I ‘m currently listening to a private audience recording of a concert given by two extraordinarily gifted Jazz Guitarists, Peter Bernstein and Kurt Rosenwinkel, in 2003 at New York’s Fat Cat Jazz Club. There are a total of five tunes on this specific “recording” and needless to say, they play wonderfully throughout with a very appreciative audience in tow. Not surprisingly both guitarists work well together and you can definitely tell each guitarist from their unique voices, especially Kurt, who scats along with his lines sounding an octave higher at times. Bernstein also plays wonderfully of course and gets to burn throughout the set. Very cool on both fronts.

Kurt Rosenwinkel Compositions By Kurt Rosenwinkel. For Guitar (All). Solos. Jazz. Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Book. 80 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (20749) See more info…

Now, as mentioned this comes courtesy of an audience member who somehow recorded this rare event. At least I think it’s rare since I have never heard of Kurt and Pete hooking up before. But I could be wrong. Anyway, what do you think of this type of “bootlegging” activity? Is it something you feel very strongly against or is it something that you are for? In my own opinion I kind of feel torn. On the one hand, if it takes away from a club’s attendance then I say “NAY!” Yet, if it allows someone like myself, who lives in Canada and would not have even had the chance to see these two together on that particular night, get to hear them so that when I do have the chance to check them out I would, then I say what’s the harm. No one’s losing and Kurt and Pete would actually gain since I would make a point of going to their next show in my town.

Now maybe it’s kind of a six-of-one half-a-dozen of the other logic but as long as no one is losing out, then all is good. All this being said though, until it happens to me with my tunes or live shows being freely downloaded, I really can’t say with a definite YAY or NAY what side of the fence I’m on. Feel free to let me know how you feel or if something like this has happened to you.

Peter Bernstein Trio Live at Smoke Featuring Larry Goldings on organ and Bill Stewart on drums. By Peter Bernstein. For Guitar (All). Concert/Documentary. Mel Bay Records. Jazz. Level: Multiple Levels. DVD. Duration 89 minutes. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (20961DVD) See more info…