Randy Klein is an accomplished pianist, composer, music educator, record producer and the president of Jazzheads, an independent record label featuring improvised jazz
In May 2011, I posted Sounds I Hate. In my quest for silence, I have assembled Sounds I Hate (Part 2). Please let me know if there are any sounds that you loathe that I could add to the ever growing list. Shhh…. Stay tuned….Randy
Sounds I Hate:
1. the sound of motors that constantly surround me
2. the sound of anyone talking on a cell phone loud enough for everyone else to hear
3. the sound of music blaring from a car window with the bass turned up
4. the sound of backup warning beepers beeping from a truck
5. the sound of popcorn being crunched during a love scene
6. the sound of the NYC subway system PA system
7. the sound of talking during a Jazz solo
8. the sound of dishes clanking at a restaurant
9. the sound of the radio when not tuned in exactly
Trumpeter/Flugelhorn player and musician, Fred Jacobs, came up to me at the JEN Conference and handed me a CD. I asked, ‘What is this?’ He smiled and pointed to my name as producer on the CD jacket. The CD he handed me is titled, ‘Jacobs’ Ladder’. It contains four wonderful Jazz tracks featuring: Freddie Jacobs – Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Adam Kolker-Sax/Flute, Chris Washburne-Trombone, Harvie S-Bass, Yoron Israel-Drums, Renato Thoms-Percussion and I produced it. We recorded it in 1999, I can visualize the studio and the session, but never knew what happened to the recording. When I got home from the JEN Conference, I put it on. Old friends emerged from my speakers. Freddie is a highly musical soloist and the band was smokin’. I was happy to reunite with some music that I helped shape.
I suggest you try to get a copy and hear it, contact: fredejazz@aol.com, Freddie Jacobs on Facebook, Jacobs’ Ladder Band on Facebook.
Thanks Freddie for having the faith and for your music!
Legendary New York Disco DJ and Disconet Remixer Raul A. Rodriguez passed away on January 4, 2012.
Raul Rodriquez, Vicky Germaise and I wrote ‘Watch The Closing Doors’ for the group IRT. Raul came into my apartment and set up the TR808 drum machine and said this is the beat. Vicky wrote the lyrics and I played the piano. We recorded it at 39th Street Music studios. The song has been written about in many RAP anthologies. I didn’t know much about the beat. Raul made me hear it. I thank him for that. My song writing instincts and Raul’s street instincts worked together. I know he is looking down on me now and still saying, ‘feel the beat’. Dance in Heaven, Raul. You will be missed!
After attending the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference 2011 in New Orleans which to me was such a wonderful educational and musical experience, I was not sure if the 2012 Louisville, KY conference could live up to the previous year. But I am happy to report that not only did it live up to it, it surpassed it in many ways. The conference had a stellar lineup of Jazz performances from early in the day to the wee small hours along with a long list of music educators dedicated to the form of teaching about the world of Jazz. The level of the performances and the clinics was very high and hearing some of these young improvisers was simply inspiring. Jazz is alive and a new set of voices is flourishing. Congrats to all on the board of JEN for a job well done!
Photo: Randy Klein with JEN Co-founder/President Dr. Lou Fischer and saxophonist/educator Jamey Aebersold at the President’s Reception
Photo: Randy Klein with Louisville, KY Mayor Greg Fischer and JEN Co-founder/Past President Mary Jo Papich at the President’s Reception
JEN’s mission statement of attracting and teaching new audiences about Jazz is out front and is spoken of in a very direct manner. Starting with the keynote speech by Alan Brown, who discussed his research of selling Jazz based on a survey of 5000 audiences members leaving major Jazz venues. Facsinating information that could be one of the keys to developing and kindling new listeners; the clinic by the infamous percussionist/educator/historian Bobby Sanabria on the influences of Latin Jazz. Again, his love of the form exuded as he spreads the message of teaching about the form. I conducted my clinic, ‘It’s About The Music/It’s About The Business of Music’. The response to it was overwhelmingly good and I felt as if I had shared my knowledge of music and the industry with the students who attended. Loren Schoenberg, from Jazz Museum of Harlem presented a clinic on the discovery of the Savory Collection of recordings. Great stuff that is again filled with the history of the form. Again, the mission of JEN is clear. Attracting and educating new audiences about Jazz. It was an honor to be part of it.
