First of December: Bryan's Journey…

“neversaynever” commented on my blog about my post. I thought it was dope.

“MJ never seemed like the kind of person that could, you know, die. To be honest, he never really registered in my consciousness as being a person; Michael Jackson was the androgynous sexual panic of “Billie Jean,” the breathless seduction of “P.Y.T.,” the thrilling kitsch of “Thriller,” the chattering afro-popisms of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” The idea that he had a human body, one that needed food and air and sleep, never really clicked in my mind. But then again, I guess that’s to be expected. I mean, how can a mere human being really be thought to be capable of creating something as monstrous, as mechanical, as all-encompassing, and as awesome as Thriller? This kid wasn’t the king of pop; he was the whole damn kingdom. And we, the audience, are not his loyal subjects; we’re just reading the travel brochures”

God. Love. Life. Music. [R.I.P. MJ]
-BMC

Words cannot express how I am feeling right now. He was definitely a 1 of 1. Thanks Mike.

-BMC

Check out the first episode of The Studio Exposed. Finally. And make sure you go on http://www.stickam.com/natpenexttv/listing.do?cat=long%20form and vote for Breht, Fred, & I. Trying to win this competition!!!

I know I haven’t blogged in a few days but I have been helping Sam & Rick rebuild my production room. It’s not complete yet but I can work now. Here are a few pics.

God. Love. Life. Music.
-BMC

Sometimes you have to re-create the vibe in your space. I had become stagnant in my production room so, Sam, Rick, & Mac tore my room apart and they are putting it back together, and I must say it’s looking good. This is where we are with the construction. When we are done with this room, we are going to re work the office and turn that into a lounge. Then take that back room and re-work that one. I will post pics as we finish up.

God. Love. Life. Music.
-BMC

If you have been following my blogs this past year, you know my affection for Nike Dunks. Dopeness.

God. Love. Life. Music.
-BMC

“Don’t Leave (Goodbye Love Remix)” BlackSTREET [Interscope Records]
Remix Produced by Teddy Riley for New Jack Swing Productions, Inc.

This is a remix from their multi platinum album “Another Level”. It borrows Guy’s [Teddy's first group with Aaron Hall] “Goodbye Love”. I know I do a lot of blogs about Teddy Riley but I can’t help it. This nigga is one of the coldest to ever do it! You know you a cold when you remix a song you produced with another song that you produced and it sounds damn near better than the original. Wow. Check out how Teddy uses the “talk box” [not auto tune, you have to be able to play the keyboard or guitar to use the talk box. Big ups to my man K-Fam] to add textures to the backgrounds and his adlibs. Dopeness.

God. Love. Life. Music. [& The New Jack Swing]
-BMC

The occasion for these recordings was a special concert presented on June 29, 1976 at New York’s City Center, by George Wein as part of the Newport Jazz Festival. Originally termed a “Retrospective of The Music of Herbie Hancock” its purpose was not so much to pay tribute to one musician, but to enable a group of great musicians to get together and play. In actuality, this started out as a tribute to Miles Davis [Herbie's mentor, and the band that he started with in the 60's] But at the time Miles was recouping from surgery and hadn’t played his horn for close to a year, so there was no way he was going to pick up his horn and start playing. That was a physical impossibility. The idea was to bring the past up to date. from the 60’s to 1976. So of course he started with the original band he started with minus Miles.

The personnel were:
Ron Carter: Bass
Freddie Hubbard: Trumpet
Wayne Shorter: Tenor and Soprano Sax
Tony Williams: Drums
Herbie Hancock: Yamaha Electric Grand Piano

Then he moved on to the sextet he used from 1969-1973. The personnel were:
Mwile Bennie Maupin: Alto Flute
Jabali Billy Hart: Drums
Mganga Eddie Henderson: Trumpet, Flugelhorn & Effects
Pepo Julian Priester: Tenor & Bass Trombone
Mchezaji Buster Williams: Bass
Mwandishi Herbie Hancock: Rhodes Electric Piano, Yamaha Electric Grand Piano, Hohner D6 Clavinet

And at the time his current band, which he considered “funk”, but of course the influences were vast! The personnel were:
Paul Jackson: Electric Bass
James Levi: Drums
Bennie Maupin: Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax, Lyricon
Kenneth Nash: Percussion
Ray Parker Jr.: Guitar
Wah Wah Watson: Guitar, Maestro Universal Synthesizer System, Maestro Sample & Hold, Voice Bag
Herbie Hancock: Rhodes Electric Piano, Yamaha Electric Grand Piano, Arp Odyssey, Arp String Ensemble, Hohner D6 Clavinet, Micro-Moog, Oberheim Polyphonic Synthesizer, Echoplex, Countryman Phase Shifter, Cry Baby Wah Wah

I bought this album in Denmark last year. I never knew it exsisted [so what, better late than never!!]. If you have a chance to pick up this album, make sure you do. It is an incredible montage of music and musicians!!!

God. Love. Life. Music. [& VSOP]
-BMC

A brief but introspective interview with an artist I have always admired since her Groove Theory days. Check it out. Love, love, love her.

God. Love. Life. Music.
-BMC

I am just amazed that I can blog from my iPhone now!

God. Love. Life. Music. [& Technology]
-BMC