http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com en-us ℗ & © 2008 Mont Chris Hubbard Each entry is a live recording of me attempting to shorten the distance between my brain and the hammers of the piano. I sit down with an empty head and slowly construct a piece of music using the subconscious pathways in my mind. Inspired greatly by the free improvisations of Keith Jarrett. Mont Chris Hubbard Permutations of 88 is a series of piano improvisations, recorded mostly in Portland, OR, published as a blog at http://permutationsof88.blogpost.com. Each entry is a live recording of me attempting to shorten the distance between my brain and the hammers of the piano. I sit down with an empty head and slowly construct a piece of music using the subconscious pathways in my mind. Inspired greatly by the free improvisations of Keith Jarrett, these stream-of-consciousness recordings are released at least twice a week, with accompanying commentary at the website http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com. Permutations of 88 is a series of piano improvisations, recorded mostly in Portland, OR, published as a blog at http://permutationsof88.blogpost.com. Each entry is a live recording of me attempting to shorten the distance between my brain and the hammers of the piano. I sit down with an empty head and slowly construct a piece of music using the subconscious pathways in my mind. Inspired greatly by the free improvisations of Keith Jarrett, these stream-of-consciousness recordings are released at least twice a week, with accompanying commentary at the website http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com. Mont Chris Hubbard chrishubbardmusic@gmail.com - Permutations of 88 Piano Improvisations Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/2a-NovaScotia.mp3 Thu, 3 Jan 2008 2:01:00 GMT 6:06 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/2b-NewBrunswick.mp3 Thu, 3 Jan 2008 2:02:00 GMT 5:48 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/3-Quebec.mp3 Thu, 3 Jan 2008 3:01:00 GMT 10:42 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/4a-Newfoundland.mp3 Sun, 6 Jan 2008 4:01:00 GMT 5:41 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/4b-Labrador.mp3 Sun, 6 Jan 2008 4:02:00 GMT 6:58 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/5a-Yukon.mp3 Wed, 9 Jan 2008 5:01:00 GMT 2:02 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/5b-NorthwestTerritories.mp3 Wed, 9 Jan 2008 5:02:00 GMT 4:16 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12042007/5c-Nunavut.mp3 Wed, 9 Jan 2008 5:03:00 GMT 6:43 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/120420076-PuertoRico.mp3 Wed, 9 Jan 2008 6:00:00 GMT 2:01 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12102007/1a-BritishColumbia.mp3 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 1:01:00 GMT 3:12 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12102007/1b-Alberta.mp3 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 1:02:00 GMT 3:34 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12102007/1c-Saskatchewan.mp3 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 1:03:00 GMT 8:06 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12102007/1d-Manitoba.mp3 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 1:04:00 GMT 6:39 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/12102007/1e-Ontario.mp3 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 1:05:00 GMT 4:30 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/1-Miranda.mp3 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 1:00:00 GMT 7:14 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/2-Beatrice.mp3 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 2:00:00 GMT 5:30 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/3a-JulietpartI.mp3 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 3:01:00 GMT 6:46 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/3b-JulietpartII.mp3 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 3:02:00 GMT 6:38 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/4-Ophelia.mp3 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 4:00:00 GMT 9:27 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/5a-Bianca.mp3 Sun, 3 Feb 2008 5:01:00 GMT 2:50 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/5b-Kate.mp3 Sun, 3 Feb 2008 5:02:00 GMT 5:50 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/6-Viola.mp3 Sun, 3 Feb 2008 6:00:00 GMT 4:56 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/7a-Hermia.mp3 Mon, 4 Feb 2008 7:01:00 GMT 5:11 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01072008/7b-Helena.mp3 Mon, 4 Feb 2008 7:02:00 GMT 5:23 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/1-Bowler.mp3 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 1:00:00 GMT 8:52 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/2-TopHat.mp3 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 2:00:00 GMT 4:29 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/3-Beret.mp3 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 3:00:00 GMT 7:21 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/4-CowboyHat.mp3 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 4:00:00 GMT 