In 1996, I was honored when the producer of the annual Project Bundle-Up Telethon (Bob Watt) invited me to perform on the program. I immediately asked my friend and guitar mentor John Maione to perform a tune with me. Together we came up with a jazzy rendition of "What Child Is This?" It was so cool to be part of this worthy campaign after watching it on TV for so many years. Project Bundle-Up is broadcast live in December. Volunteers take viewer pledges over the phone bank throughout the day, during a live, one-hour evening broadcast,

What Child Is This?

throughout prime time, and wrap up before the 11 p.m. broadcast of the news. All of the money raised by the auction and telethon is then used for personal shopping days in which needy children pick out their own new winter outerwear at local retail outlets.

Mellon Jazz Festival 1992

In 1991, my friend saxophonist Kenny Blake was in the process of releasing his CD Rumor Has It... for the record label Heads Up International. He graciously invited me to contribute Portuguese lyrics to his song "Coffee Bean" which he wanted put on the CD. While we spoke of the tune (I had heard him play it innumerable times in clubs around town) I described a poem full of colors and imagery that exalted the

Interior Design Band at Mellon Jazz Festival.
That's me in the pink shirt

world's favorite beverage. He liked it so I went home and penned out a skeleton of the lyrics and began playing with combinations of sounds and meanings in the Portuguese language. Once I felt I had something legitimate, I shared it with my wife (then girlfriend) who is Brazilian. After she was finished laughing, she helped me whip it into proper Portuguese form. I will be forever grateful to her. The next summer when the Mellon Jazz Festival was being planned for Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, Kenny Blake and his Interior Design Band were invited to perform at the all-day festival being held at Starlake Ampitheatre. To my absolute astonishment he invited me to sing with the band during the show. I joined the band for "Coffee Bean" and "Babylon Sisters." We played to over 10,000 people! OUTRAGEOUS!! It was the musical highlight of those days.

Coffee Bean -

(Kenny Blake/Jack Bishop)

Coffee Bean (Grau de Café)
Grau de café vive na terra roxa
Pra então tornar-se fruta gostosa
O aroma conquista toda gente
Sabor forte que é céu simplesmente
Põe sorrisos nas tropicais faces
E felicidade nos corações

Solo roxo sob o sol amarelo
Marron encarnado grau perfumado
Nectar negro presente dos deuses
Dado ao povo desse mundo azul
Folha verde ginga no cafezal 
Grau de café traz sabor sem igual

English Translation
Coffee bean lives in the purple Earth
To one day become a delicious fruit 
The aroma conquers everyone
The strong flavor is simply heaven
It puts smiles on tropical faces
And happiness in the hearts

Purple Earth under the yellow sun
Aromatic reddish-brown bean
Black nectar a present from the gods
Given to the people of this blue planet
The green leaves dance on the plantation
Coffee bean brings a flavor unequalled 

My Guitar Lineage 1983-1997

I was far from a child prodigy on guitar. I started playing when I was 11, but I had little formal training until I met John Maione in 1980 who was teaching guitar at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. John is a great teacher who patiently helped me overcome many of the ridiculous obstacles I had placed in my own way while teaching myself. He also taught me to read guitar music which was a daunting task

I am sure. I was beyond fortunate when I had the opportunity to study briefly with Tony Janflone, Jr. Tony is the finest guitarist I know. He was born to play. I would have truly benefited had I stuck with him longer. I continued studying with John Maione when an

opportunity arose for me to spend a few months under the tutelage of the great Joe Negri. Joe showed me ways of improvising that I would have never thought of on my own. My improv improved quite a bit while working with Joe. However, most of my development as a guitarist came from my work under John Maione. I was actively studying and performing with him right up until I left Pittsburgh for Los Angeles in August 1997. He prepared me well and made me confident to face the musical challenges to come. All three are still dear friends of mine.

The Early Years of Rock-n-Roll

I started playing music when I was 11 years old, or in 1968. Aside from The Beatles, I was an avid listener to the sounds of Philadelphia (TSOP) and all the bands that entailed like the Stylistics, Delfonics, The Jones Girls, Soul Survivors, Billy Paul, Eddie Holman, etc. along with the great sounds of Motown. That year I met Jay Roman, a cool young cat who had just moved to the area from California. With him he brought the sounds of rock and roll to my ears.

I started listening to Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Mountain, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton and many others. Jay was an accomplished drummer who was proficient beyond his years. He could really rock the hell out of a kit at age 11!!! Under his influence I began experimenting with musical expression.

Bill Jack Jay

When his cousins Bill and Ray came out for the summer, we formed a rock and roll cover band. We had a killer time playing at battles of the bands, church functions, private parties and public events. Those years still contain some of my fondest memories.

Jay Bill Ray Jack

The Jazz Bug

My infatuation with rock and roll was reasonably short-lived as I found myself immersed in the world of jazz by 1975. Miles, Monk and Dizzy took me on journeys that were mind blowing! I spent the next 10 years pursuing a greater appreciation for, and a higher knowledge of, jazz. There was nary a jazz musician uncovered as I combed through books and stacks of albums everywhere I went. In 1978, I entered the music program at the local

community college in order to understand music theory, harmony and arranging. Two years later, I had to put my studies on hold as I undertook the responsibilities and challenges of single parenthood. During my hiatus from education, I continued learning about jazz and began attending the annual jazz seminars and concert held at the University of Pittsburgh under the direction of Nathan Davis. It was around this time that I sought out John Maione,

who I had met through the music program, for jazz guitar lessons. In 1992, I was able to return to the University of Pittsburgh and declare myself a music major with a jazz specialization. Over the next decade my love for jazz grew ever stronger each day (and still remains a vibrant and important element in my life today); however, I had made a "discovery" on my jazz journey - a discovery that would eventually change the direction of my life...

Brazilian Music

In 1978, I heard a record by jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter called Native Dancer, (released in 1975) on which was featured Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento. I had never heard anything like this in my life. I was mesmerized by the sounds and I wore the record out listening again and again. From that moment forward I began my search for a greater understanding of Milton's world and its beautiful music. Brazilian albums were very difficult to come by in Pittsburgh, so I extended my search to New

York City. There, I found a treasure trove of great music to explore. When CDs became abundant in stores (c.1986-7), there was a flood of great jazz releases that had been previously unavailable, as well as an increase in the availability of international music. I spent every waking moment between 1987 and 1992 basking in Brazilian music of all flavors, all the while growing more and more intimate with the culture. I wanted to share my "discovery" with the world. "Everyone must hear this!" I thought. So, from 1989 through 1991, I hosted

a Brazilian radio program in Pittsburgh where I was able to share the music I was collecting. Sweet! My thirst for knowledge about Brazil sent me to the university where I continued to focus on music research. The more I learned, the more there was to know. So, I kept studying and researching, including several field projects in Brazil until I had earned a doctorate in ethnomusicology!! Life can be funny. What began as an intense curiosity developed over time into my life's work.
Explore Brazilian Music Today!!