I had a long conversation last night with my saxophonist friend in Hong Kong Oscar Azahar after a rehearsal and short jam with Chris Polanco for a festival we’re playing later this month in Taiwan. In both separate instances we agreed on the importance of having an actual show to your music. You’ve got to be able to tell a continuous story, and that comes back down to simple things like rehearsing or talking through the music, writing a set list (or at least having one) and most importantly – connecting with your audience. In any performance art form (music, dance, film, theater, sports) you need to be able to entertain in some form. Otherwise, the art form is just a series of scales, steps and random colors and sounds that mean nothing. Check out Lenny Kravitz + Trombone Shorty below to get an idea of what I feel is high musical production value mixed with the most primal connection to their audience. No surprise New Orleans music will do that to ya. Let’s make exciting music like this in Hong Kong!
Here’s a very lens-flared shot of Nicholas Payton’s bassist. I still haven’t figured out why the piano in the shot appears sideways. I might have to take another look at the set. Shot in New York.
This is a tune I’ve been jamming to recently and performed tonight as a medley (just the chorus) at Puku Cafe in Hanoi, Vietnam. It’s just a reminder to pursue your passions and if in doubt, get off your butt and go create, rhyme, converse, paint, draw, photograph, beatbox, scratch – basically feel alive and awake.
I just returned from an amazing trip in Chengdu, China (home of amazingly good Sichuan food). A friend of mine named Murray James, a former classmate from UNT was getting married there to his lovely bride Liu Liu. Besides a picture perfect wedding ceremony complete with fireworks (indoors, mind you) there was this really fun moment of running up with all the guys at the wedding to “steal” the bride from her parent’s home. A bit old-fashioned, but good old-fashioned fun nonetheless. This is the image I captured of that moment.
Also for your eyes and ears, Li Fan was the photographer at the wedding and Murray James is an excellent saxophonist whose album I’m very eagerly awaiting to hear. Murray James studied under Chris Potter at NYU, so naturally I’m putting his album directly onto my “things that don’t suck” list.
I had the pleasure of shooting at a concert with rockjazz pianist Eric Lewis in New York, and just found out he’s a TED fellow. You can view him at TED below:
Nick Payton in New York, from my assignment there with Cicily Janus. Cicily’s doing Nick’s liner notes for his upcoming album “Bitches” and it looks as if it’s going to be awesome for music lovers, but isn’t going to please Jazz traditionalists. Bring it on!
Tell Your Friends! That’s the name of the new Snarky Puppy album which is coupled with a feature-length DVD shot by Andy Laviolette and the folks at Holt Arts. Mike League, the band’s leader, really went out to the bayou with this one – he brought a handpicked studio audience to hear the new album recorded live at Dockside studios. I’m really bummed I can’t catch any of their release parties at the NX35 festival in Denton, Texas or Artmosphere in Lafayette, Louisiana. Like the pups, I advocate music that is for the booty as much as it is for the brain. Watch, listen and enjoy
By the way, this is my favorite still from the video:
Former Dentonite and University of North Texas alumnus Chris Nicholas joins with Korean composer JooWan Kim (aka Mik Nawooj) in California for a a new take on music-making which truly blends classical music with hip hop and other popular forms. Chris Nicholas is a featured soloist in their chamber hip-hop opera (or as I like to say “hiphopera”) titled “Great Integraton.” JooWan Kim was formerly managed by Jazz legend Ahmad Jamal who helped Kim secure a lifetime endorsement from Steinway & Sons Piano Company. Utilizing social media and their musical talents, the group is fundraising to perform a touring full version of “Great Integration” complete with dancers from the Pushdance Company and various Jazz and classical musicians including MC Kirby Dominant. Check them out everywhere online:
Facebook: Great Integration
Myspace: Ensemble Mik Nawooj
Motion Fest: Fundraising site
Video and audio content used with permission in association with Ensemble Mik Nawooj and MyDentonMusic.com
video by Michael Goodier
additional video by the Push Dance Company
Remix by Michal Garcia
2010 brings much needed change. I have a new site, new work and a new blog. Much more importantly, I have a new country (Hong Kong) and many new friends all over the world. This is my first shoot of the new year and I am sharing it with you as the beginning of many more creative endeavors to come in the very near future.
Sarah Crisman, writer and social media expert shot in Central Park in New York City.
