Published first on October 6, 2009 by YLE; the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
A versatile drummer and band leader Kaj-Matti Oiling is dead. Mr. Oiling, born in 1942, died suddenly in Fuengirola, Spain.
Matti became known during the decades of Oiling Boiling Rhytm'n Blues Band which he founded in 1969. He began playing professionally when twenty years old in Onni Gideon's band. Although Matti had a strong jazz background, pop music generally belonged to his repertoire. In addition to his own band, Matti Oiling worked in many of the 1960's guitar bands, for example Jormas and the Boys.
I had a pleasure of hearing the Oiling Boiling band many times in Helsinki clubs and in Jazz festivals all over the country. Matti was well known internationally, too. Occasionally I received messages from my foreign correspondents: How is Matti doing? Now I have to tell that I do not know. But all the signs are on that he is doing just dandy, depending where he landed.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Improvisation Basics 4: Psyching Out Improv Demons
I participated in mid-1990s in Jazz Studio class taught by Roger Freundlich in Espoo, Finland. Roger later published an article in Down Beat Magazine (1998) about his teaching methods. Here is a summary of it:
Look the demons of jazz improvisation straight in the eyes and say, "I'm going to improvise - deal with it!"
That's the attitude I try to instill in adult jazz improvisation students at Jazz Studio, an adult-education evening class held under the auspices of the City of Espoo Adult Education Centre outside Helsinki, Finland. The participants, generally adults between 30 and 60, are seriously interested in unlocking the secrets of jazz improvisation. In the course, we investigate total musical discipline and total musical chaos to find the magic middle ground where the best music is created.
To supplement the systematic study of intervals, chords and scales, a series of simple group exercises can help adult amateur musicians overcome psychological inhibitions in their desire to become more comfortable as improvising jazz soloists. Developed to educate people in a culture where modesty is a virtue and the ability to improvise is not generally an inborn trait, the following classroom techniques can also be used by band directors to sharpen soloing skills in their big bands.
Some of the methods Roger is using:
- Talk/Play/Talk/Play
- Create/Imitate
- I Am the Greatest
- Ugly/Beautiful
- Verbose/Taciturn
- Guest Drummer
The SOTW Article:
Psyching Out Improv Demons by Roger Freundlich
Tunnisteet:
big band,
improvising,
Jazz,
Roger Freundlich,
Sax on the Web
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Monday, October 26, 2009
DEC and Symbolics History Revisited
Yes, the title of this blog is referring to Music and Saxophone playing, but I have taken a liberty writing of some personal items occasionally, too.
This is a follow up to my previous Blog post dealing with my personal history with Digital Equipment Corp. and Symbolics, Inc.
This update stems from Harlan E. Anderson, one of the DEC founders publishing his memoirs. Should make interesting reading.
Harlan's marketeer, Carole Gunst has a very interesting Hi-tech History Blog. In there she is writing: The First Domain Ever Registered Was Symbolics.com
Carole's articles are hitting home very effectively. I worked for DEC 1974-1985 most of the time in Maynard, Mass, USA. From 1986 I was with Symbolics in Cambridge, Mass, USA when Symbolics achieved that important record. While at DEC they received “the honor” of sending the first spam message in the Internet. That was about announcing VAX 11/750.
The rest is history:
Tunnisteet:
DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation),
DEC Finland,
Harlan E. Anderson,
LISP,
Massachusetts,
PDP-11,
programming,
Symbolics,
TKK,
VAX/VMS,
VAX11/750
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
Jon R. Smith: White Trash, Michael Brecker, Philip Glass
"I used to occasionally hang out with Mike Brecker in NYC. We would both be sitting in with Paula Lockhart who had Howie Wyeth playing drums…Brecker told me that two of his favorite players were Jim Pepper and Jon Smith."
“Jon’s sound is instantaneously recognized, something only a handful of players have, with a tone that’s as big as a house, and a big vibrato that’s characteristic of a gospel singers…If I were putting together a horn section, Jon would be my absolute first choice.”
