Album: The Great Summit: The Complete Sessions
Artist: Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong
Released 1961, re-mastered 1990
This album is what one would expect when the two biggest powerhouses in jazz come together to make an album. Recorded in 1961 in New York City, The Great Summit is the product of a two day recording session between the two icons of jazz. Brought together by Blue Note records, this short session is the only time in history that these two heavy hitters came together to collaborate on an album. The wonderful sounds of the Duke's piano are perfectly complemented by the sweet tones of Armstrong's trumpet as well as the rasp of his voice. The two stars are backed up Barney Bigard on clarinet, Danny Barcelona on drums, Mort Herbert on string bass, and Trummy Young on trombone. All of the members of this small ensemble had something special to bring to the table. Each instrument offers a masterful sound and style in the album. All 17 tracks are excellent tunes that exemplify what jazz should be.
The opening track, "Duke's Place" starts the album in the best possible way. The song opens with Ellington's simple yet unfathomably catchy piano riff followed by Armstong's iconic voice. The song also features a clarinet solo by the very talented Barney Bigard.
Another memorable song is "It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Aint Got That Swing)". This tune is a showcase of the amazing talents Armstrong has. The song opens on a trumpet solo and then takes a mellow turn to make room for Armstrong's iconic voice. Before the song is over, we hear yet another trumpet solo that wraps up the song.
To accompany the upbeat swing tunes on the album, The Great Summit also has its fair share of slower tempo, mellow numbers. Track 12, “Solitude”, opens slowly with Ellington’s piano accompanied only by a slow, steady drum beat. Armstrong’s voice joins in and plays a call and answer back and forth with the trombone. The song takes a warm turn with an outstanding clarinet solo that sets of a trombone and piano melody that, in turn, sets off a trumpet solo. The instrumental bit of the song is a wonderful display of the different instruments playing off of one another. The song ends with one last sung verse from Armstrong.
The special edition version of this album also includes a second disk that contains alternate takes of songs, false starts, and conversations between the musicians. This second CD brings a much more intimate feel to the music and gives the album life. This album would be a special addition to any jazz fan's collection and is sure to become an instant favorite.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Feature Story
High school is a special place for any student. From the dreary hours of class to the excitement of a Friday night football game; the friendships and drama; the intimidating first weeks to that moment of clarity that most call growing up. For one group of students; however, high school has a much different effect.
Every year, the senior class of any school goes through the same process of maturity and trying to accomplish the vastly intimidating feat of getting in to college; while at the same time, dealing with the condition many have come to know as senioritis. This is no different for Sierra High School senior, Josh Hood.
Like every other senior across the country, Hood is nearing the end of his high school career and preparing for the next step. For Hood, this next step is college.
The Graduation rate for the 08-09 school year was 75.4% according to the New York Times. 70.1% of these students were enrolled in a college or university according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When reflecting on his thoughts about college, Hood concluded that it was almost always necessary for success.
“In today’s world,” Hood says, ”In order to have a good paying job that keeps you out of a lot of the issues that people are in today, college is necessary “
To many, it would seem that the most intimidating part about college is not getting in, but rather, paying for it. Hood says that the financial side of college is the most challenging.
“(I don’t think) going to college is intimidating, It’s being able to pay for college that’s intimidating.” Hood says.
The average cost for a public, 4-year college is $7,020 per year in tuition and fees for in-state students; $11,528 per year for out-of-state students according to Collegeboard.com.
When faced with the challenge of getting in to and paying for college, it would seem that most seniors don’t have time to take it easy; however, that is exactly what most seniors do. This is the state known to many seniors as senioritis.
Senioritis, described by Collegeboard.com as taking it easy during one’s senior year is Identifiable by excessive laziness, skipping class, and lack of motivation. This state of mind can have devastating effects as said by College Board.
On average, 69% of revoked admissions from colleges were due to low final grades in the 2009 admission season according to USA Today.
Many seniors develop senioritis because of the sense of completion with high school and the eagerness to move on. Seniors might even believe that they deserve to be a little lazy, because they have come so far. This ideology is not shared among all seniors.
“We’re just going to another part of life,” Says Hood, “Eighth-graders don’t deserve to get ‘Eighth-eritis’...We’re just moving on to another chapter. “
Regardless of how it is viewed, senior year is a special time for students. It has many different effects on seniors, from anxiety to excessive laziness. The ever-looming and quickly-approaching idea of graduating is the essence of being a senior. No matter what the next chapter is for students, being a senior marks the end of this one.
Every year, the senior class of any school goes through the same process of maturity and trying to accomplish the vastly intimidating feat of getting in to college; while at the same time, dealing with the condition many have come to know as senioritis. This is no different for Sierra High School senior, Josh Hood.
