Aglio Olio & Expectations

Aglio Olio (and salad) once again, and rich sounds on the vinyl version of Keith Jarrett "Expectations." I have always appreciated this recording, and am drawn deeply into the piece entiled "Nomads." Also, after talking with Tanya casually about him on Saturday, I pulled a few Andrew Hill records from my shelf for some study. His, "A Beautiful Day," and this record, are shinging a bright light on a very fascinating path in my world of writing for large ensemble. I'm also thinking of Bill Dixon and all those priceless lessons that are still in an untapped part of my musical consciousness.

Last night, hung with Pisano, Gene Bertoncini, Ricardo Silveira, and Barry Zweig. More doors opening. My instrument does reveal itself more to me, and when I sit with it, give it extra hours of attention, it yields, it opens up... This evening practiced "Embraceable You" and "It Had To Be You," with a quiet mind, and my fingers showing me the way, and stayed aware of the subtle balance of finger coordination to string interval relationships: how few notes have to be played to express quite sophisticated harmonic tensions, or even basic chords. We hear this in Bach all the time; and my favorite players, old and new, always have something to add to this narrative. I think particularly of the way Larry Goldings plays when he is unaccompanied, and of course Ted Greene.

Wine tonight is Carlisle Zin, "Carlisle Vineyard," 2002.

Saw Coens' "No Country For Old Men" on Saturday, and "American Gangster" on Sunday.

(Picture is Aglio Olio & Brussels Sprouts from last Thursday or so.)