patricia

In the meantime................. Our next nicknamed honouree is "Machito" [Raul Grillo], the Florida-born, Cuba raised percussionist/vocalist who, during the 1930's sang with various Afro-Latin ensembles. In 1941, with his brother-in-law, Mario Bauza, he organized his own band, which he continued to lead for forty years. He was still at it in the 1970's, beginning his touring with a smaller band to tour Europe and even farther afield. Although Machito is mainly known in the Latin music genre, he was also important in the Latin/Jazz crossover, which occurred in the 1940's. He helped to found the mambo style [especially the brass-section work] and represented the first major influence of Jazz on Latin music. Machito is said to have been the inspiration for the Latin ventures of both Stan Kenton and also Dizzy Gillespie. He also backed Charlie Parker on records. Machito employed several jazz players, such as Doc Cheatham and continued to evolve include stylistic trends such as salsa. By the mid-eighties, Machito had attracted a whole new audience of younger enthusiasts, enjoying a resurgeance of popularity. Machito died in London, in 1984 while working in London. He was seventy-two. Next...........

OK, at the not-so-subtle suggestion of our thread-originator, here's a nicknamed musician who is still alive, fitting into both catagories, which we sorely need right now. He is Michael "Patches" Stewart, a trumpet and fluglehorn player who was born in 1955 and is still up and around. Stewart was born in New Orleans, and though nobody else in his family was musical, he started playing the trumpet at eleven. He played in his highschool band at Lawless Junior High School. He then went on to play in the band at St Augustine High School and then the Purple Knights marching band. During his summer holidays, while still at school, he went on the road. Stewart first recorded professionally on LaBelle's hit, "Lady Marmalade", when he was sixteen. Of his early entry into professional performing, Stewart says, "I guess all that gave me an appetite for performing on stage...I made a youthful decision to turn down scholarships I was offered to Berklee and local universities in favour of 'real world' experiences." He has worked with the Brothers Johnson, Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau and Marcus Miller, starting in the early eighties, right up to now. In 1997, Mitchell released his first album, "Blue Patches", which is an acoustic jazz project. He followed that up with another album in 1998, "Penetration", which is an electric, highly produced album. Explaining his nickname, Mitchell says, "Back in the hippie days I had a pair of bell bottom pants with patches all over them...Peace signs, stuff like that. Some guy said to me, 'If you put another patch on your pants, we're going to call you "Patches" ' and that name followed me from New Orleans to California." Stewart is known as a virtuoso trumpeter, with a full, rounded sound and an excellent range. His first favourite musician was Freddie Hubbard, but then he discovered Miles Davis, Clifford Brown and Kenny Dorham. Now, he names Miles Davis as his special inspiration. What Mitchell admires about Davis is that Davis was constantly renewing himself. Next.............

"PARADE"??? I think it would be more likened to the BATON DEATH MARCH. DEEP I guess you're right. I hadn't thought of it that way. But, the reason I don't think of them as dead is that their work gives them a kind of immortality. Jazz history is, because it spans decades, full of dead people. The bios are a way of highlighting their contribution. Unfortunately, we are all part of the inevitable march toward the abyss, eventually. Now that those who were the youngsters are starting to die, it reminds us of our own mortality, a scary thought, to be sure. The important thing is whether they leave anything of artistic value behind. Guerin certainly did. Sadly, now John Guerin is among their number and much sooner than is fair. I suppose I should have said it differently, but "list" seemed so antiseptic. Because most of the honourees are from the early days of Jazz, they are part of the history of the development of JAZZ and are, unfortunately dead now or very old. But their contribution to the artform is undeniable. The best we can all hope for is that hordes of people don't show up at our funerals, to make sure we're finally dead. For the most part, we live on through the people whose hearts and souls we've touched, so, while we're still here, we still can direct our lives. If we are to make our time on earth worthwhile, this is the time to do it. After the Grim Reaper shows up, it's really too late. So, I guess what I'm saying is that all our lives are shockingly short, in the big picture and we would do well to remember that none of us have unlimited time. We're the only creatures who know for sure we're going to die, but I don't think that most of us want to believe it. It happens to everyone else, but not to us. Makes no sense, but there it is. So, whatever it is that we have assumed we would do "soon" we should do now. Enough depression. Next...........

