Rooster_Ties

Probably trying to make up for lost gigs during the pandemic. Can’t say as I blame anyone for that.

That’s sort of a good way of putting it. I’ve only sampled some clips from YouTube, but they’re SO damn slick, and — to my ears, at least — bereft of soul… of solos and soloists who want to try and say something — rather than just blow. TONS of chops, I’ll give ‘em that. But there’s just something lacking. I feel like if I could find just one Snarky Puppy release that showcased them maximally playing to the strengths *I* like best — that I’d still be hard-pressed to play them more than a time or two every several years. I’m a little more bully for Go Go Penguin — but it’s a similar kind of thing. And much as I hate to say it, I get a little of the same feeling out of Medeski Martin & Wood (much as I do love a lot of aspects of what MMW does, and I’ve heard them live 3x though that was all 10+ years ago). Most slick fusion from the late 70’s thru the 90’s hits me the same way — just cold.

About 3 years ago, I got Carla to sign my CD copy that I’d had since the early 90’s when I was still in college — one of the first 50-75 jazz CD’s I ever owned. And I’ll be damned if I can remember where or why I got it — but probably my uncle turned me onto it, I’m guessing. I’ve got the CD set in the fatboy jewel box with like a 30-page booklet inside (cd booklet size). I really loved EOTH in college, but not instantly. But over a year’s time it wormed itself info my brain, not unlike Pierrot Lunaire around that same time (circa 1991, my senior year, and the two years after while I stayed in college getting a second degree). I don’t listen to it but about 2-3x per decade these days, but it definitely brings back fond memories.

Saw JLP but once about 5 years ago, in DC — on his collaborative concert tour with Jon Anderson (of YES). It was basically JLP and his band backing Anderson. A two hour evening and even mix of JLP’s fusion material and YES tunes, back and forth (and Anderson sang wordless backing vocals on a number of JLP tunes, and even added a few lyrics to some of them too). Quite enjoyable — my first time ever having seen/heard anyone from YES before either. Here’s a sample…

Santana played with Miles once or twice, but was never “in the band” so to speak. Peter Losin’s site suggests just once… http://www.plosin.com/milesahead/Sessions.aspx?s=860615 There’s a little more about it at the link above, but here’s the main details… June 15, 1986 (5 items; TT = 24:50) Giants Stadium, East Rutherford NJ Westwood One Radio Network (B) Miles Davis (tpt, synth); Bob Berg (ss, ts); Robben Ford (g); Carlos Santana (g); Robert Irving III (synth); Adam Holzman (synth); Felton Crews (el-b); Vincent Wilburn Jr. (d); Steve Thornton (perc) 1 One Phone Call - Street Scenes (M. Davis) 1:10 2 Speak - That's What Happened (M. Davis-J. Scofield) 7:40 3 Tutu (M. Miller) 3:05 4 Splatch (M. Miller) 5:50 5 Burn (R. Irving III-R. Hall) 7:05 Add Santana (g)

Got Dad back to his assisted living center apartment AOK this morning, out of rehab finally. Cantankerous as ever, but not continuously (which is a good sign). He looks and sounds good. We got him a new/different kind of walker on the way home, and the only issue is getting him to use it. Looks like this is going to be a better week than I was necessarily expecting. (See prior two posts.)

Flying to St. Louis tonight (Sun) right after work, to spring my dad from his rehab center first thing Monday morning (since his fall 2 weeks ago). Then I’m his 24/7 helper to get him half back into the swing of things (thru late Thu). And then I’m back to DC just in time for 4 days of work — and then next Tuesday is another date with the cardiologist for a “nuclear stress” test for myself (see my immediate prior post, from Feb 17). I’ve been walking 5-6 miles per day for almost 2 weeks now — haven’t missed even one single day — and have been eating better too. And I definitely feel better (maybe some of that may be a placebo effect, but I’ll take it). So, I think I’m doing better-ish — and so is my Dad — but the next week’s gonna sure take it out of me, I’m betting. PS: But then on top of everything, my boss at work is making things unnecessarily difficult at times (especially the last 2 days, but off and on for months). So my stress levels have been off the charts. I’m dealing with that halfway well, actually — but it takes a toll too.

…and the version of Denzil Best’s “Move” — a ‘Birth of the Cool’ track (at least how my brain organizes things) — is also a real standout.

I’ve always found him delightful.

I’d love to hear it once. Maybe 2-3 times. But not anything I can really justify buying.

Psy… Bonus: I was actually at this event — and it was even cringier in person, than it looked on TV.

I’ve streamed a few of his albums, and actually saw him live here in DC back in 2013 — in a group backed with a trio that was either acoustic piano and/or Rhodes (can’t remember). On paper, I should have loved it (I’m no stranger to some amorphous but not entirely squonkin’ jazz)… …but it (the concert) did nothin’ for me. But I figured my ears were on backwards again or something. Wouldn’t be the first time I didn’t connect with an artist that looked like they should have been right in my wheelhouse. So, yeah, I don’t get him either — but he’s doing something pretty different, and at least some people really dig it — so I’m all for that.

Sigh.

Aha, interesting. Can’t say I blame him (though I wouldn’t have blamed him had he done as Alfred wanted either). But it’s a great shame he never got the chance to do an album his way around that time. And just looking again, I guess I’d forgotten he never got a leader-date of his own material until 1988(!) — which is really a shame. That’s a lifetime after his ‘prime’ years on all those Blue Note dates, and even earlier with Sun Ra.

