Ask Dennis Gonzalez - Part 3

[Captain Hate]

It would be very cool to ask Paal about the contacts he has in Cleveland. I have a contact in Columbus that has never come through, and the boys went right by Cleveland with Humanization 4tet in July...'twould have been nice to have them stop and play a gig there!

Man, enjoy your grandson and give him a kiss for me. Precious, that! Say hey to your pals too in NY...anyone I know?

I'll ask Paal about it tomorrow and either send you an email or have him send you one. He might work through a guy at the Art Museum who used to be in San Francisco and helped arrange some Atomic performances out there previously. I can't think of his name now but he'll be at the show; he's done some great things as far as bringing music to the museum, which has a couple outstanding performance halls, including an Erik Friedlander solo performance in support of a retrospective of his father's photography. I'm usually very put off by "multi media events" but this one worked very well. If your boys come by this area again, I'll do anything to help them land a gig here; after all we've met face to face!

I count on seeing Ollie, Abbey and Paul B; and probably some other denizens of JC I can't think of now....

[Dennis Gonzalez]

I got a note from Frode saying you'd asked him on my behalf for the person booking them in Cleveland. Thanks, Cap'n.

Tomorrow we are hosting young Indian-American alto saxist Aakash Mittal at the home studio. We've mutually decided to start a recording project. He's down from Boulder where he plays with Ron Miles and is the leader of his own group. As a kid, he lived down the street from us and was great friends with Stefan. He moved away in the 5th or 6th grade, and Ravish Momin reconnected him with us...now a fabulous young saxist in the fashion of Rudresh Mahanthappa.

Then in two weeks, we will finish the recording project started last summer with Alvin Fielder!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Last weekend we started a recording project with young Boulder alto sax player Aakash Mittal, a student of Rudresh Mahanthappa and Ravish Momin. As a child he and Stefan were best friends, and then he moved away. It's only these years later that Ravish Momin has hooked us up with him. He's very fabulous...

...Video from the session.

[claude]

Last weekend we started a recording project with young Boulder alto sax player Aakash Mittal, a student of Rudresh Mahanthappa and Ravish Momin. As a child he and Stefan were best friends, and then he moved away. It's only these years later that Ravish Momin has hooked us up with him. He's very fabulous...

...Video from the session.

Sounds great Dennis, sorry I didn't notice this sooner.

I was actually coming in to mention that I started a collective improv class that made me think of you. The instructor is an alto player who has played/plays in a lot of different improv groups including with Anthony Braxton, he's an interesting guy. I've only had one class so far but I feel like I'm finally getting to the music that I've wanted to play all along. It's a very spiritual rather than technical thing is what I am finding.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Sounds great Dennis, sorry I didn't notice this sooner.

I was actually coming in to mention that I started a collective improv class that made me think of you. The instructor is an alto player who has played/plays in a lot of different improv groups including with Anthony Braxton, he's an interesting guy. I've only had one class so far but I feel like I'm finally getting to the music that I've wanted to play all along. It's a very spiritual rather than technical thing is what I am finding.

I'm glad you've found this resource, Claude. Who is the instructor?

The thing that I most look for in music, as you know, is a spiritual content, a spiritual connection. Let me know how it proceeds for you!

BTW, we finished the recording, and it's being mastered as we speak. I've been in contact with the engineer all day with updates, and the recording sounds beautiful. We are going to approach different companies to see if there is any interest in putting it out.

[claude]

I'm glad you've found this resource, Claude. Who is the instructor?

He's a fellow New Brunswicker who has found his way back home, his name is Evan Shaw.

The thing that I most look for in music, as you know, is a spiritual content, a spiritual connection. Let me know how it proceeds for you!

Yeah, that spiritual undertone to the proceedings was part of what made me think of you as well as the open and accepting attitude. I went in a little nervous at first since I hadn't played outside of my house before except for a few lessons early on and I felt at ease right from the beginning.

BTW, we finished the recording, and it's being mastered as we speak. I've been in contact with the engineer all day with updates, and the recording sounds beautiful. We are going to approach different companies to see if there is any interest in putting it out.

