Listen "Paul McKee Returns!"
Episode Synopsis
Video Version Can Be Found Here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv8yhsfJuFzth_3JaGx6sc561I_kFZMAYIn this episode, I bring back my dear friend Paul McKee to go deep into his composition and arranging persona which has generated some of the most enjoyable and iconic works in the modern large jazz ensemble cannon of today.We go into SO much, in fact , that I've generated a helpful time stamp outline below so that you can surf around and snack on all the goodness at your leisure. Below the time stamp list you'll also find some links for a few of the things we discussed.So dive on in and have fun!Some links from the show: Paul's Impact: https://www.colorado.edu/music/2025/03/13/impact-influence-jazz-polymath-paul-mckee"Here's to Life" Shirley Horn (a McKee Go-To Recording) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ8tozU5JIIThad Jones Mel Lewis "Consummation" (Another McKee Go-To Album) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHFVQLjwXPE&list=PLm4I8tP6UbWawkiCStUlMGEmUGoqGpQJ1The Individualism of Gil Evans (Another Got-to McKee Recording) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAdT7NAFiSw00:00 Intro00:54 Introducing Paul McKee!02:16 Enjoying Retirement03:48 The Composition Discussion Begins04:06 How and When Did Paul Begin Writing?06:45 Paul’s First Big Band Chart (Studying with Hank Levy at the Stan Kenton Jazz Camp)09:18 Paul’s Earliest Writing Years — Learning by Asking10:28 In the Days of Pencil and Paper14:38 Writing in College16:46 Paul’s Early Influences in Writing 22:05 Playing and Writing: Two Sides of the Same Coin27:57 Norman Returns!29:07 Paul Talks About the Writing Process6:37 The Tsunami vs the Narrative39:44 Paul Takes the WIESTWORLD Inquisition!56:25 INTERMISSION57:12 Discussion: “Bitter Jug”01:04:27 Performance: “Bitter Jug”01:10:20 Discussion: “The Messenger”01:17:25 Performance: “The Messenger”01:28:12 Discussion: “Higher Ground” (Stevie Wonder)01:35:04 Performance: “Higher Ground”01:42:15 Discussion: “Naima” (John Coltrane)01:50:35 Performance: “Naima”01:57:51 The Powerhouse Wrap-Up!
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