I'm a "bean counter." According to Willie Waldman, it's not about the numbers. That's a typical line from a jazz musician and following my conversation with Willie's bass player for the evening, Garrett Sayers, about his trio and upcoming album, Willie had a lot more to say. His moniker reflected the attitude and thought process of a jazz musician. If you don't know, Willie is a hurricane of energy and holds no punches when it comes to speaking his mind about everything. My conversation with Willie was calmer than previous experiences and though him and I have had words in the past, that night he spoke very candidly with me about mistakes he'd made, his life and Live Nation. That night I found myself "counting beans" (gauging attendance) and there were more "beans" than I had seen Willie pull in Denver in some time.
Rumors had circulated leading up to the show about the potential appearance of Red Hot Chili Peppers' bass player, Flea, turning out following his sold out show at The Pepsi Center. The first set started to a near empty room and grew in size with the initial "composition" taking shape. Heavy bass lines from Garrett opened up into some fairly loose drumming and a sort of somber trumpet took over. What followed were two sets of free jazz that included some fantastic moments. Throughout the two sets the project was joined by Jamie Mitchell on guitar, however no Flea.
For folks who had turned out to see the "special guest," there was none. For people who turned out to see Flea, they got a "Live Nation killed us" rant from Willie. If you were there for any other reason but music, you may have left disappointed. However, for those jazz fans in attendance, seeking a free form oasis, there was no disappointment. Music fans were treated to a rare performance of a genre that no longer has a place to call home in this part of the country. Free form jazz has all but faded into obscurity, however, there was Willie keeping the music alive. Ultimately Willie was right, when it comes to jazz, there really can be no "bean counting" and it is all about the music.
Black Rock City, NV Words & Photos by Andrew Wyatt The first time I was born again, I was no more than a 12-year-old tadpole of a kid wriggling his way through chilly baptismal waters of my father’s tiny, rural Southern Baptist church. The first time I was born into the narrow confines of evangelical religion. The second time I was born again, I was a gangly young man born into the big, wide, roiling sea of the infinite universe. And it all happened on a pirate ship and a wacky dance club at Burning Man. In 2002, I was a self-doubting preacher unsure whether to continue a fledgling career calling, when a voluptuous mountain guide neighbor asked if I would join her on a week-long experience at Burning Man. “After the week is over, and you still want to preach. Then great. If not, then you’re welcome!” she piped up. Hesitantly I agreed. “Burning Man,” wrote journalist Daniel Pinchbeck in his book, Breaking Open the Head , “is more decadent than Andy Warhol’s Factory, more glamoro
Hill Auditorium University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI Words & Photos by J. Picard In the early 1970s the music world shifted with the coming of a transformative collaboration between John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain. The result was a relatively short-lived but incredibly impactful project that grew from the chance encounter. Shakti, from its inception, was destined to change not only the sound of Indian music and jazz, but the possibilities of musical collaboration as a whole. Nearly fifty years later, the impact of this project that began in 1974 and concluded in 1978, is immeasurable and spans generations of listeners. 2023 marked the return of Shakti, the release of a new album ( In This Moment ) and an extensive tour that wrapped around the globe from Europe to the United States. From the announcement of the American tour dates, it was decided that we would be making the long journey from Denver, CO to Ann Arbor, MI for a show at Hill Auditorium at the University of Michigan
Bank of NH Pavilion Gilford, NH Words & Photos by Arlene Brown What happens when you have 9,000 people attending the biggest group therapy session of our lives? You get almost every single person at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in tears for an experience none of us will never forget. Disturbed’s “Take Back Your Life” tour swept through Gilford, NH with so much raw and honest emotion led by the breathtaking David Draiman, vowing to each and every person there that our lives matter and that our lives are important. Mental health affects everyone; either ourselves or someone we know who is living with depression, anxiety, and/or other debilitating issues. “We are not alone.” Disturbed’s night started with their normal “Hey You,” “Stupify,” and the pyro backed “Ten Thousand Fists” in which everyone was pumping their fists (not phones) in the air. Every single person was singing every single word to every single song. The whole night. It’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen a crowd
Deschutes County Fairgrounds Redmond, OR Words by Ryleigh Hutson & Alexander Fornes We are counting down the days to the first-ever, Cascade Equinox Festival taking place September 22-24th. As we close out the summer months and welcome in the fall, we come to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, OR & explore a diverse and eclectic blend of music including Jam, Electronic, Funk, Bluegrass, and Soul acts. With so many artists and genres to explore, it may be overwhelming to plan which are a must-see, and which sets you’ll spontaneously stumble upon. This could be one of the greatest line-ups Central Oregon has yet to see. The following are 5 artists not to miss at Cascade Equinox! 1. Pretty Lights Electronic music pioneer Derek Smith (Pretty Lights) is following a five year hiatus and Cascade Equinox is boasting its headliner as his only Pacific Northwest performance on his Soundship Spacesystem Tour . Pretty Lights took the hiatus at the top of his game after his 10th ye
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