Gary Thomas Punishes the Saxophone

Gary Thomas is a jazz saxophone player who has helped to pioneer the instrument through a post Coltrane world. He is a musician of frightening talent, creativity, stature, and most importantly, work ethic.

I have a small arsenal of Gary Thomas practice habit stories that I hit my students with when they are being lazy. For instance: Gary Thomas only sleeps four hours a night and listens to his metronome while he cooks dinner.

In short, Gary Thomas is dominant musician who commands the room when he plays – it's almost scary. Today's video is a performance from 1993 alongside Jack DeJohnette (drummer) that begins with Gary knocking down the mic stand and ends with your jaw on the ground.

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tUnE-yArDs – Bizness

I love it when music videos attempt to be actual aesthetic representations of the sounds they're set too. I love it even more when they succeed. The video for tUnE-yArDs' "Bizness" is colorful, quirky, animated, and fun. Just like the tune. It's directed by Mimi Cave, but feels like it could have very easily been a Michel Gondry video, which is always a plus in my book. tUnE-yArDs' new album w h o k i l l will be released April 18 via 4AD records. Count me excited.

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Great Lake Swimmers

I know these chaps have been around a while and are pretty popular, but they've somehow alluded me until now. Unfortunate, this. The Great Lake Swimmers have a perfect blend of indie and Americana with a heavy dosage of heart and soul that sits well with me. 

Great Lake Swimmers – Palmistry

Great Lake Swimmers – The Chorus in the Underground

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Sharon Van Etten – All I Can

Those Who Dig didn't make it to SXSW this year. Maybe someday when I have money and time. I have to imagine the best thing that happened the entire festival was captured in this video, where Sharon Van Etten premiers a new song. You should all know by now we love love love Sharon and have even had the chance to talk to her. Her forthcoming new album, produced by The National's Aaron Dessner, has me salivating at the mouth in anticipation.

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