You Should Know

Mel Bay Publications
This series of six books (for violin, tenor sax, alto sax, bass/trombone, trumpet and guitar) is a collection of jazz etudes utilizing the blues as a vehicle for teaching the elements of good improvisation. With a varied number of keys and tempos, these solos demonstrate essential techniques and concepts for jazz soloing. The accompanying CD with Danny Gottlieb on drums, Per Danielsson on piano, and Mark Neunschwander on bass, provides a fantastic play-along for students providing an opportunity to play and practice with a world-class rhythm section. In addition to the etudes, there are brief instructional writings and examples about playing with a swing feel, articulation, and the basics of jazz improvisation. These etudes can be used as repertoire as well as a library of great jazz lines. For more information contact your local music store or visit Mel Bay Publications on the web.

American Jazz Museum Announces 2003-2004 Jammin' at the Gem Series
The American Jazz Museum, located in Kansas City, Missouri is the only museum in the U.S. devoted exclusively to jazz. The museum complex includes major interactive exhibits celebrating the memory of jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Charlie Parker. Museum admission is $6.00 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12. Group rates are also available by calling 816-474-8463.

The Jammin'at the Gem series is scheduled to include the Yellowjackets (September 19); a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald by Patti Austin (October 18); T.S. Monk (January 17); Newport Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour with James Moody, Randy Brecker, Cedar Walton, James Carter, Howard Alden, Lewis Nash, and Peter Washington (February 29); and the annual Charlie Parker Memorial Concert with Charles McPherson and Tom Harrell (March 27).

Call 816-474-8463 to purchase tickets for the Jammin' at the Gem shows. Individual tickets are $25 in advance; $28 at the door. Subscriptions to the entire series are only $112.50. Senior and student discounts are available. All Jammin' at the Gem shows are held in the American Jazz Museum's beautifully restored 500-seat performance venue, the Gem Theater.

Remo Introduces In-Line Tuing System
Remo Inc. has announced a revolutionary concept in drum tuning with the release of its new In-Line Tuning System, featured on the newly designed Paulo Mattioli Djembe. The In-Line Tuning System, named after its function, has a much larger tuning ratio (approximately 3 to1) compared to standard drum tension rods. This design offers the distinct advantage of a smaller turning radius (only 1/4 - 1/2 turn) being required to tension each drum rod. The result is faster more accurate tuning and greater tension stability, with less time and effort. Tuning no longer needs to be a tediously frustrating, time consuming chore.

To compliment the new In-Line Tuned Paulo Mattioli Djembe, Remo has fitted it with its latest drumhead innovation, the Nuskyn^TM Vintage Wrap^TM (tucked head). Producing a warm, full-bodied tone, this head sets new standards for natural feel and sound performance never before achieved by a synthetic drumhead. This instrument is available in 13" and 14" diameters and comes equipped with Remo's exclusive curved counter hoop, for added tuning stability, comfort, and playability. The In-Line Tuned Paulo Mattioli Djembe also features the fusion of Remo's strong, light weight Advanced Acousticon^TM shell material with its innovative new Metalized^TM Bronze plating process.

Piadrum Releases Streams of Consciousness by Max Roach and Abudllah Ibrahim
This one-time meeting of genius with Max Roach and Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) is a breathtaking display of jazz improvisation. Their immense wealth of musical vocabulary and knowledge effortlessly surfaced during this rare recording session. The historic nature of this work is put in perspective by jazz historian and multi-Grammy award winner Phil Schaap. Improvisation at its best by two good friends who shared similar cultural and social backgrounds is both an entertaining as well as historic event.

In 1977 when this recording was first released on LP, Max Roach wrote this music was an expression of pure improvisation. Their becoming musically acquainted was both challenging and enjoyable. The resulting cohesiveness had much to do with their environmental similarities. Max restates today as he prepares the album for this reissue that his encounter with Abdullah Ibrahim on Streams of Consciousness is dearest to him of his duo albums.

Zildjian Adds Six New Rides to K Constantinople Series
Celebrating its 380th anniversary, the Avedis Zildjian Company has traveled back in time to its roots in Constantinople to revive sounds sought after by jazz enthusiasts for decades. The new Constantinople Rides offer six models in total and are available in 20" and 22" sizes, Medium-Thin High, Medium-Thin Low, and Thin High.

Created through feedback from Zildjian Artists and customers, the new K Constantinople Rides have plenty of give, texture, and a remarkably soft, buttery feel. They have a great combination of articulation up top and some nice spread at the bottom providing a clear, articulate stick sound. The designations of High and Low refer to the profile of the cymbal, and ultimately the pitch, and provide even more tonal options from which to choose. The first Ride cymbal available in a thin weight in the K Constantinople range, the Thin High model speaks immediately with 'stick sound'; usually not found in a thin cymbal.

The "K" sound had its origin in the city of Constantinople, late in the 19th century, when Kerope Zildjian put his name on the family's cymbals during his tenure as keeper of the Zildjian flame. During the '50s and '60s the great drummers of the Bebop era found the warmer, darker tones of the Turkish made K Zildjian cymbals ideal for their exciting new music. The "K" sound became legendary having been captured on the many classic recordings of the time featuring such greats as Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams, and Elvin Jones.

Vector Instruments Begins Production of Profundo
Vector Instruments has begun production of the Profundo, its latest electric upright bass model. The Profundo was conceived for players who wish to double on a shorter scale upright or have problems dealing with a traditional upright due to small hands or stature. This new model combines the great tone and feel of Labella Nylon Tape-wound strings with a Custom Schatten Quad-Transducer Bridge and an onboard EMG preamp system.

