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Joshua Irving

@jtrane5

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American ex-pat living in Bangkok, Thailand with his family. Saxophonist, baker, pizza maker, among many other hobbies.

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Happy birthday to John Coltrane and George Garzone! Both represent the highest form of musical expression I've ever experienced. The universe is lucky to have the music of these two giants. by @jtrane5

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17 days ago

Eyeballs deep in learning Sonny Stitt's solo on The Eternal Triangle for the last week. I've woefully neglected transcribing my entire life. I'm through the first the first chorus now. Just trying to polish it up and get it up to speed to play along with the recording at original tempo. Hopefully it starts to move a little quicker now with learning the rest of the solo.

I'm more dedicated to practicing and improving at any point in my life, probably including when I was at Berklee. I didn't actually do the necessary work at that point. There was no choice but to get better back then, especially considering my novice experience with learning Jazz prior to getting there, and being fully immersed in the music through classes, jam sessions, and seeing performances (especially Garzone with The Fringe every Monday night). I've tried recording a video talking about this journey as I've found a spark previously lacking, but it always ends up too long and rambling.

Essentially, I'm currently reckoning with my lack of discipline/drive/desire/motivation that so many of my successful musician friends have, as well as understanding that maybe I just wasn't ready for it yet, or at a place I could really grasp and assimilate the information. I've forgotten most of the theory I learned at Berklee, and I am desperately out of shape with regards to ear training. But I'm making a concerted effort to dive back in and relearn it all. Soon enough, I hope to start working tunes out in different keys, which I've never spent any time doing.
The progress is slow, but already noticeable. I don't think I have any specific end goals other than to keep improving. Music never ends!

I've been weight training for a few years now, and the parallels are easy to spot between these two seemingly disparate worlds. Both require tremendous consistency. Focusing on the fundamentals is non-negotiable. Good technique yields the best results. Taking things slowly leads to speed. Both things lead to greater freedom of movement and expression. by @jtrane5

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18 days ago

Happy milestone birthday to my favorite person! Kanchanaburi is turning into a yearly tradition for the Irving clan. We stayed at a BEAUTIFUL spot on the River Kwai. Yesterday, the whole family did a very challenging ropes course with several zip lines, and a 40 foot free fall drop swing! Super proud of Miles for conquering his fears and enthusiastically doing everything. When we got back, Henry and Kate jumped into the river from our room's dock and took the current up. Later that day, Kate and I drove 15 minutes away to a glorious hot spring with 15 different springs.

Today will be relaxing with Kate getting her obligatory massage, driving back, and I'll cook a steak dinner, preceded by cake (Irving Family tradition to eat cake before dinner).

I'm the luckiest guy in the world! Love you more than anything in this universe! taken in The FloatHouse River Kwai l Floating Resort เดอะ โฟลทเฮ้าส์ กาญจนบุรี by @jtrane5

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a month ago

When life gives you sourdough starter, you make sourdough cinnamon rolls. by @jtrane5

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a month ago

R.I P., Danger Cat, aka Spotty. We just received word from his new owners he passed away yesterday from a heart attack. Kate and I adopted him in 2011 soon after we got married, along with his cage mate, Capt Bobo, who passed away last year. He was the most friendly, outgoing kitty. There was never a lap he wouldn't try to sit in. He was so patient and friendly with little kids. Even if kids got a little too rough with him, he would just sit there and accept it. He never swiped at our scratched anyone. In our neighborhood in Virginia, he was a bit of a celebrity, where many of our neighbors got to know him before they met us! We'd often leave our house, and a neighbor we hadn't met yet would come up to us and say, "oh! Danger is your cat?!?! He's so friendly!" He was fearless. One night, I heard screeching sound coming from outside. There was a fox screaming at Danger, but he just sat there, staring at the fox with a shit-eating grin on his face, taunting the fox. The way he met his new family before we moved to Bangkok was pretty in- character for him. They were our backward neighbors. Danger made his way back there one day, and invited himself into their house! He started hanging out with them all the time. So when we knew we were moving, it was a no- brainer to ask if they wanted to take him in, which they did with love. He lived a charmed life. We have missed him, but hoped we'd see him again next time we're in the States. We'll miss you, Dangy. by @jtrane5

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2 months ago

Never thought I'd see the day, but playing on this reed the last couple days has been a revelation. I think I'm done with natural reeds on tenor. I can't get over how much my upper register opened up with this reed and how even it is through the whole range of the horn. It's a bit harder than I'm used to, but as long as I keep up my practice routine, my embouchure will get stronger and I'll get even more comfortable on it. by @jtrane5

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2 months ago

Homemade pasta sauce and meatballs. Yum! by @jtrane5

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3 months ago

New leg press PR. 257KG (567 LBS.) 1 set of 18, then 3 sets of 15 reps. I'll take it! by @jtrane5

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3 months ago

When they said feed the ducks, we didn't realize it meant feeding them our first born. He lived a good life. by @jtrane5

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3 months ago

How is this our life?!?! Enjoying a wonderful week in Vietnam for summer break. Never in a million years did I ever think I'd be on a beach in SE Asia. by @jtrane5

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3 months ago

I'm eating a Ban Mi sandwich. IN VIETNAM! How cool is that?!?! by @jtrane5

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3 months ago

Tonight's pizza perfection. 48 hour direct cold ferment. by @jtrane5

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3 months ago