Music updates (July 2023)
I once again missed my target date to post this, but it's okay.
In the last five months, I played several events with the SF Castaways. Thanks to Alex and Patrick and Isabel for hosting us! Here are some of my favorite photos:
I also went with Viraj to a public jam session at Hayes Valley Art Works.
It's always simultaneously humbling and inspiring to play with people who are much better than you. When I was in high school, the Glenn Miller Orchestra came to town and played a joint concert with the high school jazz band. Those guys pulled out their horns and played things I can only dream of playing... as a warmup. I felt the same way at times in this jam session, especially chatting with a guitarist later, who was super great at playing and knowledgeable as well.
I'm reminded of Dan Luu's 95th percentile isn't that good... am I even really getting better?
Coincidentally, I picked up Ted Gioia's How to Listen to Jazz recently, which gave me a bit of formalized education I never really had on the history and subgenres of jazz. I really enjoyed it and collected the listening suggestions into this Spotify playlist: link. (He also writes a Substack on culture, The Honest Broker).
In other news, I recently moved apartments, and luckily my neighbors have not yet complained about my practicing. A good sign that I should practice more.
Couch - (their whole discography)
In listening, the highlight was attending a Couch concert at Black Cat with my friend James. He showed me his vintage iPod and told me about his new CD collection (more on his blog: intro and follow-up), and we were blown away by not only their regular stuff, but also their significant jazz chops. They played just about their entire public discography and some new stuff too!
J. Maya - Sunday Crossword
The lyricism in J. Maya's songs is ridiculously good and this is my personal favorite. The story it weaves stands on its own. But it also makes sense that she won the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships in 2016 (an event I first read about from The Pun Also Rises, by John Pollack, the same year).
Stolen Gin - Take Your Problems To The Disco
Another one for lyricism - this song literally starts with the lines:
Annie brought her problems to the disco
And for just one night
She learned to let them go
Amazing. This is something Harrier Du Bois of Disco Elysium would listen to.
Luxid - Watercolor palette
I don't remember how I came across this song, but it makes me want to play solo piano again. It's in 12/8, it's happy, it features chord progressions that feel like fusion, just give it a listen:
Past recommendations here. Tell me what you're listening to, if you want to come listen to me and the Castaways, or if you want to play together sometime!