When we arrived, the kickoff  jam session had been going on for over an hour.  I can’t even begin to tell you about the energy under that tent, it was pretty awesome! My sister introduced me to a few people and those people introduced me to other people.  They also pointed out some people.  One of the people that was pointed out was Jody.  I went right up to him and introduced myself to him.  Right away, I could tell he was a class act, not yet knowing who he was.  Afterwards, I went back to the table and enjoyed the show.

A little while later, I took Gilda out of her case and told the man in charge what I wanted to play.  I didn’t know much at all, at that time, I was comfortable with a blues in F.  I ended up on stage with Jody and another man named, Roosevelt. I had know idea what was going on.  The tune they played was a tune I had never heard of.  I had only been playing for a year at this time.  I was up there doing my best Milli Vanilli impression.  Jody saw I was struggling, and in between breaths, he was telling me what to do.  I couldn’t quite grasp what he was talking about at that moment.  Then the solos started! There was no way in hell I was going first.  Roosevelt had told me how nervous he was.  I was very surprised, because he was awesome!! We were obviously coming from 2 different worlds.  I was next.  All I wanted to do was leave, but Jody told me what to do, as if he knew I wanted to walk away,  right there on the stage.  So, I did, the best that I could. I could not wait to get off that stage!

Later on, I talked with him and he was so encouraging.  He said I should learn “Sonny Moon for Two”.  I learned it that week.  It is a pretty simple melody, solos are open to interpretation. So I learned it.  I went back everyday of the festival to play “Sonny Moon” but could not get up on stage for the rest of the week.

Jody encouraged me to learn a few standards and then, the next year (if I came down) maybe I could get up there and play a tune.  Well, I went home from the Jazz Festival and gave a 30 day notice and moved back to Savannah.  I saw Jody was playing at Blowin’ Smoke on the 2nd Friday after I moved back.  I went there to see his show.  He was amazing!  During his break, he came over to talk to me. I was quite surprised that he remembered me.  He asked if I had my horn and I said “Yes.” He told me to get it and he would get me up there.  Howard Paul, of Benedetto Guitars

http://www.benedettoguitars.com/

was also up there, and he had a show a the Jazz Festival also. Jody asked me what I wanted to play.  I told him, “Sonny Moon for Two”  That is what we played.  I couldn’t believe I was playing with these guys! It was an amazing experience!

Jody came to the Square one day to play with ME! I couldn’t believe it when I saw him hustling across the way.  That also was an amazing experience! We played together for about 40 minutes to an hour. Any words he spoke, came from his heart  and was said with love and respect.

Since the 2009 I have not been back on the stage for the jam sessions, but Jody has invited me on HIS stage a few times.  Every time has been a pleasure and an honor.  Like I said, he is a class act.  I have seen him outside of the music realm also, and he always has time to talk. Every word that comes out of his mouth is said with love and sincerity.  I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for him.  He may not know it, but he is kind of a mentor to me.  He gave me a challenge well over a year ago, and I have still not done it.  I am not sure I want to do it.  That is between him and me.

Anyway, the reason I wrote this post is because, in a world with corporate giants and nobody having the time to give someone the time of day, this man does.  He is a family man, a friend, a mentor, a teacher and a world class Jazz musician. I should also mention he owns a mouthpiece factory.  If you play clarinet or saxophone please, do yourself a favor and check mouthpieces at http://www.jodyjazz.com/

I actually bought a Jody Jazz mouthpiece a year and a half before I met him.  I didn’t know that is who he was until later.  Thank you Jody for guidance, patience and support.

I actually was able to record in a studio.  That was pretty cool.  We had three sessions at Hamilton Hall and it was a lot of work, but fun work!  Pete was very patient with me, as I did many takes.  He gave me some good input and did the mastering.  It was great working him. I hope I am able to work with him again when I get other musicians.  It was also pretty cool to do a Haiku based from a photo my friend Diana sent to me (that can be found in my previous post) along with all of the Haiku I wrote and track titles.  I also want to say a big thank you to my friends and family who were very encouraging along the way.  This is my 5th Challenge and I think it was the most difficult for me.  I love when February 1st comes.  It gets me out of the long January funk and back on track.  I love The Wire for starting this (I think) 8 years ago.  It is amazing to see and hear all the music people create in such a short time. Please go to the RPM Challenge site, and see what others are doing. There is a link in my blogroll to the right.  Yes, it is difficult and sometimes can be stressful.  But you come away with something that you never thought you could do.  It is amazing, people sign up from all over the world to do this! It is fun to hear all of the different ideas they come up with.  Again, check it out sometime when you have time, thank you!