Extremely compact, its small dimensions and low weight allow easy portability in the gig-bag. In use it mounts securely to the fully adjustable stage stand. Playability has been enhanced through utilizing a 35"scale length and a neck similar to an electric bass with position markers on the side of the neck. To simulate the position of the body, a removable upper bout is included that's flexible and padded. The bridge height is fully adjustable and volume and tone pots control the output of the EMG preamp.

The Bolivian Rosewood fingerboard is mated to a one-piece maple body, a combination that provides exceptional sustain and solid fundamental tone production. Basses come complete with gig-bag, stage stand and a full one-year warranty.

Rick Braun Launches Getzen's Genesis Custom Series Trumpet
Getzen Company, Inc. of Elkhorn, Wisconsin has signed a deal with award-winning Warner Brothers recording artist Rick Braun to launch Getzen's new Genesis trumpet. The launch will consist of 100 Getzen Custom Series Model 3003 trumpets specially handmade in the Getzen Pro Shop.

The Genesis Model 3003 will feature a .464" bore valve set with hand-lapped, nickel-plated pistons, a 5 1/8" one-piece, hand-hammered, yellow brass bell, an interchangeable lead pipe system with two included lead pipes (standard and open), and a brushed 14K gold plate finish. Every Genesis Model 3003 comes in a hard shell, wood case with an exterior music compartment and will carry with it the Getzen Platinum Limited Lifetime Warranty. In addition, each launch trumpet will have Rick Braun's autograph etched on the bell and come with a numbered certificate of authenticity signed by Thomas Getzen and Rick Braun. Serial numbers of the Rick Braun Signature Genesis Trumpets will be listed on the web at http://www.getzen.com/ along with the dealer locations where they are available.

Rick Braun has won several smooth jazz awards including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Producer, and Best Brass Player.

For more information on the launch of the Getzen Genesis trumpet contact Getzen at 530 South County Road H, P.O. Box 440, Elkhorn, WI 53121-0440 USA; telephone 262-723-4221; or visit the Getzen web site.

Happy Birthday Justin Time!
Justin Time Records celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. From its humble beginnings in a small office in historic Old Montreal, the recording company has grown to one of the world's finest independent labels specializing in jazz, blues, and gospel. The first recording was inspired by label founder Jim West's observations over the course of one particular swinging evening in 1982 at a local jazz club. After each tune, the audience responded enthusiastically, and West thought, "There were, I guess, a 150 people out there. Kids 18 years old and folks of 80 years, and they all liked it." This got him thinking. He realized, "I ought to record this. And that's what I did. And it sold well right away, which was strange." The musician? Pianist extraordinaire, local hero, and label ambassador Oliver Jones. The album was Live At Biddles Jazz & Ribs.

Since then, Justin Time has released more than 350 recordings. Although the lion's share of the catalogue consists of jazz, blues, and gospel recordings, the label has also recorded and documented world music, comedy, film soundtracks, and folk. "And we're proud of them all," observes Jean-Pierre Leduc, the label A&R, "we're pleased to have been the first record label to have discovered, recorded, and promoted Diana Krall." The label is equally proud of its work with Ranee Lee, Jeri Brown, Carmen Lundy, Nina Simone, and the Susie Arioli Swing Band. On the catalogue side, Sarah Vaughan's In the City of Lights album continues to be one of its strongest items.

New Steel in Steel Pans from Steel Island
Following 10 years of research, Steel Island has introduced a new steel composition formulated exclusively for steel pans. This new metal consistently produces the highest standard of performance required for their handcrafted fabrication and tuning, and for playing, creating a full-bodied sound from each note that delivers an ultra clear bright tone in the C Leads, superior brightness and resonance in the Bore Pans, and a euphoric warm tone to the Double Tenor and Double Seconds.

This critical balancing of key elements in the steel for the necessary tensile strength needed during fabrication while allowing for the ideal elasticity when playing adds to the lifetime of the instrument. The metal does not have to be worked as much in the original tuning. This durability also results in longer intervals between maintenance tuning. The metal allows the instruments to sing to the player's slightest touch of the mallet, resulting in ease of playing and fewer tune-up requirements, adding to longer life.

For more information on Steel Island's line of steel pans, please visit http://www.steelisland.com/; e-mail; phone 800-525-6896 or 512-266-7995; fax 512-266-7986; or write Steel Island, 14103 Panorama Drive, Austin, TX 78732 USA.

Hal Leonard Presents The Best of Charlie Parker in Signature Licks Series
Regarded as the greatest saxophonist of all time, Charlie Parker's ability and influence cannot be overstated. The All Music Guide says of him, "One of a handful of musicians who can be said to have permanently changed jazz. He could play remarkably fast lines that, if slowed down to half speed, would reveal that every note made sense."

Hal Leonard's new Signature Licks book/CD pack will be vital to any jazz fan interested in digging in to what this legend did. The Best of Charlie Parker (00695607/$19.95) provides a step-by-step breakdown of Bird's styles and techniques, teaching his trademark riffs, solos, and compositions via in-depth analysis of 12 classics. For each song there are extensive performance notes and lessons along with examples recorded on the accompanying CD by a full band.

Other exciting new jazz titles in the Signature Licks series include The Best of Pat Martino (Guitar Signature Licks, 00695632, $22.95) and Bill Evans (Keyboard Signature Licks, 00695714, $22.95).