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THE SUNDAY CONCERT: Bill Evans

dald workinprog sm_edited.jpgThere isn´t much that can be said that has not already been said about Bill Evans.

bepianoIn what was described by long time friend Gene Lees as the “longest suicide in history”, Evans tragic life marked by great loses and drug abuse ended in 1980. Yet his mark was left for everyone to see and admire, and he is perceived as the main reformer of the harmonic language of jazz piano. He has influenced generations of brilliant pianists, including one of the best and most gifted of the current bunch, the great Brad Mehldau.

He was honored with 31 Grammy nominations and seven awards, and was inducted in the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.

It is time now to get to what is important, and to enjoy Bill Evans in his recordings for the Riverside Label.

Until next time.

Ignacio

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©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera

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Know what I mean

I know what I mean detail2

I´m going this way, I´m going that way…

Why?…

Should I come back? I know what I mean detail3

This road, that road, any road…

Man it is hard to know the way…

It´s cold, it´s hot. It´s somewhere between.

It is where life takes us.

Know what I mean?

 

 

I know what I mean (2015) 60x80cmby IABsmf
I KNOW WHAT I MEAN (2015) by Ignacio Alperin

 

Until next time.

Ignacio

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All Texts ©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera

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MONK´S DREAM

232685Originally released in early 1963, Monk’s Dream was the first Thelonious Monk album for Columbia Records.

Far from his late 40s early days of play, bop, and boomerang like throws of tempo and melody, by late 1962 his spirit had been broken.

Gone were also the days of his 50s Prestige Albums for which he felt he had had little recognition. Only in the period spanning 1958 to 1962 he was finally received as he felt he should. He was finally considered one of the preeminent figures in contemporary Jazz.

As a matter of fact, he also began recording this album in 1962, and it was released months later in 1963.

Columbia was then the home of Brubeck and Davis, and Monk filled the spot for this trio of sorts for a label building a mark around what was new with jazz.

Monk´s dream is also my panting.

Monk´s Dream (2015) 50x50 IAB

50cmx50cm, acrylic, inks and oil based paints on canvas. Painted in 2015, it expresses the volatility of Monk´s playing, his hot a cold moments, his ups and downs like some cartoon mountain range, his almost mad cap presence, and the difficulty of those around him to keep up with his inventive as well as happy, almost exuberant, playing.

Monk´s Dream was the last of the great Monk, and it became also the best selling album of his career. He topped it only in 1964 when he was in the prestigious cover of Time Magazine with an article called “The loneliest Man”.

Even though he kept playing and releasing albums until 1971, he was no longer the same that had dazzled beatnicks and jazz lovers alike for almost two decades. His unclearly diagnosed mental illness was becoming more of an issue in his life, causing paying and anguish to everyone around him.

He sadly passed away in 1982, at the relatively young age of 64.

 

Until next time,

Ignacio

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©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera

 

 

 

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IN ENGLISH previous works by the same artist Promoting your Art The Sunday Concert (Jazz) Videos Visual Jazz

THE SUNDAY CONCERT: Cannonball Adderley

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Cannonball Adderley

Ready for a laid back, relaxed Sunday?

Then you have come to the right place, because this Sunday Concert is dedicated to Cannonball Adderley and his famous album from 1958, “Somethin´ Else”.

Cannonball Adderley gave up his own band in 1957 on the hope, and later realization, that he was going to be a part of Jazz history when Miles Davis asked him to become sideman in Davis’ epic ensemble with John Coltrane, and eventually Bill Evans.

The result? Some “forgettable” works like Milestones and Kind of Blue..

Miles Davis returned the favor and in March of 1958, he appeared on Adderley´s Blue Note Album “Somethin´ Else”, appearing as his sideman in an all star quintet session date.

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Miles, Cannonball and Trane recording Kind of Blue

The result is a cool, sometimes laid-back, sometimes rhythmic, sometimes groovy and boppish, but all together, a glorious album that more than 50 years later we can enjoy on a slow Sunday.

So here it is, “Somethin´Else” with the Cannonball Adderley Quintet featuring Miles Davis.

See you next time!

Ignacio

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Reminiscencias de Kerouac

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PAPER MOON by Ignacio Alperin- detail –

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Fue en un momento difícil sin vueltas ni contratiempos que no fueran los contratiempos que nos llevaron a donde estábamos. Ese lugar desde donde era muy difícil salir más allá de nuestras buenas intenciones y de nuestra sensación constante de tener algo más para hacer con nuestras vidas que no fuese esto. -“Esto”- repetía la negra, – “Esto”- repetíamos los demás.

No había energía ni para buscar sinónimos ni para sonar más creativos o intelectuales de lo que éramos y lo que éramos era muy pobre comparado a lo que queríamos ser. -“Y si vamos a ver al topo que siempre tiene algo interesante para contar y entre tanto cuento que es en parte mentira en parte exageración y en parte verdades a medias tal vez se nos ocurra algo nuevo para hacer”- dije yo sin mucha convicción.

