Free Digital Sheet Music

I don't think I've ever mentioned Martin Rettenmund, whom I entrust my saxes to if they are need of repairs. This guy is definitely the best tech out here in the Zurich area. I know him since he was independent, now he works for Musik Hug in Rüti - most definitely worth the drive.

The last performace of the season was not a jam session as usual, but a band featuring Dave Feusi (the bald sax man) · saxes. Felix Utzinger · guitar, Roland Köppel · organ/rhodes/nordlead, and Andy Schnyder · drums/sampler, playing what they call lounge, drum&bass, house and ethno dancefloor. SOme selected guests. Quite a successful formula, on occasions perhaps getting dangerously close to Pink Floyd meets Smooth Jazz - but saved by the funk.

A quiet evening, not many spectators. Our bald tenor sax player (Dave?) leading a trombone and a trumpet(?) player around some tasty bits, most memorably a modern rendition of 'Caravan' by Duke Ellington. The tenor was great as always, trombone - very good, trumpet - quite a personal interpretation of intonation I'd have to say. All in all a pleasant set though.

Very slow evening not many steppin up to the stage. The evening was saved by the return of the bald-headed tenor player - fabulous and spirited soloing on Mrs. Jones and Round Midnight (nice to see some Monk being played again). The set also feature a trombone player which didn't really do it for me; bit of a shame really, drums + bass + drums + tenor was working very well.
I missed the session band, since I was a bit late; hope to catch them next week.

The Jazz Barragge is going funky? The last set this evening featured a bald tenor sax player, and some very groovy Rhodes. Nice for a change.

The earlier part of the evening went along as usual - another rendition of 'softly' - the two tenors working up a good showing. First time I was impressed by the silver-plated tenor's solo.

Full house last night - must be all these people reading this blog getting the right idea to come and visit :-)

I walked in at the tail end of a trumpet solo after having been delayed in entering due to the place getting over-crowded. I'd have like to hear more of this fellow, but he walked off right after that.

Next on a piano/guitar based combo, not at all bad; 'There will never be another you' could have been a bit more spirited, but in all a good performance, especially from the piano player.

Later that night the regular tenors and alto, very good drummer, good stuff as usual.

One of the first warm evenings - not too much of an audience. Lots of sax tonight; a very spirited female straight soprano + one of the regulars on alto in 'Footprints'. Very 'moving' presentation. Would have liked to hear more.
The next set brought a female singer (ladies night, it seems) doing an unremarkable version of 'Masquarade' - her voice definitely has potential, but the difference in tonal color in the various registers didn't quite do it for me.
This was followed by another two regulars on alto and tenor, joined by alternates on drums (good!) and piano - very good stuff, but could be tighter. The latter seems to be an emerging pattern - the performers at the jams all focus on individual improvisation, with the rhythm section focusing on laying down a groove; not much going on in the way of creating a full band sound, never mind dual or group impro. The performers seems to always come from the same school - not a bad thing per se, but it does get to be a bit monotoneous.

A very varied evening this time. I walked in on 'Softly' - you may remember that I commented on that song last week as well, seems to be a popular tune at these jam sessions. This time featuring tenor and alto sax - nice mellow sound on the alto.

The next set was the hit of the evening - two violin players joined the setup. Great rendition of 'Just Friends', really got the joint jumping. Nice solo from the youngest of the violin (or should I say fiddle) players.

One of the best sessions of the season, very much enjoyed it.

House band tonight:
Lorenzo Herrnhut · g
Fabian Gisler · b
Dominik Burkhalter · d

Good going at the Jazz Baragge. Fantastic trombone, great alto, later on some fine tenor playing as well. The trombone player gets my vote for enthousiasm, he really seemed to get into it deep.
Around one o'clock (did I mention these things always start off late) a surprise performance from a non-regular, piano player, a lot of latin influence on 'Softly', very nice. Brought his own groupies, a smart way to get some athmosphere going :-)

I spotted some interesting instruments on this event, if I'm not mistaken the guitar player was plaing on a 70-ties Gibson ES-335 (good sound, liked it) and the alto played an older instrument with an underslung octave key it seemed, probably a Conn.

Soeben erreichen uns folgende News:
George W. Bush hat auf Anraten seiner Aussenministerin Condoleza Rice eine weltweit gravierende Entscheidung gefällt: Ab 2007 wird der Wednesday offiziell in Jamday umbenannt. Rice hat anlässlich ihres diesjährigen Besuches des WEF (World Egoist Forum) in Davos eine ganz spezielle Erfahrung gemacht. Sie bestieg am Flughafen ein Taxi um nach Davos gefahren zu werden. Zum Fahrer sagte sie nur: “To the most important place in Switzerland.” Sie staunte nicht schlecht, als die Fahrt nach ca. 25 Minuten bereits zu Ende war. Sie fragte den Fahrer, ob dies Davos sei. “Nein, dies ist der wichtigste Platz in der Schweiz! Die JazzBaragge mit den legendären Jamnights!” Über diese Ereignis erstaunt, riet sie GWB den gewöhnlichen Mittwoch umgehend Jamday zu nennen. Dies würde die Nachwelt für immer an ihn erinnern. Und so kommt es also, dass ab 2007 sich GWB jeden Morgen die doppelte Portion Konfitüre aufs Brot streichen wird.