T he Jazz Culture
DAVE GLASSER QUINTET
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DAVE GLASSER QUINTET by L. Hamanaka
Caught Dave Glasser’s Quintet at the Riverside Clay Tennis Association Jazz Concerts on Riverside Drive on August 9 with Mark McGowan, trumpet, Cohn, guitar, drums and bass. The concert stage was lit from behind by Mother Nature, with the magnificent Hudson River and George Washington Bridge's sparkling lights, as several hundred neighborhood families listened, while a number of little kids danced to the music. The first song this writer heard was “Like Someone in Love,” by Jimmy Van Heusen, at about 126=quarter note, a light and airy midsummer night swing, with intimate communication between the two stablemates, who have played together on and off for 25 years. Both musicians wove distinctive countermelodies to the well harmonized standard. Glasser has an intense, soulful saxophone style, and McGowan has evolved his own voice-succinct, swinging and piercing. Both Glasser (saxophone) and McGowan (trumpet) are major players of their generation. Other songs played by the Quintet included “C Blues,” at about 116=quarter note, featuring Gil Glasser and Coleman 2
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In these pages The David Glasser Quintet 1‐3/8‐10 August Listings 5‐6 John Watson Ad Kuni Mikami Ad Roma Jazz Workshop Ad
Glasser, playing trumpet and saxophone, making the quintet a septet for one song, and later, an original of Dave Glasser’s, “Glassotronomic,” written over “Cherokee” changes, at over 300=quarter note, with a lively and rhythmically provocative melody, which both Dave Glasser and Mark McGowan played with virtuosity and melodicism.
Mr. Glasser’s quintet represents the advantages of long-standing relationships which typified jazz history: Bird, Miles, Dizzy, and other stars in the jazz constellation. The Jazz Culture was able to communicate with the saxophone-trumpet combination that played at the Riverside Clay Tennis Association’s concert series, which yielded the following results: Mr. Glasser has worked with the Clark Terry Quintet and the Count Basie Orchestra, has taught at the New School for Social Research since 1996 and the Clark Terry International Institute of Jazz Studies in Iowa. He is a graduate of the Fiorello La Guardia High School, during which he studied with Lee Konitz, the Eastman School of Music’s Jazz Department in Rochester, New York, and then studied with Barry Harris. He has 4 cd’s as a leader, and appears on about 20 others. He has worked with stars including Harry Sweets Edison, Sarah Vaughan, Jimmy Heath, Dizzy Gillespie and others. The Jazz Culture was able to set up an impromptu dialogue with Mr. Glasser and his co-musician, Mark McGowan, who have preserved one of the classic instrumentations in jazz, saxophone and trumpet. Jazz Culture asked Mr. Glass what are the advantages of working with someone over a long period of time. The Jazz Culture, V.III:35
Cont. p. 8
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Gil and Coleman Glasser get a taste of"C Blues"! Dave Glasser Quintet featuring Mark McGowan, with Or Baratrak on bass, Jefferson, drums, and Joe Cohen, Guitar, Riverside Park at 97th Street.
