Tag Archives: music education

The Failure of American Public Schools

The failure of the American public school system is that while we have emphasized the importance of those skills that “get things done” or that provide our children with the technological tool set to “compete” on a global scale, we … Continue reading

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Every Bass Player Should Know These Names

B.B. Dickerson Johnny Flippin William “Bootsy” Collins Larry Graham Donald “Duck” Dunn George Porter Jr. James “Jamie” Jamerson Verdine White Carol Kaye Add ’em to my already super-long list: Gary Peacock, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, Ray … Continue reading

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Back to the Bass-ics

After years of playing rhythm and lead guitar, tonight I’m returning to the bass for a jam session at Roque’s Blues Hall here in Natchitoches. To reindoctrinate myself, so to speak, I’m listening back to my earliest influences and remembering … Continue reading

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I Blame Lawrence Welk

I love old songs, and I love mixing it up and keeping ’em guessing. For that, I blame Lawrence Welk. Some jazz cats look down on Welk’s ensemble (compared to Goodman, Ellington or Kenton it was a SWEET band), and … Continue reading

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Soundtrack for a New Age

Each historical age is determined by the predominant societal position given to the individuals, groups, nations or empires that can produce or have the resources to acquire whatever substance that age equates to its varied definitions of power. The Bronze … Continue reading

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Letters to a Young Picker

or Free Your Mind and Your Chops Will Follow: EVERYTHING is a matter of personal taste. Nobody gets “great ears” without playing badly with their betters (betters who are willing to accept a lot of bad notes, ideas or tangents … Continue reading

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Idols and Influences, continued

OK, so the previous set of idols and influences ended with 1977. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be exploring the subsequent years and the albums/artists that shaped my world as a Musician. Included will be the following, identified in … Continue reading

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