As I revealed in a much earlier post entitled “Aural Hygiene”, I often combine dental-hygiene appointments with CD-shopping because my favourite record store Atelier Grigorian is right around the corner from my tooth-scraper. I repeated this “jazz S&M double-play” this week with some serendipitous results, which in turn led me to remember some stories. As they preserve so much precious music which would otherwise be lost, jazz records provide an indispensable current linking memory, songs, emotion, important musical developments …

Along with more gender-appropriate gifts, I bought my wife Anna a copy of the 2013 documentary Muscle Shoals for Christmas. I felt slightly guilty about this because I knew I wanted to see it too. On the other hand, Anna’s a big fan of the soul/R&B music which this movie would definitely touch on, and then some. She also really enjoyed the similar music docs Standing In the Shadows of Motown and Twenty Feet From Stardom – how’s that …

Last Friday around midnight, my wife Anna picked me up from the subway after a gig. As I opened the car door to load in my bass, I was hit by a blast furnace of music, not loud, but intense, like a freight-train. A fat, romping beat and a thundering, edgy voice that could only be one guy. As always when I unexpectedly hear great music coming from a radio, I was stunned and just stood there for a …

I’ve been playing the bass for about forty years now and I thank my lucky stars that all of the knowledge I’ve acquired through experience and study has not blunted my ability to partake of music on a purely emotional level. Whether playing or listening, it’s the way music feels – and makes you feel – that counts, and this goes beyond any knowledge, important though that is. No matter what kind, music at its best should move you, …