I was curious about something I use a lot in composing. Where did I hear it first? Why do I find it a bit "magical"?
Video here: https://youtu.be/4OFEwfCvyM4
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Doug Wyatt
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Composer, pianist, music software author. Seeker of truth, beauty, joy and wonderment.
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I found myself remembering and then listening to Spiral Dance, the first track of Keith Jarrett's Belonging. I'd forgotten how much I love this album -- maybe Garbarek at his most brash, Jarrett playing with fire and yet a bit of restraint. Also it's interesting, here Jarrett's writing standards of his own, before making albums of only standards with others.
I never get tired of hearing Aja, the title track. The harmony is complex and modulating a lot, but there's a seemingly perfect balance between inevitability and surprise. The lyrics seem to tell two or three stories at the same time. And then there's Wayne Shorter's sax solo and Steve Gadd's drumming.
Multitasking! The pianist is relearning a piece by his favorite composer, the composer is hearing his piece played by his favorite pianist -- and having his score proofread -- and my soul is warmed by being reminded of why I make music.
In 2024 I am grateful for having found the courage to turn some musical concepts into reality, and for everyone along the way who helped. Best wishes for a peaceful, fulfilling 2025!
I never really understood why Lego seemed to change from sets of generic pieces to elaborate 500-step projects to build something very specific. I always liked being the architect more than the builder (and the composer more than the pianist). But this present became a look at the other side of the coin -- in building someone else's vision, I learned many little structural engineering details. And patience! #ArchitectVsBuilder #Lego #TuxedoCat #ComposerLife
I was very sad to hear of the death of Zakir Hussain. I must have seen him at least 20 times over the years at SF Jazz: with Shakti last year, with Chris Potter and Dave Holland, Bela Fleck, Charles Lloyd ... There were so many astonishing shows. Watching him, I always had the sense of super-human effort, transcending human frailty. I will treasure the memories of those shows always. #RIPZakirHussain #SFJazz
This one's from the same era as Wyatt/Cahill Dialogs, but with a lot less hair! This is at the Stewart Park Pavilion, so it's an Ithaca Festival in June, and I'm reading music, so it's almost certainly with Jeremy Werbin's band, Stand. 1987 I think. #IthacaFestival #MusicalMemories #VintageKeyboards
Frey Faust, Pat Cahill and me in New York City, ca. 1986. Pat and I did a few performances and a lot of recording as "Wyatt/Cahill Dialogs"; we'd write fairly elaborate beginnings and endings as bookends for open-ended improvs.
Back in those days, I was lugging around a Mac Plus computer, a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer, and a couple of other keyboards. I was at the peak of my phase of being inspired by Joe Zawinul's method of developing improvs into compositions.
Remembering how my friend Justin pointed me to a request for an X Files-like TV theme, which led to me writing such a piece, which I recorded in Sweden, which led to me performing it there, complete with choir and string quartet. #composer #pianist #MusicalCollaboration #xfilesmusic