5:30 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/5-Fedora.mp3 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 5:00:00 GMT 6:21 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/6-Beanie.mp3 Sun, 2 Mar 2008 6:00:00 GMT 0:31 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/7-Deerstalker.mp3 Sun, 2 Mar 2008 7:00:00 GMT 0:31 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/8-Newsboy.mp3 Mon, 3 Mar 2008 8:00:00 GMT 3:49 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/9-Fez.mp3 Tue, 4 Mar 2008 9:00:00 GMT 4:10 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/10a-PanamaHat.mp3 Sun, 9 Mar 2008 10:01:00 GMT 4:30 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/10b-CaptainsCap.mp3 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:02:00 GMT 3:29 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/01232008/11-BaseballCap.mp3 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:00:00 GMT 5:20 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/2-LindaWertheimer.mp3 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 2:00:00 GMT 7:03 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/3-NinaTotenberg.mp3 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 3:00:00 GMT 7:34 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/1-RobertSiegel.mp3 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 1:00:00 GMT 13:58 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/4-CoreyFlintoff.mp3 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 4:00:00 GMT 2:45 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/5a-NealConan.mp3 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 5:00:00 GMT 8:48 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/5b-IraFlatow.mp3 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 5:02:00 GMT 3:01 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/6-MaraLiasson.mp3 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 6:00:00 GMT 3:50 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/7-MicheleNorris.mp3 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 7:00:00 GMT 4:08 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/8a-MadeleineBrand.mp3 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 8:01:00 GMT 5:02 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/02112008/8b-AlexChadwick.mp3 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 8:02:00 GMT 6:00 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/1-MelissaBlock.mp3 Sun, 11 May 2008 1:00:00 GMT 11:56 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/2-LakshmiSingh.mp3 Wed, 14 May 2008 2:00:00 GMT 3:37 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/3-SteveInskeep.mp3 Sun, 18 May 2008 3:00:00 GMT 6:44 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/4a-AnabelleGurwitch.mp3 Wed, 21 May 2008 4:01:00 GMT 4:06 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/4b-AlexCohen.mp3 Mon, 26 May 2008 4:02:00 GMT 7:41 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/5-MargotAdler.mp3 Wed, 28 May 2008 5:00:00 GMT 10:07 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/6-LindaGradstein.mp3 Sun, 1 June 2008 6:00:00 GMT 5:43 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/7-JackSpeer.mp3 Fri, 6 June 2008 7:00:00 GMT 11:45 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/04232008/8-NoahAdams.mp3 Fri, 20 June 2008 8:00:00 GMT 7:06 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/06112008/1-ChristinasWorld.mp3 Tue, 1 July 2008 1:00:00 GMT 11:49 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/06112008/2-IKB191.mp3 Wed, 9 July 2008 2:00:00 GMT 6:14 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/06112008/3b-Nighthawks.mp3 Thu, 18 July 2008 4:00:00 GMT 5:58 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/06112008/4-TheOrangeBlossomSpecial.mp3 Tue, 29 July 2008 4:01:00 GMT 10:38 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/06112008/5-TheEmpireBuilder.mp3 Mon, 4 Aug 2008 5:00:00 GMT 5:20 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/06112008/6-TheCaliforniaZephyr.mp3 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 6:00:00 GMT 4:26 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard A few notes about the musical interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's painting, "Wheat Field Under Threatening Skies" This was my first attempt of the day, and I started in a literal fashion — the opening chord, an upward glissando, represents the path that runs up the middle of the field. All of the repeated figures of half- and whole-step relationships are the crows, which look on the canvas much like musical ornaments. I have recently been taken with playing more chords out of root position; that is to say, leaving the root of the chord off (e.g. an F major triad with an A in the bass). You might notice a preponderance of these types of chords in many of the recordings from this session. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/08/12-august-2008-1-wheat-fields-under.