BeBop

I'm in town until the 23rd. I will definitely be catching as much Barry Harris as I can.

Happy Birthday, Tom!

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/dexter-gordon-his-own-words#stream/0 Maybe these are available elsewhere, permanently, but they apparently just here until Monday.

My wife had her arrangements with Neptune Society. I don't know if they're all the same everywhere (doubtful), but she/we had a good experience. The preparations were business-like but gentle. My wife was prepared, so there wasn't a lot of indecision. I think it took about 20 minutes. I think they would have handles a freak out pretty well too. When Lisa passed, they did everything they were supposed to do - retrieve the body, fill out a bunch of paperwork for the death certificate, arrange for the cremation, keep us posted, return ashes. I had to sign a sheaf of papers, but pretty much nothing else. They also had to deal with an understandably distraught mother (-in law); this was a godsend to me. My wife had also set up some sort of prepaid memorial service with them; I decided I wanted to do something "classier"; they immediately refunded the prepaid amount. My mother used them too. They've been around a long time. I've got kind of a hang-up about cremation (I was badly burned as a kid), so I'm going with a "chemical cremation". Otherwise, I'd be going to Neptune Society. Good luck with it all. You're doing the right thing for your kids, just as my wife was doing the right thing for me and her mother. If I can help with any Qs, better to PM me; I don't get around the forums much when I'm o'erseas...like beginning tomorrow.

Last minute notice (sorry about that), but a Herb Wong presentation tonight at 8:00PM. Here's an article and a link to some Herb Wong news, links and good history. Herb Wong was a real blessing, especially in the Bay Area. http://www.berkeleyside.com/2017/06/22/scientific-swing-dr-herb-wong-busd-jazz/

Todd Barkan. Wow. I grew up at the Keystone Korner. Yeah, he's done a lot since then - not that the Keystone was any small achievement. Good for you, Todd Barkan. And I saw Joanne Brackeen at the Keystone. Good for her too. Sure, lots of worthy people overlooked, but ain't that always the case?

I agree. For Mills, what're they going to do, put in some high-zoot MBA program or some tech start-up venture capital thing that every college sees as "The Future", make-a-buck? It wouldn't be Mills any more. The place is the educational heart of Oakland (and one of its cultural hearts), one of the things that makes the city distinctive...and makes a 2 bedroom, 1,000 square foot house cost a million bucks.

I don't know what the answer is for Mills. It was after my days that they first considered admitting men. That was shut down but-quick. To say that the place is "an institution" locally is a real understatement. I suspect the same is true among womens' colleges. By comparison, you could do all kinds of funky stuff to UC Berkeley (to pick a near neighbor) and it would still be Berkeley. I guess giving up the legacy of greatness in music programs is an easier decision than something else.

This is troubling. My days "at" Mills predated Mr. Mitchell. (I put "at" in quotes, since I was involved as a non-enrolled-student learner.) Still, such a decision can only diminish Mills' reputation, the quality of its educational programs, and its role in the community. And so I will write. Thank you for making me aware. For those who may not be familiar, the legacy of music education at Mills stretches back through Fred Frith, Anthony Braxton, John Cage (if I remember correctly), Dave Brubeck, Darius Milhaud and many others.

I hope it's a great one, Jim.

The website is here http://wardellgray.org/

Happy Birthday!

I saw him in performance most recently (out of about ten times) at Marcus Garvey Park on a delightful day last August. Talib Kibwe, Billy Harper, Lewis Nash. Thanks and happy birthday.

Bay Area folks: Apparently Moe's just bought a jazz book collection. Much of it is still on a rolling cart. Long story made short: I already have more than 600 books, but I bought 20 more.

Love that Brownie, optatio. Here, I'm spinning Maynard '63. Ain't Brownie, but almost as good as Maynard's bands got (Willie Maiden, Lanny Morgan, Don Menza), aside from the Birdland Dream Band (circa 1956) and the early Emarcys.

I've always especially liked his duo work. I liked Body and Soul with Archie Sheep so much I bought Cauldron with L.D. Levy. Glad to hear more.

And tomorrow, Bix.

Two from jazzbo, add one: Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Complete Mercury Recordings ...for the pure joy of it Oh so close: Bud Powell - Complete Blue Note and Roost Charlie Parker - Complete Savoy and Dial Studio Sessions

I've been a member for, oh, a few decades. The organization has changed in some ways. In other ways, not so much. It's always been focused on pre-bebop music. That's still true, but changing. There are a few members - becoming more audible - that embrace later sounds. The quarterly magazine - again with some pre-bop focus - is pretty good. Reviews of recordings are almost universally positive, but they do a pretty good job of covering releases up through the present, with the exception of post-Coltrane stuff (not chronologically, just in terms of "advancement"). There have been conventions which, while mirroring the broader taste of the organization - are still nice gatherings. The people I've met (conventions, smaller gatherings) have all been nice. And they are passionate about whatever their interests are. I mean, they write books, and pull together day-to-day itineraries for favored musicians. Deep research. And so there are discographical discussions (in the magazine and elsewhere.)

I'm five time zones away and don't get to tune in to WKCR often, particularly for Bird Flight. This morning, Phil Schaap sounded like the KCR is on the verge of death. It's a special fund raiser, beyond the usual fall and annual (as he described it). Okay, it's Phil Schaap. Anyone have anyinsights; is the wolf at the door or what? Unfortunately, no donations through M-Pesa or PayPal; will need to wait until I'm back to the US.

I'm late to the party, but glad you had a good one.

I be-late, but I be wishing you a Happy Birthday.

I (insert verb) those who can come up with five, or any other finite number. I'm too fickle. Today's five might not even overlap tomorrow's. Whatever you love, right on.

Thanks, kh1958. I'll be there Friday. I caught Woody Witt somewhere, long ago. Maybe Dallas. Seth Carper/Woody Witt WhenFri, October 14, 9pm – Sat, October 15, 12am WhereCezanne, 4100 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006, USA (map) DescriptionAustin saxophonist Seth Carper and Houston saxophonist Woody Witt perform with Chris Villanueva (piano), Daniel Durham (bass) and Daniel Dufour (drums). $10