Light posting

I'll be on light posting for a couple of days while I finish up a bunch of Ornette Coleman arrangements for an upcoming recording session. In the mean time, enjoy a whole mess of Paul Gonsalves while reading the updated Joel Rothman interview:

The evening began inauspiciously. Some of Ellington's band members showed up late. The earlier numbers in his set were met with tepid, if pleasant, applause. As Ellington announced the next numbers, Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue and the soloist, tenor man Paul Gonsalves, there was no indication that something very special would happen within the next 10 minutes. The band made its way through the Diminuendo section in about 4 minutes when Gonsalves approached the mic and IT happened.

h/t to one of my favorite political blogs, Crooks and Liars for the comment and clip.

Elvin Jones analysis - Big Nick

Here's a little analysis- or catalog of ideas- extracted from my transcription of Elvin Jones playing on Big Nick, from Coltrane's album with Duke Ellington. It's a good introduction to Elvin's playing for novice drummers- the tempo is nice and relaxed, and the ideas are straightforward. It's divided into four sections- phrase endings, comping patterns, hi-hat independence, and 3/4-within-4/4.

Get my e-book 5 Elvin Jones Transcriptions for a complete transcription of Big Nick