Alain Caron & Chateau La Tour de Bessan Margaux

I’m going to take a break from the blues and move to something equally near and dear to my heart, namely great bass playing. Alain Caron is a French Canadian jazz bassist who first picked up the instrument at the age of 11. Three years later, he discovered jazz and was hooked on the genre. He started out as a self-taught musician, learning primarily through correspondence courses, but later attended the Berklee School of Music. He returned to Montreal, joining the group UZEB and focused on “jazz-fusion with a melody.” UZEB released 10 albums and toured internationally until 1993 when Caron went solo and released the first of seven solo albums. More recently, in 2007, the University of Quebec bestowed an honorary doctoral degree on him, and he is the only musician to ever receive the honor. He was ranked the No.1 bass player for 10 straight years by the magazine The Jazz Report. Most importantly, he’s one of my favorites.

  

Slam the clown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkOYGlI-zoo

Turkey loose on the kit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5uin7Clzs4 

1-4-U: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ8jzp1WbU0

D-Code: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2rKGbausl0

Uzeb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY6Fgda55NQ

Pole position: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT7mXkW1qx8

Freedom Jazz Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8DHbv1i2ug

All blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8Qd6yWPWhQ

I.C.U.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaqSo154uN0

Little Miss Match: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vDKMkpz6z0

Devil Shuffle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhhBsph3Ikk

No Way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqbIjrdMoo4

Fat Cat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHYqu9fzZsI

Flight of the beebop bee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwiM7mbLz_k

Sitting here watching a spring blizzard from my home office window made me think I need a hefty wine for the evening. So I recommend a fantastic bargain, if you can find it. I bought the 2009 Chateau La Tour de Bessan Margaux ($19.00) from PJ’s wine (www.pjwine.com). It has wonderful aromas of blackberries, blueberries, and violets. The taste is full of dark berries, crème de cassis, and a bit of peppery spice. The tannins don’t overpower (a characteristic I prefer) and slide smoothly into a long finish. I like this wine so much, I think I’m going to open a bottle this afternoon and sit by the fire proofreading my latest novel while I listen to the music of a fantastic bassist. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Alain Caron & Chad Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

I feels like this week just keeps dragging on and on, so who better to kick us through the last two days of the week than one of my favorite bassists, namely the Canadian Alain Caron. Alain’s career took off when he won an amateur music contest at the age of 11. At the age of 14 he discovered jazz, the musical style that became his passion in life.

In 1977, he began playing with a group of musicians who eventually formed the super fusion band UZEB. The group called Montreal its home and Alain began doing side work as a studio musician and jamming in jazz clubs when the group was idle. Eventually, this self-taught musician found his way to Boston’s Berklee School of Music where he performed nightly with the likes of David Kikovsky, Tom Harrell, Sal Nestico, Frank Tiberi, Jerry Bergonzi, and Bob Moses.

He returned to Montreal to focus mainly on UZEB as the group gradually evolved into a more mature band, playing sophisticated fusion. Between 1981 and 1990 UZEB recorded ten albums and sold over 400,000 copies, performing concerts in more than 20 countries.

Caron has toured with Mike Stern, Frank Gambale, Biréli Lagrène, Didier Lockwood, Tiger Okoshi, Billy Cobham, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Dennis Chambers, Alex Acuna, Don Alias and Gino Vannelli performing concerts in more than 30 countries

In 2007 The University of Quebec, awarded him an honorary doctorate and he is the only musician to have ever received this honor. As of today, Alain has released more than 20 records, solo or with the group UZEB as well as 25 recordings with collaborators or as a guest artist. He was ranked Best Bass player for 10 years in the row by magazine The Jazz Report. I could go on and on, but I think his music says it all. Enjoy!

Turkey loose:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5uin7Clzs4

No left turn on Tuesday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Vbc4MOsq0&feature=related

Signal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1mhfXJp-y4&feature=related

Slam the clown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bu8TVgRJtk&feature=related

D-Code: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL1Vc5-YHh4&feature=related

Solitude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ZuraldENM&feature=related

Trouble: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxwU0T52aY4&feature=related

Feel the bass day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR-oOUFWzxE&feature=related

Grand Café: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92j-4PSjd6g&feature=related

Cross Checking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4c_BlnZHVg&feature=related

The Bump: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-XoF9P9Cm4&feature=related

Donna Lee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK4Z1JFUX-g&feature=related

I’m pairing Alain with a 2009 Chad Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from Napa Valley. Chad makes spectacular Cab’s and this one is especially good. The deep purple wine explodes with a bouquet of raspberry and boysenberry. It’s dense on the attack with lots of purple fruit, cassis, and supple tannins.  I bought a case of it thinking it would last through the winter. It won’t. It’s a wonderful pick-me-up for a dreary week, especially paired with the music of Alain Caron. Enjoy!

Cheers!