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The Jazz Culture Newsletter Jazz Tours in NYC are available; also music teachers in various countries for students & jazz lovers. email: info@thejazzculture.com. Ads are available in The Jazz Culture Newsletter. The Jazz Culture Newsletter has been read in 79 countries. Brian McMillen is a contributing Photographer. Connie MacNamee and Arnold J. Smith are contributing writers." Countries: US, UK, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, Burma, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam
August Listings Robert Anderson‐ Saturdays, Univ of the Streets 10:30 Clarence Banks‐ Swing 46 w/ Felix and the Cats, 346 W. 46 St. Ray Blue: Germany tour Bertha Hope: pianist/quintet every Thurs, Fri & Sat at Mintons Restaurant,116th&St Nicholas Av. Reservations strongly recommended. 212‐243‐2222 Richard Clements: Pianist, 11th Street Bar most Mondays, 8 Luciano Fabris‐Rome George Gee Orchestra at Swing 46, every Tues, most Fridays 9:30 Lafayette Harris: Aug 1 & 2 Sankofa Aban107 Macon St. Brooklyn Bedstuy $30 includes fish fry. Café Loup Sunday 3rd 6:30pm ‐ 9:30pm 105 W 13th St. Aug 4th Antique GarageSolo Piano 7‐10pm 41 Mercer St. Corner of Grand St. Aug 5th Little Branch 22 7th Ave corner of Leroy Aug 6th Guess Senior Center 2070 Clinton Ave E 180 Bronx 1:30 Aug 13th The Garage Corner Christopher and 7th Ave S. Aug 14th Antique Garage Solo Piano/Aug 19th
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Loston Harris: Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle; Tues ‐ Thur 9:30pm ‐ 12:30am, Fri‐Sat 9:30pm‐1:00am The Carlyle, 35 East 76th St., New York, NY 10021 (76th St. & Madison Ave.) 212‐744‐1600 Mike Longo: Tuesdays Gillespie Auditorium in the NYC Baha'i Center at 53 East 11th Street 8:00 and 9:30 Joe Magnarelli: July 6, Sun. leads Small’s late session
Dave Glasser Quintet w/Mark McGowan Sat Aug 9, Riverside Drive at 97 St. concert 7‐9 John Mosca & Michael Weiss, Vanguard Orchestra every Monday at the Village Vanguard 8 p.m. David Pearl‐ Mondays at the Thalia, 95 St. bet. B'way & West End 8 p.m. Valery Pomoranev‐ Dizzy's on August 1 4th! Our Father Who Art
Blakey.
Bill Saxton: Every Friday and Saturday Bill’s Place 133 Street Rick Stone:Sunday, August 3rd from 7:30‐10pm Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Rd., $10 cover. August 8th the Rick Stone Trio at the Bar Next Door. Shows at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30pm. 129 MacDougal St (between W3rd & W4th), NYC. $12 cover. Call: 212‐529‐5945 August 21st from 6‐10pm the Rick Stone Trio the Garage, 99 7th Avenue South (at Grove Street), NYC. Evans Thompson, pianist, concert on August 2, Original, Rumba, Jazz, and Bebop,All Stars Project / Castillo Theater 453 W.42 St.10‐11th Ave ‐Aug. 2‐ 1 PM Free Murray Wall, bassist, 11th Street Bar most Mondays, 8 p.m.
THE JOHN WATSON TRIO
LEEE JOHN & IMAGINATION LIVE AT JACK UP THE 80s-Saturday 9th August 2014 John will play with Leee John & Imagination on Saturday 9th August at the Jack Up The 80s Festival in Newchurch, Isle of Wight. For more information visit: jackupthe80s.co.uk John Watson/Tel: 01442 217825 /Mob: 07990 574562/ Website: www.johnpianoman.co.uk 6
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KUNI MIKAMI, Pianist is also an acclaimed, talented Videographer Special Introductory Sale: Five Minute Edited (with music) Video Resume for Performers $300 Contact Kuni @: 123mime@gmail.com
Artist must provide: • Good quality HD video on computer file • Good recorded audio sound • A photo of yourself • Text you want to see on the video
Luciano Fabris in Rome, David Pearl at Thalia, Mike Longo's Bahai Center on Tuesdays, Leroy Williams at Minton's,
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cont. from p. 4
Mr. Glasser: The longer you work with someone, the more familiar you become with each other. As a result of having a history with each other, there’s an emotional element and a bond which contributes to the intensity of the emotional projection of the music to the audience and results in the development of a trust between the musicians which allows the music to soar to greater heights. JC: Do you write your own arrangements and has Mark memorized them? Mr. Glasser: Yes I write my own arrangements and compositions and I prefer to have my musicians memorize them if and when at all possible. Mark has done a great job of that and has become an important part of the group as a result. The concert at Riverside Park was a great rhythm section but one which hasn't played my music before so we only played the one composition of mine called Glasstronomic. The rest of our repertoire on that day was purely improvised from an arranging standpoint. I have many more compositions and on most of my gigs I play a variety of originals and jazz standards. For anyone with further interest in my music I suggest my most recent CD "Crossover" which is available on CDbaby.com. JC: What is your goal as a musician, composer, arranger, and educator? Mr. Glasser: I believe music and art are a necessary and essential element to a healthy and balanced human existence. Whether you call it jazz, black American music, America’s classical music or some other such nomenclature, this music we play spreads joy and happiness through an emotional exchange between the audience and musicians. My goal as musician, composer, arranger, and educator is to do what I can every day to share the feeling of joyful exuberance this music brings to the world and to do what I can to continue spreading beauty and peace while
