Jazz

I've been singing it in my head for about a day now, and it won't leave! Somebody.....help......

Cool! Jazz, what is the weather like in Not Given this time of year? Well, it's really a hot cold, clear rainy, sunshine cloudy kinda weather here most of the time. Say, has anyone noticed that the "Report" button is right next to the "Quote" button on all the posts? Don't slip!! B)

I'm sorry, but this would make a GREAT boogie woogie blues song. "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down - WOOO! Weebles wobble but they don't fall down..."

I had a toy guitar when I was little that you could actually play (unlike new toy guitars with the blinking lights and pre-recorded samples. Blech!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! To the both o you's! Both of you stay away from any Logan's Run style "Renewals"

Hmm, maybe this is an example of crying wolf one too many times?

ZING! With that comment, I retire from the board. B-3er's on fire tonight and I can't compete. Besides I'm gonna go watch Punch Drunk with my friend in a few. Goodnight all!! Your Friendly Neighborhood Jazz

ahahaha!!

Damnit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a statician!!

Unlike cannibalism performed underdressed. I don't know about you, but I hate showing up to a cannibalism party dressed casual dressy when everyone else is FORMAL dressy. Very embarassing.

Yeah actually, great explanation! I have some questions though. It sounds as though "New Wave" only refers to the music cranked out up until 1984 (as in, are there any examples of music that could be considered New Wave after 1984)? Also, are synthesizers a concrete cornerstone of New Wave, or just a common occurence. Thanks R.T.!! You have personally saved me from conversations like this (I've had many): friend: So do you like New Wave? me: What's that? friend: Check this song out. me: Oh, 80's music? friend: No not 80's music, it's New Wave. me: What? friend: I just played it for you! me: You just played 80's pop. Yeah, I like 80's pop. friend (getting mad): NO. N-e-w W-a-v-e me: Well what makes it different from other 80's pop bands?? friend: NEVER MIND. P.S. - If you are a fan of electronic 80's pop/rock, I would highly recommend The Postal Service - Give Up. They are a recent band and supposedly play electronica, if electronica actually used basic harmonic progression and used melody instead of vamping two notes over one mode....

Do they have "Cannibal Strength" Pepto?

Okay, I hate to sound like a newb here, but can someone explain the whole New Wave term to me? Does it mean 80's pop with synthetic instrumentation? Or..what?

Dude, that's what I'm sayin. At least they look like a happy cat family, if a little psychotic...

Well, uh. Err. You uh. Didn't really get my post, see. What I MEANT by "everybody" is uh, nobody does that anymore. Yeah. Gotcha didn't I? Hee.

Then why does everyone try to go "find themselves"?

It's popomatic!@#!#$#!! Sorry, I felt left out. Carry on.

I second Jimi's All Along The Watchtower. I'm not sick of it though, I hardly listen to it. AB - Your bizarre new avatar almost gave me a frickin seizure!

Yeah, but how do we know that? How do we know your being right there in front of your computer isn't a red herring designed to send us on the wildest crazy wild goose chase ever, huh? Huh, huh?

D'oh! Now I see what you're getting at. Sorry, I'm a little slow. I guess with the way my brain works I inferred from the context that what was actually meant was seed instead of "nut". What I'll do is look at another translation when I go to the bookstore today. If it says "nut" I guess that changes what he's saying a tiny bit doesn't it? I think, though, it would basically mean the same thing. I pretty much agree with the idea that the means are the end, but I'm not sure if that would translate into violent means = violent ends. Can you recommend any Krishnamurti works? Your Friendly Neighborhood.....Dunce?

