Some of My Favorite Artists (2) : Ornette!

The Leopard once had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting the great Pulitzer-Prize winning saxophonist/composer/trumpeter/violinist Ornette Coleman. The organization I worked with at the time was putting together a tribute to his music, and along with some colleagues, I had lunch with the legendary musician one crisp Fall day at a local restaurant near our offices.

For such a world famous, highly respected artist, Coleman treated everyone at the table like family. Not in the true sense of the word, mind you, in the familiar, but regarded each and everyone of us with a graciousness I've rarely experienced from one so accomplished.

Ornette Coleman shocked the jazz world back in 1959 when he and the brilliant young trumpeter Don Cherry and band appeared at the legendary Five Spot jazz club in New York with a new, already fully formed style of music based on a complex system devised by Coleman called harmolodics. Coleman was at first greeted by fellow musicians and critics with derision, (much like that of Thelonious Monk in the beginning) who harped on his use of a plastic saxophone and the unfamiliar avant-garde sound (which, in turn, effectively started a movement). Still, some well-established musicians, like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, embraced this exciting new music.

Listening to his first album, The Shape of Jazz To Come now, it's hard to believe so many people thought the music was difficult. So full of melody, beautiful solos, and soul stirring blues performances, only the most closed-ear listener wouldn't appreciate its brilliance.

Coleman has went on to make many more excellent recordings, movie soundtracks, and modern classical pieces as well as garnering unprecedented critical acclaim. In 2006, he recieved the Pulitzer Prize for the music on his CD Sound Grammar.

At the lunch with Coleman, like any star-struck fan, The Leopard trudged along several dusty LP's, including At Town Hall, which Coleman dutifully signed, as well as for a few others at the table.
I can't remember specifically much of what was said in conversation that day, but I do remember the thrill of being the presence of a true humble genius.

Deep Brown

The Leopard occasionally gets illustration requests. Being a near-salivating jazz fan, I jumped at the chance to design and produce drawings for the new Christian McBride CD, Kind Of Brown. One of the reasons this particular project had such great allure is that in addition to being associated with the great jazz bassist McBride, I would design a vinyl limited edition as well. The opportunity to create a record jacket as well as a CD cover was simply too great to miss.

And it is great music. Check out the review on allmusic.com:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0bfyxzw0ldke

The Bird and the Bee

The Leopard is a restless music listener. I'm constantly adding new things to my personal collection. One of my current favorites is The Bird And The Bee, a singer/production/instrumental duo who make jazz informed melodic pop that recalls 90's bands like Swing Out Sister and Everything But The Girl.

Click on the title of this blog to hear a cover of the great BeeGees classic How Deep Is Your Love. The really nail it!

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

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With all the things these days that are overrated in life ("reality" TV, Twitter, Kanye West), one thing that is underrated is holding hands. Yep, the Beatles were right. The Leopard truly enjoys just walking down the street with his girlfriend, even when after a while our palms get a little sweaty. After all, you can just wipe 'em off on your jeans, and grasp hold again.

It's one of those easy pleasures that's so rewarding. Sure, there are lots of other things two people can do to connect to each other in a physical way, but sometimes the simplest way is the best.

Pieces Of A Man

About 15 years ago, when The Leopard was living in Washington DC, I was walking through a park in the Adams Morgan area when I saw what appeared to be a homeless man nodding off on a park bench.

I almost didn't take a second look when I noticed that the older man seemed somehow familiar. Under further investigation, I realized he bore a striking resemblance to a great poet/singer/composer I had always admired.

Of course, later in the day I got a call from an enthusiastic friend informing me that one of our favorite artists would be performing in town that weekend: Gil Scott-Heron.

Recently, looking for some music to download, I remembered that time. Back in the day, Scott-Heron's music came to mean a lot to me. His albums From South Africa to South Carolina and Winter In America first brought many issues of race prevalent in America at the time to my attention. His song "Johannesburg" (which he performed on Saturday Night Live with Richard Pryor hosting) was the first I'd heard of the abomination of apartheid.

