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ValerieB

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Posts posted by ValerieB

  1. "My Life in Eb" by Chan Parker

    in Jazz In Print - Periodicals, Books, Newspapers, etc...

    Posted

    the book isn't bad (Life In Eb) but filled with too many sections of puffed-up and badly written prose, I think. The little section on Al Haig, however, is illuminating.

    There are lots of arguments over who was the "real" wife; Don Schlitten told me he accepted Chan because she was the mother of bird's children.

    Yes, she had a glib style that started to drive me crazy after a few chapters. I think this was written before "Death of a Bebop Wife", so her perception of Haig as the lunatic he seemed to be was pretty right on.

    I think we've got a new genre here- "bebop wives tell all".

    There's even a book about Bill Evans that was written by a woman who had a short relationship with him, towards the end.

    this is actually a book i wanted to write years ago. a lot of the widows that were on my list are also gone now. what i had in mind was not necessarily a "tell all" book but still lots of interesting info that only the widows could supply. or just their perspective on things we've already heard about. one of the problems is that at least a couple of them are now writing their own books, which is even better, of course. can't wait to read Maxine Gordon's book on Dexter.

  9. Ike Takes Back River Deep Mountain High

    in Artists

    Posted

    i also was one of the folks who helped introduce Herbie, Wayne and Tina to Buddhism. i practiced for approximately 12 years. interesting that Herbie and Wayne are still going "gung-ho" but i essentially stopped practicing in the early '80s!! in Tina's autobio, which freelancer refers to, she writes about all of that.

    That's interesting - in various interviews as well as the foreword to "The Buddha In Your Mirror" Herbie says that he was first introduced to buddhism in 1972 through Buster Williams. Do you know when and why Herbie joined SGI?

    yes, Buster was definitely the main person who encouraged Herbie to practice. Herbie first heard about the practice from me. that was earlier in the '70s. as i wrote, "I was one of the folks . . . " i don't know exactly when Herbie joined the organization but it was around '72 and i certainly couldn't comment on the "why" except that he must have thought it would enhance his life.

  10. Ike Takes Back River Deep Mountain High

    in Artists

    Posted

    It doesn't really have anything to do with it per se.

    However, I suppose I hear of a lot of musicians who have turned to Buddhism. Larry Coryell, in his autobiography, places great emphasis on being introduced to chanting by Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and how this helped transform him from Alcoholism.

    And I am often confused about the difference between people (Western Buddhists exactly), who follow a meditation tradition, or chanting or whatever, and those that actually embrace the Religion as an ideology. Personally, I find it a perplexing thing and that devotees can be quite ambiguous about this. So whereas, Buddhism as it is practiced and organised in Countries indigenous to it - is as much cultural as Religious - for Westerners, it seems to float somewhere between 'self help' and actual Religion with a capital R.

    I think, in the Tina Turner biopic (at the end), they tended to frame Tina's Buddhism as her solace and self-healing mechanism - to counteract the residual psychic trauma of her life with Ike.

    I wonder though, how or if, they would have dealt with it had Tina embraced Islam - or become a Born Again proselytising Christian like Donna Summer?

    So in the West, Buddhism has this 'touchy feely' non intrusive, passive, goodwill attached to it, when at it's heart they still try and divine 'god child' beings like the Panchen Lama.

    So admittedly it does shit me a bit.

    And I quite like the way Social critics like Slavoj Zizek attack this Middle Class Buddhist mindset and the way this plays out in the West .

    so your answer is actually: "nothing." thank you.

    :w

    Just remembered you were working with them, back in the day.

    MG

    i also was one of the folks who helped introduce Herbie, Wayne and Tina to Buddhism. i practiced for approximately 12 years. interesting that Herbie and Wayne are still going "gung-ho" but i essentially stopped practicing in the early '80s!! in Tina's autobio, which freelancer refers to, she writes about all of that.

    I only half remember the 'tele-movie' with Lawrence Fishburn(?) as Ike.

    I haven't read the book.

    So did you think of Buddhism as a Religion, or as a form of mind training?

    Why did you stop practicing?

    I was a Bahia for about four years.

    Most regretful and embarrassing move I ever made in life. And I made a few.

    practicing Buddhism was mostly a very positive experience for me and i feel like i gained a lot during those 12 years. i like to think that i try to live and practice now what i learned and absorbed from my studies in spite of no longer chanting. i would say that i always felt that it was more of a philosophy than a religion for me. mostly the organization is what turned me off. had a hard time to with all the rules and regulations. i've generally never been a "joiner" of groups. i've been told that things have changed within the organization since the '80s but still . . .

  12. Ike Takes Back River Deep Mountain High

    in Artists

    Posted

    It doesn't really have anything to do with it per se.

    However, I suppose I hear of a lot of musicians who have turned to Buddhism. Larry Coryell, in his autobiography, places great emphasis on being introduced to chanting by Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and how this helped transform him from Alcoholism.

