We All Need to Admit the Intrinsic Snobbery of Classical Music Yo-Yo Ma is fantastic, I really think that. I elaborate on that below. But just now as I began to research the question of long-form instrumental composers versus the format of streaming platforms, I came across a recent press release for the new [...]
"Every creative thing leaves home and gets into trouble somewhere out there. Me and this bamboo are all about connecting to each other and getting in creative adventures: that’s it." Born in 1974, my Chinese astrological sign is the tiger -- the Wood Tiger to be specific. This year, 2022, is a Water Tiger year, [...]
A Wood Prophet believes in the power and majesty of the element of wood. The wisdom of symbiosis. The benefit of forming a personal, expressive voice through woodwinding. I turn 47 today. Sometimes, your solar return is the time for a new oath, this is one. I am entering into a role/persona, [...]
Cornelius Boots, 1997 David N. Baker (1931-2016) Educator, Jazz Pedagogy OG, Composer, Leader, Author, Conductor, Trombonist, Cellist, Activist, Black Consciousness Advocate & my teacher 1997-1999 "The final project forces my students to use their imagination. In everything that I teach, imagination becomes the big point of departure, because the world works because [...]
As briefly as possible on this very deep and rich topic: listen up to Son House and Cedell Davis. If you can dig what they are up to, then we can illuminate a key ingredient that I fervently endeavor to bring into the world of bamboo shakuhachi and woodwind performance. It's why [...]
One of the deepest and brightest Woodwind Wizards of the 20th century recorded his seminal album, The Inflated Tear, for Atlantic Records 50 years ago today in New York City. It includes his elegy for himself "Black and Crazy Blues" and his rendition of "Creole Love Call" as a soulful heartfelt tribute to Duke [...]
At the great risk of angering testosterone-riddled (or, deprived?) metal fans everywhere and for all time, I decided to make the bold choice of titling--and deriving the artwork for--my "heavy metal bamboo album" directly after one of the iconic power-metal albums from the early 80's, Dio's Holy Diver. This was the zenith of this brand of "power [...]
A dark but brief overview, a solution born of grace, and a need for donations/philanthropy. (This began as a simple update to my Contact/Donations page for the new website--going LIVE on 10/1!!--but clearly I have some things on, or in, my mind...) Lodged at the shadowy intersection of The Arts, Entertainment, Education and "Other," the current [...]
The 5 Elements of Zen Shakuhachi, the way of big breathing bamboo In entry 1, I refer to "all the elements of this path" and here is an overview that I have arrived at after 16 years of deep involvement. Each intention, action, and tone on shakuhachi contains all of these 5 important elements, and the lists below [...]
In teaching woodwinds for 20 years, and primarily (and ultimately, only) shakuhachi for the past 7 years, I have seen a trend in Incorrect View. This usually treats value or "success" in one's shakuhachi endeavors as a kind of equation directly calculated on results. Results such as: I can or can't play Song X or Note Y. [...]
