Ted is my first Jazz Piano teacher. Although he and I have been in touch over the years, we haven’t actually talked for quite a while. Recently, we have been communicating more frequently, and I invited him to do an interview with me. I will post it here and on my podcast, Notes on Jazz. As a result, I’m taking some more lessons! Ted has continued to develop his skills and approach over the years. I find it very inspiring, and it fits naturally with where I am in my own path at this time. When the student is ready…..

Ted is a great teacher! He got me started on the right path and gave me so much information and practical guidance. Besides that, he is a great player and composer/arranger. He is one of the few people around who understands and employs the compositional and arranging approach called “Line writing”. This approach originated with the work of Duke Ellington and was further developed by Herb Pomeroy, of Berklee College fame. More to come about this in our next segment.

Ted has played with a Who’s Who of Jazz and pop artists over the years. It’s wonderful to hear him talk about it all. I invite you to enjoy this talk with a Jazz Master, and my friend and teacher.

A note about the interview. Unfortunately, it cuts off abruptly at the end, as we suddenly ran out of time. Not to worry, though. I have several more hours of material that I will be preparing to share, and probably more to come after that!

Ted Howe

To watch the video of this interview, go to KeithDavis.Substack.com

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Alan Hall is a great drummer and composer who has been living in Asheville, NC for the last few years. Alan and I met through Art Lande. Alan and Art have a years long musical and personal association and have played on several recordings together. Art was staying at Alan's home last year when he came to Asheville to perform. I had the good fortune to spend the day with them. 

In this conversation we cover lots of topics, from ideas about teaching and writing, to the state of the music business, to what it's like trying to become viable as online music biz people. I know you'll enjoy it. 

Above all, Alan is a great player! I recommend Art Lande's The Silver Fox, Paul McCandless' Shape Shifter, and Bruce Williamson's Standard Transmission. You will find more on his website.

Alan Hall 

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

This is a spontaneously improvised thing that I thought you might like. 

Remember, I'm available for performances and I'm available for private instruction online and in-person.

Keith Davis Music 

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Jim Ridl is a great pianist! He's also a composer and bandleader and teacher. I recently had the pleasure of hearing him play at Furman University with the Tim Armacost Quintet. (I just interviewed Tim recently. See Ep 44.) I was particularly struck by Jim's touch and lyricism, by his command of harmony, and by his ability to improvise at length on a theme. He played a beautiful solo piano intro to Wayne Shorter's Infant Eyes that displayed all of these facets of his playing. He also displays great empathy and sensitivity, and strength, as an accompanist and ensemble player.

The group also held a workshop for students and faculty. I had the opportunity to talk with Jim briefly and he graciously agreed to this interview.

I think you will find some fascinating and insightful comments here, and a good introduction to this great musician.

Check out Jim's site for recordings and other info:

Jim Ridl   

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Tim Armacost recently brought his quintet to Furman, where I serve as an adjunct instructor. I was blown away! First, the band was great, world class. What brought it all together though, was Tim's wonderful playing and writing, and the conceptual approach he brought to the organization of the music. The thing that most impresses me about Tim's playing, is that it is thoroughly modern and contemporary, yet he maintains a sense of lyricism. His sound is big and warm, and he has complete control of expression and dynamics. He made the comment that he wrote the music with these specific musicians in mind, and it certainly works. And of course, it doesn't hurt to have Jim Ridl, Kenny Davis, Joe Locke and Rudy Royston taking care of business, as well.

I recommend checking out the recording of this band and this music: The Inevitable Note.

Tim has also published a book, The Jazz Saxophone Book, which is much more than a saxophone book! You can find it on his website, at the link below.

This is a great conversation, and I'm sure you'll dig it!

Tim Armacost

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Gary Versace is one of my favorite contemporary Jazz pianists. He's equally adept at playing organ and accordion, and he's a composer. Gary has taken over the piano chair in Maria Schneider's Orchestra, after the sad and sudden passing of our mutual friend, Frank Kimbrough. It's hard to imagine anyone else filling those huge shoes.

Gary has played with so many of the current Jazz greats. I had the opportunity to hear him and meet him when he performed at Furman University with Dave Pietro's quintet. And Gary and I have another mutual friend and influence, the master, Art Lande. Art speaks very highly of him!

This is a fascinating and wide ranging talk, about Gary's growth and development and what he's currently into. Gary also teaches at Eastman School of Music.

I'm sure you will dig this conversation with Gary Versace.

Gary Versace

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Johnathan Blake is one of the busiest drummers around these days. Besides being an amazingly talented drummer, he is also a composer and educator. He plays with all of the best musicians on today's scene.

In this great conversation, we talk about Johnathan's experiences growing up in a musical household, through his education and early development, all the way up to his many and varied current projects.

Johnathan offers valuable insights into what it takes to become a mature and in-demand Jazz musician. He shares his thoughts about being a composer, as well. I find this particularly interesting,

Finally, he offers his suggestions for young musicians on learning this music.

This is an all around great interview!

Johnathan Blake

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Teddy Adams! One of my oldest friends. Teddy is the Elder Statesman of Jazz in Savannah, GA, which is also my birthplace. We've known each other since 1984. I've learned so much from our association, and been given so many great opportunites to play and grow as a musician.

Teddy is a fine trombonist, composer, and bandleader, and now author. He has one published book about his musical life, and a second one in the works.

It's great to have this talk and to see how excited he is about the music and about the music scene in Savannah and the surrounding area that he is such an integral part of.

Dig Teddy Adams!

Teddy Adams

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Potential students often tell me that they just want to learn to play songs that they like. Recently, someone actually said to me, "I want to learn to play the songs that I like without having to read the sheet music". This is a skill that can be learned, and that's what this episode is about.

Coming up soon, I will be offering a free challenge, which will be a two hour online class addressing this topic.

It's called the "Strike a Chord Challenge".

If you're interested in knowing more about it, go to the link below and sign up for my email list. I will send more information about the challenge as it gets closer.

I offer lessons online and in person, and I offer free consultations for potential students. Again, check out the link and feel free to reach out to me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Keith Davis Music

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement

Einoe! is a new tune that I just finished recently. It was first inspired by Art Lande. Art is one of my music heroes whom I had the pleasure of interviewing for this podcast. He was in Asheville a few months ago, and I got to spend the day with him talking about music and hearing him play a gig. He shared some of his compositions with me and talked about how he writes and how thinks about playing. Very inspiring!

Then, the title comes from "I know!", a real Southern woman thing. It became a kind of running joke with Kristen as we were getting ready for some upcoming performances. So, this tune is for Art and Kristen, and all the genuine Southern women out there! "I know!".

Harmonically, this tune is based around a certain chord voicing that moves around all over the place, and occurs over different bass notes. There's no real key center. Then there are a few figures that are used in different permutations. Three written sections with a set of blowing changes that hopefully reflect the spirit of the tune. It was fun to write and I look forward to playing it with the guys!

This is kind of a rough demo recording of it. Let me know what you think!

I am available for online or in person study.

Reach out to me at: [email protected]

Keith Davis Music

Check out my new Substack: Sound The Gong: Music and Movement