Photos: Randy Klein presenting his clinic ‘It’s All About the Music, It’s All About the Business of Music’ at The Jazz Education Network Conference 2012
And of course there were the performances. A particular performance of note was the US Army Jazz Band featuring Ernie Watts. A disconnect happens when you see a bunch of guys in military dress walk on the stage. You might think you would hear ‘Hail To The Chief’ or ‘The National Emblem March’, but NO…these guys swing and swing hard. The band is super tight, the sections are all playing as one proving that lots of practice and rehearsal works. You can feel the joy of music in every note they play. This is a band that plays 200 nights a year. They could simply ‘phone it in’, but that’s not the case. The dedication to every note is apparent. The great Ernie Watts solos have always been packed with an energy that pushes you back in your seat. In front of the US Army Jazz Band, his energetic solos pushed you back and kept you glued through the end of each piece. Another stellar performance was the recently anointed NEA Jazz Master, Sheila Jordan who performed a set with the University of Mass Jazz Orchestra with strings. This was a love fest! For those of us who have been listening to Sheila since the release of her CD, ‘Portrait Of Sheila’, it was nostalgic and heartwarming. For the new kids experiencing this giant of Jazz, it was the passing of the baton, an example of joy and what Jazz can do to you if you embrace it in your life. Sheila is close to 83 years old and swings like she is 19. Her love of Jazz is a part of her being. Congratulations Sheila!
Photo: Sheila Jordan and Randy Klein
Again, the mission statement of JEN is clear. The politics that surrounded the old IAJE are gone and are not allowed in. I am personally thankful for that. The major labels with deep pockets that influenced IAJE are not present, and I hope they stay away. With the mission of education of the form so clear, their presence could possibly stifle the growth of JEN’s mission statement. That doesn’t mean that this was not a ‘schmoozefest’. There was much activity at the bar with business cards flying over the fine Kentucky bourbon. I met old friends and made new ones. We spoke of Jazz. We spoke of this art form which is alive, kicking and moving forward. It is obvious that that we all love it and embrace it. We each came to loving Jazz in different ways, with different influences, but the core of the experience of hearing, playing and teaching about improvisation and the freedom of expression it holds is strong. Even though we have lost audiences due to government cutbacks in the arts, there is a force here that is emerging slowly but with strength. That force is the Jazz Education Network, JEN. Next year the conference is in Atlanta. I would suggest you book early and bring your kids.
Photo: Randy Klein with Distinguished Professor of Wayne State University/conductor/educator Dennis J. Tini, Associate Dean/Chair of Manhattan School of Music’s Jazz Arts Program Justin DiCioccio and drummer/educator Bobby Sanabria
Photo: Pianist/Composer/Educator/Jazzheads President Randy Klein, Associate Dean/Chair of Manhattan School of Music’s Jazz Arts Program Justin DiCioccio with Sigrid Paana and Ruud van Dijk of Amsterdam School of the Arts
Photo: David Baker autographs the book ‘David Baker - A Legacy In Music’ for Randy Klein at David’s 80th Birthday party at the JEN Conference
Photo: Randy Klein holding his JEN Recognition Certificate for outstanding contribution to the field of jazz education
During my recent travels to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I was taken to Viera Discos, the leading music store and CD distributor in Puerto Rico. I was introduced to members of the wonderful Viera family who have kept the music going for so long. Richie, Janet and the legendary Rafael were warm and welcoming. It was really nice to be in the place that sells some of the greatest Latin music out today including Latin Jazz. The store is filled with photos of the great names in Latin American music and the energy is pulsating with the beat of the clave. I hope to visit again soon.
This last week of this period of my fellowship was jam packed. Rehearsals, meetings and a final concert at the Hall Center for the Humanities, plus packing to head back to NYC.
I was very lucky to perform with four very gifted student musicians from the University of Kansas’ music department. Vocalist, Nora Woolpert – Guitarist, Lucas Parker – Violinist, Shan-Ken Chien and Trombonist, Brian Scarborough all are deeply musical. They sang, played and improvised, creating much music and the reaction from the audience was extremely positive. I was very happy for them to have this experience to be so musical. For me, it was personally satisfying to select compositions that I thought would fit their playing styles, then hear it sound good and finally have an audience appreciate the performance. Again, as I said, the Simons Fellowship has been an extraordinary experience and I am extremely grateful to Dr. Victor Bailey and his wonder fully caring staff. I feel really great about all that was accomplished.
Photo: Vocalist, Nora Woolpert; Guitarist, Lucas Parker; Violinist, Shan-Ken Chien; Trombonist, Brian Scarborough; Pianist, Randy Klein.
