Patrice Rushen’s Blog

I am amazed that it’s 2011 and I’ve not posted a blog in over a year!!??? What??? Well w/ Twitter and Facebook and , and , and… what little I’ve wanted to talk about I guess I’ve put there!!! LOL.

Last year was about action for me. I wanted to take action to get a couple of things “off the ground”. The band concept of Patrice Rushen & Friends was one of them. A collective of my friends (on and off of the bandstand) who love and appreciate and can play a variety of music is what this was about. For me.. this is a dream. These are musicians who speak the same language. We come from the tradition of jazz, we’ve grown up on “groove and funk” . The connection , the spirit, the enthusiasm and the SKILL of my FRIENDS , make it smooth and easy to prepare and just go play!!! Great fun.

Sounds easy, huh…. well, there were some hurdles. While being the catalyst and the constant in terms of concept and contents, PR & Friends as a collective met with the difficulities associated with selling a concept. Promoters , bookers, managers and producers still function in a “well who’s in the band” world. The list of musicians are among the best and have mad skills as players, most are well known and all have had commercial successes and are respected experienced performers. So, when bookers say they want to book Patrice Rushen.. and they get Patrice Rushen plus add’l any combination of the musicians  (my Friends) who have agreed pending availability to participate, it’s a mystery as to why it would become an issue or stumbling block ! Well it did .. but finally we broke through with great shows, in Ft. Worth , Capital Jazz Festival in DC/ Balitmore area, LA’s Hollywood Bowl and several days in the Bay Area at Yoshi’s.

Successfull all!!!

Thank you to Ndugu Chancler and Will Kennedy (drms), Ready Freddie Washington and Reggie Hamilton (basses), Paul Jackson Jr and Doc Powell, (guitar) Eric Marienthal and Everette Harp (sax).. each of whom did their thing getting the idea of this kind of sharing off the ground in 2010.

Now for 2011’s challenges and progressions!!!! More concerts for more people in more parts of the WORLD!!!! A recording from me, more personal growth, more opportunities to present my music as well as participate in projects giving continued flight to the wings of excellence!!!! More love , more peace , more understanding and more desire to serve…

What a fantastic time to ACT!!!

Breathe…. and stay tuned.

I know .. you’re thinking that geeeeeeeez, where’s Patrice’s blog? Well admittedly, it’s been a long time, but I have been busy and it’s been a blast!!!

I’ve played some concerts in Europe which started in early July w/ Lee Ritenour. It was a great band w/ drummer Will Kennedy and electric bassist Melvin Davis. We have played in some great cities and for some amazing and enthusiastic music lovers at clubs and jazz festivals in , Paris, Rotterdam’s North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux, Stockholm, Asschaffenburg, Straubing. Our last two concerts were in Madrid and finally London .

Each city and audience has it’s own special charm. This tour started on July 7^th. I watched Michael Jackson’s memorial service from my Paris hotel room as I attempted to recover from some wicked jet lag. Our first gig in Paris the next night was for an appreciative audience. It was a great ‘blow out “ for everyone. It was a good release . R.I.P. Mchael.

At North Sea Jazz Festival, I seemed to run into so many musicians from the USA that I rarely get to see. In addition to our show (which was very well received and we had a great time), I caught Roy Hargrove ‘s group and Joshua Redman’s trio. WOW. Both so different and soooooo killin’. What was common in both contexts , however was the presence always of supreme musicianship and craftsmanship. These wonderful players and their bands are continuing to create and grow. Their command and respect of the jazz tradition in evidence as they reach for the heights in their expression on every tune . Artists without fear …at once in total command and operating at the “edge of the cliff” .. riding the waves of creative forces and faith which allows for experimentation and “controlled abandon”. A BEAUTIFUL THING!!!.

Yes, I should have been blogging,,,,,,,,but due to the world’s economic situation and it’s frustrations, we worked nearly everyday… hardly any days off. That means there were days that I actually had to choose between these two scenarios : Do I eat before the show? Or should I sleep ? Yep, it was that kind of schedule.