In the last 10 days, I feel I made up for that. I now have 10 Haiku written and 10 progressions down.  I have worked very hard and continued to look up certain scales and chords to match what I am saying in the Haiku.  I have 5 based on literature, it kind of became a theme after my first two.  The other 5 came from various places or thoughts I had.  I would like to share all ten of them–

1,  Myshkin, the Poor Knight/ Heart torn between two women/ Tragically, lost both

2.  24601/ All he did was steal some bread/ He is, Jean Valjean

3. On a Knight’s errant/ To honor the Peerless One/ With his trusted Squire

4. Poems, short stories/ A master of the macabre/ Mysterious death

5. Gollum and Precious/ Together for Centuries/ Consumed by Passion

6. She’s from Canada/ Now living in Australia/ The Orange Blossom

7. Warm soft summer rain/ In the Squares of Savannah/ Gilded by the sun

8. Cafe barista/ A cappuccino in hand/ Frothy heart on top

9. Changes will happen/ Good, bad, or indifferent/ Never lose yourself

10. Glorious sunshine, On a chilly Winter day/ Chase those blues away

Number 10 is a Haiku based on a photo by my friend Diana.  We have done a couple collaborations in the past and I asked her if she would send me a photo and she did. To see more of her work, click on Life Thru Blue Eyes  on the right, in my blogroll.

Now that I have all of my progressions and Haiku written, all that is left, is to record.  I had to take Gilda to shop (today) because there are all kinds of leaks and she is very difficult to play (A huge thank you to my brother for helping me with that!). Also, I have to do the album cover work and then I can send it off.  In some ways, this time of year is my favorite time of year. This is my 5th RPM Challenge and it sets a fire under me to come up with new ideas.  It is most helpful, especially after the long, cold month of January.  I am looking forward to seeing the end product of this project.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Myshkin, the Poor Knight,  Heart torn between to women,  Tragically, lost both

I wanted to use scales that Russians use.  I was even able to find pentatonic scales so it would fit in with the confines of Haiku Jazz.  I got started right away on chord progressions, using Georgian triads that I also found.  Since I have not written progressions in a few years, and haven’t really had to think of transposing, I did all the progressions in my key. I transposed them and a few days later, realized I did it backwards.  Are you kidding me?  So, I did it all again, in a simpler form.  I still feel I will improv my part over the progression.  In my mind, it seems like a good idea, I guess we’ll see.

On the 4th, I came down with a nasty cold.  I didn’t understand that, as I had just gotten over strep from a week before.  I hadn’t been sick in three years then I get a one two punch.  And that isn’t the worst part, I also got food poisoning!  So, from the 4th to the 8th I was pretty much laid up. I lost some valuable time there, but I am not daunted.  On the 9th I got right back to work, with a progression for a Haiku I wrote in reference to “Les Miserables”–

24601,  All he did was steal some bread, He is- Jean Valjean

I wanted to start with these two first, I think they are the more difficult ones, due to the research I did on them.  Now I am able to get to work some of the other Haiku.  I gues being laid up wasn’t a total loss, it did give me time to create another one–

Cafe Barista, A cappuccino in hand, frothy heart on top

I have a couple more I had before I got sick, but I will talk about those as I do them.  I still have 5 more Haiku to write, find a couple of musicians to play with me and space to record this in. It could be I do them solo, then go back with other musicians and layer over my part.  We’ll see what happens.  For now, it is off to my work station to get busy!

Thank you for following along!

This is The Challenge – Record an album in 28 days, just because you can.

One night, about two and a half years ago, I had a dream that seemed to be much more than that.  I was in this club that appeared to closing for the night.  I don’t know what time it was or even what city I was in.  There were a few musicians over in the stage area, so I went towards them.  All of a sudden, Sammy Davis Jr. was standing in front of me.  I don’t know everything I said up to the point where I said to him, “What do you know about Jazz?”  I looked around and I saw Cannonball Adderly sitting by the stage.  He wasn’t talking or anything,  he may have just put his horn away, I don’t know.  Sammy Davis Jr. chuckles at my question and said, “Kid, maybe I don’t know that much about Jazz, but this man does.”  He pointed to the side with his thumb, and there was John Coltrane.

At this point in my life, I was listening to the “Kind of Blue” album all of the time.  I still do from time to time.  I don’t know how to play anything on it.  It is a goal of mine to learn at least one tune by ear.  A challenge a friend of mine gave me a long time ago and I have not done it yet.

