David V. posted an article on
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Feb 8, 2012, 1:36 pm
One of the more interesting things I saw at this year's NAMM show was the Tubax, an Eb contra-bass saxophone one octave lower than the bari. Tuba+Sax+Tubax.
The thing was abut as tall as a regular bari, except that it had more coiled tubing. The interesting thing about it w... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Feb 2, 2012, 3:00 am
Here are a few of my upcoming gigs:
2/2- Rob Scheps Big Band w/Greg Gisberg @ Vie De Boheme, 8pm
2/3- George Colligan Quartet @ the Brasserrie Montmartre
2/5- Kerry Pollitzer Quartet @ the Blue Monk, 8pm
2/8- David Valdez, Weber Iago & George Colligan @ Vie De Boheme... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Feb 1, 2012, 2:47 pm
Jazzenzo Jazz magazine has a page with a ton of scores available for free. George Colligan hipped me to this site, there are over 50 of George's tunes on the site. There are also tunes composed by Nguyên Lê, Bud Powell, Chris Cheek, Sam Rivers, Seamus Blake, Mark Turner, and Kurt... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jan 31, 2012, 4:43 pm
On Friday, Jan.28th I played a gig with George Colligan's quartet at Ivories Jazz Lounge. I've played with George several times since he moved here to PDX, but never on a gig where he was the leader. His tunes are quite difficult, but a lot fun to play. We didn't have a chance to ... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jan 26, 2012, 4:11 pm
If you've ever been to NAMM you know that it is insane. It's like being in a war zone, but with thousands of freaks. Well, of course there are plenty of normal looking music store owners, instrument markets reps and a few haggard looking Jazz musicians, but it is a truly a great pl... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jan 26, 2012, 4:09 am
One of the things I was on the lookout for at NAMM was a really good stand light. I have a small battery powered LED light and an AC powered Manhasset light, but the first isn't bright enough and the second has a cord and a breakable bulb. I went to many different booths before I f... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jan 26, 2012, 3:25 am
Last weekend was the NAMM convention. It was my second time going down to SoCal for the convention and was a lot of fun seeing old friends, checking out all the new products, and witnessing all of the freaks on display. I got down to L.A. on Wednesday and played at a club in Little... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jan 13, 2012, 5:21 pm
Emily, Mike, Randy & Santa
Michael Brecker continues to be one the the most respected and emulated saxophonists of our time. The other while perusing Facebook I saw so many people posting Brecker YouTube videos that for a minute I though it might have been some sort of national Brecker ho... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jan 4, 2012, 2:43 am
Several weeks ago I posted here and on SOTW that my new Just Joe's neck strap (with a large brass hook) noticeably changed the timbre and volume of the sound of my saxophone. This kicked off a long debate on SOTW in which many people scoffed and said I was crazy (or that my ears were deceiv... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Dec 31, 2011, 2:02 pm
Saxophonist Jeff Rzepiela is a regular contributor to Casa Valdez and has a great website of his own called Scooby-sax, which offers a ton of transcriptions for download. Jeff has transcribed and analyzed Larry McKenna's solo on My Shining Hour. This solo utilizes a lot of chromatic Bebop appr... Comment - Like
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Dec 16, 2011, 1:27 pm
This post was written by guest blogger Steve Nixon, who runs the website Freejazzlessons.com ... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Dec 9, 2011, 5:19 pm
I got back from my trip to India last week. I'm still kind of recovering from the jet lag, cough and intestinal shock from the trip. It was the most incredible trip I've ever taken. My wife and I saw temples, ashrams, world heritage monuments, holy cities, Sufi durgas, museums, craft markets, ... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Nov 12, 2011, 2:48 pm
Last week I went into the studio and recorded a few tracks with the Chamber Quartet I co-lead with Weber Iago. Below are links to the latest mixes.
Astor
Now is my home
Shades of Happiness
Nature Boy
The Nest
Autumn Leaves
Perserverance
Meadows
Musicians:
Weber Iago- piano, composer
David Valdez- a... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Nov 8, 2011, 1:31 am
My buddy, and regular reader, Sammy sent me this patent filed by George Bundy in 1940 for what eventually became the Selmer adjustable ligature. I have seen these called Magna-tone, Adjusta-tone or Expando ligatures. I've played on of these on my tenor for several years now and they are great. Joe L... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Nov 6, 2011, 6:56 pm
Next week I leave for India! I'm trying to get everything in order here before leaving the country for 17 days. This trip is something I've wanted to do for many years and it is finally happening. I will not even be taking my horn with me. It will be the longest amount of time without my lips tou... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 31, 2011, 2:28 am
There didn’t used to be very many options when it came to choosing saxophone neck straps. Remember when everyone played those Ray Hyman straps? Those straps cut of the circulation to your brain in about five minutes. I can’t imagine a more uncomfortable strap than the Ray Hy... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 25, 2011, 2:33 pm
Sören Führer, a regular reader from Germany, saw that I had recently posted a two-horn chart for Two Not One and was kind enough to send this transcription of Lee Konitz's solo.
