Really the Blues? My new Avant Roots Trio: Beneath the Blues

[AllenLowe]

people used to get mad at me here when I criticized jazz players for only scratching the surface of deep blues playing (or the Hard Blues as Julius Hemphill used to call it). Well, I never get much response here, but eff-it, I carry on although, as I said recently, I seem to have reached the jazz mandatory retirement age; meaning, I cannot get gigs. A lot of the clubs in NYC are being booked by very young players, who, if you are not famous or their friend, will not even check you out.

So here is something we did with my new trio, the bassist (Colson Jimenez) and drummer (Ethan Cogan) of which are absolutely stunning players. Colson is the first bassist I have found recently who does not sound like 50 other guys, and has almost a Mingus-like drive and persistence. This is Beneath the Blues, recorded in October. Roots, schmoots, jazz players usually play blues like Oscar Peterson on a good day. The blues is a syntax, a way of phrasing and punctuating, not just hitting certain intervals. As a matter of fact I avoid minor thirds whenever I can. We have created a real interactive trio and I have got to get these guys on a cd:

 

 

 

[kh1958]

Age discrimination permeates the country.

I would love to hear your group live, but I suspect the odds of a Texas tour are rather remote.

[AllenLowe]

1 hour ago, kh1958 said:

Age discrimination permeates the country.

I would love to hear your group live, but I suspect the odds of a Texas tour are rather remote.

well, I can barely get gigs where I live. Maybe with Ted Cruz on vocals....

[JSngry]

Yes, please come to Texas and play some blues.

[kh1958]

59 minutes ago, AllenLowe said:

well, I can barely get gigs where I live. Maybe with Ted Cruz on vocals....

Ted only does vocal gigs in Cancun during power outages. 

[JSngry]

You want his Aunt Celia.