After the tour, I returned home. Tired.. but inspired. I’ll share with you more what I’m doing about that in next blog entry. Promise,.. it won’t take so long!!

Stay tuned!

Wow , it’s been a long time since I’ve entered anything here on my blog.  Don’t know why I ‘ve been so non vocal in my blogging of late! Guess I’ve been in a different mode. I certainly have, however read some interesting muses , opinions and  even one or two rants from people who are blogging  and “tweeting” and Facebooking   etc…!!!

 Well.. I’ve been a little busy.. family life.

Concert appearances coming up…

Doing a little composing, but looking to carve out some time to do more . Seems sometimes that for all that I’m planning , and wanting to accomplish.. I run out of time and/or energy as I attempt to “fit it all in”. Patience … something I’m working on. It doesn’t all happen at once. Things happen when they do… they can’t happen much faster than that if you’re paying close attention to each thing.

Developing   slowly the balancing act.

More to come… for sure.

Stay tuned. 

Today, I had a most meaningful conversation w/ a dear friend concerning the ideas and feelings associated with trying new ideas and even forging new ground . I’m certainly not a stranger to being “a little ahead of the curve”. I don’t think it was a concious effort, by any means. I think it has more to do with realizing and recognizing a shift  , a movement  and feeling good about really examining it, working it, and ultimately, as it resonated, going forth based upon a confident and great feeling about it all .. trying to apply those feelings and instincts to what seemed real , natural and even if it was “new” .. there were always aspects which seemed so familiar and true. 

It’s scary.. it’s a little risky, I mean, no one actually wants to fail at something … but the energy , the work , the responsibilities that go along with”different” and/or “new”  can be a little daunting. At it ’s worst , you’re labeled as “un realistic, irresponislbe, idealistic, a perfectionist, a ideoligist , a little crazy or even foolish. Well… I’ve been called worse!

This , however doesn’t change the elements of concern and even the fear associated with risk-taking, new ideas or attempts at raising awareness in a way which can ultimately affect most positively anyone who “feels something” but who are hesitant to act on those feelings . To act, to change, to modify, to reinvent , to find a way to give the people what they want while adding in a positive way to what they might  also need. …and quite possibily even  hitting on something a little new , different ,interesting  while inspiring or raising a conciousness of creativity in all things…….now this is truly something!!
 However, day to day reality makes some of this stuff  a real test of will , patience, and the ability to withstand some serious criticism!

Overwhelmed… this is the word that applies to many people who are trying to figure things out, find a different and effective path and direction to gradually achieve their goals and realize their projects and ideas.

BREATHE…….PRIORITIZE…………THINK………FEEL………..then ACT , deliberately and boldy but efficiently intelligently and methodically. Much easier said than done!!!!!
This is an amazing time. It  is one of change, movement, instability as we move toward a new WAY of thinking about many, many things. Value, patience, discipline, respect , skill, talent and LOVE will still see us through, however!

A day to day challenge … hold onto yourself. Don’t spin out . Slow down. Listen. Watch… WOW.

I can do this. I must do this. Can you relate to what I’m sayin’?

Stay tuned…  

I am approached often by musicians, club owners and others about how musicians can make money now that our reality presents some new artistic ownership,  and entrepeneur opportunities right along side the anxiety , challenges and  headaches that can accompany the responsibilities associated with “accountability”.

 It’s tough…we love the idea of artistic control and the apparent freedom that comes with that idea. But all of a sudden, it is seems to be solely our responsibility to get the ball rolling The financing of the products and their promotion is on us as well.  It takes time and it takes cash…and most serious musicians have very limited amounts of those things. I’m not talking about those who have “super-star” status or whose “sponsors” kick in to offset certain cost factors. I’m talk about the majority of the rest of us. We’re caught in this dilemma. We have great ideas and many of us have years of musical expertise and experience, some with some commercial successes,  but we’re thrown for a loop as our music is at once , more easily accessible to our fans, an yet our places to present ourselves seem to be quite limited.

 For example,  a nice spot to hear jazz and have some good food…an ambiance that one would think would be fairly easy to find..is not so easy. Club managers and owners apparently struggle with how they want to be identified. Is it a room which focuses on the music and has also good food , service and drinks or is it a restaurant which has some jazz going on as a backdrop to serving good food? Both situations are of course valid.But from the musicians point of view,  the latter doesn’t really appeal to our desire to play,  and our absolute need to have a platform for our  music and our income bearing “products” (CD’s t-shirts, DVDs etc..) in an environment which supports our presentation of the music. 

 I just played in a room which has been recently reconfigured to focus on the music as the main attraction. It’s a new concept for this place. The new layout is much more music presentation friendly and now management has to come to terms with how to make it work. There’s an understandable fear as they must be dealing with trading one set of difficult expenditures for another . The concept of “profit”  probably feels a thousand miles away. A jazz club?  Competent staffing for the presentation of music,  the restaurant, the bar , etc….yeah, it’s a tall order I guess.  Musicians are having to settle for less money than they should be paid in many cases. And yet, we need each other because not every music artist is appropriate for big venues nor has the commercial cache to attract the festival or larger event promoters.  In addition, and importantly, musicians need places to “work out”….to present their music…to play and in an environment which supports just that.

 I still believe that most audiences find value in witnessing artistry , creativity and beauty. I think they recognize and appreciate it when it occurs no matter the  size venue. People will put up with a lot, if their goals are met and they have a chance to hear and see the truth!  What’s needed….is COURAGE and a collective of performers and presenters who support each other’s positive efforts and whenever possible , take calculated risks to protect the ideas that brought them to the art of music , the art of food , the art in simple and elegant presentation. Support….This  can provide fertile ground for creativity ….even greatness. These are things  we must cherish.  It’s been said that “where there’s a will , there’s a way”.  No one said it would be easy, and there’s no “quick fix”. But when a few committed people take the initiative are willing to try by putting their strengths and resources to work, we know things can happen!!!

 I think we must stay committed to the ideas of what we CAN do and  learn to not waddle in the muddy waters of what we CAN’T  DO.  That doesn’t mean there are not setbacks or certain limitations, but the surest ways to fail are to think negatively and to do nothing at all .  Guess this can apply to almost everything!!!!

Stay tuned…

Last couple of weeks have been once again filled with activities which are constant reminders of how fortunate I am to work at what I really love doing!!!

Slowly , but surely , the path reveals itself as to how I should proceed to navigate my vision into a reality. The journey along the way has most recently involved playing a couple of pretty cool concerts. One concert with two colleagues , jazz bassist Nedra Wheeler and violinist Karen Briggs. For the end of Black History Month the Watts Community Labor Action Committee (WLCAC) presented at their jazz venue “Bones & Blues” the three of us in a jazz concert.  The place was packed! And the enthusiasm level for this somewhat unusual pairing was really SUPER.  Captured some of it on video. Hope it came out well…Looking forward to posting a little of it. 

The very next day, Karen and I played as a duo making an appearance at another event , this one celebrating African American Women through readings of articles , essays and poetry ….some of the most amazing pieces, and they were read by some amazing actresses. The producer/creator of the show, actor Wren Brown asked Karen and I to punctuate the readings and the meaning of the evening by playing a couple of tunes. Jean Luc Ponty’s “Renaissance “ and Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage “ were our choices. Again the enthusiasm of crowd was wonderful. None of the subtleties and nuances presented that evening was lost on them. The artistic presentation of every piece had the audience completely engaged. What a pleasure to play for them. Earlier that same day during a two-hour session w/ some young middle school and high school students, I participated w/ my friends and colleagues, Ndugu Chancler and Paul Jackson Jr. I moderated a short panel concerning the 21^st Century Musician’s Skills Set. This was for the kids entering the Dolo Coker Scholarship Foundation in Los Angeles. This has been a recurring theme for me in the last year or two in my talks, lessons and lectures. Words of truth and direction were shared…especially from Ndugu.  Activities like these give me hope that our community is still full of promise and ripe for a movement celebrating the consistent pursuit of excellence and purpose.

