Red Rodney and Ira sullivan swinging 8th notes to death

Be-Bop, it’s  the real deal here…Screw politics, theirs no right or left anyway, its a show boys and girls and us americans aint gettin union wages as extras in this bad play…So heres my suggestion…Listen to some Be-Bop, its actually real!

Ira Sullivan…Old Friend, International Jazz Treasure

Ive known Ira since I was 16 years old, he put up with me coming by his house all the time that he lived in at that time,  it was right across the street from a grave yard in Dania Fl …  Then when I was 18 he gave me a Selmer mark 6 to go to New York with, this was an expensive gift to give to a pimple faced kid,,,I guess he had some faith in me, the problem was I liked the drugs far more then anything else at that time, ( Im clean since 1985) This is the kind a guy he was, and is. I only get to talk with him once a year or so now, but Ira, I love ya man…Lookin Good! Any jazz player that hasn’t studied Ira should get a grip. Trumpet, or sax, he dose more with a melody then anybody that ever lived. Check out his LP’s with Red Rodney back in the 60’s, his new CD After hours, hes 85 and sounds great…

When it comes to influences Ira Sullivan is, and has been the single most influential men in Jazz I have ever known, and I have met most of them along the way. We all look to Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Jaco Pastorius, Monk, Charlie Parker, and so on, but Ira seems to be the silent Giant among us, walking softly and caring a BIG stick!. I know first hand, he likes it that way. Weather it be Ira playing Trumpet, or Sax Hes the man. Ira was the driving force behind so many great Jazz players just by his very presents and his uncanny capability to share his huge gift with just about anyone. When most players were all about building their rep, Ira was working with the young players everywhere from the street to the university’s. This man may very well be, the best thing that ever happened to Jazz, and the funny part about it, some players don’t know who he is… Thats insane, the man went up for jazz player of the year for the Academy Awards 5 times! Ira told me he just stopped going out the the award presentations  because it just cost him money, and he never came home with the prize. Then he laughed. Here are three links to get you started on a musical path to Ira’s contribution to Jazz. Take the time and check it out. Its worth it…Big Time!

… That should wake ya up…The quiet monster of Jazz…The artical link below is a nice tribute to Bird and Ira.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-24/entertainment/ct-ent-0825-ira-sullivan-20120825_1_ira-sullivan-bebop-charlie-parker-month

The man is in his 80’s playing Soprano Saxophone like this, he sent this CD to me a few years ago, and over a period of a few months I still cant get over how he handles melody in his solos…My mentor  as a youngster, and great friend till today Ira Sullivan, This man has a history in Jazz like no other, look him up on the net…Trumpet and saxophone, and plays his ass of on both, Jaco came from under Ira’s wings…As well as a multitude of great players from Miami and Chicago area…

Hers Ira back in the old days with The Red Rodney Quintet…

Bob Carnow’ Big band

The arrangements here play like a fine painting in the process, this mans pen and the fine group of players he put together  paints a beautiful picture endowed with soft bright melodic colors, incased in interesting rhythmical patterns…Usually if it dont swing It dont ring to me, but this guy has a different sense of Big Band. A lot of voicings in the lower end of the staff, not being assaulted buy trumpets…What a breath of fresh air…

Thad Jones – Mel Lewis band 1968

When I was about 16 years old living in a tenement house on 23 st in Manhattan, I use to stand outside The Village Vanguard to hear this band every week, The door man would let me sit in a chair inside  as long as I stood out of the way…The band was swinging the room on fire every time they played…It was like a life ago, and yesterday at the same time…Great memories…Smokin Band!

Dianna Reeves…Come together…

I think I love this woman…

Tony Bertolotti Quartet…My Brother

My brother Tony’s band from 1975…Graphic Art pieces  by me, layered over top of a great Jazz arrangement written by my Brother Tony Bertolotti, and played by Tony Bertolotti, Chris Braun, Mike Bocchicchio and Danny Evens.

Blue Stew, Local band, drummer Randy’s a bro

I moved here to Ventura CA 12 years ago…The thing I found out here in Ventura was this small pocket of orignal sounding musicians not unlike the players I grew up with  back east, different music, same authentisity and sinserity…These guys play in a local bar in the same harbor I live in, the drummer Randy Keiser is a good friend, and comes by my shop now n then and we play till we drop…Like the old days… Not being able to gig anymore because of health issues took the wind out of my sails for a good long wile, but getting to play with locals here and there works great for me…Found a few fine Jazz players here too…Its a great place to live..

Edgar Bateman Quiet legend

I was 17 years old when I first heard Edgar Bateman at Richard’s Lounge, along with  with David Liebman, Riche Byrack, and my Brother Tony Bertolotti…One of the hottest sessions I ever heard, Richard stopped serving drinks until the set was over…Here’s Edgar in his 80’s…lol…I heard him in his prime…Man what a drummer.

Krzystof Penderecki…Threnody of the victums of Hiroshima

This is an amazing symphonic achievement by a brilliant man…WARNING…This is not something to start your day with. This is a very hard audio visual excursion…And if you possess any human compassion at all, it may disturb you…This is not a political statement of any kind, it was a tragic day for all man kind…God bless …

Elvin Jones Interview 1971

A interview with one of a few of the greatest drummers, in my eyes, that ever lived on this planet…