7/4 - 18 hour day! Crikey! I don't know if I am adequate to respond to your questions, but I will try because it is good for me to fumble around this material. According to Musashi, I think, that is a very good thing. I don't think he was saying that anyone who uses "equipment" is immediately selling themselves. He was after all, a samarai and master of several weapons including the long sword, companion sword and bow. He also mentions in an analogy that warriors should sharpen their own weapons - presumably, in modern day, only specialists know how to sharpen a Japanese sword properly. So, he was very familiar and knowledgeable in how to use the equipment of his art. (Actually, that's a whole different subject! But I promise I'll spare you guys THAT discussion.... ) I'm not exactly sure what you mean here. Musashi was admonishing those who were seeking only to impress people with their flashy technique, and ignoring the deeper meanings of their Way (Artform). It seems like you are saying that you are definitely not like that. In fact, I think if you were to primarily focus on the minutiae of your music instead of the emotional, artistic, and motivational aspects that that would be more akin to making the nut less than the flower. Long story short (too late!), a Way is the entirety of an artform that brings about, as Joe said "the unforced fullness of mature expression" within that artform. Ignoring any part of that Way, or making one part more important than another only sabotages the blooming of the Flower. Gee, did that make any sense? Did I totally miss the point? I apologize in advance!

Jazzmoose, That was a great post. Thank you! I really like this sentence: which seems to really encapsulate what I was trying to say, and what I think Musashi is saying. I'm really impressed guys. Thank you for interperations and for putting into words what I could not. It has seriously helped me. Your Friendly Neighborhood Jazz

Yeah that's him! I have the same attitude about rock sidemen, but I stumbled onto this guy somehow. If you'd like to hear a streaming version of his PDL song "Here We Go", go to this website: Largo It requires a flash player. Click on the "Audio - Video" button in the left column menu and you'll get a selection of live recordings of artists who have played there.

Thank you very much for the recommendations! I've been wanting to learn more about films for a long while now and didn't know where to start. Jazzy

You know what? I can't believe you didn't understand! I'm just kidding. Your post is the best post I've ever seen on the internet. Period. You've nailed things that I've been trying to figure out for a long, long time. Thank you. It's actually my fault this post is hard to understand: I've been mulling over Musashi's words for so long now that I didn't realize that one quote by itself and out of context was confusing. Also, even though I've been pondering these things for so long, I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM. It's driving me absolutely nuts. Pun intended. I understand the general concepts, but application is always the hard part. I'll try and explain what Musashi is saying with the whole nut less than flower thing, but I'm certain I can't say it as well as he (or you, because in the course of your post, you actually explain it quite well!). What he is saying is that "artists" are placing value of the end result over the cultivation of that result. In reality, you can't place more value on either of those things, because they are really the same thing at their core. It's like placing more value on the edible part of a piece of fruit than the seed because it tastes better. But without the seed there would be no fruit! That's probably a stupid analogy, but it's all I could come up with. I still think you said it better: You totally nailed it. "the true purpose of one's training". "The fullness of mature expression". "unforced action" being especially important. Making the nut less than the flower is wanting "to rush to the conclusion". Or in other words, making the nut less important will lead to the action of trying to force the "bloom". Yes and no, and I actually think this is at the heart of what Musashi is saying. I honestly don't think I'm reading into it too much either. Think about it. If your intention is to be the best, "trying to hasten the bloom of the flower" is absolutely the wrong approach. So, if you are telling yourself that you are searching for greatness but you are rushing and forcing things then your intentions are not what you think they are. Certainly not! The idea of not settling inside a comfort zone or resting on your laurels is as important a concept to this issue as any! I totally agree with what you posted. If musicians are not willing to try and find unfamiliar ways to express themselves then music will die. Whew! What a wordy post. I know that means I don't fully understand it yet, because understanding something means being able to say it simply. But, I definitely feel I've moved forward a bit. Any comments or challenges to any of my assertions would be MOST welcome. Thank you again! Jazz P.S. - Joe, I thought what you said: was especially brilliant, because you are now looking at it from the other side. The side of a student or listener. If the musician or teacher is all flower and no nut, so to speak, you will be dazzled but you will not be nourished or improved.