"PeaceTime" - solo "The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers" - with BILL FRISELL; "Hybrids" - The Ripple Effect (FODAY MUSA SUSO; MARLUI MIRANDA; JOHN SURMAN; BIG AL; BEN SURMAN); "Music from the Hearts of the Masters" - with FODAY MUSA SUSO; "Music in the Key of Om" - solo
Due to Jack's extremely busy schedule he does not offer Drum lessons. He does however have training
books and Videos/DVDs available. Please visit the store section of www.jackdejohnette.com for more information
Statement from Jack:
Happy New World to All!
I know I haven’t been responding much to your great and touching comments and I apologize for that. As most of you know my schedule is pretty intense and I am also not the greatest at communicating, except in and about music. But it is important for me to acknowledge the wonderful feelings that you all express in your messages, they inspire me to continue to do what I do knowing that you are listening.
In the spirit of the enormous change that we have all witnessed recently, meaning of course the election of Barack Obama and all he represents to the world, I feel moved to say some words about how I feel about it all.
I feel that his most important message is Unity – Unity for all. This is something that I have always believed in no matter what others were saying or doing. As musicians we know that when we play with others if there isn’t a common commitment to giving ourselves over to the creative process and letting go of the ego, then it doesn’t flow and it becomes hard work. When everyone has the same purpose, I know that it flows effortlessly and we can then move into the realm of letting go, knowing that you are supported by everyone and everything around you and the music can then take on its own magic, this has been consistent throughout my life and career, no matter who or what kind of musical situations I have been playing in.
For such a long time now we have not been able to visualize the world the way we believe it should be, it has been frustrating on many levels, at times looking impossible, but now we are being given the opportunity to create the kind of world that we have been dreaming of. It is time to activate that vision!
We must all now take the responsibility towards creating a better world for ourselves and future generations. Let us take inspiration from the courage of the Obama family.
On a personal note, I have an exciting time coming up. My label Golden Beams is coming out with a great trio CD, ‘Music We Are’ a cooperative venture with Danilo Perez and John Patitucci, something we have talked about doing for a long time. It will be released on April 7, 2009, with select performance dates in the States in support of the release.
My relaxation CD ‘Peace Time’ just won a GRAMMY in the New Age category. I will be embarking on a tour with “The Ripple Effect,” a collaborative project (‘Hybrids’ was the name of the album) with John Surman, Ben Surman, Marlui Miranda and Jerome Harris. There will of course be dates with Keith Jarrett and Gary Peacock, and finally a project that I am re-inventing with new people and new music called “Fifth World.
Fifth World will cover some of the music from the CD that was put out awhile back, as well as some new inspiration that is coming through. The nucleus of the group will be Jerome Harris and David Fiuczynski, but there will be horns, as well, in different situations. This group was named after being inspired by a Native American teacher I had, Grandmother Twylah Nitsch; her vision was that we have moved into the Fifth World, a world of truth and integration…she would have loved Barack Obama.
If you go to my website, www.jackdejohnette.com, you will see video and audio of some of the fantastic projects that I have been involved with in the last couple of years.
It is my sincere wish for all on the planet to find peace and wellbeing.
Jack DeJohnette
February 2009
For more information, please visit www.jackdejohnette.com.
