Mark Dresser Quintet: Nourishments

Mark Dresser Quintet: Nourishments

Personnel:
Denman Maroney (p), Mark Dresser (b), Michael Dessen (tb), Michael Sarin (d), Rudresh Mahanthappa (as), Tom Rainey (d),

Just letting everyone know that my dear friend Mark Dresser has a new cd out! Above you'll find a link to a wonderful review on "All About Jazz" by Robert Bush.
I haven't heard the recording yet, but I did hear the group live and they were fantastic.

Here's the info from Clean Feed....

A singularly accomplished bass innovator in the fields of jazz, free improvisation and new music, Mark Dresser has devoted himself in recent years to pushing the capacities of solo bass performance even further. In “Nourishments,” his first quintet recording in almost two decades, he shifts his attention back to another longtime creative commitment, ensemble exploration with a team of master improvisers possessing unmistakable sounds. Featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa, Michael Dessen, Denman Maroney, and, in turns, Tom Rainey or Michael Sarin--all leaders in their own right and players deeply versed in Dresser’s music--the quintet delves headlong into his richly suggestive compositions. More than anything, Dresser creates vehicles for beautifully modulated interaction via counterpoint, cyclical organization, timbre sculpting, and all the unexpected combinations of pitch and noise or meter and texture. He developed several pieces with trombonist Michael Dessen while they were in different cities through telematics, fiber optic-facilitated remote performances that have opened up new astounding new possibilities for international collaborations. By whatever means, “Nourishments” is the work of artists who connect musically, emotionally and intellectually with unusual power and grace. This is it!

4th Year Anniversary of Cancer Surgery

Today is my 4th year anniversary of my cancer surgery. On this day I went into Englewood Hospital at around 7AM, accompanied by my son. Rev Carolyn Keith, my dear friend Karin O'Connell and my son's friend (also mine) James White. What followed you can read on this blog, but for the important part I will quote my wonderful oncologist Dr Forte who said "you walked into the hospital in stage IV cancer, and you left in stage 0"!
Once again, I want to thank everyone for your support then and the support that you continue to give me! You have all played a part in my recovery and my return to the music..I will be forever grateful to all of you.

I've already started the celebrations!
Part 1
I just made my mother's famous recipe called "No Bake Cookies" which are now called the "It's You Cookies". We call them that because as I was making them during the Thanksgiving Holiday in 2002, a tune came into my head, complete with lyrics...which I now call "It's You". I recorded it in December of 2002 with the soulful singer Marguerita Page, drummer Duncan Moore, bassist Rob Thorsen, guitarist Peter Sprague and percussionist Will Parsons, and it is on my new cd "Diane Moser WDMO". The cd will soon be up on my website and CDBaby, but in the meantime you can go to....http://dianemoser.bandcamp.com/

These are super easy to make and are sooooo delicious!
here's the recipe...

“It’s You” Cookies

1 cup coconut

3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

3 tablespoons cocoa

1 stick oleo or butter

2 cups white sugar

½ cup milk

6 oz. package chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix coconut, oatmeal and cocoa in large mixing bowl. Melt oleo in medium pan, add sugar and milk. Cook, stirring, but do not boil. Add chocolate chips, stir; add vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients, stir, then drop spoonfuls on wax paper, put in refrigerator for 20 mins or so. Adapted from Ardith Moser’s No-Bake Cookies recipe

Part 2

I get to perform with 2 of my favorite musicians tonight, bassist Andy Eulau and drummer Scott Neumann on a concert at Luna Stage Theater Co. in West Orange, NJ in a tribute to my former teacher, the amazing Jaki Byard. I've written about my experiences with Jaki on my new website...http://dianemosermusic.com/2013/02/09/diane-moser-trio-tribute-to-jaki-byard/

There are a few posts about Jaki here on Flipped Kitty as well, look at the June 2012 archives and the 2 pieces about my big band performing his charts.

Meanwhile, a cool piece of news that I spotted this week

"Study Strengthens Case for Surgery After Imatinib Therapy for GIST-Nearly Double the Progression-Free Survival When Surgery Is Performed"

Of course, I did it the other way around, we had to get that 13 lb. tumor out, but I've been on 400 mg of Gleevec daily for almost 4 years now and am NED! There are side effects, and all of us on Gleevec have become quite creative in dealling with them..which we happily do because it is keeping us cancer free.

Enjoy the music...enjoy the cookies!
much love to you all,
Diane 

4 years ago today....

....while watching the historic Presidential Inauguration of our nation's first African-American president, Barack H. Obama...I received a phone call from the Jazz Foundation of America, telling me that they had found an oncologist who would work with me and the hospital where I would get my biopsy....that doctor was Dr Francis A. Forte and the hospital was Englewood Hospital, in Englewood, NJ....and I continue to see him every 3 months and continue to have cat scans done at Englewood Hospital.

This photo comes from an article about Dr. Forte and the Dizzy Gillespie Memorial Fund (Dr. Forte was Dizzy's doc!), written by my dear friend and fabulous writer Carla Baranaukas, and you can read her article here.



My visits with Dr Forte are more than about my health...we talk a lot about music! Dr Forte is a guitarist and writes cd reviews for various publications. I feel so lucky to have a doctor that I can talk to, outside of health issues..but to have an ongoing dialogue about music and the life of a musician. On my recent visit with him a few weeks ago...which I might add..everything is A.O.K (except for the weight gain..partly my fault..partly side effects of Gleevec)...he said "we have to find a way for musicians to make a decent living...to assist them in their projects...to make sure they are getting paid for all of their hard work!" Here, here Dr. Forte!!!

Dr.  Forte also funds Jazz performances in the lobby of Englewood Hospital, which I gotta tell you is something I look forward to every time I visit.  On days I have cat scans appointments, and on coming down from radiology, I'll hear the music as soon as I step off the elevator. Many times I see Ron Naspo on bass, Bob DeBenedette on piano, and Fred Stoll on drums...playing softly, but swinging!! Sometimes I stay and have lunch with them, bonus!

Other times, I'll see Calvin Hill or Lisle Atkinson on bass, and Richard Wyands on piano. Here is a photo of Calvin, Richard, guitarist Roni Ben Hur with Dr. Forte in the lobby of the hospital, and an accompanying article on The Dizzy Gillespie Memorial Fund.





So as I started watching the inauguration today, I had to come to this blog so that I could express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your help and support and prayers for rescuing me in my darkest time of need, and assisting me in my recovery. It sounds cliche, but not a day goes by that I don't give thanks to all of you, you are always on my mind and in my heart.

I also made a donation to the Jazz Foundation of America just now, and if you feel so moved to do so, I know they would greatly appreciate that. The JFA helps all musicians who are in need of medical help, financial help...recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina...food..or just someone to talk to. You can visit their website here.
Peace,
Diane