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Jim Worsley

I am a lifetime listener with a huge appreciation for music.

About Me

I grew up listening to The Beatles and the rest of the British invasion. At the same time I was exposed to Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and the rest of the music from big band era. This was due primarily to my dad's vast collection of 78rpm records. I loved it all...the Basie and The Beatles (I still do). From all those old records one artist that immediately and always jumped out at me was the Oscar Peterson Trio. Over the years many types of music have impacted my life. In no particular order, blues, fusion, hard bop, progressive rock, jazz, hard rock, latin jazz, vocalists, and harmonies would head that list. A sampling of such artists being Freddie King, Elvin Jones, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Miles Davis, Leni Stern, Jim Hall, John Coltrane, Jeff Beck, Freddie Hubbard, Pink Floyd, Count Basie, Albert King, Chick Corea, Diana Krall, Porcupine Tree, James Taylor, Bobby Hutcherson, Wayne Shorter, Mike Stern, Tony Williams, Bill Evans, CSNY, Al Di Meola, Peter Erskine, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Haslip, Herbie Hancock, Led Zeppelin, BB King, John Mayall, David Sanborn, Milt Jackson, The Who, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter, Thelonious Monk, and Stephane Grappelli. A short list for sure. There are so many more. But again, just a sampling. I love live music for sure. But it is a rare day that I don't find myself at some point deep in to something on my stereo or on headphones. So much music...not enough hours in the day!

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because...jazz is soothing...jazz is beautifully complex....jazz is Django and Steve Gadd....jazz is cool...jazz is hard bop and big band....jazz is cats, birds, chops, and tranes...jazz is Hank Mobley and Hiromi.....jazz enriches the soul....jazz is hot....jazz is fusion and the blues....jazz is Paul Chambers and Jean Luc Ponty...jazz is evocative... jazz is at the center of the universe...jazz is Michel Petrucciani and the Brecker Brothers. ..jazz is free and invigorating...jazz is timeless....jazz is bebop and latin...jazz is Vinnie Colaiuta and Marcus Miller...jazz is the Blue Note...jazz is an eternal groove...jazz is essential...jazz is Freddie Hubbard and Joe Sample...jazz is forever...jazz is Miles past and Miles to go...

My House Concert Story

Over the past few years my wife and I have hosted several house concerts. on our backyard stage. An intimate setting for about 30-40 friends and family members to enjoy live music under the stars and under the lights. Worsley Gardens, as it if affectionately known, provides a listening room environment.....even if it is outdoors. If one magical night stands out it is the evening that the great vocalist, guitarist, and ngoni player Leni Stern and her band traveled our home. I must emphasize the word travel. Having played the night before in Washington, DC, they then flew cross country to San Diego and then went another 120 miles back east to our home. After the pleasure of having Leni, percussionist Alioune Faye, and bassist Mamadou Ba spend the night at our home, it was back to the airport in San Diego the next morning. They had a gig in Santa Fe, New Mexico that evening. The great lengths they went to in order to sandwich in show at our home was not lost on us. It just made the occasion that much more special. and will never be forgotten.In between all the traveling we were treated to a full performance of rich and vibrant African infused fusion. Leni's angelic voice and impeccable phrasing lending itself seamlessly to the sounds of her ngoni and guitar. While Ba was busting the bottom end and deftly steering the ship, Faye talents and rhythms on a variety of traditional African percussion instruments left the crowd slack jawed and wide eyed. Still, it was Leni who shined brightly in every moment. The efforts to get to Worsley Gardens aside, this was a show for the ages.....and in our own backyard....wow!!