Juan Andres Ospina Big Band Recording
We recorded the challenging yet beautiful music of Juan Andres Ospina in New York on January 6, 7 and 8. Here is a clip from the studio:
Moments of 2016: the best ones, the funny ones, and the shitty one
I’m visiting my family for the holidays in the south of France, I did my last gig last weekend in New York, and my next concert is on January 3, 2017 with Leïla Olivesi. I can look back at 2016 and reflect on the good and bad moments. Actually I didn't have too many bad moments, so I'll mention some of the best ones, some of the funny ones and one shitty gig in Germany.
World Citizen Band, Ecuador
Recently I went on tour in Ecuador with the World Citizen Band. We did a concert at Teatro Variedades in…
Read moreWorld Citizen Band - Ecuador, 2016
I got back yesterday night from what was probably one of the most fun tour I did. We were in Ecuador with the World Citizen Band for a series of concerts and 2 days of teaching at the Universidad De Las Americas.
I flew on Monday November 21st to Panama City, a two-hour layover to which we added 2 hours waiting on the plane because of bad weather. I landed in Quito at 1am and finally arrived at the hotel at 3am.
Life on the road with a band can be difficult and tricky. You spend your time with the same…Read more
Germany - September 2016
Friday September 2, 2016
Here we go, off to Germany. Last time I went to Berlin was in January (2010 I think), and it was freezing like crazy. The weather should be friendlier this time.
We were supposed to have a concert in Paris tonight, at Le Duc Des Lombards, but you know it's hard sometimes for the clubs to keep track of who they book, so yeah, they double-booked and we got screwed...
So I got my ticket to Berlin to arrive at 8pm on Friday, since the first gig was tomorrow, but the Grand Master Ramiro…Read more
Here we go, off to Germany. Last time I went to Berlin was in January (2010 I think), and it was freezing like crazy. The weather should be friendlier this time.
We were supposed to have a concert in Paris tonight, at Le Duc Des Lombards, but you know it's hard sometimes for the clubs to keep track of who they book, so yeah, they double-booked and we got screwed...
So I got my ticket to Berlin to arrive at 8pm on Friday, since the first gig was tomorrow, but the Grand Master Ramiro…Read more
Saxophone
Equipment is no more than 10% responsible of your sound. You are 90% of it, if not more. I will sound very similar if I take your set-up. It will be different of course, but the sound is produced by ME, not the gear. The gear is a detail. A very important one though. All that to say that you should not expect the gear to make you sound good but only to help you express it.
I have bought my Keilwerth saxophones in 2000: Soprano SX 90, Alto Model 75 and Tenor Model 75. For a moment I was briefly involved with…Read more
I have bought my Keilwerth saxophones in 2000: Soprano SX 90, Alto Model 75 and Tenor Model 75. For a moment I was briefly involved with…Read more
Books on creativity
This is following up the blog with a selection of my favorite documentaries on creativity.
I love reading books, I think it’s probably the single greatest thing that happened to humanity. Today we are overwhelmed by the amount of information and books are part of this ocean. It can be difficult to find the good ones among the not so good ones or the complete crappy ones.
Here is a list of suggested readings (I put the Amazon links to the English versions, I imagine you could find these books in different…
Buffet Crampon Alto Sax Senzo
6 Great Documentaries On Creativity
Here are 6 documentaries I find particularly interesting and watch often (click HERE to check out the books).
Definitely one of my favorite videos on the subject: John Cleese On Creativity
Do you want to stay connected? Sign up for my amazingly interesting newsletter!
The creative Brain: How Insight Works
It is a feeling we all know - the moment when a light goes on in your head. In a sudden flash of inspiration, a new idea is born. Today, scientists are using some unusual techniques to try to…
Read moreInterview Leïla Olivesi
The album Utopia is available on Itunes, Amazon
Contact Leïla Olivesi on her website with the receipt of your purchase of the album Utopia and tell her you watched this interview to receive a free bonus track!
Visit www.jazzvideolessons.net for the master class