Getting back to my parade of nicknamed artists, and staying with a drummer, in honour of John Guerin's passing, I'd like to mention the great "Big Sid Catlett". Catlett was described as a soft-hearted giant, hence his nickname, who was a splendid, sartorial peacock. He often dressed in green chalk-striped suits, worn with a flowered tie and brightened up the bandstand. Big Sid first came to New York to join Elmer Snowden's band and Rex Stewart said of him, "He was a musician's drummer. He would ask you, 'What kind of rhythm should I play for you?' That was as soon as you came in the band and, after you told him, you'd get the same thing every night." Catlett combined expert drumming with verbal asides, cavernous rimshots to accompany "business" and, listen to this -- a giant powder puff for his armpits!! His unique talent and marvelous personality kept him working with the elite of the 1930's bands of Fletcher Henderson and Benny Goodman. He couldn't help, flamboyant as he was, being the center of attention. Max Kaminsky said of Catlett, "Though he was such a powerful fellow he could play very lightly and delicately, without sounding weak and his generosity matched his size. He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it." There are not many people about whom that can truly be said. Interestingly, the bebop revolution in the 1940's which pretty well killed Dave Tough, were no big deal to Catlett, who simply crossed 52nd Street and sat in with Gillespie and with Parker and kept on keepin' on. According to Billy Taylor, "Sid was the first guy I was aware of who was a complete drummer. He could play any style. I remember when Buddy Rich was with Tommy Dorsey he used to cut all the drummers, but not Sid. It used to annoy Buddy so much. He'd play all over his head and then Sid would gently play his simple melodic lines on drums - and make his point." Sid played constantly, like a demon, throughout the forties. Apparently, he seldom even went to bed. He was with Louis Armstrong's All Stars for two years, from 1947-1949. His only fault seemed to be a slight disrespect for punctuality, which meant that the curtain often went up without him and he'd amble in a few minutes later. By the late '40's, Sid was visibly ill and he had a heart-attack and was replaced by Cozy Cole in the All Stars. Then in 1950, he took his usual trip at Christmas, to visit his mother. Shortly afterwards, he collapsed in the wings of the Chicago Opera House at a Hot Lips Page benefit and died. Big Sid Catlett was forty-one years old. Next.........

Yes. I'll edit. I got it right in the short bio I posted on the "Olive Branch" thread.

We all put off things that we should do, assuming that we will have time. When something like this happens, we are reminded that we are not even guaranteed tomorrow. So sad. And no, John was certainly not a wimpy drummer. He also was talented, beyond "just" being a drummer. He was also a composer and totally devoted to bringing joy and passion to those who heard him. I first heard his work in the late sixties, early seventies, when he was associated with The Guess Who?, a phenominally successful Canadian Band and of course, Joni Mitchell. I was facinated by the fact that he never allowed himself to be pidgeonholed in one genre and so was well known by anyone who listens to good music. He will be missed.

Harold, I thought the same thing. These days, pneumonia only seems to be the complication that is the final blow that kills someone already weakened by a more serious, terminal disease. By itself, it's curable. Makes me wonder if John was already sick.

Yes, way too young. When people who are around our age die, no matter what that age is, it reminds us of our own mortality. RIP John, too soon gone.

I'm sorry to hear that. Joni Mitchell will have to close a chapter of her life, sadly. It's hard to believe that people still die of pneumonia these days. I'll step away from my "only nicknamed artists" just this once and talk about JOHN GUERIN, a drummer of some note. I knew of him, because of his work on this side of the line, with The Guess Who? and, of course his association, musically and personally, with our Joni Mitchell. But, he was much more than that. He recorded behind many many artists, of varying genres, from Frank Sinatra and Thelonious Monk, through Zappa and The Byrds. He is one of the most recorded drummers of all time. He was the drummer on the soundtrack on Clint Eastwood's "Bird". Joni Mitchell's "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns", is John's composition and is beautiful. He also did work on other recording projects, such as those of O.C. Smith, Keith Carradine's "I'm Easy" and Terry Garthwaite. He was awarded the NARAS M.V.P. for four years and also wrote a drum book, "Jazz+Rock=John Guerin" In recent years he has played behind Oscar Peterson, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, k.d. lang, Ray Charles and Sonny Rollins, as well as producing a series of Jazz CD's for Japan. His current work included being a Clinician for the D.W. Drum Company as well as appearing with the trios of Roger Kellaway and Mike Melvoin. RIP JOHN GUERIN. Too Soon. Too Soon.

Oh yeah, the covers. That is a big part of vinyl's appeal to me. I probably can't tell the difference, for the most part, in the sound. There is more room for the cover art on an LP and the liner notes seem to be, though maybe it's just me, more extensive. I've often thought that it is a shame that many people don't even take the little booklet out of their CD's and read it. Considering the work that goes into creating the cover notes, that's a shame. On an LP, they're right there on the cover. I don't think that the notes on the covers of LP's are necessarily better, but taking the booklet out of a CD seems to be too much of an effort for some people. Too bad for them.

Thank you you lovely patricia, you. I'm raising my fourth cup of strong, black coffee towards the Frozen North. FYI, word on the street is that soon there won't be no more corks but only screwtops. Something about cork shortage, which I probably helped create. Sacriledge!!! As far as I'm concerned, the infidels who are advancing that atrocity are the children of parents who never,ever married. It took me forever to be able to extract the cork, without rendering it into several chunks which plunged back into the bottle. If this obscenity becomes reality, my hard-won skill will be as useful as being an expert butter-churner. Damn!! A cup of coffee, thick and strong enough to walk a good-sized mouse across, is raised to the South-western coast. Of course my s.b.coffee has a drop of Tullamore Dew in it to ward off evil spirits. Irrelevant sidebar: my son in NYC sent me a 5 cd set of early Charles Brown for my b'dy. He may not be jazz but he is the epitome of smooth. That's great!!! Just when we think our kids don't know how to make us smile, they do something like that. My youngest, although she scoffs, for the most part, at my passion for jazz on vinyl, nonetheless gave me a gift certificate for my favourite vintage vinyl emporium. Can't wait to go and add to my growing collection. They have a fabulous selection and I have my eye on some Herman, Jimmy Smith and Oscar Peterson, as well as some other gems. The gift certificate may be only the beginning in financing that risky trip downtown.

Thank you you lovely patricia, you. I'm raising my fourth cup of strong, black coffee towards the Frozen North. FYI, word on the street is that soon there won't be no more corks but only screwtops. Something about cork shortage, which I probably helped create. Sacriledge!!! As far as I'm concerned, the infidels who are advancing that atrocity are the children of parents who never,ever married. It took me forever to be able to extract the cork, without rendering it into several chunks which plunged back into the bottle. If this obscenity becomes reality, my hard-won skill will be as useful as being an expert butter-churner. Damn!! A cup of coffee, thick and strong enough to walk a good-sized mouse across, is raised to the South-western coast.

Hey Clint!!! You're lookin' good, for a guy in his very, very late forties. I had a nice glass of wine which came in, not a screw-top bottle or a box, but a bottle with a cork and raised my glass to the South-west, in your honour.

You have six months, less seven days to go until the "wet season", so hang in there. Canada may very well be relatively insignificant, politically and militarily. We're peace-keepers, not invaders. We also have large supplies of oil, right around where I live which the U.S. covets. Of course there won't be a war. Our leaders will just give it away, so intent are they not to offend the militarily superior big dog to the south of us. BUT, you forget that your natural gas comes from Canada, at least on the West coast. Putting that aside, the points you've made are, for the most part valid. The path all of our leaders, throughout the last several decades, since the invention of the internal combustion engine have somehow taken the position that petroleum is a renewable resource. As well, the petroleum producers have a vested interest in discouraging, if not outright blocking the acceptance of an engine which uses an alternate fuel. Inventors have developed some alternates, but seem to hit a blank wall, when it comes to having their inventions generally accepted and encouraged by all of our governments, as well as a public stuck with what already exists and is familiar to them. While it's true that I will be dead by the time that the fuel for conventional cars is gone, my children and my grandchildren will have a hell-damner of a problem, which could have been avoided, if not for greed. This war is not about humanitarianism, it is about money and power, or, as you say, being CONQUERERS. How many innocent lives being ruined, or snuffed out will that cost to facilitate huge gains for the few?? Progress?? I don't think so.

