Subway Playlist: Summer ‘10

Date: 2010.07.14 | Category: Thoughts | Response: 1

I’ve recently found myself with some listening time I can count on each day, so I figure it’s time to pay more focused attention to a handful of tracks and put together another of my Subway Playlists (that’s a set of tracks I listen to every day for a few months, to try and absorb on a deeper level than random listening allows, so named because I originally listened to them on my subway ride–some more background here). This one is a little long (although I like iTunes’ option to set markers for the beginning and end of playback on a track–I won’t tell you where I’ve done that, to protect those bass players fine musicians whose solos were sacrificed for time). Here goes:

Read the rest of this entry »

Technique in Jazz: One Guy’s Take

Date: 2010.07.08 | Category: Audio, Thoughts | Response: 7

Somewhere in the middle of a notey solo on “Moment’s Notice” last night I started thinking about the role of virtuosity in jazz. (For those unfamiliar with the tune: that is not a good time to start thinking about abstract concepts, because it can lead to “Did I really mean that phrase there? How about that one? Crap, where am I?”–but we can’t always control what pops into our heads.) (UPDATE: Listen to this happen in real-time below.)

Tunes like that often get me thinking along those lines, though, since their chock-full-of-chord-changes-ness tends to give one the sensation that he or she is being played by the tune rather than the other way around. (The solution, it turns out, is to learn the crap out of the tune until it feels as unconscious as a medium-tempo blues. Check back with me in another 20 years and I’ll let you know how that’s going.)

Coincidentally, the jazzoblogowebosphere offered two interesting posts on the same subject this morning–one from Peter Hum and a somewhat related take at Nextbop, both worth reading–exploring the role of technical wizardry in the genre. I don’t claim to have any universal insight on the topic, but I have had an evolving thought process about it, which is tied in with my development as a player (as I suspect is the case for most players).

The short version: when I started getting serious about playing in my teens, I was focused on the high/loud/fast side of things, mainly because it came easily to me in the early days. But by my college years I had started to reach the limits of that ease, and entered a long period of struggles with my instrument. I think this is true for many instrumentalists, and trumpeters especially. My chops became a harsh and fickle mistress which I could never count on from day to day. I fantasized about the sound my horn would make as it was slowly flattened beneath a steamroller into a large brass pancake more than I care to admit. I felt in those days that if I wasn’t able to play to a certain level, it wasn’t worth trying to make music at all.

Here’s a clip of one guy who made me rethink this equation:
Read the rest of this entry »

Contextualizin’ on “Fresh Air” (sort of!)

Date: 2010.07.06 | Category: Audio, Press | Response: 1

Thanks to some quick listening by our bassist Fred Randolph (who was in a cab on his way to the airport) and some help in tracking down the details from Mitchell Feldman, I learned this weekend that the tune “Sockdolager” from our latest CD was used as “interlude music” on NPR’s Fresh Air on June 24.

While it’s not quite the same as a review, it’s definitely cool to hear us while Terry Gross reads the credits, and I like the idea of the tune going out on the 450 or so stations which carry the show.

You can listen to the entire story where the tune was heard at NPR’s website, or just the snippet of us rocking away behind Ms. Gross’ dulcet tones right here:

• Ian Carey Quintet: “Sockdolager” on NPR’s Fresh Air

UPDATE 7/26: And another track! “Shake & Joe,” one of the cheerier tunes on the record, was heard last week. Hopefully it helped counteract a depressing (but interesting of course) analysis of the new financial bill. (Thanks again for the quick hearing, Fred!)

Contextualizin’ Reviewed in IAJRC Journal

Date: 2010.06.29 | Category: Press | Response: 0

Although Contexualizin’ has been out since February, every so often a new review will trickle in, which is great, since the CD was close to a year in the making (from rehearsals to recording to mixing to package design to duplication to mailing to promos to release show)–so it’s nice to be reminded people are still checking it out (even if it’s a staggering 4 months of age).