    And I am often confused about the difference between people (Western Buddhists exactly), who follow a meditation tradition, or chanting or whatever, and those that actually embrace the Religion as an ideology. Personally, I find it a perplexing thing and that devotees can be quite ambiguous about this. So whereas, Buddhism as it is practiced and organised in Countries indigenous to it - is as much cultural as Religious - for Westerners, it seems to float somewhere between 'self help' and actual Religion with a capital R.

    I think, in the Tina Turner biopic (at the end), they tended to frame Tina's Buddhism as her solace and self-healing mechanism - to counteract the residual psychic trauma of her life with Ike.

    I wonder though, how or if, they would have dealt with it had Tina embraced Islam - or become a Born Again proselytising Christian like Donna Summer?

    So in the West, Buddhism has this 'touchy feely' non intrusive, passive, goodwill attached to it, when at it's heart they still try and divine 'god child' beings like the Panchen Lama.

    So admittedly it does shit me a bit.

    And I quite like the way Social critics like Slavoj Zizek attack this Middle Class Buddhist mindset and the way this plays out in the West .

    so your answer is actually: "nothing." thank you.

    :w

    Just remembered you were working with them, back in the day.

    MG

    i also was one of the folks who helped introduce Herbie, Wayne and Tina to Buddhism. i practiced for approximately 12 years. interesting that Herbie and Wayne are still going "gung-ho" but i essentially stopped practicing in the early '80s!! in Tina's autobio, which freelancer refers to, she writes about all of that.

  13. Ike Takes Back River Deep Mountain High

    in Artists

    Posted

    It doesn't really have anything to do with it per se.

    However, I suppose I hear of a lot of musicians who have turned to Buddhism. Larry Coryell, in his autobiography, places great emphasis on being introduced to chanting by Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and how this helped transform him from Alcoholism.

    And I am often confused about the difference between people (Western Buddhists exactly), who follow a meditation tradition, or chanting or whatever, and those that actually embrace the Religion as an ideology. Personally, I find it a perplexing thing and that devotees can be quite ambiguous about this. So whereas, Buddhism as it is practiced and organised in Countries indigenous to it - is as much cultural as Religious - for Westerners, it seems to float somewhere between 'self help' and actual Religion with a capital R.

    I think, in the Tina Turner biopic (at the end), they tended to frame Tina's Buddhism as her solace and self-healing mechanism - to counteract the residual psychic trauma of her life with Ike.

    I wonder though, how or if, they would have dealt with it had Tina embraced Islam - or become a Born Again proselytising Christian like Donna Summer?

    So in the West, Buddhism has this 'touchy feely' non intrusive, passive, goodwill attached to it, when at it's heart they still try and divine 'god child' beings like the Panchen Lama.

    So admittedly it does shit me a bit.

    And I quite like the way Social critics like Slavoj Zizek attack this Middle Class Buddhist mindset and the way this plays out in the West .

    so your answer is actually: "nothing." thank you.

  16. Kennedy Center Honors Buddy Guy and Led Zeppelin

    in Miscellaneous Music

    Posted · Edited by ValerieB

    To me (perpetual cynic, I guess), it's mostly b.s. They'll never honor anyone on the cutting edge when they're on the cutting edge, and the folks they honor are usually at the tail end of their careers. That's how it works and it won't change.

    My question is, why did the Kennedy Center honor a limey rock band? Don't we have plenty of American artists who could use some recognition? Answer: YES. Did her majesty ever offer a knighthood to Louis or Duke or Chuck Berry? Not to my knowledge.

    i believe one of the rules of the award is the recipient be over a certain age. and i don't believe Her Majesty has honored Led Zeppelin either!! LOL

    boy, has Buddy Guy cleaned himself up! LOL! every time i've seen him in person, he looked totally different with the oily, stringy hair, the gold tooth and always seemed to be drunk. i'm glad he was able to enjoy the tribute and accolades at this time in his life.

    i enjoyed the entire show. Letterman had the Zeppelin guys on his show last night. they of course were much more relaxed and full of fun. Dave proved that he really doesn't know much about music or musicians! LOL

    He's got a shaved head now. I saw him this summer and he was on fire and his energy level would have put most 20 year olds to shame.

    yes, i watched the show that's why i said he looked "cleaned up". he really looks like he might have stopped drinking.

  17. Kennedy Center Honors Buddy Guy and Led Zeppelin

    in Miscellaneous Music

    Posted

    boy, has Buddy Guy cleaned himself up! LOL! every time i've seen him in person, he looked totally different with the oily, stringy hair, the gold tooth and always seemed to be drunk. i'm glad he was able to enjoy the tribute and accolades at this time in his life.

    i enjoyed the entire show. Letterman had the Zeppelin guys on his show last night. they of course were much more relaxed and full of fun. Dave proved that he really doesn't know much about music or musicians! LOL

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