I am pleased to announce the latest project that has been in the works for the last year. We have recently started rehearsals with my new quintet, “The Forefront,” for a recording that will take place on August 18th and 19th. In addition to myself, the quintet personnel consists of Matt Mill on Trumpet, John Oleary on Piano, Alejandro Arenas on Bass, and Mark Feinman on Drums. The group focuses on small group composition and more specifically, developed and through composed small group composition. Basically, we intend to get away from the typical “Head-Solos-Head” forms and add development sections similar to that of modern big band composition. It has had its interesting moments and its frustrations thus far being that we are attempting to compose large scale works but using a much smaller pallet to do so. Many would probably consider five instruments to be far too limiting at times, (and believe me the temptation has arisen numerous times to add just one more horn) but at the same this this definitely has fostered exploration into the vast collection of sounds that each instrument has to offer as well as experimentation with alternate roles for all of the instruments.

We will be recording 8 pieces in August and then the quintet will continue on there after recording whenever need arises. Incrementally, we will evaluating the amassed collections of recordings that we will then compile and piece together into recordings. The greatest thing about The Forefront is that everybody in the group will be writing and arranging music for the group. More to come soon about the first release and check the gigs list for upcoming performances.

Tags: AARP

Tags: Anglican Church, Bishop, Colbert Report, Comedy Central, N.T. Wright, Steven Colbert, Surprised by Hope

There is no question about it! The greater Tampa Bay area, and for that matter, the entire USA needs to develop better public transportation in urban areas of the country. Tampa made the Forbes.com top ten list of worst commutes in the country…No. 6!!! We’re above LA? Movies always told me that the worst commute was in New York or L.A.

1 – New York, NY
2 – Detriot, MI
3 – Miami, FL
4 – Orlando, FL
5 – Dallas, TX
6 – Tampa, FL
7 – Washington D.C.
8 – Houston, TX
9 – L.A., CA
10 – San Fransisco, CA

I’d also like to note that fact that 3 of the top ten are Florida Cities! I would even venture to say that Tampa, is one of the worst areas. As a musician, living in Tampa, I have to drive at least 30 miles to most gigs. Traffic, however necessitates leaving anywhere from an hour and a half to 3 hours before the gig depending on the traffic or the location.

Two words…”Elevated Train” in the city limits.

Two more words…”Commuter Trains” Brandon, Town and Country, Sarasota, Land O’ Lakes, Etc.

Or heck, maybe start by fixing the bus system. Stop giving USF students free rides and use the money to expand the routes. Here’s a question that I have though, do we really think that westchase mom’s will give up their hummers?

RJ: That is an S.U.V; Humans ride in then because they are slowly losing their ability to walk.
Penny: Jeepers, its so big!
Lou: How many humans fit in there?
RJ: Usually, one.

Anyway, this was posted on creativetampabay.com:

“A Plan to Enhance Transportation in the Tampa Bay Region Moves Forward by Shelton Quarles, Chairman, TBARTA

The Tampa Bay region is a special place. We all live here for the unparalleled beauty, vitality, and quality of life. To preserve what’s best about our community, we need to act now. We need to work together to create mutually beneficial solutions for regional problems - such as congestion and pollution. We need transportation choices to enhance our quality of life; strengthen our economy; preserve our environment and rural areas; and give us access to job opportunities, medical facilities, and affordable housing.

Regional transportation choices could mean lower stress and lower cost to commute; saving money on gas and car maintenance; getting to the airport on time, reliably; taking your family to a game or a show without the hassle of parking or traffic; or even if you or your loved one can’t drive, transportation choices could provide another way to get to medical centers and activities.

Where do the residents in this region see future transportation improvements? So many options exist, such as high occupancy vehicle or toll lanes, light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit. The answer to that question got a bit clearer as the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) approved the Phase One Preliminary Recommendations for the Transportation Master Plan it is developing for this region. These recommendations outline a series of key connections where transportation options like mass transit could be added to move people and freight around the Tampa Bay region.

