The Genius of Disney Theme Park Music

Every summer since we got married, my wife and I travel to Orlando to visit our favorite place on earth, Walt Disney World.  It is no secret that we're huge Disney fans and we look forward to our vacation every year.  "But why go back year after year?" you say.  "Don't you get bored of the same thing every year?" you say.  Everything about the place is magical and so well-designed.  There are changes constantly being made, with new attractions and resorts being added yearly.  Even after all these trips, we still haven't experienced it all.  And being the music nerds we are, there is a constant barrage of music to keep us happy and interested.  In fact, there is probably a lot about the music around the parks that you don't know about.  So I'm here to fill you in on some of the finer details that you may have never noticed.

First of all, let me say that every detail in the parks is researched and planned by a team of experts called "Imagineers."  There are no accidents to the way everything is put together.  The guest sees and hears everything exactly as they are supposed to.  And the music you hear throughout the park is no exception.

The parks are designed to be a movie that the guests literally get to walk through.  Walt Disney first made his fortune through movies, and the theme parks were just a natural extension of that.  So walking through the front gates, the first thing you experience are the coming attractions (just like the movies).  Musically speaking, you hear an overture featuring songs you will hear throughout the park, although arranged in a different way than you will hear them later.  This is done subtly, in the background, and you might not even notice, but the musical motifs are planted in your head right from the get-go. 

Then as you walk through the different "lands" throughout the park, the music is themed to the style of the land.  Take the Magic Kingdom, for example.  The Magic Kingdom is divided into Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.  So as you walk down Main Street, you hear music from the turn of the century.  Then as you enter Adventureland, the music transitions to more tropical music with African drums and steel drums.  Frontierland plays bluegrass music.  Liberty Square plays American music like Yankee Doodle and Sousa marches.  You get the idea.  Now here is where the planning is going to blow your mind.  As you transition from one land to the next, one type of music is faded out while the other is faded in seamlessly, and the songs are composed in the SAME KEY so that it is not as noticeable when the background music changes.  Speakers are hidden so well, that you constantly hear background music, but have no idea where it is coming from.  Hint: some rocks and bushes aren't what they appear to be.  While I just used Magic Kingdom as an example, this design applies to all the parks.

Many rides and attractions have their own theme song to go with it.  We all know It's a Small World.  And you might also know Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me from Pirates of the Caribbean.  There's also The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room, Grim Grinning Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion, and There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow from the Carousel of Progress to name a few.  The thing with these songs is that they are so catchy and repetitive; they are hard to get out of your head once you hear them. 

Epcot, of course, has the World Showcase.  As you walk from country to country, you can hear traditional music authentic to each country.  There are even live musicians native to the countries who perform, such as Japanese drummers and a mariachi band in Mexico.  You can literally take a musical trip around the world in just a few hours.  What a great cultural experience.  That alone is worth the price of admission.  Epcot also has some of the best symphonic scores composed as background music throughout its Future World part of the park.  The music is truly timeless and defies any specific genre.  And my favorite of all may be the music composed for the nightly fireworks called Illuminations.  Gavin Greenaway, the composer, really hit the nail on the head with this one.  The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps even used the music as part of their championship-winning show in 2000.

Hollywood Studios uses more familiar music throughout the park.  The overture played at the entrance is composed of famous movie and television score music, such as James Bond, Star Wars, The Magnificent Seven, Gone With The Wind, etc.  The park is actually set in 1940s Hollywood, so naturally you hear big band swing music as you stroll down Sunset Blvd.  The music helps set the time frame.  Hollywood Studios also has a nightly fireworks, water, and pyrotechnics show called Fantasmic, that also has a unique and catchy soundtrack.

Finding Nemo - The Musical

The imagineers have a great sense of humor as well.  In Dinoland in the Animal Kingdom park, one of the songs playing in the background is REM's It's the End of the World As We Know It as a nod toward the dinosaurs' impending extinction.  Most people are too busy eating their overpriced burgers to notice.  It's these subtle touches that make it so appealing to me.  If you just slow down and take it all in, you'll notice that there is more to the design than just what you see on the surface.  Animal Kingdom is also home to Finding Nemo - the Musical, a Broadway-style show based on the Pixar movie.

