Marshall McDonald

On January 28, 2013 I had my first visit at Mr Plas Johnson's house in LA because of the passing of Jackie Kelso. While we were hanging Plas said let's play and put on the Aebersold track with Cherokee in…

The Gene Perla Jazz Archive Collection

On March 2, 2020, after Abdullah Ibrahim cancelled out of the Chicago Symphony Hall and Blue Note NYC gigs, I quickly changed my flight to head back to Japan, where my wife already had…

I've known Randy for many years, and he's not only a great musician, but also a beautiful person, that really exudes genuine care for all the folks he meets.  We had a lot of fun and some real moments.  Hope…

Oh man, I have some memories!  "Calle 54" is an incredible film by Fernando Trueba, and I am playing in the film behind some dark sunglasses with Maestro Chico O'Farrill. 

"CALLE 54....stands with The Buena Vista Social Club as a…

In 1977, I went to see one of my music heroes, David Sanborn at the Leona Theatre in Pittsburgh. It was a packed house, Dave was at his peak, with his regular band featuring his guitar comrade the late and…

One of the first musicians that I met about 8 years ago when I started spending a lot of time in Japan was Makihiko Araki. He's a brilliantly talented musician, influenced by Prince and others, and was signed to the…

My father was a Professor of Oral Surgery at University of Pittsburgh Dental School.

Pitt Mag Article

Oral History 

The chief dental officer for the U.S. Army shares some of the wisdom he learned at Pitt. 

Written by Adam Reger 

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The New Testament Basie Band had "swagger'.   They had a walk, and the talk,  they had the groove of life. They knew they could play, and were at the top of the heap.  And the man who guided that and…

We lost Barry Harris just recently, he lived a rich and full life of dignity, a true Jazz Warrior.  I always noticed that Barry sung things to his students.  I just had a long talk with Dr. Nelson Harrison and…

I studied Bird by listening to his playing, and reading books about him. Charlie Parker is the most important musician of the last 80 years, he changed music across the musical spectrum. Rhythm & Blues came from jazz, and the…

I was doing a Zoom lesson with a student about playing over There Will Never Be Another You. I was teaching the idea of playing a simple phrase, then running the Licks he had been shedding. Simple. Then Practice. Simple…