Junior Cook Transcription

 

Tonight we will be performing music from Blue Mitchell's classic Blue Note album THE THING TO DO at The Black Lotus Brewery in Clawson. So I thought I would share my transcription of tenor Saxophonist Junior Cook's solo on "Step…

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The Reviews are In! All About Jazz Reviews MOTION

The HSQ's latest recording MOTION has been out for a few months and reviews are trickling in. The most recent is from the acclaimed website All About Jazz.

Check them out!

 

The James Hughes - Jimmy Smith Quintet : MOTION   

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The HSQ's Third Album MOTION is Here!

The Hughes/Smith Quintet is very happy to announce that our third SELF-RELEASED album is finally here! We called it "MOTION" because that's where we are at, in a state of constant motion. We built it from the ground up, got…

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Wednesdays in January

Each and every Wednesday, Jimmy Smith and I put together a set of music featuring a different composer and have a different guest rhythm section in to play with us.We open things up for a jam session after the first…

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Each Wednesday in December

Each and every Wednesday, Jimmy Smith and I put together a set of music featuring a different composer and have a different guest rhythm section in to play with us.We open things up for a jam session after the first…

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Black Lotus Jam in August

Each and every Wednesday, Jimmy Smith and I put together a set of music featuring a different composer and have a different guest rhythm section in to play with us.We open things up for a jam session after the first…

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Wednesdays in May at The Black Lotus Brewery

Trumpeter Jimmy Smith and I host an evening each and every Wednesday where we feature a different rhythm section and jazz composer for the first set.  After that, we open things up for a jazz jam session and encourage all…

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Every Wednesday in April at Black Lotus

Here is a list of the things we are presenting at Black Lotus Brewery this month. I hope to see you there one of these Wednesdays! There is ample free parking in back, pay what you want cover charge, full… Read more

Learn to Read Music!

This is for all my non-musician friends!  I am eternally grateful for your friendship and support in my musical endeavors.  I am not sure if anyone is that interested in this or not, but I thought I would put it…

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Black Lotus Jams 2016 Retrospective

Trumpeter Jimmy Smith and I have been hosting the Black Lotus Jam every Wednesday since October of 2015.  We only missed one week due to inclement weather!

One!

Each week we highlight the music of a particular jazz composer or…

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Learn From the Best: DEXTER GORDON



Transcribing is still the best way to learn how to improvise.  Often times, I transcribe bits and pieces and never write anything down. My main goal is to quickly acquire small melodic phrases to use in my soloing, or to…

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Teaching Jazz In The Forest

So I have been deep in the Manistee National Forest teaching Jazz to high school students the past couple of weeks. If you are not from Michigan, look at your hand with your thumb to the right...it's located beneath your…Read more