It's not only the parks that get in on the themed background music.  You can also find appropriately themed music at the Disney resorts.  The Polynesian Resort plays traditional Hawaiian ukulele music as you wander around the lobby and the grounds of the resort.  The Grand Floridian Resort plays high-society jazz, and even has a jazz orchestra that performs in the lobby.  The Port Orleans Resort plays dixieland jazz.  The Animal Kingdom Lodge plays African music.  You get the idea.  And if you take one of Disney's buses to the parks, you'll hear music playing in the background on the bus that previews the park you are about to visit.  And on the trip back to your hotel, you'll hear the resort's background music being played on the bus.

You can also find great live music throughout the resorts.  On our last trip, we went to Jellyroll's, a dueling piano bar at the Boardwalk resort.  The piano players would take requests from the audience and then play them on the spot.  I requested some Pink Floyd, and so they played Comfortably Numb on two pianos.  It was awesome.  There is also the House of Blues at Downtown Disney which hosts touring acts throughout the year.  I once saw Galactic perform there.  And you can also see various school groups such as marching bands, show choirs, jazz bands, etc. performing throughout the parks.  I'm proud to say that I led my students in a parade down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.  It was definitely a magical experience.

Walt Disney clearly appreciated great music and saw its importance in the entertainment industry.  Don't forget, Fantasia was only the second feature film he ever produced back in 1940.  The Disney Imagineers have kept his legacy going and honored his values with the way they have incorporated music into the parks.  I think Walt would have been proud of what his parks have become.

Here are some more great musicians from Walt Disney World:
Fantasyland Sax Quartet performing the Theme From Monster's Inc.
The Disney Philharmonic performs on Main Street
The Dapper Dans sing barbershop tunes in the Magic Kingdom
Future Corps at Epcot was one of the best groups ever, but were cut some years ago.  Shame on you, corporate Disney executives!
Future Corps was essentially replaced by the Jamminators.  While entertaining, they're not quite the same.
Off-Kilter rocks at the Canada Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase
African Drums and Dance at Animal Kingdom

Awesome Classical Music

You know the saying, "they don't make things like they used to?"  Well, I would have to agree when it comes to music.  Music composed years ago has so much more depth and complexity than most of what is popular today.  And kids today who listen to Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga say classical music is boring.  Maybe some classical music is "boring" in the sense that it is written with slower tempos and for instruments with softer timbres.  But I'm here to give you some examples of classical music that is simply awesome.  Listen with an open mind, and you may find a newfound appreciation for the classics!

Beethoven

Ludwig von Beethoven - Symphony #5

Premier:1808

Beethoven's fifth is perhaps my favorite symphony of all time.  The first movment, Allegro con brio, is the most recognizable and is based on a simple four note motif.  It opens with a bang - the motif is presented immediately at a fortissimo (really loud) dynamic.  I think what makes this movement so moving is its wide range of dynamics throughout.  It is like a roller coaster ride with extremely soft moments played only by the high strings followed by extrememly loud moments played by the full orchestra.  This is also what keeps the same motif that is played over and over again from getting monotonous or boring.  In total, this symphony has four movements, each sounding different than the next, yet still all tying together.  When listening, consider the fact that Beethoven in his mid-30s and was beginning to lose his hearing at this point in his life.

Wagner

Richard Wagner - Die Walkure (Ride of the Valkyries)
Premier: 1870
Die Walkure is the second opera in the set of four composed by Wagner as part of his cycle, "Der Ring des Nibelung."   Now, you probably just read the word "opera" and began to dismiss it already.  You are picturing a fat lady singing in a foreign language.  Ok, well you are probably right.  The opera is in German.  However, the most famous part, "Ride of the Valkyries," is mostly instrumental.  And awesome.  It has been used in movies, commercials, and cartoons, so you've probably heard it.  If I were in the army and about to head into battle, this would be the song I'd want to hear to get me motivated.



Stravinsky



Igor Stravinsky - Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)

Premier: 1913

The music for this ballet was so ahead of its time and controversial that it literally caused the audience to riot at its premier performance.  We're talking fist fights in the aisles.  What made the audience go so crazy?  Well, it didn't sound pretty and pleasant.  There was lots of dissonance and mixed meters.  Some parts of the music were incredibly aggressive and violent.  Stravinsky also used some inventive compositional techniques that were not common or expected at the time.  This is a very important piece of music in the progression of 20th century art music.

