Mike Errico

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.”

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/

Topics: So Good | No Comments »

So Good: Ben Webster

By Mike | January 24, 2012

Chapter four of “But Beautiful,” by Geoff Dyer: I’ve had a love affair with Ben Webster from before this book, mostly from his recordings with Duke Ellington. His lines ache, swoop, then dissolve into breath and vibrato, as if they went up in smoke. To me, he is the sound of late nights.

“If you love jazz, you have to love Ben. You could love jazz and not like Ornette, maybe not like Duke even, but it’s impossible to love jazz and not love Ben.” – Geoff Dyer, “But Beautiful”

“When he played the blues or “In a Sentimental Mood,” you realize how irrelevant the entire notion of sentiment is. He was never cloying, because no matter how soft he played, that growl was always lurking somewhere.” – Geoff Dyer, “But Beautiful”

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

More, because how can I not:

“Perdido”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CeSrOAcTXI

“Over the Rainbow”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXUOJa_XgGU

w/Oscar Peterson, “I Got It Bad”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LUr6czjwlA

“Cotton Tail”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_W1lQc_7yU

Ben, Rehearsal in Holland, calling out arrangement, tempos etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEobA-dU1d0

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

Topics: So Good | No Comments »

So Good: Bud Powell

By Mike | January 23, 2012

Chapter three of “But Beautiful,” by Geoff Dyer is one of those reads where the subway is sitting at the Coney Island station, empty, by the time you look up.

I don’t know if I can recommend it highly enough to fans of writing or fans of jazz.

Dyer’s breathless descriptions capture the moments when Powell’s schizophrenia seeps in; when his genius is in full display; and when the best he can do is hold on tight while being hurdled from one extreme to the other.

Wow. Just wow.

(I picked this clip for the close-ups of his hands and face.)

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/

Topics: So Good | No Comments »

2012 Sundance World Premiere: “That’s What She Said” feat. “Daylight”

By Mike | January 20, 2012

“That’s What She Said” (directed by Carrie Preston, starring Anne Heche, Alia Shawkat) will be making its debut at Sundance Friday, Jan. 20, at the Prospector Square Theatre at 5:30p.

It includes a new version of “Daylight” (feat. Leah Siegel) next to songs by Rachael Yamagata, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham and more.

Click for trailer: