Page-Lapensee-Pontello - Gig #1

The first gig for the trio was a few weeks back, and it was definitely one to remember. The trio is extremely excited to be performing at Le Petit Chicago every other week (make sure that you catch Search Engine on the opposite weeks). I feel that this trio is going to push musical boundaries every time it hits the stage.

Here`s a taste of what we performed and a little insight into what the group is all about.

Here are some notes about one set that we played.

We started with Confirmation and decided to stick with a whole set of Parker tunes - the vibe was great! It`s interesting to explore an artist`s music on the stand with on the spot arrangements - it gives the music a sense of urgency.

Confirmation - straight ahead, fast and energetic
Billie`s Bounce - slow, bluesy
Scrapple From The Apple - fastest tune of the set
Ornithology - freely, mostly over G and D pedals, open-feeling, elastic time
Au Privave - 3/4 blues - interesting to try and figure out the melody on the spot.
Yardbird Suite - calypso, fun way to end the set

The group has many ways to approach tunes and we are excited to bring you some great jazz on a regular basis!

A New Trio

I'm very excited to talk about a new trio with a steady gig in Ottawa. We played our first gig just over a week ago, and it was definitely a gig to remember - I'll be posting about the gig in the near future.

David Pontello (drums), JP Lapensee (electric bass) and myself (woodwinds).

Blues-Standards-Originals

The trio of Page-Lapensee-Pontello are honoured to be bi-weekly hosts of the Monday night Jazz evening at Le Petit Chicago.

Woodwind artist Richard Page has become a fixture on the Ottawa jazz scene. Throughout his career Richard has performed with many great artists, such as Bob Brookmeyer, Rick Wilkins, Darcy Hepner and many others. He has also performed all over the world, most notably at the Montreaux and Vienne Jazz Festivals.

Since moving to Ottawa in late-2009, David Pontello has quietly-but-quickly established himself on the local music scene. He regularly plays with vocalist Renee Yoxon and singer-songwriter Glenn Nuotio. Hailing from Toronto, his past credits include tours, albums and shows with Justin Rutledge, David Hein (My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), Sean Cullen and Swamperella.

JP Lapensee is a member of the Capital Youth Jazz Orchestra and plays regularly in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, most notably as part of the HML Trio.

http://www.petitchicago.ca/

Le Petit Chicago
50 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Québec
819-483-9843

Lester Young Transcription - Fine and Mellow (1957)

Lester Young's "Fine and Mellow" solo is one of my favourites. It's the sound and feeling that draw me in. This is one of the first transcriptions that I had ever attempted in high school, and it has stuck with me since.

To me, the solo is all about nuance. There aren't that many notes, and it is only a chorus long, but Lester gets to the point. Pure beauty!

If you're going to learn this, make sure you have the melody firmly planted in your head. It's important, otherwise you'll miss the subtleties in the vibrato, rhythmic variety and the emotive qualities that Lester Young brings to this bandstand.

Check it out on Youtube.

Here's the version for tenor sax.