Check out Clint's avatar, Patty. May I say, in my typically elegant, decorous and restrained way.............MY MY, WOW???????? As for remembering the last time I answered in the negative to a gentleman's request, well, it's easier to remember the last time I said "yes". I say "I'm flattered, but no" much more often.

Happy Birthday Clint and also to the guy in the iron suit. There's another happy birthday greeting to Clint on the preceding page, but, not to repeat myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLINT!!!! Is today Ray Bolger's natal day?? Admirable restraint to not break out the champagne on one's birthday. If ever there was an occasion, that's the occasion.

Thanks for the Groove recs. Love "After Hours" by almost anyone. Great tune. Moody. Sexy. And, I can only imagine what Groove will do with it and the others.

I didn't vote "no" because I own a target pistol and a hunting rifle inherited from my father. I can accurately use both, but have never had to to defend myself, nor do I anticipate ever having to defend myself with a gun. I'm not afraid of them, but I am afraid of those who think that having a loaded gun in the house will keep them safe. They are more likely to have the gun stolen and used by somebody else, or for a member of their family killed accidentaly by carelessly stored guns. My rifle is kept unloaded and stored, the bullets somewhere else in the house. The most valuable thing I ever learned was the devastating damage a gun can do.

Terrific!!! Congratulations Scott and Ms Scott!! Beautiful name.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! You look fabulous for your age, and I mean that.

Rah! Rah! for the shoes. It's always the shoes that make the entire 'look' come together. What types of shoes are you considering? If I could afford them, Manolos, but I'll have to settle for a very nice pump by a company called "Prevata", Italian I think. Snakeskin beauties. Three and a half inch heels. Supremely crippling after a couple of hours. BUT they make my legs look like they go right up to my neck!!!!

I'm embarrassed to admit that I thought the same thing. Now, that's a potential tailoring challenge! Just saw this snake on the news. It's as long as a schoolbus and as big around as I am. Holy Man!! Hide Spot!!!

Jazzbo, there you go. Back at ya!!!

Sheldonn, Your problem is that you have no vices you can resolve to quit. I'm almost annoyed at you for being as near-perfect as it's possible for a human to be. Exercising more is always good and losing a little more weight, if that's what you want, would be good too, just to show yourself you can. The site you mentioned sounds interesting, so good luck on setting it up. I guess the thing is to choose something that is actually within the realm of possibility. If we, again, choose goals impossible to achieve, here we'll be next year, still smoking, drinking too much, being a jerk to all and sundry and failing at our annual resolution to improve. Let's pick stuff we can actually do and then do that.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I have modest resolutions this year. Finish a photography project that has been stalled for a couple of months, involving jazz groups in their natural habitat [local clubs] in available light. Embark on an odyssey in search of meaningless sex, spanning the continent. [planning the odyssey will take months. I hate to have the wrong stuff with me when I travel.] Stop the step-down stop-smoking regime I have been using to quit cigarettes. My plan involves one skinny tipped cigar, a la Clint Eastwood in the spaghetti westerns in the evening, with a glass of red wine. It stopped my smoking cigarettes, but now my apartment smells like a low-class saloon. Wear more stylish shoes. I've been wearing unattractive comfortable shoes and I feel I've let down my fellow ladies, whose legs look better than mine do, even though they're not. One must suffer for beauty. Get rid of that ridiculously expensive sequinned tube-top that I have never worn. It looked really good on, in the store, but not so good in real life. OK, I admit it. It was a mistake. To Good Will it goes. Be nicer to my friends and walk away from those who contribute nothing but negative vibes and quit thinking that they're going to change into nice people. Limit my drinking to parties, dances, weddings and other social functions.