Like every other senior across the country, Hood is nearing the end of his high school career and preparing for the next step. For Hood, this next step is college.
The Graduation rate for the 08-09 school year was 75.4% according to the New York Times. 70.1% of these students were enrolled in a college or university according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When reflecting on his thoughts about college, Hood concluded that it was almost always necessary for success.
“In today’s world,” Hood says, ”In order to have a good paying job that keeps you out of a lot of the issues that people are in today, college is necessary “
To many, it would seem that the most intimidating part about college is not getting in, but rather, paying for it. Hood says that the financial side of college is the most challenging.
“(I don’t think) going to college is intimidating, It’s being able to pay for college that’s intimidating.” Hood says.
The average cost for a public, 4-year college is $7,020 per year in tuition and fees for in-state students; $11,528 per year for out-of-state students according to Collegeboard.com.
When faced with the challenge of getting in to and paying for college, it would seem that most seniors don’t have time to take it easy; however, that is exactly what most seniors do. This is the state known to many seniors as senioritis.
Senioritis, described by Collegeboard.com as taking it easy during one’s senior year is Identifiable by excessive laziness, skipping class, and lack of motivation. This state of mind can have devastating effects as said by College Board.
On average, 69% of revoked admissions from colleges were due to low final grades in the 2009 admission season according to USA Today.
Many seniors develop senioritis because of the sense of completion with high school and the eagerness to move on. Seniors might even believe that they deserve to be a little lazy, because they have come so far. This ideology is not shared among all seniors.
“We’re just going to another part of life,” Says Hood, “Eighth-graders don’t deserve to get ‘Eighth-eritis’...We’re just moving on to another chapter. “
Regardless of how it is viewed, senior year is a special time for students. It has many different effects on seniors, from anxiety to excessive laziness. The ever-looming and quickly-approaching idea of graduating is the essence of being a senior. No matter what the next chapter is for students, being a senior marks the end of this one.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Music Feature
I will be writing my feature on the lack of attention that is payed to contemporary film composers.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Story topic
I am doing a story on how nearing graduation and senioritis effect students.
My primary angle will be Josh Hood
My primary angle will be Josh Hood
Thursday, September 16, 2010
SAS
During a presentation to the newly formed adventure club, teacher Duane Roberson showed a short video of a rafting competition that he and 5 other experienced guides raced in. Roberson gave insight to questions asked by his students
"Well, sometimes you watch the show, sometimes you are the show." Roberson said, responding to a question about a particular indecent where his boat, a 14 foot NRS, shot over a 12 foot waterfall. Though they made it through without incidence, Duane thought he gave himself a minor stress fracture.
"Well, sometimes you watch the show, sometimes you are the show." Roberson said, responding to a question about a particular indecent where his boat, a 14 foot NRS, shot over a 12 foot waterfall. Though they made it through without incidence, Duane thought he gave himself a minor stress fracture.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Journal entries
9.7
Having recently separated with his girlfriend, Josh had a day with his friends to raise his spirits.
"My friends Arthur and Kenny wanted to cheer me up, so we decided to have a nerd day.We wanted to watch all 6 star wars movies and have a halo tournament"
9.9
Direct quote:
Talking about the beginning of his career, Ice T said," I would go to clubs and I would rhyme to get attention"
Paraphrase:
Ice T covered the topic of excelling in life and said that the correct way to get ahead is to go to school and get an education.
Having recently separated with his girlfriend, Josh had a day with his friends to raise his spirits.
"My friends Arthur and Kenny wanted to cheer me up, so we decided to have a nerd day.We wanted to watch all 6 star wars movies and have a halo tournament"
9.9
Direct quote:
Talking about the beginning of his career, Ice T said," I would go to clubs and I would rhyme to get attention"
Paraphrase:
Ice T covered the topic of excelling in life and said that the correct way to get ahead is to go to school and get an education.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Story of Me
This is Nico Osorio. Nico is like any other high school senior. Nico has graduation and college on his mind and is slowly advancing through the process of growing up. But Nico is not concerned solely about graduation nor college; not about his grades or even class in general. Nico has much bigger issues to deal with than a typical senior would.
The first thing that strikes you about Nico is his eyes. His stare is the kind that demands attention; the kind that you can feel burning through you. It is the kind that can be altered with the slightest of change in his expression. It is a gaze that can break you down and then, with the slightest alteration, build you back up again. Nico’s seemingly inconspicuous eyes seem like any other set of eyes at first glance, lying hidden behind a pair of thick-rimmed glasses. But this is only a camouflage that keeps the secret weapon within his eyes just that, a secret weapon.
