Shawn

My first guitar was one of these, Charvel circa late 80's. (I started on bass a few years earlier). The frets were huge on it, really easy to play. It was an adjustment going to Gibson necks after that.

Does he scallop the entire neck or just from the 12th fret?

Ellington thrived off his audience, the adulation was like a fix that he HAD to get (my opinion of course). When the Newport performance became instant legend, the popularity returned, the accolades from the critical establishment returned as well. Johnny Hodges coming back didn't hurt. Anyway, now the adulation jones was in full flight which triggers an AMAZING period of creativity and consistence of quality for Duke AND his band...they all sound inspired during this era. Anatomy of a Murder is an interesting example unto itself. It was damn near unheard of for a jazz band leader to get a gig writing a score for an A-list feature starring James Stewart. The fact that the movie was brilliant only increases the resonance of Ellington's score. Duke really creates an experience during that film, he even gets that amusing on screen cameo with a small version of the band. The opening theme that plays during the credits sets the tone for the entire film. It's a playful little romp...but there's something dark flowing below the surface. The little "edge" of tension in that piece is brilliant, and indicative of the level of power Duke was operating under during this time. Imagine how hanging out with Stewart, Preminger, etc. would have helped the Ducal ego! Of this era, my favorites are actually Piano in the Foreground and Piano in the Background. There's a personal aspect that really comes through on these recordings. Background in particular is a beautiful way to just focus on the sound of the incredible players in his band, I also love the way they arranged the tunes with Duke playing a chorus before the band kicks in. That band was HEAVY. The version of Happy Go Lucky Local is wicked, 50's equivalent of heavy metal. Foreground is just simply sublime and leads nicely into Money Jungle and the Impulse recordings with Trane & Hawkins a couple years later. All must-haves in my book.

Pinnick also tunes that sucker down to Dropped B. There's even a few songs in Dropped A. How the hell you keep that thing in tune so low I have no idea.

What a wonderful site! I love it.

Here's another interesting axe (sorry for the blurry picture). Doug Pinnick with his custom Yamaha 12-String bass (he also has 9 & 12 String versions by Hamer and ESP). These things can't be easy to play.

I remember back when Geddy Lee played a Steinberger bass...I couldn't stand the look of those things, to me they were part and parcel with everything I didn't like about the 80's music scene, studio production, etc. I'll take one of these instead...

I agree. Plus I refuse to feel guilty over loopholes in copyright laws that allow us to hear music that we would not be able to hear otherwise.

Unfortunately I have to go into work today, which makes me feel like drinking on this non-drinking holiday.

Thanks Jim, you've made my Saturday morning! Pedal Up = HOLY SHIT!!!

Red Garland - Stepping Out (Galaxy)

I really like the early Paul Dianno stuff better, there was a raw edge to the band that was lost when Dickinson took over. I still like the first few albums with Bruce, but the Killers era band was pretty incredible, hungry and just tapping into the sound they would build the rest of their career on.

One of the coolest band logos as well....

This was the picture from the Powerslave tour book & t-shirt. I saw that tour at the Capitol Center D.C., January 28, 1985. Definitely one of the most memorable experiences from my teenage years. I later found out that We Are The World was recorded the same night as that Maiden show.

I saw this LP in the record store around 1981 and cajoled my Mother into buying it for me...under extreme protest I might add. Still my favorite cover of the series.

Was really glad to see these guys are hitting the east coast on this run. I'm sure there will be plenty of grease & grooves in abundance. Greyboy AllStars UPCOMING TOUR DATES MARCH 3.20 - The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA 3.21 - Crown Room - Crystal Bay, NV 3.22 - Crown Room - Crystal Bay, NV 3.24 - Red Fox Tavern - Eureka, CA 3.25 - Domino Room - Bend, OR 3.26 - Richard's On Richards - Vancouver, BC 3.27 - Neumos - Seattle, WA 3.28 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR 3.29 - McDonald Theatre - Eugene, OR 3.30 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA APRIL 4.10 - Georgia Theatre - Athens, GA 4.11 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC 4.12 - Wanee Festival - Live Oak, FL 4.13 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC 4.14 - Jewish Mother - Virginia Beach, VA 4.15 - Toad's Place - Richmond, VA 4.16 - Fillmore at the TLA - Philadelphia, PA 4.17 - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY 4.18 - Paradise - Boston, MA 4.19 - Asylum - Portland, ME 4.20 - Higher Ground - Burlington, VT

I'm reading a volume of three Ripley novels at the moment, so am looking forward to seeing the film for the first time. and check out the original vinyl sleeves that make 'casting appearances' in the film. At least one of the Chet Bakers and 'Saxophone Colossus' I think. if you look closely you'll also see Miles Davis' Tutu on the shelf...decades before it was released.

I had one formal guitar lesson in 1986, I learned how to tune it. From there I picked stuff up from friends that dabbled in guitar, I found that I was able to fairly easily improve on the things they taught. I was living in a rural area at the time and there really weren't any guitar teachers. I attempted to learn to read music but just could NOT get my head around it. Years later I took a class in music theory at college (it was a required course for my major). I just b-a-r-e-l-y passed that class..."with a little help from my friends". However, back in '86 I bought a year subscription to both Guitar and Guitar World and taught myself tablature. For some reason tab presented no difficulty whatsoever and I quickly began to learn little bits and pieces of songs. Eventually I got to the point where I didn't need the magazines anymore and I would just jam with a CD. I discovered that I picked things up by ear very naturally, I might not be able to tell you what chords I was playing, but I could play the chords. Which I believe is the point, correct? 22 years later I'm a much better musician...but I still couldn't tell the difference between Lydian and Lysol and the only Dorian I'm familiar with is a dude with a painting that ages for him.

Can you tell us more about this fretboard? Interesting... It's fretted for intervals from the harmonic series, a system known as Just Intonation. Since it's not tuned to 12 tone equal temperament, it would also be called microtonal. It's just one of an infinite number of possibilities for this tuning system. You're a much smarter man than I, I couldn't even tell you what key I'm playing in half the time when using alternate tunings.

I'd like to hear the Rollins...but the real gem is Very Saxy...that is one KILLER meeting of tenor titans!

The originals were nice in Korina natural. With few exceptions, pointy guitars don't do too much for me. Here's a neat one... I have a late-70's era Gibson Explorer (my main axe). Of course the body style is basically the same but it's a natural wood grain finish. It has a Floyd Rose locking Tremolo system and was modified (not by me) with active electronic EMG pickups. The action on the thing is amazing, one of the easiest guitars I've ever played. I've had if for about 10 years now and haven't felt the urge to buy a different guitar. This picture is pretty close to the one I have (except for the pickups and locking system).

The Borders here (Virginia Beach) had an "okay" jazz section when I arrived here in July '07. I went in there a couple days ago and they were in the process of "shrinking" the jazz section so it would take up less floor space. There were 5 empty rows for every row with CDs in it. In the end it will be about 1/4 the size it was just 6 months ago. Sad. I remember the good ole' days (late 90's) of shopping at Borders and picking up all the Collector's Choice CDs for $9.99 or less. Them days is long gone.

It's been quite awhile since I purchased a Mosaic set...but this one I MUST OWN!