I look at him and say, “John Coltrane” and shook his hand.  He said to me, “Kid, I don’t know much.  I just know I love to play music. As you can see, we obviously aren’t in it for the money.  It is all about the music”  He went to say a few more things, I don’t recall.  I do recall as he spoke, he was so overwhelmed with passion about what he said, tears were falling down his face.  I hugged him, Cannonball came over and hugged too.  Sammy Davis Jr. patted us on the back, we were all crying at this point.  We just kept repeating, “It’s about the music”   When we pulled back and stopped hugging,  Sammy Davis Jr. said to me “Kid, you need more of that!”

That is when I awoke.  It was 2:18am.  I wanted to go back, but obviously I couldn’t.

Sometimes when it is a slow week or in some cases, a slow month, I get caught up and lose my way as to why I chose to do what I do.  Obviously, like John Coltrane told me, it isn’t about money.  It is about the music.  I forget that from time to time and I need to never forget that.  I will always remember my visit from the Masters and remember-

IT’S ABOUT THE MUSIC

Normally what I do is walk up and ask another performer how long they are going to be and let them know I work there every night and ask if they would be done by 6:00pm.  I knew if I walked up to them I would have a bit of an attitude because I was already not in a good place in my mind.  However if they walked up to me after I started playing, I would be much more professional.  I started playing and about 5-10 minutes later, they sat down and started talking with each other.  Lit up a smoke and stayed a little while longer as I played.  They started walking in my direction and came up to me and put, what I think was, the tips they had made out there into my tip box.  I think that because the bills they put in were crumbled and it was also a handful of change.  I thought they were coming to talk to me and ask me why I interrupted their performance.  It was n’t that at all.  The one had put the money in my box and I said “Thank you.”  and the other one said “Thank you for the beautiful music”  Needless to say, I was a little surprised.  These two girls were just really cool about it.

The thing is, before they came up to me, I hadn’t been doing to well.  After they left, it seemed there was a little bit of magic.  A couple of my friends I haven’t seen came by and danced to “Fly Me to the Moon”.  They even talked about some possibilities of some things in the future concerning my music and my video, once it is completed.  A younger couple celebrating their first anniversary since they started dating also came in and we talked for a moment  and I played “The Way You Look Tonight” for them since they were so dressed up.  They danced and to that and my friends joined in too.  It was a really beautiful scene.  One of the nicest I have seen in a while.

After my break, I went back to work and noticed the cardboard signs were still there. Which means they were there for over an hour and a half.   Alex had come by for a visit, and I told her about what had happened and then I was curious as to what the cardboard had written on them.  So I picked one up and was just in awe of what a jerk I actually was earlier in the evening.   I picked up the other two and I had just about lost it.  I was already feeling a bad about my earlier attitude and grateful to  those two girls, I say girls- they were probably college students-  for their generosity.  It was almost if they left them there for me as a reminder- God knows I needed one!

To those two girls, I don’t know your names and don’t know if you will ever read this post- but, Thank you.  Thank you for being you and being there last night.  I am grateful!  Those signs are in my house now.

We went over the script and I had brought up a line that I thought fit in with my character and he loved it.  I asked him if we could put it in there and he had to check with the script writer.  He did, and she said it would be fine.  I can’t say the whole line, but I can tell you I mention that “there are two types of people in this world…..” it gets a little profane after that.  Anyway. filming took place over 4 days.

Even though I was not a lead, I was on set for most of the filming, as I love being on the set and watching the behind the scenes.  Wes’ parents catered the set and they did an amazing  job!  For the budget they were on, it was amazing.  At the same time I was an extra on CBGB and I said this then, and I’ll say it now- in direct proportion to the size of the 2 sets, Doug and Marianne did as awesome as major film caterer.  I couldn’t stop going on about how great the food they made was.  It was certainly one of, if not, the best catered sets I have been on yet.

Most of the filming was done in a warehouse where it was over 100 degrees.  Thankfully, as on any set, there was plenty of water for everyone.  I have to say the crew Wes put together was nothing other than patient and professional.  Wes as a director, was very organized and knew what he wanted. He was very patient in working with the actors, especially in that heat.  It didn’t really bother me, I like the heat.  But then again, I wasn’t in a suit  The chemistry between the actors was also excellent.  I hadn’t met anyone of the actors before this and again, I have maintained a friendship with some of them.

There was a joke one of the guys wanted me to play on the 1st Assistant Director.  We checked with Wes and he said it was cool.  I pretended to flip out and ask why everything was taking so long and could we please just finish up!  I got into it with Wes and then he couldn’t hold back laughing and I laughed and look over at the 1st AD.  He didn’t like it.  He told me sit down and get back to work. I got a little nervous about that and later I went to apologize and he was cool.  He was definitely a great sport about the whole thing.  He never saw it coming and the crew members who didn’t know about it, thought it was real.  The looks on some of their faces were awesome.