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/1-WheatField-podcast.mp3 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 1:00:00 GMT 5:50 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/2-Narcissus-podcast.mp3 Mon, 1 Sep 2008 2:00:00 GMT 6:13 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/3-TheBricoleursDaughter-podcast.mp3 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 3:00:00 GMT 5:23 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard I won't say much about this one. I was affected by the stagnation apparent in the painting, and did my best to bring that out in my playing. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/09/12-august-2008-4-figures-in-landscape-1.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/4-FiguresinaLandscape1-podcast.mp3 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 4:00:00 GMT 6:56 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard As I finished interpreting Sidney Goodman's "Figures in a Landscape" the first time, I wasn't altogether satisfied. I felt like I had not done a good enough job of capturing the melancholy and foreboding that I felt in the painting. So I decided to try again. I think that my two efforts taken together are a better counterpiece to Goodman's painting. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/09/12-august-2008-5-figures-in-landscape-2.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/5-FiguresinaLandscape2-podcast.mp3 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 5:00:00 GMT 5:59 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard I thought longer than usual about how to render this painting. I decided after much contemplation to imagine this act, frozen in time in the painting, in an unusual way. Instead of the tragedy of a man burning, I wanted to focus on the spectacle of the flame. I imagined the man as a work of art himself, comprised of deeds and experiences, and tried to capture the solemn beauty of the destruction of such a piece of art. Like the best funerals, it became a celebration of life. (I noticed that this piece shares a lot with the last two minutes of "Nighthawks." I was still quite enamored with the tonalities I had discovered in that effort, and found the right opportunity to explore them further.) http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/09/12-august-2008-6-night-burn-8m05s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/6-NightBurn-podcast.mp3 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 6:00:00 GMT 8:05 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-august-2008-7-portrait-of-artist.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/7-PortraitofanArtist-podcast.mp3 Wed, 8 Oct 2008 7:00:00 GMT 3:31 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard I did not know what to do with this painting by Winslow Homer, other than to do my best to evoke the teeming, whitecapped water and the imminent violence. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-august-2008-8-gulf-stream-2m02s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/8-TheGulfStream-podcast.mp3 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 8:00:00 GMT 2:07 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard The first time I tried to channel a Thiebaud painting, I failed. This time, however, I had the image in front of me, and I must say I was much more successful. This improv is peaceful and slightly melancholy. It has a nice arc and doesn't overreach. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-august-2008-9-man-sitting-back-view.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/9-ManSitting-podcast.mp3 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 9:00:00 GMT 5:23 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard I don't think my piece fits this painting at all. It's not sleek or hip or cool. It is rumbling. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/11/12-august-2008-10-in-car-3m35s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/10-InTheCar-podcast.mp3 Sat, 1 Nov 2008 10:00:00 GMT 3:35 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard This is the last piece in my "Paintings" series. Coincidentally, the painting for the first piece was also by Andrew Wyeth - I am pleased at the symmetry. I am also pleased at how this piece turned out. I found a very interesting motif and explored it thoroughly, but I don't find it belaboured. The piece does not settle into a standard key and avoids standard cadences. It is open, cold, and harsh. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/11/12-august-2008-11-winter-1946-4m03s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/08122008/11-Winter1946-podcast.mp3 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:00:00 GMT 4:03 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard **New CD's available at montchrishubbard.com!** I really dig the rhythm in this, how the two disjointed hands mesh together to form something cohesive. You can hear, though, that at times my hands and brain could barely manage to stay together and in time. The ragged (and repetitive) nature of this piece is why it didn't make the cut for the new CD, but the energy is so great that I wanted to share it. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2008/12/1-september-2008-2-humming-bird-7m18s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/09012008/2-Humming_Bird-podcast.mp3 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 1:00:00 GMT 7:18 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard **New CD's available at montchrishubbard.com!