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  • Ear Shot: The Music Of Mel Graves

    17510-2

    Artist: Afifi, Wainapel, Vincent, Marsh

    Label: Mutable Music

    Collective Personnel: Bob Afifi (flute), Al Bent (trombone), Pete Estabrook (trumpet), Harvey Wainapel (tenor saxophone), Randy Vincent (guitar), George Marsh (drums) and Mel Graves (contrabass).

    The "Ear Shot" project includes many of the jazz compositions that I wrote in 2001 and 2002. My jazz writing utilizes areas that I have been working on for the last 30 years like: odd time signatures (7/4 and 11/4), varieties of rhythmic feels (especially exploring different types of 3/4), angular yet lyrical melodies and counterpoint. In terms of orchestration I wanted to expand upon the instrumentation of flute, guitar, bass and drums that we used in 2001 on Randy Vincent’s recording project “Mirror Image”.

    The natural choice for me was the tenor saxophone that I used on my previous recording of jazz originals “Emotion In Motion”. I have known Harvey Wainapel for several years and have always wanted to work on a project with him. He added a lot of fire and soul to the recording. I wrote some simple backgrounds for two of the Latin tunes on the project and fellow Sonoma State University faculty members Pete Estabrook and Al Bent were first choices there. Also they each contribute a very effective solo to the recording.

    I consider drummer George Marsh my rhythm section soul mate. We go back together to the late 60’s with Denny Zeitlin, Jerry Hahn and Mose Allison and have played in a wide variety of music over the years. I can not think of another drummer who could do wh...