During this week, I also met with Dan Gailey, the head of the Jazz department at KU about my return to KU sometime in early February. He asked me to teach an ensemble and be a part of the KU Jazz festival. The best news is that my friends/musicians, Chris Washburne, trombone and Ole Mathisen, saxophone, will be in Lincoln, Nebraska during my next visit. They will drive to KU and a concert is now planned for February 11, 2012 as part of the KU artists’ series that will include them and my ‘Two Duos’ project.
Photo: Randy Klein at the Hall Center for the Humanities
I am looking forward to seeing my friends again at the Hall Center and will go back in February. Meanwhile…. I happy to be home in NYC! I was missing the grit and grime! As Dorothy said to Toto, ‘There’s no place like home’!!!
I decided before I came out to KU that I would try to use this opportunity to the max. Having 24 hour access to the Hall Center has allowed me to achieve most of what I set out to do. The Hall Center shuts its doors at 5PM and I have been staying late into the evening. The quiet is supreme and glorious. I have used this time to work on some new music for my new song cycle, ‘Speak’. I have rehearsed with student musicians for my upcoming concert on the 14th of October and even used the concert space as the location to film interviews for the documentary being created about my visit here. What a gig!!!
I rehearsed with four student musicians individually and selected music that fit their playing styles. Great Fun! Their reaction to the music has been positive and I find that very fulfilling. Their enthusiasm is overwhelming. I did notice that, I had to remind each one of them that they were allowed to be musical. They all want the notes to be perfect! Perfect isn’t always musical! It is amazing how much music emerges when musicians allow themselves to be musical.
The crew from the film school assigned to making the document about my visit set up a late night interview session this past Wednesday evening. For me, it is a bit strange to sit in front of a camera and be asked personal questions about myself. They asked the question, ‘What is it like to be able to improvise and create music? I tried to tell them how I had little control of what comes out, yet I do have some control over it. I think, my answer was a bit ‘disjointed’ because it is a very difficult question and more than that very difficult to describe this feeling in words. I’ll have to think on this one for a while. But, the question that stopped me in my tracks was, ‘Do I ever get a vacation from it?’ My answer was, ‘No, you never get a vacation from it, you can allow it to rest, but it is always there and I don’t have much choice about that.’ This interview session made me realize how lucky I am to have the gift of music. It is an enviable place to be. Sitting in front of a camera is not something I’m used to. I guess it takes practice to be able to feel comfortable with lights on you and the camera rolling picking up every movement and twitch you make. Sitting in one place for a long period of time has never been my cup of tea!
On Saturday, I drove over to Kansas City again. This time my destination was the Nelson-Atkins Museum. The museum has a wonderful collection that ranges from classic painting, to a wonderful photography collection, to Rodin sculptures, to Asian Art, to American Indian Art and all displayed and lit in a way that each piece simply captures you. The Nelson-Atkins Museum is a joy to visit.
This week was a busy and productive one. I conducted two recital classes for freshman and sophomore music majors, I met with student musicians who will play with me at an evening concert on October 14, and I have been composing a new composition titled, ‘Moldy Blues’ for my song cycle ‘Speak’. All of this along with meeting and greeting professors, students and enjoying the friendly world of Lawrence, Kansas is keeping me very busy.
Photo: The Hall Center for the Humanities
The recital classes took place at 10AM on Tuesday and Thursday. I have to admit that engaging 19 and 20 year old students at that hour of the morning is a bit of a challenge. A few times, I felt like yelling, ‘Wake UP’! My 50 minute lecture about music and the business of music is based on the simple idea that you should ‘Follow your music, your music will lead the way and be true to your voice’. My talk has anecdotal stories from my eclectic music career along with videos that feature some of my music and of course piano improvisations. I begin each session with: “Who wants to be a musician when they grow up?” All raise their hands, including me!!! I then note that we all have this in common, that we have been given the gift of music and it is our responsibility to protect it. I found that this small common thread engaged the sleepy students and I could feel the energy change in the room. During the Q&A, there was a particular interesting question. A student asked, “When you are composing, what happens when you get stuck?” (Writers block) My answer was, ‘I eat potato chips!’ Quick answer, but all laughed and they got the point that I get up and walk away from the writing and let it breathe. I then told the story of how I was blocked when composing the piece ‘For My People’ from the Margaret Walker Song Cycle. This story which indicated how I had to dig deeper into myself to find the creative spot to make the notes come out engaged all.
