Tall Jazz 1989 - 2001

During 2001, I completed a 12 year gig as the co-founder and co-leader of the band Tall Jazz; a trio of Vibes, Bass and Drums. The group averaged 150 performances a year throughout the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Tall Jazz released six critically acclaimed recordings and received endorsements from The Oregon Arts Commission, The Metropolitan Arts Commission, The Jazz…

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Later..

Sometimes you get this odd idea and you actually manage to talk other’s into it.

In this holiday tune, beautifully arranged by Mike Horsfall, my concept was to play this tune in 5/4 time. I could hear most of the melody phrased over 5/4 time in my head and sang it that way to Mike. He went away and came back with this…

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Finger Cymbals

For a year or so, I played jazz at a Lebanese restaurant on the weekends. During the band’s second break of the evening, a traveling Belly Dancer would perform for diners. She had a favorite finger cymbal pattern and one night I wrote it out on a napkin.

One, and ah, eh and. Is how I would count it.

I tried playing it…

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Desert Sands

I have this cymbal that I’ve had for decades now, and I hardy ever take it to gigs. I think I purchased it new in the 80s and it was called a “swish” back then. It’s a bit of a Chinese shape without the squared bell, but turned up around the edges; 22 inches and originally had rivets in it.

What it does really, really…

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Performing Jazz in Japan

Performing Jazz in Japan

In 1998 I had the good fortune of achieving a lifetime goal; performing jazz in Japan.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Katayama and the Ebetsu Citizens’ International Exchange Association, I was able to spend a week performing and traveling in Ebetsu and Sapporo Japan, the sister cities of Portland and Gresham Oregon USA.

This was a truly amazing experience…

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