Author Archives: jschott
emerging from the cave (well, at least there’s a record to show for it)
photo:Myles Boisen It’s been so long since my last record that just now I had to check whether it was five or six years. So I am thrilled, and more than a little relieved, to have just finished the recording … Continue reading
Scales: 2014 Musicians Poll Results
Most Over-rated Scale: the Diminished scale* Most Under-rated: the Chromatic scale** Most correctly rated: the Whole Tone scale Scale Deserving of Wider Recognition: the 5th mode of Melodic Minor the “Money” scale: 5th mode of Harmonic Minor Special citation, for … Continue reading
Coltrane. Offering’s “Offering”: An Offering
One of the highlights of the new Temple University concert is Coltrane’s late composition Offering. The only other version of this fascinating meditation on harmonic cells is on Coltrane’s final official record Expression. Since the piece so seamlessly weaves … Continue reading
Coltrane: November 11, 1966 released on September 23, 2014, his 88th birthday
If it had been recorded properly, this could be one of the greatest recordings in Coltrane’s discography, which is to say one the greatest recordings in Jazz. Taken as it is, Offering: Live at Temple University is a … Continue reading
Motherload: Dust to Digital’s Awesome African Compilation
Opika Pende (Stand Firm): Africa At 78 RPM Dust To Digital #22, 2011. Four discs Jonathan Ward: co-producer, notes, source material, audio transfers. Debbie Berne: design (Hey! Oakland banjo player!) A PALTRY FORTY BUCKS! I have been in rapturous … Continue reading
Blindfold Test-O-Rama: Plonsey/Schott Blindfold Test #2 (turnaround)
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but as usual, I had no idea what I was getting into, or, after all these years, who I was dealing with. Check and mate, game to Mr. Plonsey. (Dan Plonsey … Continue reading
Blindfold Test: Second Attempt
Following my disastrous attempt to self-proctor a “blindfold test”, I opted to try a more traditional method. I conscripted my friend Dan Plonsey to play the role of interlocutor. Dan is saxophonist and a prolific composer of astonishing breadth and … Continue reading
This is my brain on crumbly yellowed paper
I collect scores and sheet music. By collect, I mean that I acquire music beyond what I can strictly justify as things I want to study. Having the Beethoven quartets and symphonies, the Wagner operas, Brahms right and left – … Continue reading
Blindfold Test: First Attempt
I have always enjoyed the DownBeat “Blindfold Test” feature in each issue, in which a famous or up-and-coming jazz musician is played one track each from several Jazz albums with no information, asked to guess the musicians and … Continue reading
John Schott interviews John Schott about Dream Kitchen
On the occasion of Dream Kitchen re-uniting to play at Jupiter in Berkeley on June 28, I sat down for a chat with bandleader, guitarist and vocalist John Schott. John Schott: You’ve spoken several times in therapy sessions of your … Continue reading