As I reflect on the loss of my brother for the second year, I have an even greater realization on how much he impacted the lives of people fortunate enough to hear him live, play with and to hang with him.
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Happy Birthday Jimmy Raney 2017
At this time of year when the many Raney birthday’s emerge: James Raney (Doug’s son): Aug 3rd Jimmy Raney: Aug 20 Jon Raney: Aug 22 Talia Raney (My daughter): Aug 26 Doug Raney: Aug 29 What is it about August? It makes me reflect on my family, our lives, our legacy and what all of us will do for the remainder of it. Jimmy Raney continues to be a guiding light and inspiration to many, dumbfoundingly underappreciated (also by many) and a bar of musical achievement that may never be reached by anyone in the future. Still, in the time I have left on this earth there is still much…
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Happy Birthday Doug Raney
It’s still hard to believe he’s gone less than 4 months. All of us his family, friends and fans still mourn his passing. But let us mark this moment on Doug’s date of birth with the joy and excitement he gave all of us. Listen to your favorite record and groove to one of his great solos. I’m on a vacation right now as per usual at end of August. Working on a transcription of Doug’s ultra-swinging solo to The Touch of Your Lips. 1 chorus done so far. This is the entry music to the website as most of you know. Should be finished up and made available as…
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Happy Birthday Jimmy Raney 2016
Hey Folks, In this year’s homage to my father, jazz master Jimmy Raney (1927-1995) I address a few issues at once. First, “Happy Birthday Dad!”(I am now waving up to him) Second, The Jimmy Raney book. (I am now looking down at the floor, sheepishly) So, those of you that know me, waited patiently as I hinted and hinted on this book and it never came to pass. AND—
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Ever Had One of Those Technology Scream Days?
Sometimes I think technology is out to get me… Seriously:) So my phone is really messed up. It’s clicking on its own, dialing people, enabling programs, and moving my little shortcuts to places unknown. After fighting with Verizon to get me a replacement phone, I’m trying to deal with getting some local files off the phone that I’m going to lose when I replace it. Problem is – like many people affected by the recent Android Marshmallow update, file transfer mode is disabled now and there is nothing that can be done to get this phone to switch to anything other than charge mode.
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The Aftermath of Doug Raney’s Passing
It’s been over 6 weeks since my brother’s passing and although there is still the unreality of Doug really being gone, I do feel acceptance setting in and life – more or less – returning to normal. All the ideas I had that I discussed with Doug: of helping turn his life around, fixing his teeth, finally getting to do a recording with him, devoting a page where he could answer to his fans and give music tips, now all of this is impossible. So what now? And now the question facing me is, what do I do with my life? And when I refer to life what is the thing that it…
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Doug Raney Memorial
It is difficult to describe my feelings of grief adequately in words. What is going through my mind evolves from minute to minute. I cry suddenly thinking about an unresolved regret or hearing Doug’s beautiful passionate guitar tone and phrasing on a recording. I laugh suddenly at something I remembered Doug saying. Or I sit in silence contemplating what I must do while I’m here in Denmark to bring Doug’s passing to a proper close for those close to him.
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Goodbye My Brother
Doug Raney (1956-2016) Doug was a very private person. My nature is (was) to protect him from public scrutiny and the airing of all the things that happened to him in his life. Obviously, this is just not realistic. News travels at the speed of light in our day and age so many of you have heard the news. It is unfortunately true.
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World’s Greatest Dad… T-Shirt? Cool new souvenir for jazz guitarist fans
Most sons think their Dads are the greatest. The tallest, the smartest, etc. I remember one kid I knew back in Louisville who used to say, “My day-yad is taller than ‘nyone. He’s six-tway-elve”. Now I remember the kid’s father. Pretty tall but he wasn’t Shaq, ok? The important thing I guess was that he felt like he was. Now of course me, I always thought my Dad was the world’s best guitarist, by a mile. Thing was though, he was and plenty of people, unrelated to me – from novice guitarists to his famous peers – believed he was. Imagine that for a kid. And they still say it. Incredible. And he is…
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Blast from the Past: Creating Jazz Lines
As a prologue (or epilogue given prior post?) I have to admit that I’m by nature more of a intuitive when it comes to thinking about solos. Plus it’s kind of in my DNA. That said, below is one thing I did work on and think about in terms of architecture. I think it may help as an organizing principle if nothing else for students receiving and not too happy with the “you’ll just hear it” advice.