 I just spent another eventful few days with students at BERKLEE College of Music just this past week.  It was my 3^rd week –long residency of this school year. My position as a visiting professor has been extremely interesting. This time I worked in the dept of  “Professional Writing Division”.  Yeah.. The composers.  Once again, I am impressed with the openness and dedication of the students. I am reminded that  I am part of a group of music teachers, charged with the task , to impart some  information which can offer not only help with the achievement of  technical proficiency , but most importantly, to offer some of my real world experiences as a working musician. These stories hopefully inspire and re ignite that passion in the students and the faculty to stay in touch with why they are doing the work and the study they are doing . It is because of their love of music and music-making. At the end of all the long hours of practicing scales and arpeggios, playing long tones, learning rudiments…hours of the study of harmony , transcribing and analyzing scores, discussion of song form etc, etc…they are all tools and devices to help the creators of music do just that…create meaningful music. It’s funny however as I feel that I am at once a professional musician , and at the same time a perpetual music student, myself!!!  I have been described in my teaching gig as “the professor who helps to connect the dots”. (I work in  several depts.) It is a new post and the college just gave me a title for it.  So it’s Dr. Patrice Rushen, “Ambassador For Artistry In Education”. 

 That’s cool!! I like the title….and my goals remain the same as I know that music has the power to educate, through that which can also entertain and inspire.  To that end I feel I  have lots to do.  I therefore remain humbly on the path. 

So, I’m not sure what you call it when you are flooded with so many ideas , each of which requires seemingly so much time and energy, that it’s hard to start, ’cause you’re not sure where to begin!!! That’s me today. I need to calm down and focus!

If I can just  take a breath  (ahhhhh!) and step back…I can see some signs of progress with my projects, so really it’s not as if I’m stagnant or polarized completely by the sometimes overwhelming wave of creative ideas and projects. Hey, that’s the beauty of friends and family…brings me right back when I spin out into my whirlwind of daydreaming with not enough action!

My laundry needs folding and I’ve some dishes to wash. Sometimes the action of those kinds of activities helps me “reorganize and prioritize”. yeah…that’ll help.  It’s funny how the ups and downs and “in betweens” concerning feelings and emotions on any given day can influence your output. But I also know that standing still or being still, doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening…to the contrary. I’ve experienced what can happen when you “give in ” to apparent stillness.  Let me get to those dishes and laundry and then sit down and be still for awhile! 

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day. It is a federal holiday to celebrate this great man , of great mind, purpose, intellect and vision. He would have been 80 yrs old if he was alive today. Tomorrow, the USA will inauguarate a new president. Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the USA. This is amazing …this is HISTORY, this is a new beginning. 

I decided to watch ALL the celebrations and commentaries and broadcasts today on television. Wow. DC is electrified with excitement, because this MLK day is unlike the others…it signals the dawn of a new era . No Black person will ever be the same!!! This is because it registers and resisnates at our core. For those of us who remember the Civil Rights Mov’t , and heard any of the impassioned speeches of Dr. King , it means so much . It says and affirms what we have hoped..Black Americans have been part of this country and our voices count. All of America’s people can be glad and be renewed in their higher purposes. Our collective abilities to affect positve change is our reality. 

Yes ..so much work to do. So much “centering”, focusing, and collective support for the higher causes and greater good. So much stuff to do!!! Inspiring , however!!!! 

I’m excited. I’ll be watching and listening tomorrow . It’s a NEW DAY. 

