Nov 10, 2017
When you look at Gary Meek’s name on this podcast, you might wonder if you had heard him play before. The answer is an emphatic yes – a session and sideman par excellence, Meek has spent most of his career playing saxophone and other reed instruments for the likes of Airto Moreira & Flora Purim, Jeff Lorber, Brian Bromberg, and Dave Weckl. As a leader, he now has six albums to his credit, the most recent of which, Originals, has given him an opportunity to not only showcase his chops, but his song writing abilities.
Meek was able to call upon his many friends and connections to put together a top-notch band to interpret his tunes. It begins with drummer Terri Lynne Carrington, a fellow teacher at Monterey Jazz programs, and continues with bassist Bromberg, pianist Mitchell Forman, and guitarist Bruce Forman. Throw in guest spots by Randy Brecker, Michael Lent, and Airto and you’ve got a killer lineup playing great tunes.
Podcast 599 features my conversation with Gary as we talk about his new CD, his use of local musicians from the Monterey area for live gigs, and even how he came to contribute a solo for Green Day’s Warning album. Musical selections from Originals include “What Happened to My Good Shoes?”, “Suite for Maureen” (dedicated to his wife), and “Mr. D.G.”, a tribute to the late Dave Grolnick. From his days with Airto and Flora Purim comes “Banana Jam”, a track from the star-studded Killer Bees album, a disc that featured Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Mark Egan, Stanley Clarke, Hiram Bullock - and Gary Meek.