La verdad es que cualquier cosa era mejor que “esto” y con tal de irnos de acá y terminar en otro lado todo parecía ser mejor. Las vueltas de la vida nos había juntado como las migas de un mantel cuando viene el mozo con la palita y junta la miga de pan con el pedazo de milanesa con el papelito del edulcorante con una uña mordida y un par de pelos largos que pueden ser nuestros o de lo que estuvieron antes o del mismo mozo. Lo que nos unía no era amor, ni compasión, ni amistad ni nada que se le pareciera sino que lo que nos unía era el empujón que nos habían dado a todos para sacarnos de ahí y ponernos a todos juntos acá. Como las migas del mantel.

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Finding my way back to you (detail) by IAB

No me pregunten por qué pero todos dijeron vamos a lo del topo y la negra arrancó primero conmigo atrás y claro atrás mío el vivo de Juancho que decía en voz baja -“vos siempre por atrás de la negra”-.

Confieso que me importaba todo poco. La negra era la negra pero no tenía nada de negra. Era peliroja cortita segura de sí misma e insegura de todos nosotros y por eso siempre tenía una copa de algo cerca ya que como no podía borronearnos a nosotros de su realidad se borroneaba ella. Y ahí estábamos, todos en camino a lo del topo.

Jack era el último de la fila india que formábamos indivisibles bajo el sol tajante y sonante de las 3 de la tarde en pleno verano de 35 grados y 80 de humedad y baldosas flojas y asfalto humeante y poca gente en la calle o mejor dicho nadie en la calle solo nosotros que con tal de salir de “esto” íbamos camino a lo del topo, aunque yo que era el que lo había propuesto ya me estaba arrepintiendo.

Jack tenía esas cosas tan típicas de los yanquis que los hacen simpáticos e incomprensibles a la vez como cuando están muertos por una minita como la negra y solo se atreven a traerles una cerveza y mirarlas fijo sin pestañear y escucharla con cara de tarado y una timidez espantosa y al mismo tiempo era el primero en falopearse como un cerdo dormir hasta cualquier hora sin bañarse por días y cantar a viva voz con un micrófono en mano en uno de esos barsuchos llenos de viejas que bailan y se quieren voltear pendejos que cantan con un micrófono en mano, eso sí después de estudiarlos a media luz en compañía de una ginebra como si eso fuese estudiar.

Dimos vuelta a la esquina y ya estábamos tocándole el timbre al topo que seguramente estaba durmiendo desde anoche y soñando con alguna de sus fabulaciones persecutorias que por lo general involucran canas, políticos, marcianitos verdes y algún animal que al final de la historia le habla y le dice algo profundo como… -”lo importante es crecer y no durar”-. –“Bajá!”- le gritaba la negra en el portero y solo se escuchaban la tos con algún insulto al aire y preguntas como quienes son ustedes para venir a joderme en el medio de un día así cuando nadie los llamo y quién dijo que yo los quiero ver ni escuchar por acá.

Todo seguido del -“Bueno suban pero no jodan demasiado”- y entonces ya sin ganas pero lejos de “eso” subimos….

“Reminiscencias de Kerouak” es un humilde homenaje al novelista. Escrito por mi como lo hacía él. Al vuelo, sin parar y en poco tiempo, respetando los sentidos y las cadencias, pero muy poco la puntuación formal. Pretende simplemente expresar mi admiración y ejemplificar un estilo único.

Espero que les haya gustado.


Jack Kerouak

Para los que no lo conocen, Kerouak es considerado el escritor más importante de la Generación Beat con varios de sus libros convertidos en lectura obligatoria para quienes desean comprender más esa época del siglo XX. Tanto “En el camino”, como “Los Vagabundos del Dharma” o “Los Subterráneos” se han convertido en novelas de culto para muchas generaciones.john-cohen-jack-kerouac-listening-to-himself-on-the-radio-800x800.jpg

El estilo de Kerouac se puede comparar con una improvisación del Jazz y particularmente del Bop, estilo que korouak amaba. En sus escritos hay repentización, creatividad y una aparente anarquía que está siempre a punto de perder al lector y que, sin embargo, termina atrapándolo como una compleja red.

El estilo de Kerouak no sigue reglas estables ni definidas, y se asemeja tal vez más a la conversación entre dos amigos algo pasados de alcohol, muy entrada la noche. Son siempre historias de “caminos”, de gente algo nómade, avanzando siempre hacia algún lado, complejas y absurdas a veces, pero festejando sin respiro todo lo grandioso de lo simplemente cotidiano.


 

©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera

Hasta la próxima!

Ignacio

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©2016 por Ignacio Alperin Bruvera

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THE SUNDAY CONCERT: Benny Golson

IAB_That Other Day_2015_detailThis is the first of my Sunday Articles dedicated to a Jazz Legend.Golson-Farmer-resized

This Sunday, the first of the series, it is dedicated to a Bebop Legend: Mr Benny Golson.

