Results for "On and Off the Grid"

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID August 28, 2016

Remembering Dominic Duval

Around 1985, I got a call from a close friend and my drummer at the time, Tony Lupo. Tony and I had been friends and playing together since 1963. At that time, we were both into Be-Bop and as we grew in age, our musical tastes and interest leaned towards outside playing. Of course, we never ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID October 17, 2014

Free Jazz Versus Free Improvisation

By DOM MINASI

Free jazz versus free improvisation. Are they the same? I submit they are not. Let's take a look at what makes up music. I was taught from the very beginning that music is composed of three parts: 1. Melody; 2. Harmony; 3. Rhythm. Now add improvisation to the mix, and ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID July 15, 2014

Practice, Do You? Part 3-3

By DOM MINASI

Continued from Part 2 I began studying the guitar when I was seven years old. I hated my teacher and I didn't practice much, but when I changed teachers' and I went to Joe Geneli, I regained a love for the guitar that I first had when I was four years old when I ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID July 15, 2014

Practice, Do You? Part 2-3

By DOM MINASI

Continued from Part 1 I began studying the guitar when I was seven years old. I hated my teacher and I didn't practice much, but when I changed teachers' and I went to Joe Geneli, I regained a love for the guitar that I first had when I was four years old when I ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID July 15, 2014

Practice, Do You? Part 1-3

By DOM MINASI

I began studying the guitar when I was seven years old. I hated my teacher and I didn't practice much, but when I changed teachers' and I went to Joe Geneli, I regained a love for the guitar that I first had when I was four years old when I first saw Roy Rogers sing and ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID December 25, 2013

A Jazz Musicians' Guide to Living In The Universe

By DOM MINASI

I've been on Facebook for three years and many of my friends and colleagues have posted quotes from musicians and philosophers. I've decided to start writing my own quotes about what I have learned and experienced through the years. Since I've been a professional musician since 1957 and playing the guitar over 63 years, I have ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID September 19, 2013

Johnny Smith: The Man, The Legend

By DOM MINASI

On June 11, 2013, guitarist Johnny Smith passed away. He was 90 years old. Some may have never heard of him, but in the world of jazz guitar he was legend.There will be many articles written about him. Besides the historical content of his accomplishments, I want to write about what he meant to ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID June 24, 2013

All About Sonny

By DOM MINASI

I bet you thought I meant Sonny Rollins. When you hear the name Sonny, it's usually synonymous with Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Fortune or even Sonny Sharrock; all of them jazz heroes. But there is a Sonny you probably have never heard of before who is a super hero.Who is he? His name ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID November 15, 2012

Goodbye Borah

By DOM MINASI

Up until eleven years ago I had never heard of Borah Bergman. Priding myself on being aware of many of the avant players and being a devout fan of pianist Cecil Taylor, I should have known about Borah, but I didn't.Many of my early public performing years were devoted to playing straight-ahead and then ...

ARTICLE: ON AND OFF THE GRID September 10, 2012

What Is Jazz Now?

By DOM MINASI

Back in February, All About Jazz Managing Editor John Kelman asked me to develop a column based on points I made in the comment section of the article BAM or JAZZ: Why It Matters. I still feel the same way, but trumpeter Nicholas Payton's statement that jazz died in 1959 made me think, and I've been ...