A few of the recommended connections include I-75, sections of I-275, Suncoast Parkway/Veterans Expressway, the US 41 area through most counties, and several corridors currently used for minimal freight rail traffic. As we move forward in this planning process, these and other recommendations will be narrowed down as more research and studies are completed.

Moving forward with the next phase of the Regional Transportation Master Plan, TBARTA is now evaluating the possible transportation options in these approved corridors. Will rail work? Is bus rapid transit a better option? Should we be examining managed lanes on the interstates for use by buses and carpoolers? These are the kinds of important questions that will be answered in Phase Two. I am excited to see this process moving forward and look forward to continued public support and participation throughout the development of this plan.

TBARTA will hold its Phase Two Community Workshops in late July and early August. The schedule of workshops is as follows:

Wednesday, July 23 – Manatee County
The Lakewood Ranch Community Room (located in Northern Trust Bank, Suite 101)
6320 Venture Dr., Bradenton

Thursday, July 24 – Sarasota County
Venice Community Center, 326 South Nokomis Ave., Venice

Tuesday, July 29 – Pasco County
Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Avenue, Zephyrhills

Wednesday, July 30 – Citrus County
West Citrus Community Center, 8940 W. Veterans Dr., Homosassa

Thursday, July 31 – Hernando County
Holiday Inn Express - Spring Hill, 3528 Commercial Way, Spring Hill

Tuesday, Aug. 5 – Hillsborough County
Doubletree Hotel, 4500 W. Cypress Street, Tampa

Thursday, Aug. 7 – Pinellas County
Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo

New for this round! TBARTA is also hosting two online community workshops:

Tuesday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 6, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

For more information on these online workshops, go to www.TBARTA.com and click on the “Meetings” tab to locate the link to the online workshop you wish to participate in. Instructions on signing in to the workshop, the phone number to call and the necessary password, are all located on this website page.

I encourage you to attend and share your opinions and thoughts on the different transportation options that might one day better connect our region. As I have mentioned many times in the past, the public’s involvement in developing this plan is a key component to its success.”

Click here to see original post

Tags: Creativetampabay.com, elevated train, Forbes, gas, Public Transportation, Sarasota, Tampa, worst commutes

On Monday July 14, we finished mixing the recording and finally decided on six tracks that we will use for the final release of the record.  The session was great and Elm Street is definitely set up as a place to hang and relax while mixing. When we revisited the tracks, we were discovered that we got a excellent capture on all the instruments up front and really didn’t have to do too much in the mix and finished it in one day. The room we recorded in had a great natural reverb to it and so the recording has a nice presence and genuinely clear sound.  Overall we are very pleased with the recording and look forward to a fall release.

Tags: Elm Street Recording, Holland, Lansing Recording, Lee Heerspink, Mixing, Recording

Last night we finished up the second day of recording in Holland. The first tune we put in the can was a gorgeous jazz waltz written by Lee called “Blue Tuna Boulevard,” which was reminiscent of the Bill Evans trio recordings of the 1960’s tastefully mixed some of some Frisellesque styles and phrasing. The first of the other two tunes was a street beat/funk version of the Charlie Parker classic “Scrapple from the Apple,” and the second, an arrangement of Wayne Shorter’s ”Footprints” with a double-time feel reminiscent of the Scofield Uberjam Band recordings.

We’ve been delighted to be working with engineer, sound guru, and owner of Elm Street Recording in Lansing Michigan, Ryan Wert. Ryan, Lee, and I went to College together and it has been great to catch up and continue working on such a highly professional level. No matter what curve ball we throw at him, he has already taken care of it!

The project has been a great experience for everyone involved and we look forward to mixing it down on Monday July for a hopeful fall release.

