James Armstrong Music

priceless words by Andrew Hill

2012-01-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

"...Parker was important, and it was with him that I first discovered that it is not enough to play melody, but that rhythm is also important and that melody is rhythm..."

"...Jazz is part of a tradition from before the word 'jazz' was invented; there was ragtime and other music building on harmony, and Afro-centric in that melody and harmony were an appendix to the rhythm. To keep the structure. It's important to check out the rhythm first. Do you understand it, or does it need more of an explanation? The rhythm was dominant, but to be what we call jazz, music must consist of certain elements of structure and form. In the Western world, melody is most important with rhythm and harmony as accompaniment. Always check out the rhythm, if it's static it means the music is dead. If you use an academic approach, you can learn the melodies, but they will lack rhythmic interaction..."

link to article

Cookie Marenco: "From Performance Capture to Digital Delivery... It's What I Do," or "The Hardest Article I've Ever Written! An Introduction to Me"

2012-01-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

A brilliant, must-read essay by Cookie Marenco, master engineer and owner of OTR Studios in the San Francisco Bay Area --

"...More artists began to record at home and were obsessed by fixing every nuance in the music...There were too many digital "fix-it" tools and not enough passionate performances, and these were taking over the industry..."

Link to essay: marenco

Walter Bishop, Jr. - Those Who Chant

2011-11-21T12:58:00.000-08:00

piano lessons for adults / jazz / improvisation (san jose west)

2011-10-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

Active recording artist / BMI-affiliated composer James Armstrong is accepting highly motivated adult piano students. Work on your goals: theory, analysis, transcription, solo and/or group performance. Rates $30 1/2 hour; $60 1 hour -- South Bay only, I travel to you. Please write for information.
http://jamesarmstrongmusic.com/component/option,com_alfcontact/Itemid,74/

Theory of Fourths: Walter Bishop, Jr.

2011-09-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Contemporary Figurative Art by Cathrine Edlinger-Kunze

2011-09-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Marvelous presentation by this great international artist. One of her famous paintings appears on my second solo album.

http://www.edlinger-kunze.com/Edlinger-Kunze_Fine_Art/Welcome.html

How Much Do Music Artists Earn Online?

2011-08-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2010/how-much-do-music-artists-earn-online/

quoting Stevie Coyle:

"...Spotify fans, please realize that the artists you are listening to are getting paid less than pittance for the music they created for you. Whenever possible, may I respectfully suggest that an artist's website is the first place to look to buy their CDs. CD Baby next, and then iTunes..."

Andrew Hill on his composition, '15/8'

2011-08-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Great video about NYC’s last remaining sheet music store

2011-07-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

Al Niente: New York's last sheet music store from lea khayata on Vimeo.

Documentary Film: The Jazz Baroness, directed by Hannah Rothschild

2011-07-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jwcr6

repost: Mark Mulligan: The Economics Of Free Don't Add Up, But They Could

2011-07-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

http://blog.midem.com/2011/06/mark-mulligan-squaring-the-consumption-circle-why-and-how-the-model-needs-fixing/

"...The problem is that both sides are right: cloud services are not generating enough income for rights holders and profit margins are small at best, often negative. Worse still, free and nearly-free services increase consumer perceptions that music should be free in the digital arena, and the increased sophistication of the (legal) free services raise consumer expectations, but not willingness to pay..."

DVD - Carlo Grante plays Scarlatti live

2011-06-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

Carlo Grante continues an ultra-high standard of performance with these wonderful recordings, which are now available on DVD --

Please support this great musician's work !

http://kunaki.com/sales.asp?PID=PX00P6WM0E&pp=1
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DVD-Carlo-Grante-plays-Scarlatti-live/163491480382565
http://www.classicsonline.com/artistbio/Carlo_Grante/
http://www.carlogrante.com/

'Variations on Italian Pastoral Themes' released today / high-quality downloads

2011-06-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

The new solo recording is now available -- digital downloads and full-length previews through the main website http://www.jamesarmstrongmusic.com/

Thanks for your continued support !

re-post from New York Times: Petition Seeks Better Pay for Musicians at Jazz Festivals

2011-06-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

“We reject the rationale that musicians should accept unfair treatment in exchange for ‘exposure’ and ‘publicity,’” reads the email message. “The only opportunity guaranteed by acceptance of substandard pay and conditions is the normalization of our own mistreatment.”

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/petition-seeks-better-pay-for-musicans-at-jazz-festivals/

Gary Bartz on music education

2011-04-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

really good perspectives from Mr. Bartz.

