shawn·m

Hi David, I noticed the same thing. I don’t think atavistic carries all Okka’s titles, just Vandermark and Brotzmann releases. The site’s been down for about a week and email to info@okkadisk goes unanswered (I just finished posting a similar question to yours on another site before remembering that Chuck knows Bruno to one degree or another). Chuck, do you know what's up with Bruno? P.S. and a big thanks to Chuck for introducing me to Okka’s catalog!

Thanks guys, I've forwarded your thoughts and I'll forward any others that come in.

I know some of you are familiar with Marc; he’s been most active as an Allaboutjazz.com contributor (reviews & articles) and BBS head moderator. What you may not know is how Marc suffers from a neurological condition that progressively wreaks havoc upon the man. On more than one occasion, Marc has explained that only two things have kept him going over the last few years-- the love of and for his family, and jazz. Marc underwent surgery about 1-½ months ago. He also suffered a post-operative stroke (I don’t know the severity) and was in a coma for a time. Sorry to say I don’t have more details to pass along but according to Mike Ricci, it looks like Marc’s turned a corner and might even return home next month! Mike posted a thread today asking for well-wishers’ thoughts. He’ll print the results and deliver them to Marc in rehab. Here’s a link to the thread if you’d like to contribute: http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showthread.php?t=13690

Thanks, everyone. It was a good day: After more than a year apart, my wife’s home again. She came home in January but still, I can’t think of a better birthday present. Hey, has Quartet Out released anything since Live At The Meat House? Damn, that’s a great recording to start (or end) the day with. Thanks again.

and I’ve found a new way to temporarily exorcise my demons! (they get lethargic without regular exorcise)

Those of you who know me, well sort of, also know my peculiar sense of humor. With that in mind, I’ve just had my first e-column published that also includes a couple sound clips. Hope it makes your day a little brighter. Olympic Bastid Records Cuts To The Cheese

Oops! Caught in another lie. Thankfully Mike’s personal physicians were simply fabulous at curing my recurrent STDs and as a parting gift, Mike deposited $3.7 million in my bank account. Oh, and that bungalow above the garage belongs to clifton’s wardrobe.

True! I made my personal journey late last May. What at trip! My flight arrived and I was immediately whisked away by personal bodyguards into a bulletin board-proof limousine where I was entertained by two massive-chested, spectacular-assed southern belles with no sense of right or wrong and just enough drive time to prove it. I wish I could have busied myself with various naughty actions without FitzGenius shouting his version of jazz history through the chauffeur’s partition. Subservient mutes immaculately maintain Mike’s neighborhood, solid gold spittoons anchor each sidewalk corner and his home dwarfs the neighboring mansions of lower society. His “ThinkTank” is mind-blowing. Here more than 500 employees mill about ingesting complimentary controlled substances while producing allaboutjazz’s content. Trained seals open kickback checks, who bark approval and clap flippers to announce each additional 100k… Sounds good, no? Truth is, Mike leads a pretty spartan lifestyle. Small home made in, what? the 50s? on an equally frugal piece of land. His “office” is comprised of nothing more than a single desk dominated by a PC. Well, that and a couple of shelves full of CDs ’n’ stuff. For what it’s worth, of course.

20 + years ago, I remember telling the guy that first introduced me to jazz (retired record producer), that I thought miles sounded “sickly.” My remark was met with furrowed-brow silence and the subject changed. I’ve come to love Miles’ odd little waverings, but I never knew if those note-to-note wavers were done intentionally or if it represented indecision or sagging chops. I’m guessing some of both?

Hmm… and in one degree of separation, I'll bet Tom Waits could tear “Lush Life” a whole new interpretation, too.

For me, “Lush Life” is the standout. Not only melodically, but for the lyrics as well; the down-and-out emotional defiance/self-pity is still very contemporary. I wonder if any punk band covered the song? I’m not joking, it might have been very successful.

I’m still deep in the grips of discovering Ellery Eskelin. It’s one of those rare fascinations that blocks everybody else out for a time. This also happened to me upon discovering (or in a couple cases, re-discovering) Mingus, Ornette and Quartet Out. I’m told Ellery’s participating in a thread over at Jazz Corner, and I’d love to check it out, but… and you’ll love the irony… My second or third post at JC was a reply to someone who started a thread asking why AAJ was down for so long (during the Great Hack of ’03). I’m not sure if the thread even lasted 24 hours before being deleted without explanation. Haven’t been back since. Damn!

Almost forgot: Sngry, I believe I understand your point and thanks for the clarification.

In part, yes, but I honestly couldn’t help but wonder what you thought!