“Ace in the Hole”  is about a private detective who is kind of not all there.  He has trouble solving cases and when an old flame hires him to find her cat, he witnesses a crime.  He got on the case instantly and finds their hideout.  In doing so he solves the greatest case of his career.  Their is some humor, their is some drama and there is some fun.  As I mentioned earlier I was not a lead in this film, but I am very involved.  I got to do some voice over work for the trailer which is posted below and you can watch.  I also get to play on the soundtrack which we are recording this week.  I am very proud of this film and proud of my friend for pulling off this great film.  I am also grateful for the opportunity to have such a big part on this film.   If you live in the Savannah area, “Ace in the Hole”  will be premiering at the SCAD showcase on November 15th 2012, at the Trustees Theater on Broughton St.   See you there!

http://vimeo.com/52043103?action=share

Still not knowing who he was when I showed the next day on set, I walked right up to him and started talking to him saying thank you for bringing me back.  We talked for a few minutes, then it was time to get busy.  I found out a little later on, he was Rutiger Von Spies, the Director.  The scene was for an Ambassador’s birthday party so we were all dressed to the nines.  The other extras, who came on for the day were really wonderful people.  When we all showed up at basecamp that morning, we all got to know each other a little bit.  This is one of my favorite parts of doing these.  Whether they be SCAD films or being an extra in a feature film, you always get to meet all kinds of interesting and wonderful people.  With any luck, you also get to maintain friendships with them.  I have been fortunate enough to have been able to do that with several of the people I have met.

We were in the backyard of this beautiful house filming nice party scene and Rusty Joiner was going around greeting everyone. One of the extras, Abbie, and I were “just married” and I was introducing her to Rusty’s character.  Between shots, he was just a cool guy talking with everyone on a one on one basis.  He told me his favorite quote for my next project I am doing- “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice”  He didn’t know who said it, but with a little help from Dorothy(another extra) we discovered it was Zig Ziglar.  In fact, I got a lot of quotes from my new  friends,  and I am looking forward to making that next project.  I am grateful for all of the quotes I got that day! But that is another story.  When we moved out to the front porch of the house, Pete Kasper was there as well as Patrick Bauchau and some actors from Savannah who are doing quite well- Jackson Morgan and Anthony Paderewski.  All of them were just super cool!  Pete Kasper’s first words to me were “I love that suit!” Then he introduced himself.  Later on he was telling me and Pepi (another extra) jokes and stories.  He also walked around greeted and talk to everyone else. Patrick Bauchau introduced himself and we talked for a few minutes.  He also commented on my suit and while we were talking he mentioned Sonny Rollins.  I told him how I met Sonny Rollins in that suit.  During the shooting of this front porch scene Rusty is bringing his girlfriend to meet his father, Patrick.  I am talking to (I think, one of his ex-girlfriends) played by Lidia Pearl, and then she goes over to talk to Rusty.  There is a little confrontation between Pete and some other guests and he asked to leave.  I don’t want to give too much away so I will stop there.

During lunch, I was getting coffee at the same time Rutiger was and we went back to his table.  He started talking about the day before to the other two ladies at the table. He is quite an interesting gentleman.  His German accent is very thick, so one really has to pay attention when he is talking.  He, like everyone else in the cast that I met, had no problem taking pictures and just sitting back talking with everyone. He brought up learning Italian, (because of my last name) and later on the set, came over and gave me advice on how to learn it.  It sounds daunting, but I would like to give it a try.

The atmosphere on this entire set was so laid back.  I must say the actors and actresses (at least the one I met) were all very cool and sweet, as were the crew.  It was really cool to see my friend Nikita on the crew.  He was DP on the first SCAD film I did, where I met him.  They weren’t all about them, they wanted to know about you and what you do.  There were a few of them that went to a play Pepi, was talking about.  Pete and Patrick told me they heard me playing in the Square a few nights before.  I saw Pete several days later on the town.  He remembered who I was and after a few minutes of conversation,  said “I don’t have a quote yet, but I will.”  This experience was just awesome all the way around.   I want to say a huge thank you to Rebecca, the extras casting agent, for bringing me in on this project.  I met some awesome people and had a wonderful time!

He found the ring and called her my Precious

And on his birthday, he thought what a gift

As time passed, she had become infectious

Her power, impossible to resist

Killed his kin in order to possess her

He had thoughts of delusions and grandeur

Though she knew it would not last forever

Centuries passed and he wasn’t the same

She left him and went down the mountainside

He fought with himself and all off his shame

Since her departure he searched and he cried

He found her again, when she left the Shire

Precious obsession led him straight to fire

Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it!