Looking forward to hearing what comes out of this!!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Yells At Eels with guest Wojtek Mazolewski!
A beautiful gig in Warsaw at the end of our week-long Polish Tour.

Picture by Joanna Potepska

[Dennis Gonzalez]

A video featuring "Wind Streaks in Syrtis Major", a Dennis Gonzalez composition, live at Jazz Jantar Festival, Gdansk, Poland, November 20, 2011.

[claude]

Outstanding video Dennis!!!

There must have been some pretty complicated conductions that brought that section together at the tail end of the tenor solo, it worked beautifully. What a rocking group.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Outstanding video Dennis!!!

There must have been some pretty complicated conductions that brought that section together at the tail end of the tenor solo, it worked beautifully. What a rocking group.

You know what's funny is that we did one rehearsal for about an hour as a double trio, and we immediately felt the vibe. The piece, except for the head, was totally improvised...of course, using the head as a guide. The Polish drummer, Jerzy Rogiewicz, was involved in a terrible accident the evening before the concert, and although the doctor warned him not to play, he went ahead and joined us to complete the double trio. He almost didn't make it throught the concert, and then dropped out of the tour because of his terrible concussion.

But that night we were together!

Jerzy Rogiewicz (drums) during the concert in Gdansk:


He's much better now, by the way.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

These two releases are available here.

Clean Feed Records has released the new Dennis Gonzalez/João Paulo Duo CD So Soft Yet, recorded in Lisbon January of 2010. The recording is the followup to ScapeGrace, the Prémio Autores 2010, given by the Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores - the biggest prize given in Portugal for all categories of music. The instrumentation has changed on this new release: Gonzalez-C trumpet, Bb cornet, electronically-altered trumpet/João Paulo-acoustic and electric piano, accordion.



Ayler Records has released the new CD by Dennis Gonzalez Yells At Eels featuring Alvin Fielder, Resurrection and Life. In August of 2009 word spread through the jazz world that Alvin Fielder was gravely ill, but he survived and went on to record this CD in Dallas during the summers of 2010 and 2011. New Orleans trombonist Gaika James adds to the mix on about half the compositions.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

The Hymn Project

So Soft Yet

Top Ten International Jazz List 2010/San Diego Reader/CD #5

[bluenoter]

So Soft Yet

"Someone" wrote a comment after that review to correct the spelling of Scape Grace. (Hmm. I let it stand as two words, but at least I pointed out the extra R.) Edit: The blogger has now posted the comment and made the correction.

Anyway, mazel tov on all three!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Yep, blue, it's ScapeGrace.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

[Blue Train]

Mr. González:

http://speakeasy.jazzcorner.com/spea...&postcount=419

I should add in that I am currently back in the states for my youngest sister's birthday. Yet again, you have a performance I currently could flown too if it was this weekend.

Even when you get as close as Portugal....it's on days that I can't get there.

I realize you meet people all the time after a performance and it was 7-years....but I didn't bite you, or anything similar.


That's my way of saying I like what you're doing.

P.S. Do your sons release anything on their own?

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Mr. González:

http://speakeasy.jazzcorner.com/spea...&postcount=419

I should add in that I am currently back in the states for my youngest sister's birthday. Yet again, you have a performance I currently could flown too if it was this weekend.

Even when you get as close as Portugal....it's on days that I can't get there.

I realize you meet people all the time after a performance and it was 7-years....but I didn't bite you, or anything similar.


That's my way of saying I like what you're doing.

P.S. Do your sons release anything on their own?

Hello, Blue Train...interesting link and intriguing words about meeting me and liking my music. It'd be great to e-mail you and correspond. Maybe you could explain yourself and when we met. dennisgonzalezx@aol.com.

My sons are releasing things of their own quite often now, and, in fact, they also work with the Portuguese-American Humanization 4tet, with Luis Lopes on guitar and Rodrigo Amado on tenor sax. Their hardcore/punk duo Akkolyte just released a vinyl 12" record, and Stefan is about to release a vinyl 7" to be put out on Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten's Tektite record label.

