It was turning into a dark but not a stormy night and I made my way out to Mission to see a friend that plays drums. His name is Walter.
I’ve known Walter since I was a student at Douglas College in New West. I think he came there while I was in my second year. He would play timpani and ask me for the odd tuning note.
Over time we would hang out at other people’s houses, play cards and... drink. He had a jazz group going on with some of the other students at Douglas College and I happened to join a bit later. That was how I got back into jazz (I briefly got into the Boss Brass when I was in high school but veered to other music genres since I didn’t have any guidance on what to listen to with jazz) and I haven’t looked back since (well, maybe a few times).
Playing a drums and trombone duo can be tough especially without a chord instrument. This was our second time to fool around with making tunes. We usually just play free but this time I brought a book with music notes written in it. It’s a book of hymns.
I’m not religious but I do enjoy playing through these tunes. as the tunes are slow and easy on the ears. Most of the book comprises of hymns that you would sing at church on Sunday and towards the end, there are a few spirituals.
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen was the one tune that made me realize there’s some potential playing this stuff. After playing through it once, Walter started to kick up the tempo. After the second time, I had to kick up that tempo a little more... towards the end it sounded like a choo choo train chugging at full speed. The tune ends with me destroying things with an Ornette Coleman styled warped funk.
I had a good time and I look forward to recording more of this stuff. Click here to listen to the tune.