Respighi

Ottorino Respighi - Pines of Rome
Premier: 1924
The Pines of Rome is a symphonic poem with four movements: "The Pines of the Villa Borghese," "Pines near a catacomb," "The Pines of the Janiculum," and "The Pines of the Appian Way."  The final movement is my favorite and builds to an incredible climax.  It starts very soft and sounds mysterious, even haunting.  As the movement progresses, more brass are added and the tone shifts from mysterious to majestic.  You might recognize the music from Disney's Fantasia 2000.

Holst

Gustav Holst - The Planets
Premier: 1918
The Planets is a seven movement orchestral piece, with each movement representing a planet in our solar system.  The music is meant to evoke imagery and mood for the specific planet.  The first movement, Mars, the Bringer of War, is my favorite.  It is composed in 5/4 time and the music is really intense.  It could easily be part of a movie soundtrack.  Another notable movement is the fourth movement - Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity.  The brass fanfare work is remarkable, and the melody is memorable.  If you're wondering why there are only seven movements, it is because Earth is not included, and Pluto was not considered a planet at the time this was composed.  Pluto has since been downgraded to a dwarf planet anyway.  Poor Pluto.


Barber


Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings
Premier: 1938
This one could be a real tear-jerker.  It is powerful in a much different way than the rest of the pieces I have listed here.  In fact, this is possibly the most emotional song I know.  I don't think I've ever listened without getting goosebumps or even getting teary-eyed.  This was used a lot after 9/11 in memorial services.  The violins really build tension with extrememly high notes and close intervals.  And just when you think the tension is too much, the resolution relieves the tension, and the strings move back down to lower pitches.  It ends quietly and without fanfare.  I dare you to listen and not be moved.

Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem Mass in D Minor
A requiem is basically the collection of music played at a funeral mass in the Roman Catholic church.  Many composers wrote their own versions, and this is Mozart's.  What is interesting about this one is that he died before he finished it (ironic, huh?) and it was finished by another much less famous composer.  Rumor has it that Mozart knew he was writing this requiem for his own funeral.  It is a haunting collection of music, with the Lacrymosa being particularly moving.  Again, I get chills every time I hear it.  Dies Irae is another fantastic movement.  I think this is some of the most beautiful music ever composed, and I wouldn't mind at all if Mozart's Requiem is played at my funeral.

Copland

Aaron Coplad - Appalachian Spring
Premier: 1944
Aaron Copland, to me, is the American Composer.  His music truly paints a vivid imagery of our beautiful landscape.  And when you consider that this piece (actually music for a ballet) premiered in the midst of World War II, it makes it that much more special.  When you think of American music, you probably think of patriotic songs like America the Beautiful and Yankee Doodle, but I think the pinnacle of American music is the music of Copland.  He based many of his compositions on our traditional folk music, and this was no exception.  He uses "Simple Gifts," a Shaker melody, as a basis for his ending variations.

Gershwin

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Premier: 1924
This one is special because it combines the elements of classical music with jazz.  The bend of the clarinet note is atypical of classical music, but exactly what the musicians were doing in jazz at the time.  The chord structure used throughout is much more typical of jazz, yet he uses the instrumentation of a full symphony orchestra.  The piano player and the clarinet player are without a doubt the stars of this piece.  If you like what Gershwin did for Rhapsody in Blue, be sure to check out his other music.

Greig

Edward Grieg - In The Hall of the Mountain King
Premier: 1876
This piece of music was composed as a piece of instrumental music to accompany a Norwegian play, Peer Gynt.  The song "Morning Mood," which you may know, is also from the same play.  It is composed from the nationalistic approach, and incorporates traditional Norwegian music and imagery.  This is another highly recognizeable song.  I love the way it builds in velocity right up to the very end.

Orff

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana
Premier: 1937
Carmina Burana is a "scenic cantata" sung in Latin and based on poems from the 11th and 12th centuries.  Whether you realize it or not, I think you definitely know this piece - specifically "O Fortuna."  It has been used in many movies and TV shows for incredibly dramatic moments.  Even though this was composed in the 20th century, it conveys a medieval sound and mood using more modern instrumentation and compositional techniques.  It was Orff's most famous work.

There are so many more pieces that I could include here, so maybe I'll give you a "Part 2" in the future.  But for now, enjoy these timeless classics!

