The End of Guitar Tabs

Beware big music publishers are now mimicking the tactics of the RIAA. Ray Beckerman points this out in this article:

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2006/08/music-publishers-target-musicians.html

this very much includes tabs that other guitar players come up with i.e. this is not about piracy, this is just about money.

Remembering Jimmy Raney

I first came to know about the great Jimmy Raney through his son Jon Raney, a great Jazz pianist and composer in his own right. We met Jon some 4 years ago at the dog park and have since become good friends. Jon is also my composition teacher. Jimmy Raney was considered among his peers a legend. A truly great and unique Jazz bebop guitarist. Other greats such as Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny to name few consider him  a major influence.

Jon shares a memorial radio broadcast by NPR where Jim Hall talks about his late friend Jimmy Raney.

If you don’t know who Jimmy Raney is then this is the time to learn. For those that do the broadcast is a poignant snapshot of Jazz history and not to be missed.

Enjoy.

 

-Charles

 

Weird Al and the RIAA

Ray Beckerman , NYC lawyer fighting the RIAA, shares this funny link to a video by Weird Al which parodies the RIAA tactics.

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2006/08/free-song-download-weird-al-yankovic.html

 

Enjoy.

 

-Charles

Raney's idea on practise

Jon Raney put a post on his blog about practising. Good article, I added some comments of my own.

Jon's New Site

Have not blogged in a while. I have been bogged down with work and with cranking out a new site for Jon.

Some of the highlights of the site include:

• Music Excerpts.
• A Store where the new CD Waltz For Talia can be purchased.
• Reviews of Jon’s music by third parties.
• A Gallery where pictures of Jon and friends can be found but also of his famous father Jimmy Raney.

Besides the site I also went ahead and setup:

• A Forum for discussion of music composition, theory and all that Jazz.
• Well, actually Jon setup a blog for himself where he already has a very interesting and  funny article written by his Dad, Jimmy Raney.

BTW, for those that don’t know which could be quite a few Jimmy Raney is a unsung legendary guitarist of Jazz bebop. Jimmy Raney played with the likes of Stan Getz and other greats. Artist such as Wes Montgomery and even contemporary artist such as Pat Metheny cite him as a major influence. Jon plans to dedicate part of his site to his father’s memory and accomplishments. One of the projects consists of a book Jimmy Raney was working on melodic lines.

Finally, Jon’s CD is great. It has a little of everything from straightahead Jazz to fusions with Brazilian grooves to melancholic balads to blues. Its a great value at $10.00.

If consumers want great new and innovative music and great selection for that matter it is important to support independent music. If you love Jazz then supporting the “indie” Jazz/ fusion scene is a must otherwise you will get some big record label executive’s version of what Jazz is. So at the very least check out Jon’s CD.