BeBop

I haul my feeble brain from place to place, dispensing advice to any who will listen - some of whom also pay...slowly and parsimoniously. 365 nights per year in a hotel room; I guess that's the 'work' part.

I have a client at Great America Parkway and Tasman. Spend 10 weeks a year there. (Okay, technically Santa Clara, but...)

My schedule put me in town just in time for the early Monksiland show. I didn't know what to expect, though I was familiar with all the players - save the rhythm section - so perhaps I should have been. Not sure how/whether the Dixieland (implied) theme would be carried. I'm relatively certain that, if not for the rhythm section, the front line (Lacy, Rudd, Douglas) would have floated away into the stratosphere. Well-anchored, they managed to stay roughly earthbound. Not many surprises (despite, again, not knowing what to expect). Was a bit surprised to hear of the Baroness Nica de Koenigswater referred to the in the present tense as a friend of Douglas. Or perhaps I mis-heard. Can't call this show highly recommended. But worth considering if you're a fan of the principals.

Thanks all for the feedback. I think I'm going to take a pass on Detroit. In fact, I think I'm going to pass entirely on the U.S. (Not based on comments about Detroit - I know better than to make that assumption.)

The horns I've played - about four different C-Melodys - have been challenging to keep in tune. For instance, the lower and upper "G" are not always an octave apart. Alternate fingerings of the same note (e.g., Bb bis) result in significant pitch variation. I don't have the chops to 'lip up' the pitch on selected notes. On the other hand, no transposition!

Drat. No audio software on this computer.

I've got four days in the US over the Memorial Day weekend. Thinking about Detroit, though I've never been there for 'vacation'. Lots of my jazz heroes are from that city, so it holds some interest for that reason. But what's going on now?

See also... http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...wtopic=8448&hl=

I think the three bonus tracks are in comparison to the original LP, though I don't have the LP available to confirm. Also, if you haven't picked up the 9 March RVGs yet, you can still get them at sale price at CD Universe...and if you choose to have them held until the 23 March RVGs are released, you can save on shipping. (Choose Ship Together option).

I picked up my 1927 C-Melody for $30. Passed on two that were $25. (This was at a major music shop.) In general, I don't thing the C horns are all that desireable as collectors items. James Carter and Branford Marsalis (I think) have made them a bit more acceptable as player horns, though, by and large they are constructed out-of-tune.

Reply received from United customer service: Thank you for contacting us. Your disappointment at having the Jazz on Channel 9 switched to "From the Flight Deck" is understandable. I too am a Jazz fan. I did a bit of research into your query and learned that Channel 9 is only shared on three of our aircraft, the 757, 767 and the 737. Apparently, when surveyed, a larger number of passengers preferred "From the Flight Deck" over Jazz. I have shared your feedback with our Onboard Planning team for their consideration in future programming. As a frequent traveler, you are important to us and we appreciate your loyalty and support. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you aboard a United flight in the near future. ----------------- Man, that hurts. Less popular than airtraffic control broadcasts...

I probably first heard Chuck Niles on the radio in the mid-70s. I've never forgotten the voice or presentation - and neither seemed to change much over the last 30-or-so years. Clearly, the man knew (and cared) quite a bit about jazz and provided a fine intro to many neophytes who dropped in on his broadcasts. We had different tastes in jazz - no apologies necessary on either side, IMO - but I still learned a little something from every broadcast I heard. If nothing else, Niles had direct contact with many greats and many stories to share. Hopefully, some of the West Coasters will have something to say when they wake up this morn.

Nice contribution to my rather lame thread attempt. Perhaps the sensational title will draw in a few viewers for this cool transform - 277 so far.

Obituaries in the News 3/16/04 11:35AM By The Associated Press Chuck Niles LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chuck "Be-Bop Charlie" Niles, whose velvety baritone voice and music knowledge earned him the only Hollywood Walk of Fame star awarded to a jazz radio host, died Monday. He was 76. Niles died at Santa Monica Hospital from complications of a stroke he suffered Feb. 26, said longtime friend Judy Jankowski. "We would call him 'The Great Chuck Niles,'" said Jankowski, who also is the president and general manager of KKJZ-FM in Long Beach, where Niles served as the afternoon drive host since 1990. Born Charles Neidel in Springfield, Mass., in 1928, Niles began playing clarinet at age 7 and was playing professional jobs on the saxophone by age 14. He broke into professional radio at WEAT-FM in West Palm Beach, Fla. He later headed to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Niles, described as tall and lanky, had small roles in films, including "Breakfast at Tiffany's." He eventually ended up as the afternoon movie host at a local Los Angeles television station and a long-lasting friendship with jazz legend Sleepy Stein led to him joining KNOB-AM in Los Angeles, where Niles launched his career in jazz radio. ---

I suppose I should have made clear in the subject topic that I'm LOOKING FOR... Oh well, would have been a better thread for April 1st, but I couldn't wait.

Ah, sleep! The Creator's curse on mankind. I despise sleep. I wish I had no need for it. Yet, sleep I must. And more as I grow older. I was once a working musician. Which makes the following all the more remarkable: I am up no later than 3:00AM each day. My first daily workout begins no more than 10 minutes later and lasts at least 120 minutes (at 75-95% HMR). How's that for up and at 'em? I'm usually in bed around 10:00PM - 10:30PM. Obviously, my travel schedule throws this off a bit, though I am blessedly immune to the effects of "jet lag".

I'm being allowed a four-day weekend in the U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday. Since I've no home or other particular place to be, I can go where I want. Since I'm without jazz when traveling, I figure I'd better get a dose when I can. I imagine some places have somthing special going on. And, of course, someplaces are just good for jazz 24/7/365. That said, New York is probably out of my price range. So, what's up where you live?

I love Hampton Hawes. Check out live sessions on Black Lion and the classic live sessions on Contemporary. Someone's also bound to recommend his autobiography, so I'll be the first. Raise Up Off Me. More classic stuff.

Personally, I see SOME CDs as a mini-work of art. Something constructed to carry a message. The construction includes the sequence of the songs. (Obviously the interjection of alternate takes disrupts.) Clearly, not all CDs are in this category. I don't listen to a lot of rock/pop, but I see many of these CDs in the same way.

Only on symphonies.

Try http://www.fnac.com in France. I've ordered from them before without problem.

Exactly.

Yes, there are a couple of tracks with Billie (and Sugar Chile Robinson!). God Bless the Child and Now Baby or Never. I've forgotten the genesis of these; they're out on CD/LP, but also a little tough to find. Sandy Hook Records is one source.

P.S. I think the Kenny-G one I refer to is called "Bird Lives" or some such. There's a "Moulin Rouge" book I haven't read, but it could be interesting.

Have read several ("Death of a Tenor Man" and the Kenny G one). Can't say they captured my fancy, but it is interesting that an author would take on the subjects Moody does. So, more power to him for that.