UPDATE: Another free summer concert in the park, this time featuring my resurrected fusion band, Aurora.
Just a quick update about these three (FREE!) upcoming gigs. It’s been a busy summer and it’ll be cool to relax and see some good friends.
Reservoir of Jazz ~ Sunday, August 22, 2010 ~ 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Aurora, presented by MCG Jazz
Highland Park
Free
Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy CD Release Party ~ Thursday, July 29, 2010 ~ 8:00 – 9:30pm
Stick around after for the Roger Humphries Jazz Jam Session
CJ’s Restaurant and Lounge
2901-2911 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
412-642-2377
Reservations suggested
Citiparks Bach, Beethoven and Brunch ~ Sunday, July 18 ~ 10:30 am – noon
Pittsburgh Guitars presented by MCG Jazz
Mellon Park
Fifth and Shady Avenues, Point Breeze/Squirrel Hill
Free
Monroeville Jazz Festival~ Saturday, July 17, 2010 ~ 3:00 – 9:00pm
Boyce Park Wave Pool North Parking Area
Free with a non-perishable food donation for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Line-up: (all local musicians)
Center of Life Youth Jazz Band
Etta Cox – Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald
Mike Tomaro – Tribute to Benny Goodman (I’m playing in this band)
Eric Mintel Quartet with Donna Bailey – Tribute to Dave Brubeck
For over 15 years Paul Gertner and I have been combining Jazz and Magic in performances and corporate presentations. The latest iteration of the presentation took place at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA, June 14-20, 2010.
Over the years we have explored many connections between Jazz and Magic. In jazz we learn standards like “Take the A Train” and in magic we learn the classics such as the “cups and balls routine.” The great magicians are master improvisers just like the master jazz musicians, and both art forms focus greatly on interaction with their audiences. Also, magicians build there routines based on the tremendous legacy of previous magicians just as we do in jazz. Most importantly, both Jazz and Magic have a deep respect for the masters that have paved the way for what we do now.
See a version of JazzMagic we did for a recent TEDx Conference in Pittsburgh:
After a recent workshop on Barney Kessel I gave at Duquesne University several of the students asked me about the art of taking short/concise solos. Barney Kessel, Johnny Smith, and Herb Ellis to name a few were all masters at taking only a chorus or two – yet they made very powerful musical statements. The students asked me to post some examples of short solos in a live context. Here are four of mine:
