Yesterday morning I had a flood of ideas entering my head about jazz piano. A full blown post in my head. Video clips, music clips, explanatory text, etc. So much that I thought I had better not commit it to one post but a planned series. What better idea than to pace things out and have continuous content, right? Of course I needed to get to work and it was getting on the late side. This morning (Saturday) I get up. I have no idea what the F$$k I was thinking about

Wish a happy 58th birthday to my brother. He is not too active now due to ill health but is one of the best to ever play. I knew it first hand of course. As is usual per this time of year I am on vacation right now with limited access to my usual blogging tools. However I will be doing a follow up blog with the last installment of the”Blast from the Past” recordings from our 1996 Birdland gig that included Doug, myself and the late Dennis Irwin on bass. Cheers Jon

Today marks what would have been his 87th year had he lived. His birthday sneaks up on me because it’s two days before mine. He is still with me all the time.

Here’s another audio track pulled from that same October 1996 gig at Birdland. 2nd tune of the night, Doug’s minor blues foot-tapper, “Something’s Up” from an album of the same name.

This was audio recording of Doug’s triumphant return gig in NYC at Birdland, October 1996 that he and I played together. It was a blast. I was hoping to clean up the audio a bit but I think it’s about as good as it can be given the source tape. Several guitarists in the audience as you expect! We kicked off the set of an arrangement I did of Dad’s “Motion” (originally for Joe Cohn’s record Two Funky People)

The evening prior to the Raney Legacy gig in Boston was accompanied by this radio interview on WBZ with host Jordan Rich. Although late at night, I’m told the program broadcasts to 12 states and parts of Canada. As this was my first interview on radio I’m happy to say it went pretty well and Jordan the host, in addition to being a class act made it quite easy for me. Hopefully this kind of thing will continue as the Raney Legacy project is indeed important for me and fans alike. We talked about my Dad, some family history and the gig. To hear the interview click here: WBZ-Jordan-Rich-Show-JRaney

This week I am off from my day gig and in Boston University area for my daughter’s graduation. I’m so proud of her. In celebration of it I’m coming out of my retirement from music to celebrate the Raney family legacy. I will performing in a local club called the Lilypad in the Cambridge area in Boston on May 17th (Last night I caught local saxophonist emeritus George Garzone and an old friend, trumpeter Phil Grenadier in a quintet there).  The 2 set gig will feature the music of Jimmy, Doug and Jon Raney as well as standards made famous by Jimmy.  For you nightbirds, I have radio interview scheduled…

Below is a video of a gig I was on made by the saxophonist Tony Heath along with his wife, vocalist Kate Scott at the Spotlight Cafe (part III of III) in Jan 1994. The bassist is my pal Ed Fuqua and drummer Joe Smith.The film is both an homage to Tony Heath’s Mom and a little slice of life in the NYC clubs as well as our playing at the time. This former folk cafe became Caliban and then folded by 1996 I believe.

One of the things that I consider a personal privilege is to have been able to see and hear my father, Jimmy Raney live. He always had this ability to hook you in – it’s a difficult talent to describe – where you are hanging on every note waiting for something great to happen. It’s something that only can be shared now via the few videos available I have posted and segmented on my YouTube channel. There are tons of dedication YouTube videos out there where free album tracks are posted under the gray area of “fair” or “educational” use of both Dad and Doug. (As if Spotify artist thousandth…

It’s been a few weeks since Jim’s death and I was shocked when I heard about this. I wanted to write about it sooner but honestly was looking for just the right thing to say. But I think I do now.