"Blues In The Night," a great old jazz tune

Our big band, the Cats Jazz Band of Los Gatos, meets every Thursday for practice.  This past Thursday was our last meeting of the semester and we said goodbye to our bandleader. Russell Zimmer, who has taken a more full time job as music director for a school. 

I think the best song we played on Thursday was "Blues in the Night."  It was darn-near perfect.  Have a listen.

http://yourlisten.com/Stogiebass/blues-in-the-night-07272017

Primarily posted at my bass blong, "Playing Bass."

Tax Season Has Begun -- the Good and the Bad

This tax season I am working for another CPA firm, doing taxes.  I have to arise at 5 AM to leave the house by 6 AM so I can be at the office by 8 AM.  Not fun, but not so bad either.  When I'm not working I get drowsy by 2 PM and take a nap, wasting much of the day.  When working, I don't get drowsy.  Give your brain something to do and it doesn't shut down so often.

My new music session with the Big Band jazz and swing group has started as well.  We are studying these songs:

1. Duet (Count Basie)
2. Fly Me to the Moon
3. Bein' Green
4. Blue Skies
5. Almost Like Being in Love
6. Bye Bye Blackbird
7. All the Things You Are
8. They Can't Take That Away From Me
9. Four (Miles Davis)

I love all of these songs, even though I had never heard of Duet or Four before.  They are jazzy and peppy.

Here's "Four" by Miles Davis.

Tax Season Is Over! Big Band Is Back!!

It's over.  April 15 has come and gone.  I survived.  Went home and took a big nap, followed by a good cigar.

The CPA firm I worked for me likes me a lot.  They want me to show up on Monday to discuss further work for them.  They have over 100 tax returns on extension, and no doubt need help finishing them.

Yesterday I went to my big band practice, and it went very well.  The band is beginning to gel nicely.  The songs are tighter, we all seem to know what to do.  I feel increasingly confident in my ability to play bass with this band.  My ability to read notes gets better and better.  When you are playing music, and you intuitively know the chord changes, and your playing melds with that of the other musicians to create a joyous musical harmony, it is definitely thrilling.  You feel alive in an unusual way.  You are one with your instrument.  The music flows through you like electricity through a cord.  There is no better feeling.

One of my favorite sounds is trumpets with mutes.  The mute gives a very different sound to the trumpet.  One of the songs we play is "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."  The original big band recording of that song makes use of mutes for the trumpets.  (Have a listen here.)

After practice, I swung over to Aldo's Italian restaurant in Los Gatos, only five minutes away from the band's practice site, to join the after-tax dinner put on by the CPA firm, my new employer.  April 16 was, for me, an excellent day, with everything going right.  The high point was the band performance, but being seen as a valued employee by the CPA firm was a close second.  Both my bass skills and my tax skills are at a zenith, the highest point of my life.

So for today, I will enjoy my recent accomplishments.  At least until my wife insists that I do my laundry, which is piling up, and vacuum the dog's fur-ball contributions to our house.  And straighten up my music room.  And shred old tax documents.  I'll do it though, with a smile on my face.

Superbowl Sunday, But Not For Me. Band Update.

I won't be watching much of the Super Bowl today, if any.  I must venture out to do taxes for some of my personal clients.  I don't really care much which team wins today -- they both represent very "progressive" areas.

At big band practice last Thursday, the band director was very encouraging, complimenting my bass playing and saying that "the bass is the most important instrument in the group."  Of course I always knew that.  However, I suspect he was exaggerating.  All those trumpets, trombones and saxophones count a little.  The drummer and guitar player add somewhat as well.

Of course, they were all giving me dirty looks after the director's comment.  I simply stuck my tongue out at them and turned up my volume.

Well one more cup of coffee and then I have to hit the door.  Have a great Sunday.

Bass and Big Band Class Update

Thursday evening my big band class had its final practice for the semester.  The next semester begins January 15.

My note reading skill continues to evolve, and my ear gets better too, as time goes by.  Songs we have been studying lately include Caravan, Blue Monk, Georgia On My Mind and Sing, Sing, Sing.  This is in addition to our songs carried over from last semester, e.g. In The Mood and Pennsylvania 6-5000.  Next semester we will study Corner Pocket, Killer Joe, The More I see You and Don't Get Around Much Anymore.  

