Whew! You have to hit the ground running when you’re in the midst of the grand transition.In an attempt to create an actual functioning life of music I’m dashing through the snow to leap over old worn out rope bridges over caverns to try and reach my holy grail.An actual stable life in music.It’s OK though,.I […]
Grandpa’s Rainbow
Just how and why does anybody dedicate their lives to art in a fallen world? To make such a choice in 2010 would be over the top from my perspective. When I was a kid in the 70’s I had no idea that the gentrification express was all ready rolling along and that standards had […]
Clifford Brown and the great Tree. Matt Lavelle.
Hearing the opening of the Clifford Brown birthday broadcast on WKCR at midnight this past Saturday,a 30 hour marathon,got me to reflect again on what I call the trumpet brotherhood,.and Clifford Brown’s towering place inside of it.In 2010 it’s hard to find members of the brotherhood,.but we still exist.Of course We all start with Louis […]
My Conversation with WIND. Matt Lavelle.
Sometimes my worlds come together.Even NYC feels the change of the seasons at times.We actually had tornadoes touch down in Queens and Brooklyn recently,ripping up and throwing trees around,.causing electrical mayhem.The last few days I’ve been in wind gusts blowing new yorkers right into traffic.(Stand next to a mailbox if it gets really bad).I live […]
Growing Pains,.by Matt Lavelle.
Everyone that plays,listens,and is a part of Jazz,.has their own version of what the music is,what is important to them in the music,and especially,.the music they like and don’t like.That’s true across the board in all music,and life,.but in Jazz I feel we are ever more particular.I don’t think there are even 2 people that would both agree […]
Music From the Future. Matt Lavelle.
I often refer to the Spiritual side of Jazz and in particular,.free Jazz,.no less than like a preacher on the pulpit.Some folks consider a spiritual perspective on music an excuse to just play wild and free with no real focus and or maybe no real skill.How much skill do you need to engage any music […]
The Night Jazz Became Itself,..by Matt Lavelle.
photo:Joan Fluer A few months ago,.Giuseppi Logan called me up and said,.”man,.we have to work,.I can’t get any work,.I’m broke man.” Giuseppi is under the impression that we can make enough money playing music to have our rent paid,and and enough food in our stomachs so that they stop growling at us.I had exhausted all […]
The Unison. Matt Lavelle.
I’m not an expert on Alice Coltrane and her music,.but I do know that her music has reached out to me in the last few years,and acted as a guide in some way about how to process the relationship of spirit to music.Her music after Trane made the transition fascinates me,and I intend to listen […]
Welcome to 21st Century Jazz. Matt Lavelle.
One thing it’s taken me 20 years to learn is that the Trumpet is a FEELING.To really unlock it’s secrets you have to feel the sound that comes through it.My relationship with the horn is that sometimes there’s feelings I MUST confront.I walked into a club the other day with a burning in my chest […]
the Blessing and the Curse. Matt Lavelle.
When I was in 4th grade,.I went home with a piece of paper to choose what instrument I would play.I circled some without showing my parents not knowing what any of them were.The next day,.Mr.Napoli asked me what would be my instrument of choice and I couldn’t answer.He then said,.”Let me see your teeth”.,and based […]