Edgar Winter
Windplayer Magazine
Windplayer Magazine
In Part One of an exclusive interview with SOTW, legendary sax great Jon R. Smith discusses his career and influences, including the early days in New Orleans, great sax players from Louisiana and Texas, the formation of Edgar Winter's "White Trash", meeting Michael Brecker, group dynamics, ego and solos, Philip Glass and more...
This two-part interview is adding up to other Sax on the Web interviews by Neil Sharpe.
There are several mp3-files and music videos from Jon's early career.
One tidbit from the interview:
White TrashA lot of the music business is about being in the right place at the right time. Usually that means a lot of hard work to put yourself in that position but, sometimes, lady luck can make a big difference. I was coming out of a music store in New York City, when I ran into my old buddies Edgar Winter and Jerry Lacroix. Seems that Edgar’s brother, the terrific blues guitarist Johnny Winter, had got them an audition which led to a recording contract with Clive Davis and Epic Records. They asked if I’d be interested in joining the band. A three-story house had been rented in Woodstock, New York. Halfway through the question, I’d already started to pack!
“I have followed him since he left Edgar Winter’s White Trash…I couldn’t leave Antone’s until I knew he’d played his last note of the night.”
“Never mind the superlatives, [Jon Smith plays] some of the highest caliber blues to be found…One longtime blues veteran compared his playing to Cannonball Adderley, saying ‘Smith is so good, he’s almost out of control’.”
Austin Chronicle
Tunnisteet:
Blues,
Jon R. Smith,
Michael Brecker,
Neil Sharpe,
New Orleans,
Philip Glass,
Rock and Roll,
Sax on the Web,
saxophone playing,
tenor saxophone,
White Trash,
Woodstock
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Tim Price on How To Find Your Saxophone Sound
My good friend, Tim Price authored a comprehensive set of Jazz Lessons and Etudes for my web site, Sax on the Web.
Tim is a Selmer Clinician, professional musician, jazz journalist and author. He teaches in New York City and Pennsylvania.
While at Berklee, he studied with Charlie Mariano, as well as with Andy McGhee, Joe Viola, and Nick Ciazza. After Berklee he studied saxophone and improvisation with Sal Nistico, Fred Lipsius, Jimmy Lyons, Ray Pizzi, Sonny Stitt, and Ronnie Cuber; flute with Harold Jones; clarinet with Kal Opperman and bassoon with Karen Borca.
Tim Price's web site.
In the following video Tim is addressing the eternal question: How to develop your saxophone sound?
Tim is a Selmer Clinician, professional musician, jazz journalist and author. He teaches in New York City and Pennsylvania.
While at Berklee, he studied with Charlie Mariano, as well as with Andy McGhee, Joe Viola, and Nick Ciazza. After Berklee he studied saxophone and improvisation with Sal Nistico, Fred Lipsius, Jimmy Lyons, Ray Pizzi, Sonny Stitt, and Ronnie Cuber; flute with Harold Jones; clarinet with Kal Opperman and bassoon with Karen Borca.
Tim Price's web site.
In the following video Tim is addressing the eternal question: How to develop your saxophone sound?
Tunnisteet:
Fred Lipsius,
improvising,
John Coltrane,
learning,
Lester Young,
saxophone sound,
tenor saxophone,
Tim Price
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Bar Mendocino, Tall Ships, and Horses in the Lobby
What does this blog title mean? You figure it out, but it was another exhilarating Monday night (October 12, 2009) in the premier Helsinki roots/blues jam venue; Bar Mendocino.
There were two reasons for a special celebration. The multi-instrumentalist and, blues/jazz talent Rene Reinikainen was in town. We had an important gig for following night for BTA (Bob's Take Away) and Rene agreed to fill in for bass for this gig.
In the above pictures Rene (red shirt) is jamming with base guitar and harmonica.
Also, Rene and I managed to lure Robert "Bob" Rasmus, against his will, to the scene of the crime. Roba played some magnificent guitars solos and accompanying Kojo, who still has his say about singing the blues.
Kojo singing in the front. Roba on guitar.
Blues-Pekko and Roba jamming.
