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James Armstrong
Jazz / Classical / Experimental

		Please enjoy the new solo piano performances ! San Jose, California United States Profile Views: 24261 Last Login: 11/29/2009
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MySpace URL:

www.myspace.com/jamesarmstrongtrio

James Armstrong: General Info

Member Since	11/11/2006
Band Website	jamesarmstrongmusic.com
Band Members	James Edmiston, bass; Andrew Wilshusen, drums
Influences	Isaac Albeniz, Béla Bartók, Ferruccio Busoni, Aldo Ciccolini, Claude Debussy, Manuel de Falla, Alicia Delarocha, Mary Dunkel, Enrique Granados, Paul Jacobs, Jeno Jandó, Olivier Messiaen, Maurice Ravel, Erik Satie, Camille Saint-Saëns, Domenico Scarlatti, Arnold Schoenberg, Jean Sibelius, Narciso Yepes; Irene Aebi, Peter Apfelbaum, Donald Byrd, Don Cherry, Sonny Clark, Ornette Coleman, Richard Davis, Kenny Dorham, David Friesen, Dexter Gordon, Henry Grimes, Don Grolnick, Herbie Hancock, Coleman Hawkins, Billy Higgins, Andrew Hill, Haybert & Stella Houston, Steve Lacy, Paul Lazarus, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan, Duke Pearson, Steve Potts, Sam Rivers, Keith Royston, George Russell, Alexander Sesonske, Woody Shaw, Horace Silver, Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Waits, Butch Warren, Lester Young
Sounds Like	live trio recording by James Edmiston / Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, June 14, 2004
Record Label	unsigned
Type of Label	Indie

Upcoming Shows

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Oct 24 2009

1:00P

OTR Studios

Belmont, California

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About James Armstrong

James Armstrong has explored concurrent paths in improvisation and modern classical music since his 1979 graduation from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Past projects include trios, quartets, and inventions for small ensembles -- volatile, labor-intensive music with a marked pantonal focus. Now working on original repertoire for solo performance.

“...He has a firm grasp of the sheer power of Monk, often slamming the keys to create a shattering dissonance...he understands the rhythmic complexities of Cecil Taylor and the intellectualism of Andrew Hill. He has used these strong influences to create a personal style, always saving room for the purity of his own fingers on the keys. It is through his touch, his feel for the instrument that he achieves his individual power...” [ Stefan Zeniuk / Jazz Now Interactive, July 2002 ]

About the Music

Update, March 16, 2009: I've just uploaded three new performances from the Rhapsody and Dedication session, recorded at OTR Studios, Belmont on March 14, 2009. All music © 2009 by James David Armstrong, Jr. (BMI).

The trio performances, which had only limited distribution in the United States, comprise the session called Out of the Underground, and represent the culmination of an intense period of study and composition, beginning in late 1998. Recorded on the spot by James Edmiston, this group debuted at the now-defunct Jazz House in Berkeley, California, on June 17, 2004.

Beijing Girl is dedicated to a friend who left a great deal behind when she came to the United States; the piece is a meditation on what was left behind. The group inventions are an expansion and collapse of the thematic cell heard at the end of the performance. Andrew has a stunning solo; an irreplaceable member of this group.

Omaggio a Busoni, which had its world debut at the Jazz House, is the most rhythmically complex piece from the period. Memories of Busoni, Bartók, and de Falla intersect in a surreal environment based on a loose pulse in 3; Andrew's appraisal of the content as "dark" was entirely accurate. The intermezzo in fifths that precedes the final cadenza is derived from flamenco, and is a memory of my childhood in Spain.

Les Accords was composed at the session, and is an exploration of the sonorities of this beautiful, 7 foot Steinway, which is among the finest in this region.

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James Armstrong's Friends Comments

