Early / Grade School Musical Influences
During these early years, however, I was strongly influenced by the quality music frequently played by my parents. Some of their favorite artists included:
Grateful Dead
I also owned several albums of my own in grade school, which I played constantly:
By High School I a narrowed my own musical influences to include:
| Artist | Specific Albums | Comments |
| Chuck Mangione |
|
Introduced me jazz compositions a variety in styles and ensembles. Great guest artists & improvisations. |
| George Benson | Breezin’ | Polished instrumentals AND jazz vocals. |
| Steely Dan | Aja | Great rock meets great jazz, featuring the talents of Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, and others. |
| Rush |
|
True progressive art-rock plus my first exposure to odd meters! I wore these records out! |
| Symphonic Band Music | All the albums from the All-State Bands I played in. | Listened to them until I memorized every line of every part! |
| Genesis |
|
Because everybody listened to Genesis! |
| Phil Collins |
|
Infectious dance tunes (i.e. Sussudio and Billy Don’t Lose My Number) in addition to real mood makers (i.e. In The Air Tonight) |
| Tears for Fears | Songs From the Big Chair | Short-lived but intense fascination with a very musical British art-pop group |
| Chicago |
|
Loved the horns! Remember the extended passage in “Hard for Me To Say I’m Sorry”… tattooed to my brain! |
| Journey |
|
Great piano, great guitar, great drummer, acrobatic vocalist,… what’s not to love? |
| Led Zeppelin |
|
Of course, who didn’t? |
| Pink Floyd |
|
Of course, who didn’t? |
| The Beatles | White Album | From folk to avant-garde! I loved the contrast! |
College Years Influences
| Artist | Comments |
| Pat Metheny / The Pat Metheny Group |
Pat has become the artist with whom I have most closely associated my own musical language and philosophies. I own nearly all of his recordings and follow his career very closely. Click here to hear a promise made by Pat Metheny to me after a concert in Washington D.C.! |
| Hank Levy | My first composition teacher and a major force in shaping my musical direction. Hank introduced me to the music of Don Ellis (who he composed and arranged for) the music of Pat Metheny, and to odd meters. His compositions were always of the highest possible musical value and he felt comfortable with any arrangement of instruments and voices. |
| Don Ellis | Perhaps the most creative musician who ever lived. It’s all said in my doctoral dissertation, The Exotic Rhythms of Don Ellis. |
| Any Big Band Music | Between the influence of Hank and the music of Don Ellis, I became fascinated with the energy of big band ensembles. I began absorbing any modern big band recordings I could get my hands on… The Tonight Show Big Band, GRP Big Band, Bob Mintzer Big Band, etc. |
| Michael Brecker | In my opinion, the greatest improviser alive today. A very adventurous composer also. May he R.I.P. |
| Chick Corea | A classically trained pianist and composer and cutting edge fusion jazzman… my kind of guy! I admire his “Trio for Bassoon, Flute, and Piano” as much as his synth programming on The Chick Corea Elektric Band albums. |
| Scott Henderson & Gary Willis (Tribal Tech) | Mostly just 4/4 vamps & grooves, but the highest quality hard jazz fusion with and edge. Great rock/jazz improvisations & great ensemble. |
| John Patitucci | Great bass player and adventurous composer on his solo albums. |
| Dave Gruisin | From the brilliant film scores of On Golden Pond and The Firm to great synthesizer work with his brother Don, to quality jazz piano in his tributes to Duke Ellington and George Gershwin, this guy is a complete musician! (Not to mention the fact that he owns his own label… GRP) |
Leave a Reply