Two Not One- Lee Konitz solo Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 20, 2011, 2:27 pm
Here is a great Elmo Hope tune based on the changes of
All God's Chilun.
Later for you Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 20, 2011, 2:23 pm
Duke Pearson is one of my favorite composers. Here is his tune Gaslight.
Gaslight Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 20, 2011, 2:14 pm
Here is a beautiful ballad composed by Elmo Hope titled
Eyes So Beautiful As Yours.
Eyes So Beautiful As Yours
Elmo Hope's biography Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 18, 2011, 3:15 pm
I've been co-leading a Tristano project with pianist Dan Gaynor for the last several years. We don't gig very often, but it's always a lot of fun when we do. After our last gig tenor saxophonist Tim Wilcox said to me, "I feel like I just got my ass kicked by a blind dead man". The tunes written by T... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 13, 2011, 3:11 pm
... on a copy of a three page handwritten letter that Sonny Rollins sent Coleman Hawkins in 1962. It is written on Sonny's personal letterhead and there is even an AMORC ... on the final page of the letter, an organization that Sonny has been involved with for many years. At the ... to hear you p... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 12, 2011, 2:06 am
These YouTube videos were taken from a DVD entitled The Master Speaks: Joe Allard, which is available from the Sharper Video Productions website.
Joe talks about a lot of the same concepts that are covered in an earlier post
Joe Allard Method Unveiled!
To learn more about J... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 5, 2011, 12:38 pm
Here's a Bb chart to an Alvin Batise's blues entitled Bayou Magic.
Bayou Magic- Alvin Batise
Thanks Markos. Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Oct 5, 2011, 12:27 pm
Here's another post by Casa Valdez regular contributor Mark Sowlakis:
Alvin Batiste is an unsung hero of the clarinet. I heard him several times in New Orleans over the years, the last time being 2001 for the International Clarinet Conference there. He was a forward thinking musician... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Sep 23, 2011, 3:09 pm
There Will Never Be Another You- Lee Konitz's solo
(From Lee Konitz With Warne Marsh Atlantic 1217 June 1955, NYC) Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Sep 23, 2011, 3:00 pm
JK Chang is a composer and visual artist living in Taiwan who has a beautiful website with a lot of great Jazz resources. In the Bebop Cookbook of his site he has a lot of interesting articles on Charlie Parker, but what be even more interesting for you is all of the PDF downloads his ha... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Sep 19, 2011, 2:58 am
Saxophonist Peter Spitzer writes a nice blog on Jazz and general saxophone topics and is also the author of the Jazz Theory Handbook (Mel Bay). He has put together a nice article on reed adjusting. Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Sep 12, 2011, 2:23 pm
9/13 Benson Hotel w/ Weber Iago (7:00-10:00pm)
9/23 Touche w/ Weber Iago (8:00pm-11:00pm)
9/29 Benson Hotel w/ George Colligan (7:00-10:00pm)
10/1 Jazz at Newport w/ Terrell Stafford, Mike Wofford & Lewis Nash (8:00pm-9:00pm)
10/2 Jazz at Newport w/ Weber Iago-David Valdez C... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Sep 12, 2011, 1:44 pm
Mark Sowlakis, a regular contributor to Casa Valdez, transcribed this Lee Konitz solo from his Tranquility (1957).
Lee's pitch is quite under the usual A=440, so you'll need to pull out if you want to play along to the recording.
When You're Smiling- Lee Konitz's transcribed solo Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Sep 10, 2011, 5:14 pm
On Oct. 1st and 2nd I'll be performing at the Jazz at Newport festival on the Oregon Coast. On Saturday night Oct.1st at 8pm I'll be playing a set with Terrell Stafford, Mike Wofford and Lewis Nash. On Sunday at 11am the Chamber-Jazz Ensemble that I co-lead with Weber Iago with be playin... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Sep 9, 2011, 3:48 am
Wardell Gray is without a doubt one of the most under recognized tenor saxophonists in the history of Jazz. This Pennies from Heaven solo was transcribed by saxophonist and Jazz blogger Jeff Rzepiela, who has a nice blog called Scooby-Sax where you can find a lot of other saxophone transcriptions.
&... Comment - Like
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Aug 30, 2011, 3:37 pm
Pere Soto transcribed Barney Kessel's guitar solo on Just Friends from the album of the same name.
Just Friends- Barney Kessel's transcribed solo
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David V. posted an article on
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Aug 10, 2011, 3:00 pm
8/12- Touche: 8:30pm-11pm (w/ Weber Iago, Andre Bush)
8/13- Jazz at Joe’s: Bend, OR. (w/Nancy Curtin, Andre Bush, Weber Iago, Reinhardt Meltz)
8/14- Cannon Beach Summer Concert Series: 2pm-4pm (w/Andre Bush, Weber Iago, Al Criado, Reinhardt Meltz)
8/19- Amalfi's: 6pm-9:30pm
8... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Aug 8, 2011, 7:41 pm
Earlier I wrote a post called The art of the added subV7
on adding subV7s to chord progressions in order to give them more
interesting tension and resolution. There are many other ways to add V7s
to chord progressions when you are soloing besides just adding tri-tone
subs and... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jul 31, 2011, 2:53 pm
Saxophonist/educator Jeff Rzepiela has a lot of great material on his scooby-sax.com site. Here are his transcriptions and analyses from the Tenor Conclave recording that featured Coltrane, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn and Hank Mobley. Talk about Four Brothers!
Tenor Conclave transcriptions & anal... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jul 18, 2011, 1:13 pm
Here is another great post from Ed Saindon's All Thing's Vibraphone blog, it's vibraphonist Joe Locke playing Trane's Satellite in a practice session. The solo was transcribed and analyzed by pianist Gustavo Agatiello. Joe plays the shit out of this tune.
Joe Locke's Sattellite Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jul 18, 2011, 12:53 pm
Ed Saindon, a Berklee professor and regular Casa Valdez contributor, presented this short clinic at the Berklee Summer Performance Program on July 8th, 2011.
Topics covered in the clinic:
Tension Resolution
Four Note Groupings
Major 7th #5 Superimposition
The first and seco... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jul 12, 2011, 2:38 pm
Airturn recently sent me their new foot pedal board. Basically what they've done is to mount two foot switches and their Bluetooth transmitter to a plexiglass board so that the switches don't slide around on the floor as you use them. This was my biggest gripe with the Airturn foot pedals before....... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jun 23, 2011, 1:56 am
I realize that I've been slacking lately and I apologize to all of my longtime regular readers for this. I do promise to get back in the swing of things soon and start posting more of the original material that this blog has become known for. In the meantime I want to let you know about some of my u... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jun 15, 2011, 2:48 am
I haven't tried this yet, but at the cost of zero dollars it's worth looking into. I have a difficult enough time trying to learn Finale, so let me know what you think if you do get this program going.
MuseScore is a free cross-platform WYSIWYG music notation program, that offers a cost-effectiv... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Jun 8, 2011, 12:51 pm
Regular contributor Ed Saindon wrote this solo chorus of Giant Steps using only Pentatonic scales over the Major chords and Symmetrical Diminished scales on the Dominant chords.
Giant Steps Solo
Ed Saindon's web site Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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May 19, 2011, 12:55 pm
dredsan and brianji were meditating on a large rock overlooking a gentle stream. brianji turned to dredsan and said,
'those who speak against killing and who desire to spare the lives of all conscious beings are right.'
dredsan replied, 'yes, my friend, it is good to protect even anima... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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May 18, 2011, 9:55 pm
A while ago I reviewed the Airturn Bluetooth pedals. I've been using my iPad as a PDF sheet music reader for months now and the Airturn pedals solved the page turning problem, which allowed me to start playing tunes that were more than one page long. A few weeks after I got the Airturn pedals the co... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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May 13, 2011, 4:49 pm
I was thinking the other day about Joe Viola and how it would be valuable to try to assemble some of his teaching methods and create a website similar to the Joe Allard Project website. Joe V and Joe A were there two greatest saxophone teachers of the 20th century, imho, and they both deserve to h... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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May 8, 2011, 8:29 pm
Thomas Váczy HightowerI ran across an interesting web page written by a Dane named Thomas Váczy Hightower. This stuff is right up my alley. Hightower writes about Music & Society, Creation of Musical Scales, Effects of Harmonics on consciousness and health, Music of the Spheres, and other esoteric... Comment - Like
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May 1, 2011, 5:46 pm
(click above graphic for a large version)My student Randy, who is an engineer for a pipe organ company, put this drawing together after reading a great book about the history of the saxophone called The Devil's Horn. The book explains how the side of the saxophone that has the tone holes is actually... Comment - Like
David V. posted an article on
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Apr 18, 2011, 8:06 pm
Shawn Wallace has been adding his lessons of the week to his YouTube archives. This week's lesson deals with the key relationships in the changes of Have You Met Miss Jones. Shawn's YouTube channel is worth checking out. He is an articulate and thoughtful teacher and can really throw down.
Shawn Wal... Comment - Like
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