This site is dedicated to the great SCOTT BAKER. Bake, you ARE the greatest! I miss you man!
Mr. Josef Zawinul has passed away. He was one of the most important and influencial musicians of the post-bop era to the present, and one of my biggest musical influences. The world of creative music will miss you beyond words Joe!
Excerpt from "Northern Lights" performed by the Brian Derek quartet 11-26-07. Music copyright 2007 Starbass Music BMI.
In conjunction with Joe..s passing on 9-11-2007 and the 20 year anniversary of Jaco..s passing, I have uploaded some photo..s of the benefit for Jaco that I was part of in Ft. Lauderdale on 9-21-1987. We ( Pat Metheny, Peter Erskine, Jaco..s father Jack, Randy Bernsen and myself) performed music that Jaco recorded with Pat (Bright Size Life) and other bebop tunes. The other photo..s are of the wake at Tracy..s house with Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter, Peter Erskine, Metheny and Jaco..s brothers Greg and Rory and other relatives and family.
Brian Derek, born August 25, 1957 in Detroit. Much later: headed to Boston from Detroit in 1976 and studied at Berklee and started gigging in new england with The Brubeck Bros and legendary jazz guitarist Mike Stern. He also studied arranging, composition, orchestration and performance focusing on the fretless Fender bass.
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Excerpt from "The Golden Section" performed by the Brian Derek Trio 5-6-06. Music copyright 2007 Starbass Music BMI.
It was during one of those times he was gigging in FL that Brian met the two brothers of bass legend and freak of nature Jaco Pastorius. ["Ill never forget the first night I met those guys, Rory and Greg. They walked in to the club I was working in Melbourne Beach, the Wine Gallery and I thought one of them was Jaco! So i..m thinking cripes!, Jaco..s here tonight, oh man! It turned out it was jaco..s bros. We hung out all night after the gig for months. Greg is a very creative artist working with paper mache and drawing/painting while Rory was singing and writing thought-provoking rock and funk tunes. We recorded a cd "Rock Michaels Pastorius" - "The Warning" in 1986.]
["In September 1987, while on the road with the Essential Trio in Illinois. I was using my Acoustic 360 (Jaco would rent this amp everytime he came thru Chicago), and on the last gig before heading back to Chi-town, my amp started howling and feeding back in a most eerie /freaky/ ghostly way during a bass solo. That was the day Jaco passed away. On the road back I heard the news on the radio and when I arrived home there was a message from Rory telling me what..s goin.. on and suggesting that I fly down and take part in the benefit for Jaco and families. Getting the opportunity to play with and meet Peter Erskine was such an honor. I was blown away at how nice a guy he was and I..m sure he could see that I was a bit dazed at what was happening (the funeral for Jaco and playing a benifit etc). Needless to say there..s alot more to this story. "]
Since the passing of Joe Zawinul, I have a little story: I had the great pleasure of meeting Joe at the time of Jaco..s death in Ft. Lauderdale. We hung out and I..ll never forget his gruff, playful nature. I didn..t get a chance to play music with him, but we sparred around and him with his austrian accent saying "oh I..m going to kick your ass" etc. He was big fun! I caught him in Chicago a few times after that. One of the funniest things was on the front of his chartered tour bus, the sign read: schouzyertitz! I..m standing there trying to figure out what it meant, then it hit me. I fell out laughing with Joe on the street corner! That guy was something else. He will be sorely missed musically and personally. Love you Joe. Peace!
Bass solo excerpt from "Time Line" performed by the Brian Derek quartet 11-26-07. Music copyright 2007 Starbass Music BMI.
Brian is an electric bass virtuoso. Currently performing and teaching fretless bass,jazz harmony/theory and recording and leading a jazz quartet/trio. He likes to use mainly fretless and fender basses on the gig. Always looking for a gig, Brian prides himself at being a chameleon. Able to play with authenticity, just about any style of electric bass playing. Prefering jazz of course! He is also a first-rate improviser. Improvisation being at the forefront of Bri..s musical interests and abilities..
A brief list of names that Brian has worked or played with over the years: Jay McShann, Peter Erskine, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny,Stephen Stills,The Brubeck Bros.,Joe Beck,5th Dimension,Neil Sedaka,The Platters, Your name here, etc....... width="425" height="350" ..
Excerpt bass solo from "Charade" performed by the Brian Derek Trio 5-6-06.
A note to listeners: The tracks "Time Line"-bass solo, "The Golden Section" and "Charade"-bass solo in the standalone player are audio files taken from the video (which are both featured in their entirety) on this site!
Feel free to leave a message or comment. Thanks!
Tibetan stanza:
Prolong not the past
Invite not the future
Alter not your innate wakefulness
Don..t fear appearances
There is nothing more than that