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Links: Lionelleh.com, lostpuppyblues.com The Jazz Culture, V.III:35
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honoring the greatness of those who created this profound art form. [See Mr. Glasser again September13th at a club called Somethin' Jazz on East 52nd street, 9-11pm. ] JC’s exchange with Mr. McGowan: You have a long standing relationship with Dave Glasser. Do you think it helps your musical relationship? MM: Dave and I have a very good relationship. We hire each other in our own bands frequently, 1) because we are friends, 2) because we respect and enjoy each others’ musicianship. I think we've hired each other about the same amount the last few years. I also teach Dave's son, Gil, trumpet… JC: What did you think of Miles Davis? MM: Miles received a lot of bad publicity from Lenny Tristano (whom by the way I like) and his students over the years. Miles was a very fine trumpet player, with a gorgeous sound and an exceptionally original improviser. He may not have had the technique of Fats Navarro or the originality of Dizzy, but he was quite remarkable anyway. Also, put together incredible bands. An immortal. JC: I know you’re a second generation musician. How did that influence your access to music? MM: My father influenced me a lot playing music. First, he really enjoyed it and I noticed that even as a young child. I could see even then a special camaraderie among musicians - it has faded a little among musicians these days, but it is still there. Yes, my technique is much better than my father's, because he specialized in avant-garde music and didn't think technique was all that important, while I am a bebopper always continually trying to acquire and perfect greater chops. I've had great teachers, especially Barry and Bill Fielder. I've gone over some Fielder notes recently and they are very inspiring. And yes, I came to New York to play music and I have never been disappointed by that decision. 10
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JC: How did you meet Dave? MM: I met Dave in Barry's class, around the time of the Jazz Cultural Theater (1985?). Dave lived in the neighborhood (he still does), and I think he had just graduated from Eastman music school. Larry Ham was there too, along with many other cats who have since had decent careers in jazz. Dave and I were very diligent students and we started playing together a little then. Dave got me into Illinois Jacquet's big band, which was a key moment in my development as a musician. JC: What advantage is there in having a long lasting relationship with another musician you play with? MM: The main advantage of our long relationship is a shared repertoire of tunes developed over a long period of time, and a respectful appreciation of the other's talent. After a long gap, we started playing together again fairly regularly starting from 2006. My assessment of both of us is that we are accomplished artists in a society that doesn't really appreciate art all that much these days. Mark McGowan went to Columbia, Hunter and Fordham and is a second generation trumpet player who also studied with Barry Harris, William Fielder and other trumpet teachers such as Laurie Frinke. Both Glasser and McGowan have a longstanding relationship that shows in performance in trust and refined instinctive choices, and are playing in the same tradition, especially bebop. Glasser is a native New Yorker who grew up in a cosmopolitan milieu and went to Fiorello La Guardia High School, has a Master’s from Eastman. McGowan is a transplanted Californian (a la Oakland) and a second generation trumpeter who went to Hunter and Fordham. Both musicians have studied with Barry Harris and exhibit an allegiance to, excellence and foundation in bebop. Senior members of the jazz tribe need look no further than these two stalwarts, members of a select circle of jazzers (here and abroad) who assimilated the past and are proud wearers of the mantle, ready, willing and able to spring forward. The Jazz Culture, V.III:35
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Some of the Cats: Photo courtesy of Lonnie Hillyer: The Brass Company Colors 1974: Clifford Jordan, Harry Hall, Lonnie Hillyer, Eddie Preston, Charles tolliver, Bill Hardman, Kamal Abdul Aim, Cliff Lee, Charles Stephens, Kiani Zuwadi, Bob Shepherd, Stanley Cowell, Bill Lee, Sonny Brown, Billy Higgins (D, dir)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! CHARLIE PARKER!! BIRD LIVES!! Organize a Bird Event! Jeb Patton, pianist Ray Blue, tenor saxophonist
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