If you haven't heard of some of these songs, neither had I.  They were popular songs in the 1930s and 1940s and are still used for jazz.  You can find all of them on YouTube, played by various musicians, including the original artists.

The last two songs interest me greatly -- they are called "standards" in musical parlance, which usually means love song ballads -- think Michael Buble or Harry Connick Jr.  Playing jazz versions is called playing "jazz standards."  Jazz standards is what I most aspire to.  These are some of my favorite standards (in addition to the two previously noted):

Fly Me To The Moon
Stardust
Moon Glow
My Funny Valentine
Taking a Chance on Love
Baby It's Cold Outside
Thanks For The Memory
All of Me
Besame Mucho
Quando, Quando, Quando
A Foggy Day In London Town
Fever
Autumn Leaves
Misty
I've Got You Under My Skin

Those are some that immediately come to mind.  There are many more.

After our last practice ended, some of the other musicians told me that "the bass sounds really good," and that made me happy.

During the Christmas break, I hope to continue studying and practicing the song list on my own.  I feel that I am on the verge of a break-through, i.e. that point at which one rises to a new level of performance.

Here's Frank Sinatra singing "Fly Me To The Moon."  He really nails it.

Playing Bass: A Moment of Personal Satisfaction

I played well at my last big band practice of last Thursday.  I finally have my amplification problem solved, and I have plenty of volume, great tone, and no feedback.  I was the first one to arrive, and had my bass all tuned up and ready to go by the time the bandleader arrived.  Faris, the bandleader, started playing jazz standards on the piano while the rest of the band was arriving.  He played "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," a depression-era song.  The chord progression was easily discernible, and I joined in on bass.  I could tell he was pleased with the result.

Now that the band can actually hear the bass, they seem to like it.  After the practice, one of the trumpet players told me "I really like the bass!"

As I departed for home after practice, I felt I had turned a corner, that my musical goals were becoming a reality.  It was a great feeling.

Rainy Day Musings: Big Band Music Class Tonight; The Glenn Miller Story

Glenn Miller, Band Leader

Rain!  In California
This morning when I went to let the dog out to do his business, I noticed the patio was all shiny.  The air smelled cool and fresh.  Then it dawned on me:  it is raining!

There isn't enough rain in this gentle precipitation to cure our drought, but it is nice to reminisce.  I love rain, passionate for all things pluvial.

Big Band Class
My second big band music class is tonight.  We will be practicing "Greensleeves" and "Pennsylvania 6-5000."  I have practiced all my songs faithfully, every day this week.  I should do okay.

"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song from the late 16th century.  The original lyrics are a bit strange, but new lyrics are often substituted.  The tune is also used as a Christmas song, and renamed "What Child Is This?"  I love Vince Guaraldi's version.

"Pennsylvania 6-5000" is a 1940's style telephone number, the number of the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City, where Glenn Miller and many other bands performed.  It is a famous Glenn Miller hit song.  Hear the New Glenn Miller orchestra play it here.

The Glenn Miller Story

Glenn Miller, Officer,
U.S. Army

In 1954, James Stewart starred in the film "The Glenn Miller Story."  It's all about the life and career of Glenn Miller, trombonist, big band leader and music arranger extraordinaire.  You can watch this movie in its entirety on YouTube, for only 99 cents.  It's worth it.

During World War II, Glenn Miller was given a commission as a Captain in the U.S. Army (later promoted to Major), and applied his musical talents to army bands.  He organized his own swing band for entertaining troops at the front.  His band was scheduled to play for a Christmas radio program, broadcast from newly liberated Paris, France.  Miller decided to fly from England to France in advance of his band, to arrange quarters and other matters for the band.  On December 15, 1944, he boarded an army plane for the trip.  His plane disappeared over the English Channel in bad weather, and Miller was later listed as "missing in action."  His remains were never recovered.

Band Practice: Progress!

Last night was the first session of my Big Band class.  It went very well.