Warren Haynes, Guitar Hero

I'd like to use my blog today to celebrate a true guitar hero and musical genius - Warren Haynes.  He is perhaps the busiest guitar player working today.  His heart and soul just drip from his guitar strings when he plays.  If you don't know who he is, you need to.  Once you've heard one of his solos, your life will be changed forever.  You may think I am exaggerating, but I'm not.

Warren, a native of Asheville, NC, began his professional career playing lead guitar in the David Allen Coe Band.  After several years, he got a call to join the Dickey Betts Band (Dickey Betts is a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band).  Then in 1989, when the Allman Brothers Band decided to reunite, Dickey Betts recruited him to join the band.  He has been playing as a member of the Allman Brothers Band ever since.  As if that didn't keep him busy enough, he also formed his own band in 1994, Gov't Mule, with Matt Abts on drums and Allen Woody on bass.  In addition to his work with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule, he has also performed with various members of the Grateful Dead after the passing of Jerry Garcia.  In fact, he was a member of The Dead when they toured together on and off again beginning in 2004.  He has performed many solo acoustic shows as well.  Most recently, he has formed the Warren Haynes Band, which may be my favorite of all his projects.

Ok, enough with his history - let's get to his playing.  He has talked on numerous occasions about his early musical influences, which become apparent after hearing him play just a few notes.  "When I first started—chronologically speaking—Hendrix and Clapton and Johnny Winter were the first three people I got turned on to. That was the Cream era of Clapton. Then eventually, I heard the Allman Brothers and everybody else from that era that I stole something from (laughs). Of course, I would read interviews with all these people and find out who they listened to. And they all listened to B.B. King and Freddie King and Albert King and Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters and Elmore James, so I would go back and discover that stuff."  Clearly, the blues, as well a soul music, runs through his veins.

I witnessed the magic that is Warren Haynes for the first time on November 17, 2001 at a Phil Lesh & Friends concert.  It was truly an all-star lineup, and that concert was a defining moment for me.  It changed the way I listened to and appreciated music.  The music was highly improvisational, conversational, and organic.  I specifically remember being blown away by their version of "All Along the Watchtower," and that was only the third song of the first set!  The whole show was amazingly good, and is still probably one of the top five concerts I've ever witnessed.

I also had the good fortune of watching him sit in with Dave Matthews Band on September 23,2004 on the Great Lawn in Central Park, NYC in front of an estimated 100,000+ fans.  His guitar playing on "Jimi Thing" and a cover of Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer" elevated the songs to new levels of energy and musicality.  You can tell just how excited the members of DMB were to have Warren join them.  This performance is forever memorialized as an official Dave Matthews Band CD and DVD release.

I also cannot discuss Warren Haynes performances without mentioning the Gov't Mule late night show at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2007.  The band played two sets into the early morning (about 4am), and brought many of their friends on stage to join them thoughout the night, including comedian Lewis Black, Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).  Hearing all of these great musicians trade solos with Warren was a real treat.

His most recent release with the Warren Haynes Band, Man in Motion, is one of my favorite albums of 2011.  He has put together an incredible band for this record, which includes George Porter Jr. on bass, Ivan Neville on keys, Raymond Weber on drums, Ron Holloway on sax, and vocalist Ruthie Foster.  Man In Motion puts a modern twist on old school soul and R&B.  I highly recommend giving this one a listen.

I'll leave you with a few more awesome videos I found while searching youtube for clips.  Enjoy!
Warren Haynes and Trey Anastasio interview and jam session
Warren's rig rundown
Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks - Old Friend

Great Movie Composers

In today's post, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite movie soundtrack composers, some of which you've heard of and some which may be new to you.  A great film score can really pull you into the story and make you feel what the characters are feeling.  And there are a few composers who have absolutely nailed it.  In fact, sometimes I'll see a movie based on who composed the music because I know it will be good.  So without further adieu, here they are:

1. John Williams
Movies: Star Wars I-VI, Indiana Jones (all), E.T., Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry Potter (all), Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Superman, Home Alone
John Williams is the king of movie soundtracks, in my opinion.  It should come as no surprise that all of the movies listed above have won numerous awards and made millions of dollars at the box office.  I would argue that without Williams' score, none of these movies would have had the same success they did.  This video helps to illustrate my point.  And I bet you can hear the music from each of the movies I listed above as soon as you see the title.  I had the pleasure several years ago to see John Williams conduct The President's Own Marine Corps Band as they played some of his most memorable music.  It is certainly one of the most memorable musical experiences of my life, and I am proud to be able to say that I've seen this master at work.