This story is about the transformation of follower to leader. The change one undergoes when introduced with responsibility. The alteration of one’s personality when given authority. It is about a kid who maybe grew up too fast; or, rather, grew up too much. It is about a student becoming a teacher and dealing with the benefits as well as the drawbacks that come with the title of “Leader”.
Who is Nico Osorio? He is what we would call a “student leader”. He is the kind of student that has really evolved somewhat into a teacher. Though still technically a student himself, he has his own students whom he has a special kind of teaching position over, for he is not bound by the mundane, tedious rules that the district-employed teachers must follow. Nico’s students, by technical standards, are really his peers; simply fellow students enrolled at his high school. But perhaps by mere power of will or by some unknown fate, Nico has become much more than just a student; he has become a leader.
It is a Tuesday afternoon on a bare field on the north end of the school. A practice for the marching band is underway. The sun is beating down hot on the band members scattered around the field. The students all study packets of paper that indicate where each student needs to be on the field. Nico stands on a 6 foot tall aluminum podium at on the sidelines. He too is studying a chart. He occasionally calls out to a student on the field to correct a positioning mistake. When everyone has found there spot, the mood seems to go stagnant; everyone is just waiting. This is when Nico addresses the band as a whole, “Everyone listen up!”. Nobody speaks.
“I want you to remember where you are now and go back to your last set. It takes you sixteen counts to get here…Go”
The band hurries back to their last position and waits for further orders. Nico calls them to attention , barking an order that has obviously been heard many times by the band. Nico begins a count and the band moves; following the steady beat, being dictated by every count. When the band reached its destination, Nico simply yells, “Go back and try it again.” It is a phrase that has been heard numerous times before during the practice and one they will surely hear many more.
Of course, what makes Nico interesting is his behavior outside of leadership. Even when not faced with pressing issues of responsibility or dealing with the routine of instructing, Nico carries an air of responsibility, a mood of discipline. It does not seem to be a switch that Nico can turn on to be a leader, but a permanent change that he has made. The simplicity of childhood seems to have left Nico early; perhaps too early.
The first thing that strikes you about Nico is his eyes. His stare is the kind that demands attention; the kind that you can feel burning through you. It is the kind that can be altered with the slightest of change in his expression. It is a gaze that can break you down and then, with the slightest alteration, build you back up again. Nico’s seemingly inconspicuous eyes seem like any other set of eyes at first glance, lying hidden behind a pair of thick-rimmed glasses. But this is only a camouflage that keeps the secret weapon within his eyes just that, a secret weapon.
This story is about the transformation of follower to leader. The change one undergoes when introduced with responsibility. The alteration of one’s personality when given authority. It is about a kid who maybe grew up too fast; or, rather, grew up too much. It is about a student becoming a teacher and dealing with the benefits as well as the drawbacks that come with the title of “Leader”.
Who is Nico Osorio? He is what we would call a “student leader”. He is the kind of student that has really evolved somewhat into a teacher. Though still technically a student himself, he has his own students whom he has a special kind of teaching position over, for he is not bound by the mundane, tedious rules that the district-employed teachers must follow. Nico’s students, by technical standards, are really his peers; simply fellow students enrolled at his high school. But perhaps by mere power of will or by some unknown fate, Nico has become much more than just a student; he has become a leader.
It is a Tuesday afternoon on a bare field on the north end of the school. A practice for the marching band is underway. The sun is beating down hot on the band members scattered around the field. The students all study packets of paper that indicate where each student needs to be on the field. Nico stands on a 6 foot tall aluminum podium at on the sidelines. He too is studying a chart. He occasionally calls out to a student on the field to correct a positioning mistake. When everyone has found there spot, the mood seems to go stagnant; everyone is just waiting. This is when Nico addresses the band as a whole, “Everyone listen up!”. Nobody speaks.
“I want you to remember where you are now and go back to your last set. It takes you sixteen counts to get here…Go”
The band hurries back to their last position and waits for further orders. Nico calls them to attention , barking an order that has obviously been heard many times by the band. Nico begins a count and the band moves; following the steady beat, being dictated by every count. When the band reached its destination, Nico simply yells, “Go back and try it again.” It is a phrase that has been heard numerous times before during the practice and one they will surely hear many more.
Of course, what makes Nico interesting is his behavior outside of leadership. Even when not faced with pressing issues of responsibility or dealing with the routine of instructing, Nico carries an air of responsibility, a mood of discipline. It does not seem to be a switch that Nico can turn on to be a leader, but a permanent change that he has made. The simplicity of childhood seems to have left Nico early; perhaps too early.
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