Get in contact with me.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Thursday night at The Common Table in Dallas with Yells at Eels,
Aaron plunking the bass in front of our audience...

[Dennis Gonzalez]

A Saturday night, so maybe the late hour won't matter as much!

Alvin Fielder - drums, Dave Dove - trombone, Jason Jackson - reeds, Damon Smith - contrabass...

Yells At Eels will open:

[Dennis Gonzalez]

[bluenoter]

Speaking of Alvin Fielder and DG YAE, I just ran across this review in Dusted by JC's
Jason Bivins (hope it wasn't already posted here). It's from his
roundup of Clean Feed releases in the first part of 2007.




New Orleans drummer Alvin Fielder leads a cracking trio on A Measure of Vision (Clean Feed 071), joined by pianist
Chris Parker and dynamite trumpeter Dennis González (whose sons, bassist Aaron and percussionist Stefan, are
along for a couple tracks). Fielder’s rolling style, filled with space and rests, creates an interesting foundation
for the contrasting styles of Parker (dark, dense, jabbing) and González (open, bright, lyrical). Far from your
average free blowing session, there’s a ton of space in this music, even as it crackles with urgency. The rich
group sound yields a tight, well-paced session that’s filled with visceral delights and some real surprises to
boot. For example, am I wrong to hear the playful “A Mon Frere” as a Bacharach-like miniature? Regardless of
its inspiration, it’s a lyrical treat. Equally good are the rolling, Trane-like “Camel” (with ripe bass from Aaron G);
“Max-Well” no doubt a tribute to Roach (although I hear more Blackwell to be honest, almost like a lost track
from El Corazon); and the rousing “Ripe for Vision,” a harmonically rich free swing piece, with Stefan G’s vibes
providing some contrast and some wonderfully exuberant work from Parker. But perhaps the finest moments
are heard on “Time No Time” (a simple cell structure becomes an epic, folded and unfolded, dissected and
reassembled), “You Old Men Shall Dream Dreams” (with a gorgeous melodic core – and can any trumpet player
so consistently spool out phrase after phrase of beautifully constructed lines, all with a tone to die for, like
González can?), and the concluding rendition of González’ wonderful (and wonderfully titled) “The Cecil Taylor-
Sunny Murray Dancing Lesson.” A strong record.
 

[Dennis Gonzalez]

I have probably seen this before, but thank you for re-posting it. I needed mu ego stroked!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

...featuring Wojtek Mazolewski (Gdansk) on contrabass and Marek Pospieszalski (Cracow) on tenor sax.

Available here.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Last night at Good Records in Dallas, celebrating Record Stores Day.

Aaron on bass:

[Dennis Gonzalez]

[Dennis Gonzalez]

For almost 2 years, I've have been the Dean of a program called Thriving Minds Rondalla Academy (La Rondalla), a guitar/bass/percussion instruction academy for kids whose families can't afford lessons or instruments. We started in October 2010 with 12 students, and today we are bursting at the seams with 45 students and a waiting list of about that many.

The past month has been exciting, with appearances on WFAA-TV's Good Morning Texas, and performances by our advanced students all over Dallas, as well as a trip for the top 15 students to Washington, D.C., starting with the last night of the Lincoln Center Jazz Festival.

Go here to friend us on Facebook, and once we accept your friendship kindly leave a comment for the kids!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

The previous post speaks about the program I am the Dean of, called La Rondalla. Yells At Eels, in our Latino manifestation, Banda de Brujos, collaborated with La Rondalla on Saturday, July 14 at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas. Beautiful concert...

photo by Maria Marquez

[Mike Schwartz]

Dennis,

Take a bow on your birthday today...


Felize cumpleaños!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Dennis,

Take a bow on your birthday today...


Felize cumpleaños!

Thank you, Mike! Totally missed this!

[Dennis Gonzalez]

I think of you guys often...but it seems like FB has caught me up, even though I am not there much.
Busy times teaching, writing, recording (the latest with Elliott Levin and my boys at the home studio
in Dallas), writing, painting, and much more.

Hope everyone is well...