Mark Pettey Music

Doing my best to.swim back to.the surface of the ocean of life. This is a piece I did a few years ago....

" JIANGNAN " I composed this piece for a production of a Shakespeare play. It features synthesizers, gongs, and some beautiful work on the Erhu by multi-instrumentalist T...

One of the finest players I ever performed with was clarinetist Ken Peplowski. Ken died yesterday at my age, 66. He was a phenomenal technician and creator on his instrument, and told hundreds of great stories. I will miss him. Rest in power, man.

Sly Dunbar the incredible drummer who played on Bob Marley's albums, passed away today. He was 73. Rest strong. Irie brother......
❤💛💚

The Ramones, John Lennon, Cyndi Lauper, and so many other edgy rockers had a secret cult idol in New Jersey, TV personality for hundreds of thousands of children, the one and only Uncle Floyd. David Bowie wrote a song about him. Floyd passed away yesterday. He had a stroke in 2022, and try as he might, he just couldn't bounce any further back. Rest well, Uncle Floyd.

David Bowie - Slip Away [Live In Berlin 2002] (Subtitulada Español / Ingles) David Bowie, Berlín en la gira Heathen, grabada en Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlín, Alemania el 22 de septiembre de 2002.

One of the things that inspired me as a kid trumpeter was the soundtracks on James Bond movies. The trumpets were screaming up high, beautiful intonation and style. This is the guy on the lead chair for the classic flicks, the incredible Derrick Watkins.

This song blew my mind when it came out in 1979. I played it so many dozens of times with the band FLIGHTPATH. Freddie plays like a god of trumpet.

The Jeff Lorber Fusion ~ Rain Dance (1979) ft. Freddie Hubbard Produced by: Jeff LorberJeff Lorber: Keyboards(Prophet, Fender Rhodes, Mini-Moog, other)Dennis Bradford: DrumsDanny Wilson: Electric bassDennis Springer: Sax...

Years ago I was touring on trumpet with Johnny Mathis and kept pulling these amazing arrangements in his book. It turned out they were from Gordon Goodwin, his former conductor/pianist. Gordon died on the 8th. Far too young. Here is what Johnny wrote yesterday......
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"My relationship with Gordon began many decades ago when he came on to play piano. During a conversation after he just totally smoked the audition, he mentioned that piano was only his second instrument; his first being saxophone. He also mentioned that he was also a writer and took up piano to assist in his writing. We inquired as to which one he thought he excelled, he indicated that it was his writing. He was amazing at all three and it was indistinguishable as to which one he did best.

Over the years, as well as playing piano, Gordon wrote many of the best arrangements in my entire library and some of the best that I have ever heard. He eventually came to conduct as well as play piano. His skills and abilities had no boundaries because as a musician, he was not mortal.

We maintained our friendship over all of the years and would occasionally work together on some of his projects. I have always treasured our friendship as well as our musical association and am honored and proud to have called him my friend.
I love and will miss him as he made the world of music a much better place

With All My Love.
John"

This Friday my recordings are on sale at my publisher, Bandcamp. Check em out....

https://markpettey.bandcamp.com/

Rest in power Cleto Escobedo III, life long best friend and band leader for Jimmy Kimmel on his TV show. Cleto was only 59 years old. He suffered complications from a recent surgery.