This review is from Stuart Kremsky of the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors, writing in the IAJRC Journal. (I wish I’d had the budget to press some actual records and hear myself on vinyl–maybe next time.) Mr. Kremsky has a reputation as a very choosy listener, so it’s especially gratifying to get his recommendation. Here’s the review:

The Ian Carey Quintet impresses right off the bat with Tom/Tom, the opening track of Contextualizin’. Trumpeter Carey negotiates the tricky head with graceful ease, and his succinct solo grows directly out of the theme. Altoist Evan Francis, pianist Adam Shulman, bassist Fred Randolph, and drummer Jon Arkin flow into the groove too. This bright and cheerful song is just the first example of this quintet’s thoughtful, coherent approach to post-bop small group jazz, honed by considerable time on the bandstand at the band’s long-running San Francisco gig…

Read the rest of this entry »

Video: “Sockdolager” (Live @ Coda)

Date: 2010.06.23 | Category: Gigs, Updates, Video | Response: 0

Happy summer! For those of you who weren’t able to make it out to our show last week at Coda, here’s the first video from that great evening (great for us, anyway–I leave the musical judgments to you).

It’s the tune which has recently become our favorite opener, “Sockdolager” (ironically defined as “a decisive blow or answer : finisher”), as heard on Contextualizin’. It features solos from me, Fred, Evan, and Adam (getting his Rhodes on), with Jon’s tidal groove(s) washing over it all.

Ian Carey Quintet – Sockdolager from Ian Carey on Vimeo.

Not only was it great to be playing with these guys again, it was also encouraging that we got such a big, enthusiastic crowd out (you can’t miss them on the video), some of whom I think are a sign that the club is taking off–definitely refreshing to see after so many closures of jazz-friendly venues in the recent past.

Currently, our next scheduled show as a quintet is at Berkeley’s Jazzschool in September, but we’ve got some feelers out for gigs between now and then so I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I’ve got appearances coming up with the amazing Circus Bella and the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (formerly of Pearl’s and Rasselas), so it’s looking to be a busy, musical summer.

BTW: if you haven’t yet, please take a minute to “Like” my jazz page on Facebook (“You like me! You really like me!”), or follow me on Twitter (which I’m really starting to get into, after years of stubborn resistance). Thanks, and stay tuned for some listening recommendations, more gig video, an upcoming radio interview, and some follow-up thoughts on the jazz funding debate. Cheers!

Thanks + House Concert, 6/19

Date: 2010.06.18 | Category: Gigs | Response: 0

First of all, thanks a million to everyone who made it out to our Wednesday show at Coda–it was great fun, a good crowd (I think there were more people there than at our CD release show, even!), and the band played its collective ass off, if I may be so bold. (And I may! It’s my blog!)

I will definitely get some photos & video from the show up here soon, so those of you who missed it can still get in on the action.

Speaking of getting in on the action: I wanted to do a last-minute reminder for a show I’ll be playing in tomorrow (Saturday)–it’s a house concert at the loft of Emeryville resident and Bay Area drumming phenom Bryan Bowman. Originally slated to be the debut of CBVB (Carey Bowman Vogler Benedict), due to some scheduling conflicts it’s now going to be a quintet of myself, vocaphonist Lorin Benedict (who sat in during our Wednesday show), the aforementioned Mr. Bowman, Fred Randolph on bass (lately of the IC Quintet!) and the great Grant Levin on piano. There’s a $10 suggested donation, but nobody will be turned away (unless they’re an executive for BP).

For details, visit the show’s Facebook event page here.

Reminder: IC Quintet @ Coda, Weds. 6/16

Date: 2010.06.13 | Category: Gigs, Video | Response: 0

Listeners: This is just a reminder that the Ian Carey Quintet will be returning to SF’s beautiful new club Coda this Wednesday night as part of their “Dinner & A Show” series, for our last scheduled show before September. It’s a great place to play, with good food, drinks, sound, and music (if we have anything to say about it).