You can read about it here.

My Final "Big Band" Music Class

Last night was the sixth and final session for my "Beginning Big Band" class.  After the class, the band went out together for beer and dinner at the Los Gatos Brewery.  We all enjoyed the beer, snacks and conversation.  Several people complimented me on my bass playing, and that was nice.  The lovely lady band leader gave me a big hug.  The guitar player tried to recruit me for another local big band.  I told him I would gladly consider it.

My biggest challenge in playing upright bass is the arthritis in my right shoulder and shoulder blade.  I must continue exercising with weights to overcome it.  My desire to be a serious bassist is also my greatest incentive to get and stay in shape.

Now that I don't have my weekly class meeting as a practice incentive, I must find new incentives, e.g. a new class, a new band.  I will think on it.

What I take away from this classroom experience:  (1) a much greater ability to read notes (2) an improving knowledge of the bass neck, and better intonation; (3) practical experience in the maintenance and transporting of my large double bass.

The Biggest Phallic Symbol In Music: Stogie's Bass

I have now completed five of the six classes assigned in my "Beginning Big Band" adult education course.  It
has been great for me, giving me an incentive to really learn my double bass (also called string bass, upright bass, bass fiddle and dog house).  Yes, I have the biggest fiddle in the room.  Well, the only fiddle, actually. Why did I choose to play the double bass?  Because it was the biggest phallic symbol I could find.   Thank you for asking.

Ever hear the old saying, "He couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle"?  Well my bass fiddle is taller than I am, wider than I am, but only weighs 22 pounds.  So it is possible, though I am yet to find a bull on which to test the theory.  This piece of irrelevant trivia is presented as a public service.

Our latest song to play is "In The Mood."  Scroll down to hear Glenn Miller's version, which is somewhat better than ours.

After five weeks in the class, my note reading ability is the best it has ever been.  That alone was worth the $72 registration fee.  The strength of my fingers has increased considerably, as well as my knowledge of the bass neck.  However, I still have much to learn.  I will continue practicing scales intently, until I can find any note anywhere on the neck, accurately and instantly.  Then I will continue practicing scales to be sure I don't lose the skill.  The songs we are practicing now include the following:  In The Mood, Sing Sing Sing, Pennsylvania 6-5000, A String of Pearls, and Greensleeves.  These are all big band songs from the 1940s, which is why you haven't heard of them.

My friend and attorney, the alto sax player, is very enthusiastic about forming a small jazz trio or quartet and playing some gigs.  That man is a wailing fool!

The bad news:  our band leader, a lovely lady Brit, is returning to the U.K. at the end of the month, and we will have to find another.


This is how they rocked out in '41

The shenanigans of the band are a bit corny by today's standards, but the music is great.  This song is still a popular jazz piece today.  The little blonde sitting at the table is Sonja Henie.  She was a Norwegian figure skater and film star, a three-time Olympic Champion in Ladies' Singles, a ten-time World Champion and a six-time European Champion.  She died of leukemia in 1969, at age 57.

Musical Interlude: Harlem Nocturne

"Harlem Nocturne" is a hauntingly beautiful, slightly mournful jazz piece that brings to mind Harlem at night. It was the theme song for the television series "Mike Hammer" a few decades back. With thanks to Pheasant Plucker for recommending it.
 

Music Update

I have been reading my bass clef with increasing speed this week.  Sometimes I find myself sight reading (seeing the note and playing it simultaneously) and then I think, "I'm doing it!"  Reading notes is not that hard.  The secret to gaining most skills is patience and repetition.  Take it one measure at a time.  Don't worry about speed at first, that will come automatically (and more quickly than you think).  Knowledge is not acquired instantly, you accumulate it with experience.

I'm playing my big stand-up bass, and I do get tired standing up too long.  So I bought a wooden 29 inch stool from Walmart for only $20.  This allows me to play the bass sitting down, sort of.  Since the stool is tall, I can still handle the tall bass.

Possibly my biggest musical goal has been to play stand-up bass with a jazz and swing band.  However, how do you break in?  Where do you start?  I could never figure that out.  This class, however, appears to be the door.