2. Hans Zimmer
Movies: Inception, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Gladiator, The Lion King, Crimson Tide, A League of Their Own, The Da Vinci Code
I'm sure you've heard Hans Zimmer's work before, but probably didn't realize he composed it.  He is another composer with memorable hooks used in big blockbusters.  My favorite Zimmer composition is the score for Inception.  The movie was great (which helps), but the score is genius.  It is Zimmer's music that really takes you into the depths of the human mind and imagination.  His notes match the stunning visuals on screen.  A good movie soundtrack is one you can listen to without watching the movie, and this one certainly falls under that category.  But don't try listening to it while you're falling asleep - that could really freak you out and give you some strange dreams.

3. James Horner
Movies: Braveheart, Apollo 13, Aliens, Field of Dreams, Enemy at the Gates, Titanic, A Beautiful Mind, Avatar
James Horner is another composer whose work you most definitely are familiar with.  I first found out who he was from his work on the movie A Beautiful Mind, but quickly found out that he composed the music to some of my other favorite soundtracks - specifically Apollo 13 and Enemy at the Gates.  I think his music perfectly complements the stories being told and transports you to other times and places.  The solemn and heroic trumpet theme from Apollo 13 gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.  The high-pitched violin parts in Enemy at the Gates makes you feel the tension and intensity of World War II -era Stalingrad.  And the flurrying of fast-paced sixteenth notes in A Beautiful Mind signifies the numbers, formulas, and equations running through the mind of a genius.  It must also be pointed out that Horner uses a heavy Celtic influence in his writing, which becomes very evident in movies like Braveheart and Titanic.

4. Michael Giacchino
Movies: The Incredibles, Up, Star Trek, Super 8
TV: LOST, Alias, Fringe
Michael Giacchino is an up-and-coming composer who writes some really interesting and different music.  He has been composing for Pixar for many of their films, beginning with The Incredibles.  I enjoyed this music so much I decided to use it for my marching band show this year.  Everyone who hears the music loves it and comments on how great it is.  My favorite music by Giacchino, however, is his work on the TV show LOST.  This is where he really shines, using innovative compositional techniques and 20th century tonalities.  The plot of the show was often strange, and the music he wrote was equally as strange.  He actually used pieces of the airplane (the actual prop seen on the show) to create many of the percussive sounds you hear.  Relatively speaking, he is new to the scene, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for his future work.

5. The Sherman Brothers
Movies: The Parent Trap, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks
As a huge Disney fan, I would be remissed if I didn't mention Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman.  These two brothers wrote some of the most memorable Disney music of all time.  Walt Disney himself would call them to come play for him in his office every week.  They wrote songs like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "The Bare Necessities," "It's A Small World," and "Let's Go Fly a Kite."  That's right - now you have "It's A Small World" in your head, don't you?  Catchy, isn't it?  And that was music written for a RIDE.  A ride with hundreds of dolls.  And you know it.  And for my fellow Disney fans, they also wrote the music to many more theme park attractions.  If you know the song from a Disney ride, they probably wrote the music.

6. Danny Elfman
Movies: Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Edward Scissorhands, Good Will Hunting, Spiderman
Danny Elfman is to Tim Burton what John Williams is to Steven Spielberg.  When Tim Burton has a new movie, he goes right to Danny Elfman to provide the score.  And for good reason.  He writes some hauntingly beautiful and interesting music.  Tim Burton creates very dark movies, and Elfman's score can be equally dark and ominous.  He knows who he's writing for.  In The Nightmare Before Christmas, he not only composed all the music, but he also provided the singing voice for Jack Skullington.  You know The Simpson's theme song?  Of course you do!  He wrote that too.

7. Neil Innes
Movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Ok, I'll admit I threw this one in because of his awesome last name.  And yes, I'll claim a distant relation (maybe?)  But the truth is that he wrote some hilarious and catchy songs for Monty Python as well.  I sometimes hear that brass fanfare from Monty Python and the Holy Grail in my head as I'm walking down the hall.  It takes all that I've got not to pretend I'm on a horse being followed by a guy clanging coconuts together.  Then there's also the big production number "Camelot."  True, he's in a different league than the other composers I've listed, but he's still a fun composer.