Other high points of the night:
Köpi on drums and the company.
Horn section: Anders Jansson and Harri.
There were two reasons for a special celebration. The multi-instrumentalist and, blues/jazz talent Rene Reinikainen was in town. We had an important gig for following night for BTA (Bob's Take Away) and Rene agreed to fill in for bass for this gig.
In the above pictures Rene (red shirt) is jamming with base guitar and harmonica.
Also, Rene and I managed to lure Robert "Bob" Rasmus, against his will, to the scene of the crime. Roba played some magnificent guitars solos and accompanying Kojo, who still has his say about singing the blues.
Kojo singing in the front. Roba on guitar.
Blues-Pekko and Roba jamming.
Other high points of the night:
Köpi on drums and the company.
Horn section: Anders Jansson and Harri.
Tunnisteet:
bar Mendocino,
Blues,
Bob's Takeaway,
jam sessions,
Rock and Roll,
roots music
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Karmann Ghia's Clutch repaired
From a Karmann Ghia Discussion Group:
Harri Rautiainen:
More developments on the clutch. It came out that there were already inspection holes in the tunnel. There was some previous repair dome, but the welding was too sloppy and the part was loose again. After fixing that my trusted mechanic, Mr. Simo Makkonen went for a test ride, and broke the clutch release shaft. Cannot really blame him because the original shaft was 51 years old, and was heavily tried recently because of the clutch wire problem.
Harri Rautiainen:
KG clutch problem.
re: Karmann Ghia -58
The clutch wire tube in the shaft tunnel is loose. This prevents adjusting the clutch.
Any similar experiences?
The clutch wire tube in the shaft tunnel is loose. This prevents adjusting the clutch.
Any similar experiences?
Andy Holmes:
I thought I had a similar problem with my KG - the advice from Luke Theochari at Terry's Beetle Services was that we would need to cut a small inspection hole in the tunnel to enable the wire conduit inside the tunnel to be welded back in place. Luckily this turned out not to be the problem with my car, it was a fault with the release bearing.
Harri Rautiainen:
More developments on the clutch. It came out that there were already inspection holes in the tunnel. There was some previous repair dome, but the welding was too sloppy and the part was loose again. After fixing that my trusted mechanic, Mr. Simo Makkonen went for a test ride, and broke the clutch release shaft. Cannot really blame him because the original shaft was 51 years old, and was heavily tried recently because of the clutch wire problem.
I found a new part from Kuplapaja in Mäntsälä, some 50 km from Helsinki costing 30 €. Simo is pleased because it is much sturdier and better material than the original. He is throwing in a new release bearing for free. It has been staying on his shelf, and looks like I am his only VW customer. On other hand he can afford a freebie because the overall repair bill will be pretty hefty. If Simo will retire next summer, I will be in deep sneakers with my Karmann Ghia.
Tunnisteet:
air-cooled car,
clutch,
Karmann Ghia,
Kuplapaja,
Makkonen
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Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Tipitina's, Tall Ships and Horses in the Lobby
"The Crossroads. That decision every musician must make.
It came while sitting in a ramshackle tour bus, squeezed in between the great drummer Jack Pedlar and a 300 pound entertainer..."
Part Two Interview Sonny Del-Rio by Neil Sharpe
It came while sitting in a ramshackle tour bus, squeezed in between the great drummer Jack Pedlar and a 300 pound entertainer..."
Part Two Interview Sonny Del-Rio by Neil Sharpe
You moved so gracefully across that smoky room,
You thought those saxophones were playing just for you,
We danced a fantasy in syncopated time,
This must be love, I felt that magic when your lips
Met mine.
“Say You Will”
(Sonny Del-Rio from the album “40 Years of Rock n’ Roll”)
We got a red-hot band,Technorati Tags: Sonny Del-Rio,Sax on the Web,Rock and Roll,saxophone
We’re gonna rock your blues away.
Sonny Del-Rio
Welcome To Saxland
Tunnisteet:
Rock and Roll,
Sax on the Web,
saxophone,
Sonny Del-Rio,
SOTW
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