Born on January 25th, 1929 (he is now age 87), Golson is a much loved (and many times forgotten by younger generations) hero of one of the most important eras of modern Jazz.

He was part of a bunch of musicians from Philadelphia who would in time change the way we saw Jazz. As a young kid he used to play with other promising musicians, people like the young John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and Red Rodney (nice school friends to have if you ask me!).

After several bands straight out of college, he joined the “big leagues”, playing from 53 until 59 with Tadd Dameron, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Hodges, Earl Bostic, Dizzy Gillespie, and Art Blakey, with whom he recorded the classic Moanin’ in 1958.

220px-Benny_Golson's_New_York_SceneIn 1995 Golson received the NEA Jazz Masters Award of the National Endowment for the Arts. In October 2007 Golson accepted the Mellon Living Legend Legacy Award presented by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation at a ceremony at the Kennedy Center. Furthermore, during the same month, he won the University of Pittsburgh International Academy of Jazz Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award at the university’s 37th Annual Jazz Concert in the Carnegie Music Hall. In November 2009, Benny was inducted into the International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame during a performance at the University of Pittsburgh’s annual jazz seminar and concert.

So, after reviewing this “young man´s” incredible credentials, how about if we just get to it!

Here is the first of our Sunday Jazz concerts.

I invite you to simply enjoy the glorious music of Mr. Benny Golson.

Until next time (and have a great Sunday!)

Ignacio

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©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera

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Formas

formas(2015)_detail2_AlperinFormas (pronounced for-mass) in Spanish means “shapes”, but it can also mean “manners” in the way our parents kept telling us to have better manners, and  it can also mean “ways”, as in different ways of doing something.

My art encompasses the three.

I solidly work on shapes, I try to find good manners of executing and presenting my art to others, and I am always searching for new ways to do what I do.

The end result…well, the opinion on the end result I leave up to you.

In this case, it has to do with the music of Argentine “Bandoneon” maestro Dino Saluzzi.

In his 2006 album “Senderos” (ECM) with Jon Christensen, Formas is de second last song.

Written by Saluzzi and Christensen, it reminds us more and more of the great Astor Piazzola. Less jazzy in its context, but still investigative and climatic, his music transcends tango into other frontiers of sound.

So here is this brilliant álbum, and the painting inspired by “Formas”. Almost 10 years after the song saw the light of day as an important part of this inspired album.

Formas (by Dino) (2015) 45x55 IAB4show_edited.jpgUntil next time.

Ignacio

©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera

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It´s just a good idea

This is going to be short and to the point.

Buying art is a good idea.

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If you look it at it from the point of view of sheer gratification, few things that you will buy for your house at a reasonable price will give you more enjoyment and for such a long time.

What are the chances that your sofa will increase in price over time? (Yes, I mean after use).sofa.jpg

Not many? How about close to none?

What are the chances that a painting you bought for anywhere between $500 and $5000 will increase in price over time?

Well, you don´t have the best odds but it can and it does happen. Anywhere higher than $4,000 and your odds get better, and those you purchase at prices that go anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 have probably very good odds of maintaining and increasing prices.

So, if you have a keen eye and good luck, your purchased art work may double, triple, or multiply its original price many times over.


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Now, it is important that you keep it, remember where it is, and pass it over to the next generations. Otherwise what could happen to you is what happened to the unknown original owner of the painting “Preparation for Egypt” (which is thought was painted somewhere between 1605 and 1620). A German student in Berlin was looking for an old sofa for her appartment and decided to buy a pullout couch at a flea market. When she opened it, the painting was inside. It went on to be purchased by an anonymous bidder at auction in Hamburg for a price of $27,630, making the student about 100 times what she originally paid for the couch. So the lesson is to keep your art close, protected, in your will so you can pass it on to others, and definitely, do not hide it in a sofa (no matter how much you like the sofa).


If you are a betting person, always spend a little more (with good and knowledgeable advice is always better) as price in art relates to how the market views the artist (obviously, a higher price acts as an initial validation of the art work). But this is not a must.

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LITTLE TUNES 21 (2012) by Ignacio Alperin

You can find great deals amongst emerging as well as established artists. In my case, I make the point of always of having paintings available below $5,000 (sometimes as low as $1,500 or even less for small pieces), as my interest is that my art get to as many hands as possible. I love having someone buying something for $1,000, and then seeing that person 6 months later with a smile on his or her face because not only they love their painting, but they know they have already made a profit on it as well.

They are my best marketing people. I love the fact that they like my art, and I love seeing them talk about how much they enjoy a particular painting. And I am not alone in this pricing strategy. A great number of artists share this attitude towards the market.

So, if you are looking for enjoyment, originality, a smart and lasting gift for yourself and for the people you love and esteem, as well as a chance at making a handsome profit just for having a keen eye, you cannot do much better than buying art.

And as long as we are talking about smart things to do, I recommend you listen to this album. It is just another good idea.

See you soon.

Ignacio

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©2016 by Ignacio Alperin Bruvera