Friends (Joel Newton, c. 2001, oil on canvas, on loan from the Museum of Exceptionally Shitty Art, Etna, NH)
PEOPLE OR GROUPS I KNOW AND LIKE AND RECOMMEND (a work in progress)
DD JACKSON New York City-based jazz pianist. An inspiration. Unbelievable player, writer, and conceptualist. He's okay, I guess.
CHRISTIAN HOWES See DD Jackson above, but substitute New York City with Columbus, OH (actually, he just moved to NYC) and 'pianist' with 'violinist.' He's also a guest on Joel Newton Situation "ONE," and we work in each other's groups now and then. Spectactular, innovative jazz and rock violinist.
MATT SHULMAN Phenomenal trumpet player I've had the pleasure of working with recently. Classic burning bebop chops but with a modern approach, soulfulness like you read about, innovative use of effects and voice with delay loops, etc.
DONNY MCCASLIN Brilliant tenor and soprano sax player, playing with his own and various other groups in and out of New York. I've had him on several of my gigs recently, and he's added a lot. Great sound, chops, ideas, soulfulness.
ERIC HALVORSON Fantastic, versatile, drummer I've played played a ton with over the last 2 years. I look forward to working more with him. Super nice guy too! The bastard does owe me $15 though.
ADAM KLIPPLE NYC pianist par excellence, dogged band-leading road-warrior, accomplished sideman, wacky dude. As he loves to quote from Sun Ra, you can "expect the unexpected" with Adam. Tons of energy, chops, versatility and attitude (some of it good).
GUTBUCKET Also from New York City. Creative, energetic, fun, multitalented, jazzy, punk-rocky, insane, grooving, nice guys. See them!