we were all at the new school together. suffice it to say her music sounds a lot different now. but her (literally) unbelievable voice and her twisty and exciting compositional sense are still at the center of all of it. great new record. i'm happy for my old pal.