So, how much of this music did you recognize?  Most of it, I bet.  Enjoy!

UPDATE: Philly-Paris Lockdown

When I wrote my review of the Philly-Paris Lockdown concert featuring ?uestlove, I mentioned that it was recorded and clips would be brodcast on the radio.  Well, it is now available to listen to online.  Follow this link and enjoy.

Bob Marley - Legend

A few days ago was the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley's death, so I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to this legend in today's post.  One of my favorite albums for years now has been "Legend' by Bob Marley and the Wailers.  It is filled with timeless music - classics that many people have heard at least once.  Even though it was recorded before I was even born, the music still speaks to the issues going on in our world today.  It doesn't sound old fashioned.  I love listening to it in the car while I am cruising in the summer with the windows down.



My first exposure to reggae music was probably when the movie "Cool Runnings" came out in 1993.  If you've never seen this movie, you must.  The majority of the soundtrack was reggae tunes, which was fitting for a movie about the Jamaican bobsled team.  Bob Marley himself was not included in the soundtrack, but one of his songs, "Stir It Up," was.  I specifically remember buying the soundtrack on CD (years before iTunes was around) because I enjoyed the reggae music I had now heard.  Even though the name Bob Marley still wasn't on my radar, his music was.  I can't pinpoint when I actually learned about Bob, but it would be a few years after this - probably in my later high school years.

Marley is a rastafarian, which is a popular religion in Jamaica.  Rastafarians grow their hair in dreadlocks and smoke marijuana.  It's part of their beliefs.  There's other stuff too, but that's why he is often pictured smoking.  I'm not advocating this at all, but it is important to note that this was his religion.  You can appreciate his music without sharing the same belief system or being a "stoner."  Now that we've taken care of the elephant in the room (so to speak), let's get back to the music.



"Three Little Birds" is a simple tune, but is truly a joyful song that can make you feel better about anything.  I'm sure you've heard it before.  Here are the lyrincs to the chorus:

"Don't worry about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

"Get Up, Stand Up" is somewhat of a protest song.  Many of his lyrics are political in nature, and this song is probably his most famous.  Most people listen to this song without really paying attention to the words.  Give this one a close listen, and you'll see that it is actually very relevant with the political climate of our world today.

If you've ever been to a Philadelphia Phillies game, then you've heard another Marley song, maybe without even realizing it.  Every time Shane Victorino comes up to the plate to bat, "Buffalo Soldier" is played over the PA system.  I can only assume it is becasue Victorino is also a big Bob Marley fan.

"Jammin'" is another one of my favorite Marley songs.  It's just about enjoying the music and how the music is more powerful than any religious or political persecution.  Take a look at the religious and political undertones of the song:

Ooh, yeah; well,All right!

We're jammin'

I wanna jam it wid you.

We're jammin', jammin',

And I hope you like jammin', too.



Ain't no rules, ain't no vow, we can do it anyhow

I and I will see you through,

'Cause everyday we pay the price

we are the living sacrifice

jammin' till the jam is through



We're jammin' -

To think that jammin' was a thing of the past;

We're jammin',

And I hope this jam is gonna last.



No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won't bow;

Neither can be bought nor sold.

We all defend the right; Jah - Jah children must unite:

Your life is worth much more than gold.



We're jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin')

And we're jammin' in the name of the Lord;

We're jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin'),

We're jammin' right straight from Yah.



Yeh! Holy Mount Zion;

Holy Mount Zion:

Jah sitteth in Mount Zion

And rules all creation.



Yeah, we're - we're jammin' (wotcha-wa),

Wotcha-wa-wa-wa, we're jammin' (wotcha-wa),

See, I wanna jam it wid you

We're jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin')

I'm jammed: I hope you're jammin', too.



Jam's about my pride and truth I cannot hide

To keep you satisfied.

True love that now exist is the love I can't resist,

So jam by my side.



We're Jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin'), yeah-eah-eah!

I wanna jam it wid you.

We're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin',

We're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin';

Hope you like jammin', too.

We're jammin', we're jammin' (jammin'),

We're jammin', we're jammin' (jammin').