Tags: Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, Elm Street Recording, Footprints, Lansing Recording, Lee Heerspink, Recording, Rich Van Voorst, Scofield, Scrapple, Uberjam, Wayne Shorter, West Michigan

As many of you know I am currently up north on vacation and recording with Holland Michigan based Guitarist Lee Heerspink over the next couple weeks for a record release later in the year. So far we’ve finished recording about half of the record and we’re quite please with the outcome. At this point the record seems to be seems to be unfolding into a groove oriented record with a whole lot of back-beat.

Yesterday we were able to put 5 tunes in the can Giving us a lot of freedom over the next week. First we recorded “Softly as a Morning Sunrise,” only the melody has been tweaked and superimposed over the changes from Wayne Shorter’s “Black Nile,” giving it it’s own fresh flavor. The second chart was an original composition of mine entitled, “Ray’s Blues,” dedicated to the late, way beyond great Ray Brown that features West Michigan’s own Charlie Hoates on Bass. The third is a simple rhythm changes calypso, fusing motives from “Oleo,” and “Cottontail,” to cleverly disorient the average jazz aficionado (something I think most of us have considered doing at one point or another). We also recorded an interesting version of my arrangement of the Herbie Hancock 80’s hit “Rockit,” that will also by appearing on my upcoming quintet record to be released in early 2009. The last tune is an original of Lee’s dedicated to a mutual friend John Rodriguez, which I am personally hoping will end up being the title track for the record entitled, “Pull Your Stinky Face.” This track consists of groove meats, Americana, meets just plain nasty!

More to come soon!

Tags: Americana, Charlie Hoates, Cottontail, Elm Street Recording, Herbie Hancock, Lansing Recording, Lee Heerspink, Oleo, Ray Brown, Recording, Rich Van Voorst, Rockit, West Michigan

I recently had the privilege of attending the International Jazz Composers’ Symposium, in my own backyard in Tampa. The Symposium consisted of various lectures, research presentations, guest artist encounters, new music reading sessions, and each evening was capped off by a concert featuring the music of guests artists Bill Hollman, Stefon Harris Ft. The Turtle Island String Quartet, and Jim McNeely performed by the composers conducting Chuck Owen’s Jazz Surge. It was the perfect chance to hang and meet other composers while experiencing and discussing each other’s musical tendencies, perceptions and struggles. The word camaraderie kept floating around amongst the various sessions and hangs in between and I think this best illustrates the overall success of event. The symposium was an opportunity for a bunch of composers to all turn on the hose and get theirs hands in the dirt and mud to assist each other in shaping our understanding of music and composition.

I would have to say that the new music reading sessions were definitely the crack of the symposium, with the notable highlights of Caitlin Smith and Lars Mollar. Each composition took you to a new place and opened new insights into things like the creative process, harmonic concepts, and most notably, or at least to me, melodic construction. Strong haunting melodies, you know the kind that you walk away singing for the next week, were not as prominent as I would have expected them to be at a jazz composers symposium. Immediately I started asking myself, is it me or what? In fact, bulls eye, it is me! When I write, and I assume it is the same with so many others, I tend to get so caught up in chasing after cool, hip harmony, and trying to shock listeners’ ears that I forget to write a good melody. A melody that at least ten people in the room will sing at some point in the next week. We write “songs,” not an epic adventures into the depths and bowels of human understanding of ordered sound. Fifty percent of the charts that I heard, I couldn’t have sang back to you after the reading was over. This is by no means a dig on the composers or the music but merely an observation of our (myself included) explorations of the music. Where is the melody in the grand scheme of things?

In the end, I left the symposium with more questions than answers or conclusions. But that is the beauty of what we do. To continue to ask questions keeps us reaching higher and higher for God knows what. I think group addiction, if there is such a term, (and if there isn’t…dibs) is the best kind!

What am I reading?

Modern Art and the Death of a Culture

By Hendrik Roelof Rookmaaker

Tags: Bill Hollman, Caitlin Smith, Chuck Owen, International Jazz Composers Symposium, Jazz Surge, Jim McNeely, Lars Mollar, Stefon Harris, Turtle Island

Thank you Dwyers! That’s right I said it…Plural!

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