Paul Read News

I’ve been listening to some serious large ensemble music the past week or so and can highly recommend Joe Lovano’s Symphonica (with arranger, Michael Abene). This is a BEAUTIFUL recording (live) and Joe’s playing is inspired. The arrangements and the playing are top notch and I have really been drawn back to this CD over and over.
Also, I have been listening to John Williams’ Five Sacred Trees, a concerto for bassoon and orchestra written for the wonderful Judith Leclaire. I have been looking over the piano reduction of the score to this one and love the playing and the writing.
As the leader of a large ensemble (well, largish compared to the full orchestral forces in the aforementioned recordings), I find myself baffled by the problems facing us in presenting our music in this format. A trio or duo makes so much more sense when you consider the economics, challenges of finding performance opportunities in a suitable environment, recording, and on and on. Perhaps the biggest challenge is always money, but in order to produce music that meets high standards on a consistent basis, the ensemble has to rehearse. Consider the challenges that poses when our bands are often made up of the busiest and best musicians around.
So why do it? Because, very simply, there are great rewards for a composer who wants to speak with this type of voice. When the music is well composed and orchestrated, and the playing is personable, skilled and refined, the sound is intoxicating. Hard to imagine a world without large ensemble jazz, and yet musicians shy away from this form for a great number of reasons. This means that as a composer, band leader, I have to find the right people, who are interested in my music, willing to commit and to prepare. And those willing to withstand the economic vacuum that seems to go hand and glove with involvement in bands of this size.
Enough musing. The advantage of having your own blog is that you can indulge yourself with journal type entries of this kind. You can also be political if you wish. To whit: VOTE LIBERAL.

Every once in a while a recording surfaces that I can’t stop listening to. I think there is something near or at perfection (defined personally of course) in these achievements. Art Pepper Plus Eleven is one of those recordings that falls in this category. Many many more, including the obvious: Kind of Blue, Milestones, Blue Train, The Real McCoy, Bitches Brew, In a Silent Way, Return to Forever, and on and on. A new recording from tenor saxophonist, Joe Lovano, Symphonica, is a case in point. Michael Abene’s arrangements, the quality of the live recording, the beautiful SOUND of the album and Joe’s incredibly individual way of playing (plus his compositions and choices of standards) make this a standout.
Michael Abene: 10/10
Joe Lovano: 10/10
Production: 10/10
Performances by secondary players 9/10 (there is one alto player that doesn’t knock me out).

TREAT YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the very night that the US republicans made such a hoopla about Sarah Palin’s YouTube speeches, its interesting that YouTube is mysteriously “off the air”. I assume it is temporary until the whitewash can be thoroughly applied. Funny, I’ve never considered myself a conspiracy theorist before.

Looking forward to the PRO gig at the REX this month. I’ll be sending out a newsletter. For those who have been asking I include an update on my health. I’m of two minds about posting this stuff. It seems personal and boring. On the other hand I have had people tell me that like to be kept in the picture. I sent Andrew Jones an email today with the following update:

I am still on long term disability and the wretched disease, despite months (now three years) of therapy, medication of various names and descriptions, months of hospital stays and a new life regime (which I try to hold fast to), leaves me feeling only sporadically improved. But having said that, the picture isn’t all glum. I think that certain symptoms (tremors, speech difficulties) have really improved and I am really working hard to try to accomplish what I can. One of the nagging symptoms is an inability to stay focused on a task. This plays havoc with writing music. Yesterday, I managed to knock off (15 minutes) a submission to the Hockey Theme contest, so short projects are okay. Also it was a who cares kind of deal.

Thanks for visiting the site. Hope to have a new audio file posted later this week.

I remain

Paul