Live jazz - Michael Powers, with the Mike James Trio

[mikejames]

Hi everybody,

Michael Powers, guitarist/recording artist from Seattle, appeared with my trio (Mike James Trio) on March 15th, and I recorded it live. In my opinion, this tune was the best one.


<a href="http://www.mikejamesjazz.com/media/trio_tunes/michael_powers2/live_at_eddies_031807/10_round_midnight.mp3" /> 'Round Midnight (7 MB MP3 file)

Interesting...
Michael Powers is a guitarist, but he plays a "Frame Works" (MIDI controller) guitar, so on this recording, he is playing the trumpet parts and the guitar parts. (My trio is keyboard, bass, and drums.) ... Nice.

[Drummer Karl]

I really like this one!! How did you record it? I find the sound cool, not just the recording sound but also the sound of you as a band and the sound of you as a drummer.
Sounds very smooth, very well played.

What is surprising though: You played not very much with the swing pattern, you often played a straight ahead quarter note feel...which sounds still cool but you didn`t split the swing pattern up much. No critism, just what I noticed.

You swing anyway buddy! =)

Karl

[mikejames]

Hi Karl,

Thank you for listening. I recorded the whole concert in 4-track stereo, but the recording posted here is from just a single (AKG "Perception 100") condenser microphone, hung from the ceiling in front of the band... no editing, no mixing, no effects. (Track #1 - The others were direct line outs from the other players, which didn't prove important.) All tracks were recorded into a Tascam 2488 MkII. (Just got it in January, and I really like the sound.)

I've always loved that tune, and don't think it needs much from the drummer. The particular reason for playing a lot of quarter notes is to allow the soloists to play whatever rhythms they want, without hearing a triplet-oriented beat over it all. "Space... The final frontier".

[Drummer Karl]

Yeah, got it. Good thoughts...
and I think it sounds very good, your interpretation is cool man...were just my thoughts which flew through my mind. haha

Can we have more maybe *polite asking* =)

Karl

[mikejames]

That's very nice of you to ask... a rare thing on these type of forums...Thank you!

Here's the deal... in all humilty:

We didn't have the prep time we would've liked, due to our busy schedules, and due to some technical glitches with emailing some of the MP3's, and the lack of charts for every tune. So, on the gig, (with NO rehearsal) we were reading unfamiliar charts, trying to emulate a larger band, and watching Michael for cues at the same time. I thought that my band did a great job, but given the circumstances, we were a little "clunky" on some of his arrangements.

But, during the first set, we played "Real Book" tunes, which put us on all an equal footing, and that's why I've posted these selections.

One of the other ones I think came out nice is "In A Sentimental Mood", which is at:

http://www.mikejamesjazz.com/media/trio_tunes/michael_powers2/live_at_eddies_031807/03_in_a_sentimental_mood.mp3

[d.c.drummer]

Great stuff. Great feel from behind the kit. Really enjoyed it! And to second Karl... MORE!! (please).

[mikejames]

Wow... You guys are very gracious. Thank you again!

Here's an arrangement by Michael Powers (same concert) called "Blues You Can Use".

From a techcnical point of view, it's not perfect. But regardless of the glitches, I think it's fun to listen to. (through big speakers or good headphones) Aside from the audience yelling "Hey!", which we showed them how to do, all of this is improvised, and with a guest artist we hadn't worked with before, as a band. So considering that, I'd say it was good, showing good reflexes on our part, and good overall energy.

http://www.mikejamesjazz.com/media/trio_tunes/michael_powers2/live_at_eddies_031807/07b_blues_you_can_use.mp3

PS> Keep in mind that my trio is keyboard, bass and drums. Everything else you hear (like the "piano" solo on this cut) is coming from Michael Powers. (MIDI controller guitar) I seriously respect this guy!

[mikejames]

Here's another live recording from a February concert we did with Seattle trumpet player, Owuor Arunga. It's the Freddy Hubbard tune, "Red Clay".

http://www.mikejamesjazz.com/media/trio_tunes/owuor_arunga/08b_red_clay.mp3

PS> All these tunes can be accessed from my home page, at http://www.mikejamejazz.com