** I love how austerely this piece begins. It is open and empty. I left the sustain pedal down for much of it, giving an extremely wet texture. It doesn't stop, either — as I throw more notes in, leaving the pedal down, they all mix together in a swirl. Unfortunately, I lose it and abort the piece at 4:35. So I suppose this is what's called an "outtake", but the beginning was too lovely not to post. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2009/03/1-september-2008-3-albatross-4m50s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/09012008/3-Albatross-podcast.mp3 Wed, 4 Mar 2009 2:00:00 GMT 4:50 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard **New CD's available at montchrishubbard.com!** Let us continue through these outtakes, these aborted takes. This one gets its overdone reverb effect from the magical middle pedal of the piano, the one that's rarely used. It is called the sostenuto pedal, it keeps raised any damper that is already raised when the pedal is depressed. This means you can sustain some notes while keeping others dry. However, I prefer to use it in a subtler manner. If a key is played softly enough, the hammer does not strike the strings, but the damper is lifted. So the strings are left ready to vibrate. When other strings in the piano are played, the wonderful phenomenon of sympathetic resonance causes some of the open strings to quietly vibrate. Only the closely related notes will ring sympathetically. That is, if I strike a C, the others C's will ring, as will some G's (not as loudly) and a few E's (quieter still). (It's a little more complicated than that, but I don't need to get all technical on you...) I like to prepare the lowest and/or highest registers of the piano, the ones that I rarely play in, and let them be the resonators. That is what you hear in these next two recordings. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2009/04/1-september-2008-4-crane-3m16s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/09012008/4a-Crane-podcast.mp3 Wed, 8 Apr 2009 4:01:00 GMT 2:36 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard **New CD's available at montchrishubbard.com!** Let us continue through these outtakes, these aborted takes. This one gets its overdone reverb effect from the magical middle pedal of the piano, the one that's rarely used. It is called the sostenuto pedal, it keeps raised any damper that is already raised when the pedal is depressed. This means you can sustain some notes while keeping others dry. However, I prefer to use it in a subtler manner. If a key is played softly enough, the hammer does not strike the strings, but the damper is lifted. So the strings are left ready to vibrate. When other strings in the piano are played, the wonderful phenomenon of sympathetic resonance causes some of the open strings to quietly vibrate. Only the closely related notes will ring sympathetically. That is, if I strike a C, the others C's will ring, as will some G's (not as loudly) and a few E's (quieter still). (It's a little more complicated than that, but I don't need to get all technical on you...) I like to prepare the lowest and/or highest registers of the piano, the ones that I rarely play in, and let them be the resonators. That is what you hear in these next two recordings. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2009/04/1-september-2008-4-crane-3m16s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/09012008/4b-Crane-II-podcast.mp3 Wed, 8 Apr 2009 4:02:00 GMT 0:38 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard Mont Chris Hubbard **New CD's available at montchrishubbard.com!** This seems to be developed from Crane II, which was recorded immediately previously. It also sounds related quite a bit to a harmonic theme in "Glacier Discovery" (the third track on "Passages") – it shares phrase lengths and harmonic relations. But it is more florid, more active, and ultimately more mistake-ridden and uninteresting — it ends up sounding too much like noodling. Hence my dropping the F-bomb at the 3:20 mark (parents, cover your children's ears!). Then I glissando to figuratively wipe the slate clean and start over. I'll say, though, I've no idea how I got the sostenuto pedal and the low register depressed in the middle of the improvisation. Literally – I don't remember. It makes for a fascinating and shimmery texture. But if people don't realize that what you are doing is organic, they think it's just some Enya effect. And I will admit that it makes me play a little like Enya. By which I am less than thrilled. And you can hear it when, at the end, I realize just how banal I've become and have to wipe the slate clean again. Why am I posting this? Maybe to show you that sometimes the good stuff just doesn't come out. http://permutationsof88.blogspot.com/2009/05/1-september-2008-5-goose-6m07s.html http://www.montchrishubbard.com/audio/improv/09012008/5-Goose-podcast.mp3 Fri, 8 May 2009 5:01:00 GMT 6:06 piano, free, improvisation, stream of consciousness, Keith Jarrett, Mont Chris Hubbard