Mike Errico

So Good: Art Pepper

By Mike | February 4, 2012

The seventh and final chapter of “But Beautiful,” by Geoff Dyer deals with Art Pepper. My guess is that Dyer put him last because he seems to embody so much of the other six players – his sound has hints of each, and his life had chaos and jail and tragedy to burn.

~FIN~

There is an afterword that discusses the major themes in jazz history, and also includes a great discography that I’ll be listening through, perhaps over years.

I didn’t know some of these players, but I know them now, far better than I would have by simply listening.

I’m going to miss this book. You really should pick it up.

More video accompaniment to the jazz artists in Geoff Dyer’s “But Beautiful”: http://www.errico.com/tag/but-beautiful/

More So Good: http://www.errico.com/category/so-good/

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So Good: Chet Baker

By Mike | February 3, 2012

Chapter six of “But Beautiful,” by Geoff Dyer finds a way into the void of Chet Baker’s tone, vocally as well as on the horn. He’s just…gone, ghost like and out of frame. A glimpse.

More video accompaniment to the jazz artists in Geoff Dyer’s “But Beautiful”: http://www.errico.com/tag/but-beautiful/

More So Good: http://www.errico.com/category/so-good/

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Show: Jan. 31st, Arlene’s Grocery, NYC

By Mike | January 30, 2012

FIRST SHOW OF 2012: Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
w/strings

Arlene’s Grocery
95 Stanton St.
NY NY 10003
21+/$8 cover
info, tix: http://www.arlenesgrocery.net/calendar/index.html
NOTE: The door is “polled” meaning they ask patrons which band they came to see. So let them know!

8p: LUFF http://www.luffmusic.com/
9p: MIKE ERRICO
10p: Becca Schack http://www.beccaschack.com/
11p: Bob Lanzetti http://www.myspace.com/boblanzetti1
12p: Luke Rathborne http://www.myspace.com/lukerathborne

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So Good: Charles Mingus

By Mike | January 27, 2012

Chapter five of “But Beautiful,” by Geoff Dyer: Mingus is hard. There’s a bullying, angry quality to him, an angular poke in the chest at each chord change, a snarl in the attack of his bass. Meanwhile, the form feels like it’s deconstructing as he pushes it relentlessly forward. Dyer captures it in lines like, “If he had been a ship the ocean would have been in his way.”