Also, will be playing with vocalist/trumpeter Robert Moore on Friday, vocalist Johnny Martin on Sunday, and with Go By Train again on Monday at Jimmy Maks.

Thursday, February 23rd
Portland Jazz Festival
w/ Go By Train
Rogue Ale House
9pm-12am

Friday, February 24th
w/ Robert Moore
Vie de Boheme Winery
8pm

Saturday, February 25th
Portland Jazz Festival
Upper Left Trio
The Art Bar
9-11pm
Portland, OR

Sunday, February 25th
w/ Johnny Martin
Tillicum Restaurant and Bar
6pm
Beaverton, Oregon

Monday, February 27th
Go By Train
Jimmy Mak’s
8-11pm
Portland, OR

The Duo Chronicles project that John Nastos and I embarked on in 2009 was to record a song a week, for one year ended September 1st. We managed to make it all the way through, and all weeks are available online for posterity. www.duochronicles.com

In February, the PDX Jazz Festival has become an annual happening. Got to see an interesting concert, a duo with accordionist Frode Haltli and saxophonist Trygve Seim from Norway. An unusual combination perhaps, but interesting sonically nonetheless. Duo Chronicles played at the Riverplace Hotel and Go By Train did a night at the Rogue Ale House, which was pretty loud of course.

the Gracie band

Gracie and the Atom, a show written by McKinley had a good run at Artists Rep. Theater here in Portland, in May. Interesting show that combined physics and Catholic is a serious yet humorous way. I was fortunate to be involved as the music director and played keyboards as well co-writing some of the music. The band was great, which made going to work easy, even if we did have to wear ties.

Pacific Grove Tri

Prior to this 2010 I had always been interested in trying a triathlon, so made it a goal to try one and ended up doing a few. There are different distances, but triathlons consist of swimming, biking and running in that order. I grew up swimming for fun, but had never swam long distances. So on advice from another triathlete, started swimming with Masters program at Mt. Hood Community College. It really helped a lot, although I have a ways to go. In the past having problems with my ears plugging up I was a bit concerned, but didn’t have any problems fortunately, just trying to convince myself to jump into cold water was the real problem.

After training during the spring, the first event was the Blue Lake Triathlon, Olympic distance. This was typical wet, cold, Portland in June weather but made it through and even managed to get the wetsuit off and on by myself ok. Did three more throughout the summer and then in September, took a trip down to California to do the Pacific Grove Triathlon. Finished in a little under three hours, and was a good one to wrap up the season.

on the bike

Charlie points

In August, for the fifth time was on faculty for the Mel Brown Jazz Workshop at Western Oregon University. Was nice to get out of town for the week and be in an environment where everyone was immersed in music. From there went to Montreal, Canada to visit for a week. They have a great public bike system which was impressive and easy to use. A good way to see the city.

Montreal bike path

I grew up hiking in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, but it had been many years since being in the Siouxon area. There used to be a fire lookout up on the peak before they were phased out. Anyways, did a long one day hike in hot weather, from the valley floor to the top and back. Started too late in the day and ended up finishing the last part in the dark with flashlights. Ran out of water too, haven’t been that thirsty in a long time.

Top of Siouxon

In the Fall, school started again and the teaching kept me pretty busy. Worked on vocalist Jessie Marquez’s new CD which will be out in February of 2011. Co-wrote some of songs, played keyboards and did some horn and string arrangements, which was fun. She has a great voice and graceful presence on stage. All the musicians involved sounded great and working with engineer, Bob Stark is always a pleasure too.

strings session @ Kung Fu Bakery

Recently, I pulled my Rhodes Mark I Electric piano out of storage. I had forgotten how much character it had. Granted, I play Rhodes piano sounds frequently on sample-based keyboards, which are easier to haul around and much less temperamental, but there is something about the vibe of the original instrument that makes me play in a certain way. By that I mean technically, harmonically and conceptually.  So in this accompanying video I tried to listen to the instrument, the sound and the tactile response letting that lead me instead of forcing the ideas on the instrument.

Actually the mechanics are much like that of an acoustic piano, with hammers but instead of striking strings, tines are struck that vibrate to produce sound. Harold Rhodes (the inventor) originally was asked to devise a music therapy program for soldiers during WWII and due to the lack of pianos invented one himself that went on the become a popular instrument in jazz pop over the next 50 years with the heyday probably in the ’70s era. Although out of production for many years, the Rhodes company was recently started again and they are making new Rhodes pianos, albeit not cheap, but they look pretty cool. I’m thinking of buying some parts and fixing up the one I have though, it is kind of like a classic car in a way.

Gracie and the Atom keyboard rig

Performing with a software-based computer rig is more common these days. In fact the benefits outweigh the negatives now. Especially for a show gig, having access to different sounds, effects and samples within one setup allows for quick editing and customization. With a bit of MIDI mapping any keyboard controller can control the software allowing the user to keep the hands on the hardware and off the computer. I’m using an old Roland A-80 from 1989 as a keyboard/controller. It still has the best weighted piano-action of keyboard I’ve played in addition to four sliders/buttons and four pedal inputs for control. All of the keyboards sounds are produced by Apple’s Mainstage which is live-performance based software using the software instruments and effects from Logic Studio. With a good quality audio interface for output, (I’m using a RME FF400) the sound is at least as good if not better than hardware-synths. Mind you I’m not selling my hardware stuff, but for this gig the software rig is much better suited and flexible. Also within Mainstage there is a metronome function. For each song in the show I have a patch set with the tempo for that song, which provides an accurate count off for the band.

****** JUST THE FACTS – GRACIE AND THE ATOM
Gracie and the Atom by McKinley. Directed by Allen Nause.

Performance Dates: April 27 through May 30, Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:00pm, plus one Tuesday Preview on April 27 at 7:30pm and one Wednesday matinee at 11:00am on May 19.

Location: Artists Repertory Theatre’s Alder Stage (1516 SW Alder St.)

Tickets: Advance tickets $25-$47; Students $20. Rush Tickets $20. 503-241-1278 or www.artistsrep.org

Description: Artists Rep presents the world premiere of a new musical by McKinley, the popular local singer-songwriter and member of Dirty Martini. When Gracie loses her father, she is sent off to an all-girls Catholic boarding school where Sister Lidwina preaches physics and Sister Francis dissects the Gospels. As she searches for the mother she never knew, her classmates help her with the details of purgatory, Ouija boards and superhero saints. But nothing in this new territory of protons and prayer can fully prepare Gracie for the new life ahead of her.