Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble (Stravinsky, Mingus, Adams, Mozart)

George Vosburgh, Director

Stephen Story, Associate Director

Bobbi Zimmmelman, clarinet

Camden Wentz, cello 

City of Asylum Jazz Series: Paul Thompson Honors Wayne Shorter

Thursday night's event was a tribute to jazz legend Wayne Shorter, by Pittsburgh Jazz bassist and educator, Paul Thompson.

The performance was focused on acoustic works of Wayne Shorter's discography. Pieces such as Children of the Night, Virgo, Yes or No, Witchhunt, Both Sides Now, and Joy Ryder were played. Beautiful music and masterfully organized, as always!

Featured Musicians:

Paul Thompson: bass

Scott Boni: sax

Joe Sheehan: piano

George Heid III: drums

1/25/2024

Monday, October 9

 Jazz music led by violinist Mat Maneri and the poems by Denver Buston and four scholars from the University of Iowa: Busisiwe Mahlangu, Saba Hamzah, Yashika Graham, Tammy Lai-Ming Ho

I liked the idea of Jazz poetry concerts! Kudos to Henry Reese with whom I had a brief chat. I needed to salute him personally for his wisdom, courage, and bravery! 

I also bought a book from Alphabet City bookstore. This completed the fantastic artistic adventure on a high note: Sleet is the name of a collection of short stories by my favorite Swedish author, Stig Dagerman!

 

Great jazz performance from the Dan Pugach Nonet hosted by City of Asylum (April 3rd, 2023)

The Crazy Art of Tehlonoius Monk

 

I just saw the documentary "Straight, No Chaser" depicting life and art of Mr. Thelonious Monk.

What impresses me the most?

-"He was a genius jazzman." Yes, I already heard a few things!

-"He had an unorthodox style." Yes, he was the phenom

-"He had a problematic mental health history." Yes, like many artists, TM had his fair share of mental health issues.

All of them aspects are important and well-documented about him.

What I had not appreciated, what I could not grasp via listening to him, was how transcendence is embodied in one's art. Him dancing in such maniac fashion in between pieces on stage, is something out of this world. 

I witnessed greatneness, transcendence, and oneness! Body shuttles a spirit in perpetual burn.

Pedram

October 29, 2022

Pat Martino (1944 – 2021)

 Very sad news. Pat Martino, the legendary jazz guitarist, was a musician I discovered when I was fervently exploring the realms of jazz guitar.  The first album I listened to was the 1972 "The Visit". Afterward, I listened to 1968 "East" and then the 1974 "Consciousness". 

His masterful music always absorbed my attention. The key event that made his career more intriguing is the brain injury that led to his amnesia. The memory loss forced Mr. Martino to re-learn all his previous music. This was an uphill battle but boy how fruitful and inspiring all this endeavor turned out to be. 

Rest in peace!

 Pedram, 11/2/2021

Sunday with Thomas Wendt Quintet

 

I attended this performance by Thomas Wendt quintet last week (Sunday, July25th) at the Sampsonia Way Tent. It was an event organized by the City of Asylum.

This was a group of top-notch musicians and accordingly, they selected a very nice repertoire. There were songs by a number of Jazz legends: Victor Young and Ed Washington ("My Foolish Heart"), Walter Bishop Jr., James Williams (hailing from Memphis), ...

It was a wonderful evening with beautiful tunes.

Thomas Wendt Quintet:

James Moore – trumpet

Jeff Bush – trombone

Deanna Witkowski – piano

Tony DePaolis – bass

Thomas Wendt on Drums

Thank You Scientist: Stranger Heads Prevail

 

What an astonishing album. A crossover of Rock, Metal, and Jazz. Highly sophisticated music lines and very technical. This 2016 album was lost in the shuffle for a while.

My New Albums

Sun Kil Moon : Ghosts of The Great Highway (2003)  /Genre: Slowcore /52+19
Josh Groban : Closer (2003) /Genre: (Pop, Classical) /149
God Is An Astronaut : All Is Violent, All Is Bright /Genre: Post-Rock  /72
Alcest : Souvenir d'un Autre Monde Genre: Post-Rock  /81
The Prophecy : Revelations /Genre: Death/Doom Metal  /77
Electric Wizard : Let Us Prey Genre: Doom Metal  /56
Callisto : Providence /Genre: Post-Metal  /106
Jesu : Ascension(Incomplete) /Genre: Post-Rock, Industrial Rock  /37
Black Shape of Nexus : b.son /Genre: Post-Metal/Sludge Metal  /62
Neun Welten : Vergessene Pfade /Genre: Neofolk  /66
Wreck of Hesperus : Light Rotting Out (2011) Genre: Funeral Doom Metal  /67
Joe Pass : Sound of Synanon (1961) Genre: Jazz  /95
Low : I Could Live In Hope (1994) Genre: Slowcore /51
Scatter The Ashes : Devout/The Modern Hym /Genre: Post-Punk /41
Les Discretes : Septembre Et Ses Derniere Pensees /Genre: Post-Rock /81
Idaho : Alas /Genre: Slowcore/26
P.O.D : When Angels and Serpents Dance /Genre: Christian Metal /82
Pantheist : O'Solitude (2003) /Genre: Funeral Doom Metal /87
Tenhi : Kauan /Genre: Neofolk /47 
Tiamat : Panopticpn (2008) /Genre: Gothic Metal /108

My Album of The Month (August 2011)

Listening to his wonder skillful pieces was one of the memorable moments...

Gutted by The Bitter News

Astonishing Madeleine Peyroux

I adore her voice.I'm listening to "Bare Bones" right now.What a fantastic album it is !
Two thumbs up Madeleine Peyroux !

Officium