I wanna (I wanna jam it wid you) - I wanna -

I wanna jam wid you now.

Jammin', jammin' (hope you like jammin' too).

Eh-eh! I hope you like jammin', I hope you like jammin',

'Cause (I wanna jam it wid you). I wanna ... wid you.

I like - I hope you - I hope you like jammin', too.

I wanna jam it;

I wanna jam it.

"One Love" has been used in commercials for Jamaica.  It doesn't take much more than a Bob Marley tune and pictures of palm trees and beautiful beaches to entice someone to travel to Jamaica.  Of course they don't show the slums of this impoverished country, but that's for another time.  Here are the lyrics of the chorus:

One Love! One Heart!

Let's get together and feel all right.

Hear the children cryin' (One Love!);

Hear the children cryin' (One Heart!),

Sayin': give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;

Sayin': let's get together and feel all right. Wo wo-wo wo-wo!

There are just too many great songs to discuss in detail here, but some of my other favorites include:

Exodus

Iron, Lion, Zion

Is This Love

No Woman No Cry

Redemption Song

Roots, Rock, Reggae

So Much Trouble In The World

Trenchtown Rock

Waiting In Vain

If you enjoy the music of Bob Marley, be sure to check out some other reggae greats such as Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, and Toots & The Maytals.  Bob Marley's sons Ziggy Marley and Damian Marley are also carrying on the tradition of their father today.  His backing band "The Wailers" are also still playing today.  I have seen them once before, and they put on a great show.

His impact on both music and culture can not be denied.  Many musicians today (even non-reggae musicians) claim Bob Marley as one of their biggest influences.  His spirit, his message, and his music live on today.

My Favorite Trumpet Players - Past and Present

As a trumpet player myself, I am always searching for different trumpeters to listen to.  The best way to learn is to find the sound you like and model.  Listening is probably one of the most important aspects to furthering your own musicianship.  If you are a sax player, then find some other sax players you like.  This applies to all instruments.  I'll eventually add posts about musicians who play other instruments, but I figured I'd start with trumpet players since that is my forte (pun intended).  And anyone who knows a trumpet player knows that we like to play forte (or louder).  So here are some of my favorites who frequent my playlists.

Miles Davis

1. Miles Davis.
Miles is absolutely at the top of my list.  All trumpeters, especially anyone into jazz, must listen to as much Miles as possible.  He had a long career and played in nearly every style of jazz.  He was always on the cutting edge of the next new thing.  Birth of the Cool lived up to its namesake as the beginning of the cool jazz era.  Kind of Blue revolutionized the idea of modal jazz; that is, the idea of basing improvisation on modes or scales rather than chordal structure.  This was a departure from the old ways of improvising and gave the musicians much more freedom and ease in their solos.  Bitches Brew is a hallmark album of jazz fusion.  As you explore his catalogue of albums, you can literally follow the progression of jazz from the 1950s through the 1980s.  Not only did he have a mastery of the instrument, he also played from his soul.  He didn't always try to fill his solos with as many notes as possible.  He liked to use space in between notes and phrases.  Sometimes that silence says more than a long stream of notes.  He was a musical genius and arguably one of the top five most important figures in jazz history.  Some of my favorite Miles Davis albums are Miles In The Sky, Someday My Prince Will Come, Kind of Blue, On the Corner, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, Milestones, and Bitches Brew.


2. Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

I already gave you a run down about Louis Armstrong in my post, "The Big Easy," but I will say it again.  Louis Armstrong is great.  He plays with such joy, and that really comes through in his sound.  He really epitomizes New Orleans jazz.  He had a long career, but unlike Miles Davis, he really didn't change his style (at least not that drastically).  His solos were so melodic and just made a lot of musical sense.  It was as if he wrote out his solos before he played them, even though they were all improvised.  He had a big sound, which I'm sure was influeced by another New Orleans trumpeter, Buddy Bolden, who was also known for his big sound.  His music was considered "hot," which was the contrast to Bix Beiderbeck's "cool" sound at the time.  He had a "Hot Five" and "Hot Seven" band in the early days.  He moved north to Chicago and played with King Oliver and really made a name for himself.  He'd eventually collaborate with other jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.  He was an all-around entertainer in addition to being a great trumpet player, even appearing in some movies.  I heard a great quote from Armstrong once in which he said "Always play to someone you love."  After listening to many of his recordings, I think I can safely say that he always did.

