Its been over 2 months that I've been in Seattle. I actually think I'm in love. The natural beauty of all the mountains, various bodies of water and the amazing views. The state of Washington is so overwhelming in that there are so many things to do here. I have a hard time deciding what I want to do because there are so many choices! Since I've been here the one thing I have focused on is the music despite all the other events taking place here. I haven't done much of the touristy stuff and not really planning on it either.
Ok, so anyway, Last month I was told by my trusty music mentor, Chet White, host of Ground Level on 89.1 WBCX in Gainesville, Georgia to check out the music of Wayne Horvitz. When I learned that Wayne was going to be performing at an outdoor event in Seattle for free I had to go check him out. Wayne is a pianist and he was performing at an event called Sounds Outside. Apparently, this event was orchestrated by Monktail Creative Music Concern. I'm so very new to all of this. I had never heard of this Monktail Creative Music Concern, but from what I understand its some local Seattle folks are focused on presenting creative music. So I go to the Cal Anderson Park where this event is being held and I throw my little sheet down in the grass and just take in the music. The weather was perferct for outdoor events like this one! It was Wayne Horvitz and the Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet. It was nice to me. Not mind-blowing but I enjoyed it. After the show I went to the information table and was given the program and it showed that they do this event twice each summer. I learned that in the following month, August, Kahil El'Zabar would be performing with Hamiet Bluiett!!!
Now if you don't know anything about Kahil El'Zabar then I'm not the one to tell you about it either. Check the music out for yourself. I'm just a person who is in love with the music of his that I've heard. Look, all I can say is that I read that he formed the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble over 35 years ago and he can do no wrong, musically. But that's just my opinion. I currently own 3 or 4 of his albums and they make me happy. I've enjoyed his music so much that I added him to my list of people that I need to see before one of us leave this Earth. At the beginning of this year I was trying to catch up with the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble while they were on their tour in upstate New York and Canada. Inclement weather prevented me from catching them then but once I found out that he'd be coming to Seattle I knew I had to stay and check him out.
Kahil El'Zabar came to Seattle on August 14, 2010! woohoo!! It was actually a solo show. He strapped some instruments to his legs and played percussion and moved over to the drum kit. He did his thing! I especially enjoyed his version of Compared to What, a song done by Les McCann & Eddie Harris. He also did a song about 50 year old man still living at home with his parents. Good stuff! And the man looks great! He's in his late 50's but surely doesn't look it at all. I had a brief conversation with him, trying to find out when the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble will be playing again. October 2010 they will be on tour in Europe. I guess I better get my plane ticket soon!
Ok, so anyway, Last month I was told by my trusty music mentor, Chet White, host of Ground Level on 89.1 WBCX in Gainesville, Georgia to check out the music of Wayne Horvitz. When I learned that Wayne was going to be performing at an outdoor event in Seattle for free I had to go check him out. Wayne is a pianist and he was performing at an event called Sounds Outside. Apparently, this event was orchestrated by Monktail Creative Music Concern. I'm so very new to all of this. I had never heard of this Monktail Creative Music Concern, but from what I understand its some local Seattle folks are focused on presenting creative music. So I go to the Cal Anderson Park where this event is being held and I throw my little sheet down in the grass and just take in the music. The weather was perferct for outdoor events like this one! It was Wayne Horvitz and the Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet. It was nice to me. Not mind-blowing but I enjoyed it. After the show I went to the information table and was given the program and it showed that they do this event twice each summer. I learned that in the following month, August, Kahil El'Zabar would be performing with Hamiet Bluiett!!!
Now if you don't know anything about Kahil El'Zabar then I'm not the one to tell you about it either. Check the music out for yourself. I'm just a person who is in love with the music of his that I've heard. Look, all I can say is that I read that he formed the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble over 35 years ago and he can do no wrong, musically. But that's just my opinion. I currently own 3 or 4 of his albums and they make me happy. I've enjoyed his music so much that I added him to my list of people that I need to see before one of us leave this Earth. At the beginning of this year I was trying to catch up with the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble while they were on their tour in upstate New York and Canada. Inclement weather prevented me from catching them then but once I found out that he'd be coming to Seattle I knew I had to stay and check him out.
Kahil El'Zabar came to Seattle on August 14, 2010! woohoo!! It was actually a solo show. He strapped some instruments to his legs and played percussion and moved over to the drum kit. He did his thing! I especially enjoyed his version of Compared to What, a song done by Les McCann & Eddie Harris. He also did a song about 50 year old man still living at home with his parents. Good stuff! And the man looks great! He's in his late 50's but surely doesn't look it at all. I had a brief conversation with him, trying to find out when the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble will be playing again. October 2010 they will be on tour in Europe. I guess I better get my plane ticket soon!
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