Greetings, Jazz Horn aficionados! To kick off 2024, I’d like to introduce you to a piece I wrote several years ago titled “From a Dream.” I hadn’t listened to it for a while, but when I heard it again recently I realized that I want share it more broadly. I’m now making it available via the Hidden Meaning online store. Here’s a little sample with me playing all the Horn tracks (not the drum track!) — I welcome your feedback! The opening phrase came to me in a dream and, when I woke up, I notated the phrase and continued to develop it later. Happy New Year! May this be a year that we welcome true healing and peace.
Hi John: I miss taking jazz horn lessons with you back when you were living in Midtown Manhattan.. I’m in Boca Raton now, and who knows where you are hanging out these days?? Anyway, just wanted to let you know that the first part of my daily warm up starts with your chromatic exercise originated by Herbert L Clarke (i.e. see page 9 for samples of the format) Exercises for Jazz Horn. I start on Middle C and work my way down to pedal C. Many of the exercises can be played on the F horn, but some have mixed F and Bb fingerings. Certain lower notes sequences are challenging, but can be played when you are reading the notes on music paper, but to play them from memory is a challenge, and fingering some of them fast is near impossible. I’ve been working on these warmups, (whole note, minor, major etc) for years now since our lessons together. I’ve written an essay on the 7 modal scales and the how using solfege facilitates learning them. I don’t plan to publish this document, however I would like to send you the article via e-mail if you are interested in the subject to get your thoughts. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year 2024. Mike Kates
Hey Mike! Yes, would love to see the article. So glad you are still doing these, as am I of course…..why stop now??!!
I continue to be a “Fan Boy of the “John Clark Experience!”
We met many years ago at Rayburn Music near Symphony Hall in Boston; I had traveled down from Augusta, Maine to take in one of your clinics, and we swapped horn licks on Conn 8D’s on t4e sidewalk outside of Rayburn…”wicked cool!”
Before that (even further back) you played with the Paul Winter Consort in Pittsfield, Maine…I was waaay too young to appreciate it.
I have historically hosted Maine Horn Guild’s “Maine Horn Day” which, prior to COVID (aka “Da Vid”), met twice yearly. We will be rebooting that concept in the near future.
Do you ever get up to the Northeast?
Thanks for continuing to make a positive impact on our Horn world.
Mega-respects from Maine!!
http://www.downeastbrass.com
Thanks Loren! And sorry for being late on the uptake….yes I get to the Northeast; in fact although I’m still based in NYC, I also live in Heath, MA; doing a few gigs around here too.(see the “Appearances” tab) Let’s keep in touch!