I don’t believe my parents had met yet, or at least not yet started dating. (They got married in ‘64, iirc.)

UPDATE: My dad had a fall a week ago Monday, around 3am. They took him to the ER immediately, and all things considered he’s in remarkably good shape. Just a couple bone fractures that we’re told will heal in place without any surgery, or having to immobilize anything. Oh, which bones?? — you might be asking. Skull and jawbone. But there was no bleeding of any sort, or any brain trauma. He did give himself quite the nasty bump on his head, I’m told. He was in the hospital 4 nights, and has been in a rehab/convalescent center since Friday. He may be there another 10 days, but he’s itching to get out and get back home, and he may just succeed in forcing the issue — because he really is in pretty good shape, save for some ongoing balance issues, which aren’t likely to get a whole lot better, probably ever. I’m flying there the end of this month for 4-5 days, and will have a better or at least first-hand idea of things then. THEN, on top of all that, two weeks ago (3 days before my dad fell) — my own blood pressure started doing loopdeloops (couple extremely low readings, despite my BP overall being high over the last year.) The first one was so low, we called 911 thinking it was a heart attack, and the paramedics came (there’s a fire station 20 feet south of our building, they were here in like 45 seconds) — but they seemed pretty sure it wasn’t a heart attack, so on the advice of the paramedics, we decided against going to the ER right then (given the still semi-overloaded state of ERs here, with Covid). Saw my GP the next day, and a cardiologist day before yesterday, and I have the first round of tests scheduled in early March — a stress test first, then maybe one or two others, depending on the results of the first. Bloodwork came back surprisingly good (even great) overall — kind of shocking given the 18 lbs I’ve gained stress eating since I had to find a new place for my dad with no warning back in September. I had been walking 35-60 miles per week from April thru September (1,300 miles total) — but I stopped all that when the shit hit the fan with my dad’s living arrangements, and then then it got cold out. I’m sure any number of you have it worse than all this, so I’m not trying to be all woe-is-me about all this. Just a lot of stress and uncertainty managing stuff these days. I have gotten back to walking about 4-6 miles a day for the last week (with the blessing of my doctor and the cardiologist too). I’d lost 27 lbs between last January and August, but gained back 18 lbs of it since then — so I gotta be WAY more intentional about my diet, and get back to being more active again. Thank god spring is coming, so I can get back to walking to and/or from work again (3-miles one way, 6-miles round trip when I have the time) — and walking on my off days. And now my wife just reminded me we gotta make sure my dad gets his taxes filed on time too. It never ends.

Good a reason as any! I was 34 when I started this thread, and I turn 53 this time next month. Lot’s happened in the world since then. Maybe even more hasn’t.

Can’t talk about “Tom Thumb” without mentioning the first recorded/released version Wayne did with Bobby Timmons (and Ron Carter and Jimmy Cobb). Recorded Jan 20, 1966 — almost 14 months before the version found on Schizophrenia was recorded (on March 10, 1967). Slinky!!

Question: Is this Third Stream? Maybe Fourth Stream. PS: This is the string quartet backing Ms. Lavette — and elsewhere on their website, I see they’ve collaborated with Reggie Workman, among others. https://www.fireystringscompany.com/about

Wonderful show, just wonderful. Mrs. Rooster dug it a ton too. Ms. Lavette even played a couple tunes my wife knows better than I do (an obscure Don Henley tune he did like maybe a decade ago for some greatest hits album of his). And a Fiona Apple tune I knew, but my wife’s a BIG (and an even bigger) fan of Fiona Apple, than I am. I think there were 6 or maybe 8 songs where she just hit it out of the park, and she had the entire room in her hand. Solid band too, but more especially the guitar-player who was also her musical director. Ms. Lavette just turned 76, and she still takes no prisoners and seems to be as good as maybe ever.

In a few hours. Was supposed to hear Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets at the end of January, but they postponed to sometime in the fall. This’ll be the first live show (in person) that either my wife or I have been to in 2 years (almost to the week). I’d never even heard of Bettye Lavette until about 4 months ago, when she sang on the Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary broadcast show we saw on PBS, and she sort of blew everyone else on the program away. I rarely ever go hear jazz singers, but she’s not really a “jazz” singer exactly, from all I’ve heard online and the one CD of hers I picked up a couple months ago (her second most recent album, produced by drummer Steve Jordan, who (meaning Joran) partnered with Keith Richards on all of Richards’ solo albums — and to great effect. Anyway, that’s what’s on the docket for Mrs. Rooster and me tonight.

Think of “lost” as a metaphor. The world “lost” the opportunity to hear this planned live album when Columbia cut Mingus (and everyone not named Miles). Were the tapes actually lost? Well, maybe fewer and fewer people knew of their whereabouts (or even their existence) —over time. That’s a kind of “loss”. At least the material is seeing the light of day (is there a ‘sonic’ equivalent of how to say that??). I won’t begrudge them some ‘salesmanship’ and promotional ebullience.

Yeah, that’s sure a good set. I think I got mine on eBay about 2-3 years ago for about $65, and managed to pick it up in person (from Euclid Records) when I was visiting my dad in St Louis a couple weeks later (so no shipping charge). And I later saw sets going for about $70-$80 on eBay a few times after that — so $55 is even a little under the going rate these days. Wonderful music throughout, not a weak disc in the whole set.