We’ll be playing lots of music from our new CD, Contextualizin’ (“a digital masters seminar” –All About Jazz) and our previous album, plus several brand-spankin’-new originals which will be performed for the very first time (and possibly the second time as well depending on how well the first time goes).

WHAT: The Ian Carey Quintet
WHO: Ian Carey, trumpet & flugelhorn; Evan Francis, saxophone/flute; Adam Shulman, Fender Rhodes/Hammond B3; Fred Randolph, bass; Jon Arkin, drums; and special guests
WHEN: Wednesday, June 16, 7:00-11:00pm
WHERE: Coda Jazz Supper Club, 1710 Mission St., San Francisco
HOW MUCH: Just $5!

So please come on down, bring a friend or 5, and support some live local music!

P.S. For a preview, enjoy this video from our previous Coda show below (playing a reboot of a composition from our first album called “Thirteen”), and an interview about the group by Brian McCoy of Examiner.com.

Ian Carey Quintet: Thirteen (Live at Coda) from Ian Carey on Vimeo.

Links: My OTHER Other Job

Date: 2010.06.07 | Category: Thoughts | Response: 1

Some of you may know that in addition to trumpet playing, designing things, and pestering people to attend my gigs, I am also an extremely amateur internet humorist (FYI: comedians make you laugh, while humorists make you smile condescendingly).

So I’ve got a thing up today at McSweeney’s, which is known to be the cream of the crop for that sort of thing, called Dan Savage’s Wild Kingdom. (You don’t have to be a fan of the world’s best sex advice columnist or strange animal mating practices to get it, but it helps.)

And in case you’re looking for more things to make you smile condescendingly, here are some other doodads of mine they’ve previously kindly published:

• Horror Movies for Kids
• Favorite Gerund Movie Titles, Un-gerunded
• Alternatives to “Opening a Can of Whupass” for the Less Confrontationally Inclined
• Failed One-Liners from My Audition for Host of  “Australia’s Funniest Home Videos” (with Gladstone)

UPDATE: Looks like somebody already wrote a whole book of sex advice for animals years before my McSweeney’s thing. There are officially no new ideas left in the world.

Save the Date: IC Quintet @ Coda, 6/16

Date: 2010.06.02 | Category: Gigs | Response: 0

Hi Folks, this is just a note to let you know that after a really great CD release show in March, my group has been invited to return to the scene of the crime for another performance next month. We’ll be doing music from the CD, plus favorites from the book and several brand-spankin’-new tunes put together specifically for this show. So mark your calendars, tell your friends, family, and pets, and get your bottomless wineglass-lifting muscles warmed up!

WHAT: The Ian Carey Quintet
WHO: Ian Carey, trumpet & flugelhorn; Evan Francis, saxophone/flute; Adam Shulman, Fender Rhodes/Hammond B3; Fred Randolph, bass; Jon Arkin, drums
WHEN: Wednesday, June 16, 7-11pm
WHERE: Coda Jazz Supper Club, 1710 Mission St., San Francisco
HOW MUCH: $5

Hope to see you there!

Links: Music at Minimum Wage, EJN Sampler, Hank Jones

Date: 2010.05.17 | Category: Audio, Thoughts | Response: 0

Still working on part 3 of the big jazz philanthropy/gig discussion, but in the meantime, here’s a cheery infographic about the kinds of numbers a 21st-century musician would have to move to earn minimum wage selling albums (either physically or digitally). Needless to say, it makes me think the whole shebang is better viewed as a way to “get your stuff out there,” than as a moneymaking endeavor, unless you manage to get a cut on a car commercial or something. (Fortunately, Taco Bell is hiring–be sure to tell them about your jazz theory expertise!)

Speaking of digital distribution: the title track from Contextualizin’ is being featured on this week’s edition of the eJazzNews Sampler, along with some vintage Jaco and other great artists. Download it for FREE here.

Also: in memory of the amazing Hank Jones (who passed away today after an incredibly long and productive career), WKCR, the world’s greatest jazz station, is playing a marathon of his music right now. Check it out immediately!