I seem to be going backwards down the road lately by posting these old memories and recordings. Perhaps it’s meant to spur me forward into some new musical adventures…
In 2015, Dr. Isaac Lausell invited me to perform and be a clinician at the SIU Guitar Festival. As you’ll hear, Isaac is a fantastic guitarist! He is also an Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at Southern Illinois University, and the Artistic Director of the now SIU International Guitar Festival.
The majority of my opening night concert at the festival featured a trio with bassist Phil Brown and drummer Jimmy Beers. Rediscovering the recordings after all this time, I hear the beginnings of my right hand problems throughout. However, I decided to post this duo recording of Isaac and me playing Miles Davis’ Solar because it’s so loose and freewheeling:
Memories of Saalik