Intellectually, Scott-Heron's music, with his musical partner, the brilliant keyboardist Brian Jackson was challenging in way that the best of modern rap strives to be. A spoken word poet as well as singer, Scott-Heron's political views were steeped in actual content--not merely hyperbole. In 1970, Scott-Heron published his first novel at 19, The Vulture and The Nigger Factory, written during his hiatus from Lincoln University. He earned his Masters at Johns Hopkins in Creative Writing.

Despite this traditional academic background, Scott-Heron was a radical who was often associated with The Black Panthers.

Two of his most famous tunes, "The Bottle" and "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" were diatribes against substance abuse, but Scott-Heron didn't heed his own warnings. He began to suffer from cocaine abuse at least as early as 1991, when he served his first stint in prison, convicted of possession. He was later diagnosed HIV positive.

He still performs. He recently did a concert in NYC with the rapper Mos Def.

Yes, it probably was Gil Scott-Heron I saw high out of his mind on the park bench that day. Despite his downfall, he continues to strive on.

Click on title to download song Pieces Of A Man

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up

The Leopard was waiting on line at the post office on his lunch hour the other day when a middle aged woman a few feet away suddenly fell to the floor with a sharp thump and began shaking uncontrollably, clutched in seizure.

It was interesting to see how the 100 or so folks in the crowded office reacted to the spectacle. Some nonchalantly walked by and paid her little or no mind. Some immediately ran over to comfort her. An elderly man shouted, "Put a pencil in her mouth so she won't bite her tongue off!", but didn't relinquish his position on line. There was no doctor in the house, so several people made calls from their cell phones, staying put in case they were called to the counter. After a few minutes, there was a tangible awkwardness in the air. One woman who had came over and was now resting the woman's head in her lap kept whispering, "It will be all right, dear, It will be all right." After all the calls had been made, and the authorities had been notified, there was nothing to do but wait. The only comment made by the few people still interested was, "Wonder when they'll get here"? Most people seemed simply bored, as if they wished they could turn the channel to another show.

After about 15 minutes, as the Leopard stepped into the street and noticed that the ambulance had finally arrived, I felt relieved. Part of my belief in the milk of human kindness was restored.

Oscars, Shmoskers: The Leopard list

The Leopard hates artistic competitions. Once all involved are of a certain level of achievement, it's all relative. Still such industry pageants as the Grammys and the Oscars see fit to pit one aesthetic against another. Who's to say one artist in one genre is better than one in another if they're both brilliant in their work? And God, it's so damn embarassing to watch everyone try to act humble as they accept their little golden action figures.

The only true competition is with Oscar Night attire. There, the
search for greatness is more predicated on the delicate balance between elegance and glamour. And it's great fun to see who falls off the high wire.

Still, being a huge film fan, I saw many of the movies nominated at this years Oscars, so here's The Leopard list of film and performances. Not necessarily the best, but the Leopard's favorites:

1. Vicky Cristina Barcelona

One of Woody Allen's best in years. Penelope Cruz is amazing.

2. Doubt

Just a lot of fun. Not quite as serious as it would like to be. Meryl Streep seriously dines on the Brooklyn scenery.

3. Redbelt

Okay, it doesn't make much sense by the end, but Chiwetel Ejiofor makes it all work anyway. A thinking man's martial arts film.

4. Let The Right One In

A low budget Swedish vampire film with an unknown cast that kicks the ass of most of Hollywood's output.

5. The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke just does things no one else has ever done onscreen. Nuff' said.

6. Frost/Nixon

Good n' smart. A lot of has been said of Frank Langella's performance, but Michael Sheen is marvelous.

7. Slumdog Millionaire

Yeah, it's a bit overrated by now. But it's still super entertaining.

8. Dark Knight

The Leopard has written abou this film before, so let's not be redundant. Let's just say it's one of the 1 or 2 best superhero movies ever made, and leave it at that.

These are the movies I just had the most fun with. If you haven't seen any of these, check 'em out!