January 3rd, 2012

Hey, smart and good looking people who read this.  As part of my New Years resolution, I’ve decided to post here on PIG OUT once a month.  No more, no less.  You’ll be hearing about all kinds of stuff.  Mostly artistic.  Some celebrating of my beloved Detroit Tigers.  Maybe some bad jokes.

2011 was a crazy year!!  An amazing train tour with my best friends, Blue Cranes.  Some heartbreaking losses, close calls, and breakups.  Some heartwarming unions, reunions, and new friendships.  Brand new beautiful little people introduced to this crazy world.  My Detroit Tigers beating the stupid Yankees in the first round of the playoffs.  Sooooo many great gigs and recording sessions. It’s kind of overwhelming thinking about this past year.  Hey 2012…good luck measuring up.

Let’s move on to this year:

BLUE CRANES!  We went into the Jackpot! Studio in November to work on our 4th full length album.  I am super excited to work with and add to what we have from that session.  We are heading into Type Foundry Studio at the end of the month to record strings and whatnot.  Then back to Jackpot! in February to maybe add a song or two (and to record a 31Knots cover for a Jackpot! covers project.  Shhh.  It’s a secret.)

Two BC shows in January.  Friday, the 20th in Hillsboro, OR!  And Wednesday, the 25th at Alberta Rose Theater in P-town.  This show was supposed to be at The Woods, but I hear they may be closing their doors for good.  Nooooooooo!!!!  I love that place.  Anyway, you can get show details on the BC site.

BETTER HOMES & GARDENS.  ”The best band in Portland.”  Someone somewhere said that.  And it wasn’t me!!  I get to play for and write with this super rad and super avant-garde and super awesome band.  We are playing one private gig in Portland this month.  I am hoping to get this band into the studio before we self destruct like all of the best punk jazz bands in the world do.  Will keep you posted.

PORTLAND JAZZ COMPOSERS ENSEMBLE.  These insane people asked me to write a piece for them.  I’m writing for a 16 piece ensemble?!!!  What?!  I have less than a month to have it ready?!!  What am I doing writing a blog when I should be banging my head on my desk for inspiration.  Gotta go.

Ttyl.

Bill McHenry – Ghosts of the Sun

Oh, man…check this out.  It came out the day Paul Motian died.

Paul Bley – Turning Point

I love this album, Turning Point.  I didn’t realize Paul Motian doesn’t play on Mr. Joy or Kid Dynamite.  It was Billy Elgart.  I’m not sure why AllMusic only gave it 3 stars.  Here is another write-up.  Anyway, you should own this.

Paul Motian (March 25th, 1931 – November 22nd, 2011)

Strike Three!

XXXY!!  A champion bowling team.

Earl Anthony

Earl Anthony.  My hero.

A Perfect Game

Is it a good idea to make an album of covers?  Sure it is.  And that’s what Blue Cranes is doing.  A 4-song EP actually.  Well, maybe.  Anyway, we are going into the studio to record four cover songs in a couple weeks.  We premiered one of the songs this past weekend at Alberta Street Pub in NE Portland.  Here is a super low quality video of that performance.  I will let the other songs be a surprise.

Oh, and in other Blue Cranes news…we have some special friends (Ethan Rose, Gavin Castleton, Claudia Meza (from Explode Into Colors) to name a few) who will be remixing some songs off our new record.  Yay!

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Check out my friend Stacy…Dancin’ Around Portland.

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Happy Friday

However Calm or Frenzied

I have been listening to this amazing album all week.  I love his improvising  style.  Check it out.

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Reed and I played this for this.  It’s credited to Blue Cranes for some reason, but it’s not.  Just Reed and I freaking out.  We may end up on the documentary they are making.  Will let you know.

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Happy Friday

A Face for Radio

I have been listening to another of the top-of-the-year-end-lists jazz albums:  Matt Wilson – That’s Gonna Leave a Mark.  It’s incredible.  Here is a good review.  I will definitely be checking out more of Mr. Wilson’s music.  How am I not hip to this guy until now?

Why haven’t I been hearing any of these amazing new releases on Portland jazz radio??  Give me a slot, someone, please?

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Here is an interview that Reed and I did last year with Lynn Darroch at KMHD 89.1 in Portland.  Part 1.  Part 2.

Play Ball!!

Yeah, sorry about the long break.  I will make it up to you this week.  Let’s see, where should I start…tour…we (Blue Cranes) toured down to L.A. and back hitting a few new places.  Santa Cruz was great.  L.A. was great (played a house party at the home of Tim and Eryn Young with The Youngs and the legendary Michael White).  Bakersfield was great (met Kris Tiner from Empty Cage Quartet).  Played a bunch of shows with our best buds Elders (from Davis, CA).  Overall, it was another great California tour.

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The BC album has been mixed and mastered.  The order has been chosen.  It has been named (Observatories.  Thanks to Rebecca Gates for that title).  Now all we have left is the artwork.  It’s been quite a process (as usual).  Our captain Reed is responsible for making it all happen so smoothly.  If you see him, thank him for being so great.

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National Flower is back together after a little hiatus.  We are getting the new batch of songs together and putting them through the hit-machine.  I am super excited about the newest version of this band.  We are playing May 15th at Doug Fir in Portland.

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I have started the process of creating my first solo album.  One song written.  More on this to come.

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Baseball started today.  Yes!  Go Tigers.