Well..here we are 2009! Top of the year…a chance to feel a renewed sense of enthusiasm and excitement about everything!! Reflection on things that can be done differently, better, with less stress and but more energy . Commitments to new goals, completion and/or follow through of older goals. An awareness that time is passing…and a heightened awareness of the need to monitor more closely how we choose to use our most precious commodity…our time. 

Last week , I went to a funeral service of one of my favorite musicians, Freddie Hubbard. As I looked around the room at the audience of friends , family and colleagues, many of whom were famous, talented , major forces in music and in particular the art of jazz, it was as if the collective bodies of works of so many of these people went through my head all at once. So much musical fearlessness and purpose behind their music!!! The stories, and  the music …so moving and will remain timeless. I’m thankful for records , and cd’s and dvd’s and YouTube. I can hear it, see it, revisit some of those feelings of awe and beauty from Freddie and others. Wow.

In just a few days, an historic event of proportions that was once a dream will become a reality. Barack Obama will be #44!!!! President of the USA. I am thrilled on so many levels. It represents more than I can write here. Most importantly it says BELIEVE THAT YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE …and therefore , why not act and work and dream with that in mind. Positive proof . There’s a lot of work  to do …and for everything that seems to be right with this world there are so many things which need change and lots of  work to make them right. But I am certain that Mr. Obama is representative of a new start . Yes we ALL can!!! …and we ALL have to . I’ll be watching a lot of TV on the 20th! History in the making. 

Next couple of weeks are relatively quiet for me as far as activities (gigs, assignments) are concerned. I’m using the time to meditate , to practice, to take walks and be with my loved ones. Eating right, getting a little more sleep!! All that special energy that helps me…gonna soak it up! I have those personal projects to organize, to complete and some new ones to start…but I’ll get there. Feeling the shift towards action!!!!. Slowly, but surely.

Stay tuned..

P. 

On this eve of 2009, I am grateful for so many things…my family , my friends, my opportunities to make a good living playing and writing music!!! 

I spent the last 24hrs with a wonderful musical artist. Her name is RAD. She’s a keyboard player, songwriter , singer. I’d never met her before. She asked me to participate on a couple of tracks on her new disc, which is scheduled to come out this spring. We have so many mutual friends. I’m glad I said “yes”. She is wonderful …good musician, good people.. it was great fun for me. I look forward to hearing the finished CD.  You can look her up…she’s a PRINCE alum. Ahhh, my friend Prince knows how to pick ‘em . This lady is very, very talented!!!!

Today was a day of reflection. A long walk provided me the perfect space for that. What an amazing year 2008 has been. It’s clearly the dawn of a new era. I am certainly encouraged by the more serious and general “concerned” clarity of the general public concerning our (American) nation’s policies, activities in the world , the environment etc. I am optimistic that we will all act on what seems to be a renewed conciousness concerning intelligence,  excellence and personal responsibility.

2009 ushers in an understanding en masse about the power of the INTERNET. Our new U. S.  President made his announcement for his candidacy on the “net”. How cool is that!!!???

I also heard , that within the last 24hrs or so, a major “voice” of the jazz music community has  passed away. Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. This is someone , who was a major force in the music when I started really paying attention and learning about jazz. He was also , always very nice to me. He embraced many kinds of music and experienced serious success as a fantastic trumpet player and musician as well as one of the early “commercially successful ” jazz musicians. Great sound, super technique . He could read music well, play in a section and was at the same time a tremendous soloist. Wow…how he could play. As fiery a player as he was..he also had a most “colorful” personality. Some would say that at some point, this, in part,  contributed to his ultimate inability to  play the horn,  and later in his life,  his round of health issues. There are lessons there.  May he rest in peace. 

To all of you, who have “discovered” my site….and continue to support my efforts, I thank you!! There’s more great stuff to come that I can’t wait to share w/ you. 

Love and blessings to you. May we all experience a fantastic 2009!!! Bonne année!

patrice