Big Al

Man, if they go to Germany, I'm gonna go as a roadie! Just pay me with bier!

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN STRAIGHT!!! Legend has it that QO is no longer allowed to play at White Rock Lake because the airline pilots trying land in and take off from nearby Love Field complained about the noise level from one of Dennis’s drum solos!

If the power doesn't go out again. Thanks to the lime green suits, we didn't have to worry about that! I'll be in touch with you guys about the annual summer trek to Michigan, though!

When I use the term “avant-garde,” it’s really nothing more than the accountant in me trying to compartmentalize things so that they make sense. In other words, I wish I could just label it “music” and leave it at that, but then I don’t know what else to call it: Crazy people music? Crazy people music? Crazy people music? Crazy people music? Crazy people music? Or all of the above? Music made by and for crazy people!!! In lime green leisure suits! Proud to be crazy!

What the.... Holy cow, that IS in the original picture!!! I thought that was one of couw’s doings! I gotta ask Pete where he gets those hip-lookin’ shoes!!!

One last thought before I hit the hay: there are a lot of people who think of jazz as just so much noise. Had these folks been at last night's gig, they might've had their suspicions confirmed, BUT for one very important little fact: these guys know EXACTLY what they're doing. By that, I mean that even though it's all improvised, there wasn't one note that wasn't anticipated by the player. And I think it is THAT which scares non-jazz folks: if they knew that this so-called "noise" is all part of the plan, it might scare them COMPLETELY outta their socks! I'll be honest: I'm just a boring old Blue-Note type; I don't listen to much of what is called "avant-garde," and perhaps QO isn't avant-garde to begin with. But my whole perspective of so-called "improvised" music was completely reset last night. The way these guys played off each other, the way they anticipated each other's moves, the way they could start and stop tempos at the drop of a hat, just the unbelievable interplay, and the fact that this stuff was INTENTIONAL!!!! made me realize that...... that...... hell, I don't know how to put it, and I'm too tired to try and come up with anything original, so I'll just leave it at this: it was un-fucking-believable. Good night. Time to put on some Mobley or something......

Drat! Forgot the smilies:

Last picture, the big man in action (I should add that the reason I have no pictures of Pete Gallio in action is because, well.... his solos were so intense that I was afraid I'd interrupt him, then he might beat me over the head with his big ol' sax, which has to be one of the biggest thickest tenor saxes I've ever seen; sorry, Pete!):

I should add that, to the right of Dennis is the bar. I sat at that end of the bar during the first set (the previous picture was taken during the second set), less than a foot from Dennis. There is nothing quite as fear-inducing than sitting that close to Dennis when he's firing on all burners. You just pray he's got a good grip on those sticks, because you could die from a lost stick. I live for moments like that!!!!

Dennis Durick, man of a thousand arms. This picture was taken during one of his explosive drum solos, and the bad thing about trying to get a pic of a drum solo, you never know what the shot's gonna look like. Sooooooo, even though it looks as though he's thoughtfully contemplating a gentle crash during a ballad, he's actually beating the shit outts his toms. I just caught him in mid-thrash:

Lyles West, mechanic by day, rock-solid bass player and frontman by night:

This one was taken during the other tenor sax solo. Right before I snapped this pic, Jim was sitting looking plaintively, which I thought would make a great picture; he sorta looked like Dolphy sitting in the corner. I wanted to catch Jim at that moment, and tried to quietly move to where I could get a good shot. Unfortunately, I move with all the subtlety of an elephant at a Styx concert, and of course Jim saw me and smiled for the camera. In retrospect, I think this picture best catches the spirit of Jim, the man and the musician:

Tough tenors:

A CDR? How the heck am I gonna read that while sitting on the can?

Went great! Will post pictures tonight!

Yup, and $5/gal. gas won't faze 'em a bit. Isn’t this starting to be reminiscent of the 70’s gas shortage? People still bought the big gas guzzling cars, yet still bought gas like it was no big deal. History repeating itself, I s’pose. (Of course, now the conservatives won’t be able to use the phrase, “Do you want high gas prices?” as a scare tactic anymore.)

Chocolate ice cream and amaretto. On Michael Douglas's wife.

That's a good idea, but I'll just stick with AfricaBrass. I'm glad to be back to AB. Well, if you gotta B someone, I'm glad it's AfricaBrass!!!

Same here! (except that I'm not Rooster Ties)

Man, I *SO* wish those instrumentals on side four of the LP had been placed on the CD as well!

Ah well, it's all Michigan, and that's all my in-laws care about!

Yeah, Pepper and Byrd make a HELLUVA combo!

We almost imploded? Uh, when? A little exagerration there, doncha think? Maybe wishful thinking on his part......

So THAT'S where I put that thing! Can't wait to hear the results, Allen. BTW, which track did you use?

Helluva finish in that Michigan game! Had the whole family over rooting for them! It'll be interesting if the Illini faces Michigan in the finals! My folks are Illini fans; my in-laws, of course, will be pulling for Michigan! That'll be a fun night, if that happens! (Ihope!Ihope!Ihope!Ihope!Ihope!Ihope!Ihope!Ihope!Ihope!!!!!!)