Derek Sivers - "Why You Need to Fail": Monday YouTube Fix

Every once in a while you stumble on a video that makes you reevaluate something you do on a daily basis.  This video by Derek Sivers did just that for me. In a departure from the norm around here, this is the first Monday YouTube Fix that is not a musical performance.  In fact, this video isn't even specifically about performing music, although as you'll see it is referenced and couldn't be more relevant to that pursuit.

"Why You Need To Fail" is a 15 minute look into why failure, whether it be in the practice room or the board room, is essential to all human growth.  This video made me do so real soul searching about my own practicing and I already feel a refreshed approach to my craft.  I can not possibly recommend this more to ANY musician (performer, teacher, conductor, composer, ANYONE.)

Prepare to have your eyes opened...

Enjoy!

(A tip of the hat to my friend Syd Schwartz who is currently serving as Music Business Entrepreneur-In-Residence at NYU for bringing this video to my attention via his twitter feed.)

Lenny Kravitz and the Voice of Praise Choir: Monday YouTube Fix

This clip embodies everything I love about music.  Lenny Kravitz, the singer/instrumentalist/songwriter, was hanging out in New Orleans when he heard a band and choir covering one of his songs.  Even if you are the biggest Lenny Kravitz fan, the rest is best described by just watching the clip. The whole thing is summed up by the expression of the acoustic rhythm guitar player the moment that Lenny sits down on the drum kit.  I just think this clip is the perfect example of pure joy that only music provides in my life.  And how about this kid on guitar?!?

This is just awesome.

Enjoy!

Stevie Wonder: Monday YouTube Fix

The Monday YouTube Fix is back after a brief hiatus due to way too much international travel with horrible internet connections.  Look for weekly video links again.  In fact, if you have any clips to suggest please leave them in the comments.  If you've followed this feature you know I post all different kinds of music.  My only requirement is that it's good! I figured what better way to start off 2013 than with Stevie Wonder.  I can't name 10 musicians in the history of music that play with more style than this guy.  He is a true living legend.

I was reminded of his brilliance when Lance LaDuke and I were eating some absolutely incredible ramen in Singapore last week.  The ramen place was playing his 'Fulfillingness' First Finale' album in its entirety.  I'm not sure whether the star of the meal was the broth or Stevie's funk.

This is some footage from the studio of his iconic "Superstitious."  The trumpet player, Steve Madaio, is amazing.  You must be warned...the fade out at the end of this clip is criminal.  What I wouldn't pay to hear them jam on this for another 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE

Monday YouTube Fix: Sam Pilafian, Harry Watters, David Cutler + Dan Hostetler

Happy Holidays everyone! This is some footage from a Boston Brass rehearsal a few years ago.  Sam Pilafian and Harry Watters, two of the best brass players in the world, formed a jazz combo along with their rhythm section friends David Cutler on piano and Dan Hostetler on drums. They played a combo tune as a change of pace during one of our Christmas big band shows.  They came up with the tune and started rehearsing it on the spot.

Watching such amazing musicians work so cohesively at the drop of a hat is truly amazing.  Such groove, lyricism and storytelling.

Happy Holidays and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-ZxFqLILI8

Monday YouTube Fix: Mahler 7 - Chicago Symphony with Pierre Boulez (Live)

This is taken from the Great Performances series on PBS so both the audio and the video are top quality.  The Chicago Symphony brass section really leaves me in awe every time I hear them these days. Gene Pokorny is of course one of my heroes and sounds really great as always on this recording.  But it really is the trumpet section that keeps grabbing my attention.  There is not a first trumpet in any orchestra in the world that I am currently more fond of than Chris Martin.  His tone is just unreal! The blend that the entire section gets is truly remarkable.

In fact, I recently wrote about my experience playing with the Chicago Symphony's Tage Larsen while we were both in the Dallas Brass.  The whole brass section sounds amazing and I love me some Mahler!

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u34TL77GHss

Monday YouTube Fix: Renaud Garcia-Fons

Rarely do I hear a musician who makes me reevaluate what I think an instrument can do.  That is exactly what happened the first time I heard this man play the bass. It is nothing short of criminal that this video has less than 10,000 views.  I'm not sure how anyone can watch this clip and not be mesmerized by the artistry and virtuosity in that order.  Simply incredible!

This man raises the bar for all of us playing bass clef instruments.  I've got some practicing to do.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZNKLUHeJtg

Monday YouTube Fix: Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown & Ed Thigpen

Oscar Peterson is such a bad man that it's hard to process.  Combine him with one of the best bass players in the world and a drummer with amazing touch and you've got a winner. Tunes don't get much more simple than C Jam Blues.  Couple that with the elegant and transparent instrumentation of a piano trio and it allows for a lot of space for these three gentlemen to operate.  I love the piano breakdowns.  As with any great jazz musician, Oscar keeps grooving his you know what off when the rhythm section drops off.  We classical players can learn a lot from that.

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJhHn-TuDY&feature=related]

Monday YouTube Fix: Eric Ruske

Eric was the horn player in the Empire Brass when I attended the Empire Brass Seminar at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in 1990 and 1991.  I learned the most those summers from attending the Empire open rehearsals.  It really was an incredible thing for a 14 year old to get to experience. Even at that young of an age, I was immediately struck by Eric's phrasing.  He played phrases that were a mile long and his playing always sounded so elegant.  This  recording of the Romance by Saint-Saens is a great example of his gorgeous, flowing musical lines.

We can all learn a lot from anyone on any instrument who phrases like this.

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kHcvpsu_QY]

Monday YouTube Fix: Led Zeppelin

The first time I really heard Led Zeppelin and paid attention was in the Leningrad Airport in the former Soviet Union in 1990.  A friend in the trombone section said "Hey Hitz, check this out" and handed me his headphones. That experience changed my musical life forever. As soon as I got home I bought my first Led Zeppelin album, Led Zeppelin 4.  Within two weeks I bought two more and soon owned all 10 of their albums.  I had never heard non-classical music that had spoken to me so profoundly.

This track, Going to California, was on that first album I purchased.  This is a live version from Earl's Court which is simply stunning and so beautiful.  These guys are real musicians.  They have possibly the greatest rock and roll drummer in the world in their band and yet they are able to groove this hard without him even on stage.

I love me some Led Zeppelin!

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luDgb5vVHuA&feature=related]

Monday YouTube Fix: Guarneri String Quartet

Beethoven is my favorite composer of all time which is a cruel joke since he passed away before my instrument was invented! I have always loved how the Guarneri String Quartet has played the Beethoven quartets. They seem to play them with a little bit of teeth to them but also with tons of nuance.  This is a wonderful performance of the first movement of Beethoven's 11th String Quartet in F Minor, Opus 95.  The 16th note runs being passed around are so even and sound so effortless.  They make the not at all easy seem like just that.

Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaSAdCvzPgU]