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fasstrack

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Everything posted by fasstrack

  1. Maybe so, but will you guys just gimme a break and let me find out for myself? Pretty please, with the confection of your choice on top ? If it sucks i'll come back here and concede that you were right. How's that?
  2. Jesus. Talk about bursting a MFer's bubble...
  3. Hope I'm not rudely barging in on the conversation, gents. But I thought some of you might want to know this. Also I view it as a continuation of the prior conversation: For those preferring a lightweight laptop (mine weighs CA 1 1/2 lbs.) there is an alternative to mobile devices altogether: Internet phone service. I researched and found something called Magic Jack. Don't know if it is available in Europe or elsewhere outside the US. But here's how it works: You purchase the attachment that goes right into either an ethernet or USB port. You do not need a landline or cell phone to connect to, only high-speed Web service. I believe there is an app that appears onscreen looking like a mobile phone you can enter #s into, or else you can import your existing contacts online automatically---not manually. You can transfer your existing cell # once service is activated. Service is $35/year, and a 5-year plan can also be had for a virtual song. I just ordered it. For me it's great, because now my entire digital world---Web, files, etc,, etc,. will be on one lightweight device. No more calls breaking up with crappy Metro PCS service. No more exposure to microwaves at close range. And I will save a pile of money!!
  4. Yes, you have to register. Nothing I can do about it, and sorry. If you DO get past the palace gate hope you enjoy: http://www.tunecore.com/albums/1740502#.V-wj-CgrI2x
  5. Not reading it quite yet, but Terry Waldo's This Was Ragtime looks quite promising. I often listen to Terry's groups playing hither and yon in NYC. I've heard him lecture informally on Ragtime, Geeche and Gulla culture as recently as this past Sunday at his regular afternoon gig at Fat Cat. Between his very knowledgeable playing, song list, speaking and even sorta charming singing he seems to really know his onions. Perhaps worth a gander. I'm sure it is obtainable at amazon or elsewhere...
  6. Thoughts? PS: Just remembered politics is banned. Could we make a 1-time exception? I really want to know what folks think...
  7. Straight Street has been running through my mind and ears for days! Gotta do something abut that---like learn it...
  8. What an amazing and deep day of music in NYC today: First, there was the memorial for Charles Davis at St. Peter's. The music and the 'reflections' were so moving and profound the tears started to come a few times. There was 87-year-old Richard Wyands at the piano playing Yesterdays in and out of tempo. Then 86-year-old Maestro Barry Harris and his choir. Other notables included Jimmy Owens playing a solo hymn, a video remembrance and piano solo by Tex Allen, pianists Tardo Hammer, Ed Stout and Michael Weiss---and it ended with a performance by George Coleman, who tore the roof off on Body and Soul, after a moving vocal by a singer I don't know. Briefly, it was also great to see and hear Ralph LaLama, Joe Magnarelli, (especially) crazy, lovable Jerry Weldon, Murray Wall, Lee Hudson. Louis Hayes and Lysle Atkinson both played. I'm probably leaving folks out, and I am sorry. Mr. Davis's progeny spoke very movingly of him, and his grandson read a poem. My feeling is that as the elders of the jazz tribe depart it is up to us 'younguns' (ha, I'm 62---though spry) to play at a certain level, live by a certain committment, and reflect certain values. Barry was looking at a picture of someone's newborn son, and all I could do was think out loud, saying 'One leaves and another arrives'---the cycle of life. As if this weren't enough, I cut crosstown to Smoke, where Mike LeDonne had Ed Cherry, Jason Brown, and---delightful surprise to me---Mary Stallings singing. She was smooth as silk, and a lovely person to meet and spend a little time with. And Ledonne and co. swung so pretty. Then it was time for Johnny O' Neal, this time on organ. Johnny was the reason I went uptown after all those spiritual goings on in the afternoon. He had invited me to 'play a few'. My chum Ilya Lushtak was on guitar, and playing his ass off, also singing A Time For Love movingly. Cynthia Scott sang a number, The Man I Love, and she was really something else: She acted the song with not only her voice, but facial expressions and body. I did 'play a few', but by that time I had heard so much quality and emotional music it was almost overwhelming. I needed time to digest and process it all, know what I mean? On the platform of the 1 train a homeless man in bad shape sat on a bench. I thought 'that could easily be me', and also about what a great life I have, and all musicians have. Blessings, Joel...