Freddie Hubbard - Open Sesame

3. Freddie Hubbard
I hadn't really listened to Freddie's stuff until recently, but I'm glad I did.  He has a bit of a funky style to his playing, even years before funk music would come about.  You can hear the funkiness in his playing, especially in his articulations and the way he manipulated his tone.  Hubbard came onto the jazz scene around the height of the hard bop era, which is one of my favorites.  The thing I like about his playing is that you can clearly hear the past and the future of jazz at the same time in his solos.  Check out Open Sesame, Ready For Freddie, and Skydive.


4. Dizzy Gillespie
I can't really condone Dizzy's technique of puffing his cheeks (students take note), but I guess when you're Dizzy Gillespie, you can do whatever you want.  Certainly when discussing bebop, Dizzy was the trumpeter.  He and Charlie Parker (sax) really paved the way for the future of jazz.  Bebop was a departure from the big band era that had been so popular in the years prior.  He could really navigate through the entire range of the trumpet, from the super high notes to the very bottom.  The chords in bebop were much more complex than those in the swing era, and Gillespie improvised over the changes like it was no big deal.  Miles Davis looked up to Dizzy as a model and a mentor, and even started his own career playing with him.  That should really tell you something.  Dizzy brought cuban percussionists into his band, and you could hear that Latin influence in his playing.  For a true gem, listen to "Salt Peanuts."


5. Roy Hargrove

Roy Hargrove - Hard Groove

I bought Roy's album Hard Groove a few years ago and have really enjoyed it.  He has a modern sound, and you can definitely hear the more recent hip hop and R&B influences while still being rooted in jazz.  I can hear a little bit of Miles, Louis, Freddie, and Dizzy in his sound.  Is he as influential or important as those players?  Probably not, but he has a great sound and I really enjoy his albums.  I personally own Hard Groove and Earfood.

Rashawn Ross

6. Rashawn Ross
Rashawn is currently the trumpet player for Dave Matthews Band.  And yes, DMB is my favorite band.  But guess what, I've been listening to Rashawn for years before he joined DMB.  Prior to his current gig, he played in Soulive and Lettuce.  He has roots in jazz, but I think his playing goes beyond the boundaries of jazz.  He is incredibly funky, which if you can't tell by now, I love.  And probably what sticks out most about his playing is his range.  He can squeal out notes I didn't think were possible on the trumpet.  He's got a huge set of lungs.  Over the past few years since he joined DMB, he has really settled into his role in the band.  When their sax player Leroi Moore passed away and Jeff Coffin was brought on as his replacement, Rashawn taught Jeff tons of licks and riffs in a very short amount of time.  I think he has a great ear, which is evident in his playing.  I have always enjoyed Dave Matthews Band, but I think I like the band's sound the most since they have added Rashawn to their lineup.


7. Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis

Most people either love or hate Wynton.  He does appear to have an inflated ego, but let's put his personality aside for the moment.  He has studied the greats and I would argue that he definitely knows his stuff.  He is like a walking jazz encyclopedia.  He can talk about jazz and then play for you what he is talking about.  Perhaps being so analytical of the past greats has ruined some of his creativity.  However, I do like his tone quality and the precision of his playing.  In this case, I would argue his theory and history knowledge comes in handy.  The other thing I like about Wynton is his ability to play both jazz and classical pieces.  He can play an Ellington chart or a Haydn concerto.  He is also an advocate for music education and has done a lot to promote the arts.

Classic Lee Morgan album

Some other classic trumpet players:
Lee Morgan
Clifford Brown
Nat Adderly
Maynard Fergusen
Arturo Sandoval
Clark Terry


Some other modern trumpet players:
Nicholas Payton
Christian Scott
Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty)

Al Chez (plays in David Letterman's band)



Maynard Ferguson

Kermit Ruffins

Of course this is not a complete list.  There are lots of other great trumpet players out there.  Many are unknown back-up players or studio players.  I think a hornline makes any music better.  Do your own research.  What music do you listen to that features a trumpet player?  Look up their name in the liner notes.  You never know when you'll find some new inspiration.  And if you play another instrument, can you name 5 musicians, or 10 musicians who play your instrument?  If not, maybe it's time to do more listening.