Free For All

I've been out of town and am working for the next couple weeks, so it will be awhile before I officially christen R2D2. But to answer your question, yes, I did smoke something. In the meantime, check out this site I recently discovered. Breakfast meats deluxe. Nueske's

...and the other 98%?

Yeah, baby, it's YOUR DAY! Enjoy! ...and many more!

Yeah baby! Hope it's a goodun!

Celtics win game one. No comments?

Not to blow Bev's groove, but one of the nastiest lyrics from the psychedelic era was (IMHO)........ "Yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog's eye...." It makes me want to yak. Technicolor yawn. Drive the big white bus.

I have to say that, after a lifetime of living in the midwest and dealing with the late-spring nasty weather, it's very weird to be here in Florida watching all that go down as a spectator. Not much going on here except the "ramping up" of the heat and humidity. Of course, hurricane season just started and I expect I'll eventually get my "come-uppance" via some mutant storm-of-the-century. It's inevitable. This year's hurricane names: Arthur (already here and gone) Bertha Cristobal (um....yeah, head for the closet!) Dolly (this one makes me nervous- possibly two simultaneous giant storms) Edouard (Cristobal's significant other storm) Fay (a glancing blow) Gustav (a mauler, definitely) Hanna (hurricane in Montana?) Ike (likely a good bitch-slappin') Josephine Kyle (way worse than Clint) Laura (like a face in the misty lights) Marco (....polo) Nana (nada) Omar (see Edouard) Paloma Rene (will hook up w/Paloma and be FABULOUS!) Sally (will wipe out several trailer parks) Teddy (this is the one that will probably kick ass) Vicky (...or this one) Wilfred (will cause a huge interruption in the delivery of diabetic supplies)

Looks like some nasty weather in the midwest tonight. Y'all hunker down!

Is he a student at Folsom High School?

"Whoa, yeah! C'mon, yeah Yeah, c'mon, yeah Yeah, c'mon Oh, yeah, ma" -Jim Morrison "Picture yourself in a boat on a river, With tangerine trees and marmalade skies Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly, A girl with kaleidoscope eyes. Cellophane flowers of yellow and green, Towering over your head. Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes, And she's gone." -William Shatner

I used to hate opera but have since gained more appreciation for it, much the same way I've developed an appreciation for jazz artists I used to not like (or not "get"). It was one of those things I was required to study in school and I didn't enjoy it at the time. I can say the same thing about Beethoven string quartets- I used to be uninterested, but have since "discovered" much music there that I really like. Opera- I've heard some really beautifully melodic arias and masterful orchestral writing, and I think it is best experienced live. I think my biggest gripe has been the painfully slow unfolding of the "plot". Also, I appreciate when the libretto is translated so I can know what the hell is going on. I'm definitely more of a fan than I used to be, though.

I know they are responsible for the theme to NPR's Fresh Air. Don't they also perform a lot of the other incidental music on NPR?

Thanks for the kind words, Larry. The Des Moines big band has been around for a long time, since at least the 60s. I remember hearing them (and aspiring to perform with them) when I was in high school. One of my first trombone mentors was the late Steve "Toad" Stewart who played with the band for many years. He was heavily influenced by Bill Harris, and he also was the father of drummer Bill Stewart. Jim Oatts has been leading for quite some time now and they have a weekly gig. He often brings in guests to play with the band- besides Dick, NYC trombonist John Mosca (who is married to Nancy Oatts) visits from time to time. Bobby Shew also has made several appearances, and I've also been back many times to play. They have a bunch of my arrangements in their book, and it's always a fun hang. It is surprising and impressive to have a band of that quality in such a small market as Des Moines. I've lived in larger cities that are unable to support a local big band or are lacking someone (like Jim) who is willing to do the great amount of work required to organize a big band. There is also quite a bit of community support which is always critical.

The Cleveland Orchestra kicks ass!

I think there was a group call LIGHTHOUSE too. Can't remember their hit. Was it "One Fine Morning"?

I'm actually looking for an actual copy of the album. I don't want to download it. Thanks, Aggie87. That is an actual copy of the CD (not a download) he's referring to.

That's odd- there are a couple spots where the sound and video are different- like around 2:03, you hear the trumpets but both trumpet players have their horns off their chops. It just seemed odd for a"live" recording. One thing about all these 70s horn bands- they provided a lot of music for the basketball/marching/pep bands. Hearing these groups was what first got me interested in music. I remember playing in a high school group where we transcribed and performed a bunch of Chicago, BS&T etc. Big fun. The algebra teacher played bass, so we called the group "Aftermath".

And there are only nine of those. I don't claim to know shit about classical music, but I love the piano concertos and my question was sincere. I don't understand the sarcasm. I take it you aren't acquainted with Mr. Lowe? He means no harm, this is just his way. Keep hands and feet clear at all times, and for the love of god don't feed him!

Great news! Some of that band's best moments are from that era IMHO. So that would include: Kogun Long Yellow Road Tales of a Courtesian Road Time Insights Plus, there's a Live @ Newport on RCA from that era. That would be a great Select.

Me too. I wonder what happened.

"YSL and the Family Bone"

I saw Chase when I was in high school, not too long before the plane crash. The last recording (Pure Music) was a favorite and I think they were heading in a very interesting direction. It was a great group to see live, with an element of excitement that didn't always exist on the recordings. Several band members are still around and active- trumpet players Jim Oatts (brother of saxophonist Dick), who lives in Des Moines and Jay Sollenberger, who lives in KC. I'm glad these sides have come out on CD, it's fun to revisit the music. A sad end to several promising careers, though.

I really admire Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

I have that one too, John, and agree with you. I first heard Danny Moss on a Maynard Ferguson record. I loved his warm, breathy tenor sound. RIP