  9. Then wish it on me. Please...
  10. Gene Bertoncini did a lovely version of Strollin' on his gig the other night. As for me, I just took off and learned Peace. There's no one like Horace at his best...
  11. And they have, um, 'talents'. Or I do hope so, for your, um, pleasure's sake...
  12. And best of luck with that woman!
  13. I heard him say that in a Kennedy Center interview...
  14. I was listening to the WKCR Coltrane birthday broadcast, and to be honest had to shut it off a few times. John Coltrane was a searching musician and unbelievably hard worker. And he got results. Not every hard worker does. But I find myself thinking when listening to stuff, say, post the Atlantic period 'Gee, this is amazing, but it's so intense'. I find that my tastes have changed and certain great players. like 'Trane or Bill Evans, I have to be in the mood for. With 'Trane the main thing is that he works my ears so hard, especially in the final period. The intensity doesn't relax, but gets me wired. I don't mean the ballads. Dear Lord is a work of art. I cite it because it's from after those fabulous Blue Note and Prestige periods. Some of this is doubtless me. but I'd like to know what others think.,,
  15. Double up (though I watch no TV). Always dug her. And now the bad news: Yet again she will have to dumb-down for world-class airhead Matt Lauer. (Unless he was canned, and I heard something to that effect. True? Did NBC finally come to their senses and disencumber themselves from that dim bulb?)
  16. Here's what I wrote on FB about the great night at Ryan'd Daughter tonight: Here's what i wrote on FB about tonight:Just got back from a visit with the Maestro: The one and only Gene Bertoncini. Gene plays weekly at Ryan's Daughter (E. 85th btwn. 1st and 2nd---closer to 1st) with bassist Joshua Marcum. I listened in rapture for the 1st set, not knowing whether to cry or pee on myself---it was that beautiful. Halfway through, a percussionist-singer from Sao Paolo, Valtinho Anastacio, started playing tambourine from a table, and, Gene being Gene, his reaction was to immediately call him up to the stand. They made sublime music. After a break and some more heartachingly beautiful but also joyful playing by Gene and Joshua, it was my turn. You can bet I had a big smile the whole time we played (the Things We Did Last Summer). Then my new friend Alessio Menconi got up and played with Gene, Joshua and Valtinho. They played Wave and a Baden Powell tune---and brought the house down. Not only is Gene a unique and uniquely enchanting guitarist, he is one of the most generous people I have ever been fortunate to know. He goes out of his way to have especially fellow guitarists be part of his thing. Only a person totally grounded in himself would or could do that. I went home singing the songs. Gene, you made me, Alessio, his lady Eleanor and the audience happy people tonight. Gene Bertoncini: I love you, man...
  17. Duh....I knew that... To quote a great trumpet player and even greater wit, John Eckert; 'They said it was idiot-proof, but I think I found a way to beat it'...
  18. Self-absorbed update to Jim and Scott: just dumped Groove and set Media Player as default. 'f them all, they can't take a joke' ---National Lampoon, sometime in the '70s...
  19. Right, as Jim just said, my new laptop came with Groove Music---thus far a piece of s%^t---pre-installed. But I think 1 or both of us is confused: I meant to say Media Player for downloads or web radio, library from control panel for files (none of which, BTW, are loaded yet. They were burned from CDs onto the hard drive of my now-retired old laptop. I'm waiting for a DVD/CCD ROM drive to arrive any day, so I can burn them onto the hard drive of the new one. Sorry about any confusion I may have caused earlier,,,
  20. Gene Bertoncini at Ryan's Daughter. E. 85th, btwn. 1st and 2nd, the Big Mango. Gene being the kind of guy he is (opening up his gig to fellow guitarists to sit in) new friend and arrival from Genoa Alessio Menconi and moi will be going---with guitars---to listen, enjoy and play if asked. If you are in NY please go hear Gene, every Thurs. 8-11:30. He is 100% beauty, musician and man...
  21. I do fancy myself the jokester. Life being short and all...
  22. Yeah. See, Scott? SEE?
  23. If anyone here wants to buy me an iphone, pad, or pod, I will gladly take you up on that generous and thoughtful offer 'I will gladly pay you Friday (Tuesday?) for a hamburger today' ---Wimpy
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