I have been rehearsing with two student musicians, vocalist Nora Woolpert and violinist, Shan-Ken Chien. Nora is a very good vocalist, with lots of potential as a character actress. She has very good interpretive skills and is making the songs from my song cycle, ‘Speak’ come alive. The material is difficult and at each rehearsal, the pieces get closer to how I imagined them when they were being written. Very cool! Shan-Ken is an extremely disciplined classical player. Most of my compositions have a Jazz feel. They swing. Our work concentrates on blending the beauty of the sound of his violin with the feel of my playing. The result is beautiful music. It is a very wonderful collaboration and I am having a great time playing with him.
I did take some time off to go to Kansas City to visit the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Baseball League Museum. I recommend them both. They are artistic and filled with detailed information. The Negro Baseball League Museum has a full baseball field with all the players molded from brass. The realism of the display and how you can walk on to the field is interesting and great fun. The Jazz Museum has areas that are dedicated to ‘Ella’ and to ‘Duke’. I spent much time there.
I’ve also been hanging out with my dear friend and documentary film maker, Madison Davis Lacy. He is a professor in the film department at KU. It is great fun to hang with him in the evenings. Not only is he a fine film maker, he is an expert on the fine food and wine emporiums of Lawrence, KS and surrounds!!!!
I arrived in Lawrence, Kansas a little less than a week ago. In that time, I have been meeting and greeting the professors of many departments and most of all, listening. I have also been creating. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. The environment of the Hall Center for the Humanities at the University of Kansas is quiet and completely conducive to creative thinking. I have been supplied with a beautiful Steinway B in the Hall Center’s conference/performance space along with an office with big windows/fresh air and an electric piano. Because I am the Simons Fellow, the staff of the Hall Center has worked with me to make everything extremely wonderful and comfortable. This is a dream gig!
This past Tuesday, I was invited to a reception for the esteemed documentary/film maker, historian and producer, Lawrence Rees. Mr. Rees is from the BBC, and his films are mostly about the atrocities of the Germans toward the rest of the world during World War II. He spoke about his interviews with not only survivors of the death camps, but with SS officers and local people who lived through this horrible time. He discussed the ongoing denial of these horrors, the inner pain still felt by so many while indicating that this generation of people is dying off. His documentation of these people is important to the understanding of this part of our world history.
During the reception, I was introduced as the Simons Fellow. I was asked if I would like to play, to improvise. I played a three or four minute improvisation. There was a moment of quiet at the end and then the room exploded with applause. I was thrilled to be able to play for such an esteemed gentleman as Lawrence Rees along with the audience of scholars who were there. And of course, to get good response to my music feels great.
The rest of the time, I’m keeping myself focused. I am working on a new song for my new song cycle ‘Speak’ . It is titled, ‘Moldy Blues’. I’m am also writing parts of a new book on songwriting. There is a planned performance for October 14, 2011 at the Hall Center. More on this later. And… there is a film crew from the KU’s film department following me around. On Thursday evening, we taped the beginning of a documentary on improvisation. I got to play that beautiful Steinway while cameras were rolling. As I said, ‘this is a dream gig’.
Having gone to Berklee College of Music in Boston in the late 60’s, I never experienced the ‘college life’. University of Kansas is an enormous school with a beautiful sprawling campus. You really need a car or bicycle to get around. The school is state-of-the art in all aspects and if a student is really on it, they have an opportunity to take from such a place a great wealth of knowledge. I am happy to experience this world of higher education at this point in my life. I absolutely understand it and appreciate the value of such an opportunity.
Enjoy this unique performance of Randy’s tune ‘Exalted Kingdom’ by the Alex Skolnick Trio, featuring Alex Skolnick on guitar, Matt Zebroski on drums, Nathan Peck on bass with Randy Klein sitting in on piano at the Iridium Jazz Club! ‘Exalted Kingdom’ will be featured on the upcoming CD ‘Inner Voice’ with Boris Kozlov and Alex Skolnick witch is a part of Two Duos series on Jazzheads!
Thanks to Alex Skolnick, Matt Zebroski and Nathan Peck for the great time at the Iridium Jazz Club! It was a great fun sitting in with the Alex Skolnick Trio! Hope to do it again!
See the new video of THE BALLAD OF THE FREE from FOR MY PEOPLE - The Margaret Walker Song Cycle. It was performed at James Madison University in April, 2011 featuring Randy Klein, Aurelia Williams and the JMU Chorale directed by Dr. Patrick Walders, chorale arrangements by James Ballard, presented by Furious Flower Poetry Center.
My composition ‘Fly Free’ sung by vocalist Ashley Fox Linton was honored with a semi-finalist position for Song Of The Year 2011! Check it out on my web site.
