4.28.2008

唐三風暴

唐三風暴發生在一個名為唐三的地方, 成因可能是等人等得太不耐煩了.

開始的時侯, 我就是被 Paul 的指彈半音线條低音加上亞韜簡簡單單的鼓擊吸引過去. 然而事情不比想像容易, 我那些帶試探性的短時值音符自結他上跳出, 奈何混不過去. 那時亞敬呆坐一角, 還未增援, 卻已意識到這是個什麼境況.

在嘗試過一些 whole tone 意念後, 我便決意豁將出去, 順著那密集的十六分一半音傾向且調性不甚明朗的低音, 配以 funky 節奏的頑固單音來個抗衡(或為逢迎), 偶爾還用上八度手法. 想不到才經營了一段 chorus 左右, 喜色終究出現....

亞韜雖如 beyond 所言: 疲倦的雙眼帶著期望; 卻是振奮過來, 不慌不忙間便把電鼓音色向著 FUNKY 檔調去......而亞敬亦有所動作, 拿起結他, 隨手掃出一串串 spicy 味濃郁之和弦.


當低音轉向 walking bass 模式, 加上 Paul 於 bassline 裡頭暗示了和弦之行進, 亞敬改而供應帶藍調色彩的插入樂句. 就在這個時刻, 我的腦子裡湧現了古典聲响, 手指不規則起來.....剛巧 Paul 也放下他的 walking bass 彈法, 他繼而按出朝高音方向推進的連串半音....我但覺心血來潮, 無暇細想, 當下應以下行的 chromatic line, 心中惦記住如何跟 Paul營造好反向 countpoint 旋律, 當場只道感覺極其良好; 至於亞韜與亞敬,自是渾身解數.......


N 個小節過去了, 也記不起出自何許人的 cue, 眾人於相同的一拍下全停過來.

4.24.2008

4.23.2008

Karissa 的四月份樂評 "DUET REVIEW"


Duet
Chick Corea & Hiromi


1 night, 2 pianos, 2 sets, 4 hands, 12 songs, 20 fingers, 176 keys, about 600 people in the audience and thousands of musical ideas” exchanged, reflected Chick Corea on this double live album featuring him and a rising star from Japan, pianist Hiromi Uehara.

Avid fans of Chick are no strangers to his duet projects over the years, notably with vibist Gary Burton and pianists like Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Hiromi’s first collaboration with Chick has become some sort of urban legend; 17-year old Hiromi was presented to Chick during the rehearsal, prior to one of his solo piano concert in Japan. “Can you improvise?” Chick asked, a nod from Hiromi and they were playing 4 hands in the show.

Since then, Hiromi attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston and has become one of the top players of her generation. Her first album in 2003, Another Mind, is a big success in every conceivable way. Her original composition style and command of the piano are as inspiring as her super positive personality.

Chick and Hiromi crossed path again 10 years after their first encounter, again in Japan. They did a piano duet show in the 2006 Tokyo Jazz Festival and after the concert; Chick had the idea of recording their live performance. The result is this double album, recorded live at the Blue Note Tokyo in September 2007.

The album featured compositions by Chick and Hiromi as well as a few standards like Summertime, Very Early, Bolivar Blues and even a Beatles tune Fool On The Hill. The playing is inspiring and the interplay is particularly amazing. Obviously, Hiromi is extremely well versed in Chick’s style, muting strings and elbowing the keys et al, to the point that sometimes it is hard to tell who is playing what.

My favourite tracks are “Bolivar Blues”, “Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of the forest” and the anthem “Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain”. If you get the first Japanese edition of this album, there is a bonus DVD as well. Even if you don’t, you can easily find the videos on the net.

All in all, this long awaited album is up there among other great piano duet recordings. Highly recommended.


Karissa Muse
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cooloo回應: 感謝 Karissa 近日百忙中還是交了稿. 我聽過她跟 Hiromi 的電台訪問節目, 煞是精彩. 喜歡她(指 Hiromi)的輝,請注意.

> < Call Me Cardman

ZITA 給我演了一個錢幣易位魔術, 過程中她不斷笑謂自己絕對不適合演魔術, 因為, 即使在當話劇時都難以控制如何不發笑.... , 結果? 她的表演隨銀鈴般的笑聲完成.


或許妳感到投入演出不易, 但看來妳是一位好觀眾啊!
現在, 妳又有機會扮演觀眾角色, 只要妳動一動手指頭就行:

鳴謝: 資訊提供"差仔哥"
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

4.20.2008

More on slide rules


There's another kind of slide rules : the ones used by music lovers. The picture shows one of these . The so called "Musicalculor " was designed by Dr Chau-yuan Li back in the 60's and was cosidered having the same mechanism(with movable rule!) as those used in mathematics.


I found it very helpful especially in explaining to others the construction of the major scale; the formation of chords.... . In the instruction booklet, Dr Li suggests also its application on intevrals; modes; modulation; cannon & serial composition.

4.18.2008

My Collection of slide rules


Nowadays lots of people may wonder how to do arithmetic with pen n papers(or even the mental calculation). Though it's not a kind of age test, in the past people really could handle everyday arithmetic without electronic calculators(well, no handphones too).

Back to those older days, some students had the possession of a trusty and user-friendly, yet powerful tool: the slide rules. It operates without battery and can perform some scientific functions. How incredible!!

The picture shows part of my slide rules collection ( they were made mainly from China, Japan and West Germany). Some of them are even in mint condition.

Thank "Kan sir". The chat with him reminds me of the collecting of these gadgets.

4.16.2008

COOLOO SAYS (1)

人們喜歡英雄; 需要領袖.

我們都有一個主人, 名字叫"習慣".

"意外": 名詞. 指意料之外發生的事,可能跟出錯有關.它的出現會導致突破及創作的事物產生.

起點總會有; 終點則不然.

Full mark only appears in exam papers.

即使處身何等樣惡劣情景下, 原來人還是有可吹牛的內容.

有時侯, 未必需要找出失敗原因, 才可成功.

通曉自己的弱點, 等同於知道自己擁有什麼優點.

不要錯誤期望改變別人, 但應相信人會被影響.

知道不算是一種學習.

............zzzzzzz