My advice to developing musicians ?

Stay out of overpriced conservatories and study with the best private teachers that you can afford.

An open message to the Bay Area jazz triumvirate -- KCSM-FM / SFJazz / San Jose Jazz

2011-03-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Your unconscionable inattention to the ongoing crises in Japan has not gone unnoticed. I urge you to stop the jazz careerism and direct your efforts to large-scale benefit performances to support the victims of this disaster. Follow the example of the New York musicians, including John Zorn, which are already light-years ahead of you, politically.

I speak to you as a U.S. composer, and challenge you to respond to this post.

WHERE ARE THE BENEFIT PERFORMANCES FOR JAPAN EARTHQUAKE / TSUNAMI RELIEF IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA ?

2011-03-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

yes, that's a leading question. Venues, I'm willing to donate my time. Please contact me directly. Thank you !

OTR Studios News: Why Do Professional Recordings sound so BAD? from Computeraudiophile.com Entry

2011-03-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

OTR Studios News: Why Do Professional Recordings sound so BAD? from Computeraudiophile.com Entry

upcoming solo recording sessions; CDs and digital downloads

2011-03-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

A short update to all --

I'm preparing for the first of two new solo sessions at Cookie Marenco's OTR Studios in May; a continuing cycle of music for solo piano, in episodic structure.

The CDs Rhapsody and Dedication and Through the Eyes of a Child are now available through multiple stores -- Amazon, CDBaby, CD Universe, and the main website. 44.1 and 96 kHz downloads may also be purchased through my website; secure transaction via PayPal.

Thanks for supporting independent modern classical music.

New Music: 'Robert's Return', with RWH Jazz Triad

2010-11-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

Master percussionist Robert Houtman's RWH Jazz Triad hosted a benefit performance at Angelica's Bistro in Redwood City on November 12. This most expert trio -- with Robert on drums, the bassist Carl Herder, and the guitarist David Copeland -- performed their wonderful, original music, and included my piece 'Robert's Return', which was written specifically for this concert.

Here are the concert tapes, which are posted to YouTube.

Thank you all for your support.

new book: Andrew Hill music

2010-10-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

I've just received these detailed scores; wonderful works for solo piano, including Erato, 15/8, and Dusk. Check it out!

http://www.musicdispatch.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=48020929&lid=0&keywords=andrew hill&subsiteid=105&&viewtype=songlist

CDs now available

2010-07-09T11:10:00.001-07:00

Through The Eyes of a Child discs are now available through CDBaby or the main website; cost is $15, plus shipping. Secure transaction, via PayPal.

New solo piano recording 'Through The Eyes of a Child' is here !

2010-06-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

96 kHz audiophile-grade downloads from OTR Studios, Belmont --

http://www.jamesarmstrong.downloadsnow.net/throughtheeyes

Audiophile-grade 96 kHz downloads of 'Rhapsody and Dedication' are now available

2010-06-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

through the Downloads NOW! service. Many thanks to Cookie Marenco and Patrick O'Connor at OTR Studios, Belmont; we celebrate one year of working together. More music coming soon !

http://www.jamesarmstrong.downloadsnow.net/

Sixth Anniversary of 'Out of the Underground' session

2010-05-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

The upcoming sixth anniversary of the Out of the Underground trio session (June 14, 2010) is bittersweet. On one hand, these performances with James Edmiston and Andrew Wilshusen continue to be enjoyed all over the world. As of May 16, 2010, there were 2,112 downloads of Beijing Girl through the All About Jazz website. On the other, Edmiston, the bassist on these sides, has since passed away. But his memory, and the very high professional standards that he set, live on.

In its all too brief lifespan, the trio captured an angst and immediacy not typical of groups from this region. Far removed from mainstream jazz, the music had more in common with 20th century European classical music, with direct references to the work of Bartók, Busoni, and others. Simply put, it scared the hell out of a lot of people. A local FM radio station was especially offended, and took the recording out of broadcast rotation. Which makes its current popularity both ironic and poignant.

Wilshusen, a virtuoso percussionist who now lives in Portland, Oregon, was at the group's core. At the time, Edmiston remarked that no one had driven the ensemble with greater technical skill.

What did we get out of this, as musicians? Maybe we learned to stand our ground, despite very real obstacles.

Out of the Underground continues to be streamed in its entirety at http://www.myspace.com/jamesarmstrongtrio

Wishing you all the best.

James