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Kali. Z. Fasteau	Nov 25 2009 1:18 AM I know it's a long time since you sent this message - but still, I thank you and wish you all the best! Yours in music and peace, Kali. Z. www.KALIMUSE.com
Fabio Valdemarin	Oct 2 2009 12:24 AM Thank You James! Welcome...
Stet Lab	Oct 2 2009 12:24 AM Stet Lab begins its Year Three! October 12th 2009: featuring Folk From Hell and Tuba + Laptop Shenanigans November 10th 2009: featuring Filario Farinoppo Both events take place at 9:00 pm, upstairs @ The Roundy, Castle Street, Cork, Ireland. Up-to-date information at www.busterandfriends.com/stet/diary
Alessandra Celletti	Aug 25 2009 2:46 AM Thank You James! I'll be happy to see you in San Francisco. Kisses Alesssandra
Jessica	Jul 16 2009 1:12 AM Hi, It's nice to hear from you. Buddy and I are actually not together anymore, but it's getting to be ok. Will you let me know when your album is out? I'll look at the website, too. Take care. Jessica
Komeda Project	Jun 17 2009 5:24 PM Thanks for the request. Komeda's music lives on.
Kai Eckhardt	May 12 2009 4:53 PM Thank you James, keep rockin' it... send my love to Cookie when you see her. next Bay Area gig: Cafe du Nord, May 29 / Garaj Mahal, Alex Machacek, Lindsey Boullt / it is a mini festival. Kai
Stet Lab	Mar 30 2009 11:16 PM Stet Lab continues with two events featuring two inimitable guest artists. April 14th 2009: featuring Katie O’Looney May 11th 2009: featuring Bruce Coates Both events take place at 9:00 pm, upstairs @ The Roundy, Castle Street, Cork, Ireland. Up-to-date information at: www.busterandfriends.com/stet/diary
Stet Lab	Mar 2 2009 4:12 PM This month’s Stet Lab takes place in just over one week (Tuesday, March 10th), upstairs @ The Roundy, Cork, Ireland. The event will feature the debut of a live electro-acoustic group, the R.E.A.L. Ensemble. [Details…] Also performing will be guitarist Han-earl Park who last performed solo in Cork almost exactly a year ago. [Listen…]
John Fritzell	Feb 20 2009 6:22 PM That passage is really something isn't it? Sort of deadpan, yet not:) Hope you are doing good there... Salutes! John
Stet Lab	Feb 2 2009 3:03 AM Hey James, Thanks for reading/listening. Let us know if you’re ever in this part of the world. Best, Han
John Fritzell	Jan 14 2009 8:00 PM James, Just floating in to say hello, any more Busoni homages coming from you? Let me know if you need some of his music, I have it all, and a lot as pdf. Hope you are well. Salutes! John
Frédéric Paul Lallet	Jan 3 2009 12:43 PM My Dear Friend, With all my Love and Support, Cheers, Frédéric
Frédéric Paul Lallet	Dec 22 2008 8:55 PM Cheers, Frédéric....
John Fritzell	Sep 25 2008 2:31 PM Hello James, Yes, I have it all, and play his music every day. Really good to discover and hear your homage. Great! In.spir.ation! John
Alessandra Celletti	Aug 14 2008 6:08 PM Hide and Seek... :-)
Frédéric Paul Lallet	May 30 2008 7:21 AM James, Keep up the good work!!! Cheers Frédéric
Ana Maria	Apr 13 2008 8:40 PM Hi there, James, thank you so much for inviting me, is an honour to have such a performer as you on my profile. I always loved the piano and started when I was 6 years old. Today I play drums in a band, the Black Widows, gothic music. Big turn around, still I have my 150 years old french piano that I truly adore and always will kiss to you and all the best in life Respect and Peace
Industrial Jazz Group	Mar 8 2008 10:27 AM Hey James -- Great to hear from you after all this time! The band is sounding terrific -- glad to hear of your "re-emergence." (I had no idea you grew up in Spain, BTW...) I'll actually be up your way with the band in late March (March 28 in Oakland, at 21 Grand) -- come out if you have the time! In any case, stay in touch... cheers Andrew
misha	Mar 4 2008 4:27 PM Hello from Belgrade. I spent some months in Berkeley - Virginia St. in two occasions. I played with John Handy at "Raselas" S.F. back in 1989.
Duke Pearson	Jan 14 2008 3:38 AM You're welcome. I felt he needed to have a presence here. I'm glad you enjoy it. Also check out: http://www.myspace.com/juliuswatkinsjazz
Sara Lenzi	Jan 10 2008 6:11 PM Grazie James, for the req...interesting rhytm' pot...e Forza Obama from Italy! S.
John L. Worley Jr	Jan 4 2008 4:31 PM Thanks for writting James. Yes, I do play free jazz. I did alot of it from high school (1973) till now. Different ways of course. Let's talk sometime and play. It would be fun. John
Charles Bowen Sr.	Dec 20 2007 7:57 PM Happy Holidays James. All the best to you and yours. Charles
Alessandra Celletti	Sep 15 2007 4:36 PM I would like to see your performance in december! :-)...

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