Free For All

Just got home, turned it on to see Keely Smith and Kid Rock* performing "That Old Black Magic". It was awful, I threw up in my mouth a little. I felt sorry for Keely Smith, it was truly embarrassing. *note to Kid Rock: STFU!!!

It's interesting, the way I've heard the story about Thad's rendition of the quote on the Basie April in Paris session is that the band had made many takes on the tune, and in Thad's efforts to avoid repeating himself in subsequent takes he played the quote on the take which ended up being the "keeper". The downside was that when the band performed the tune thereafter Thad was obligated to repeat the quote, since it was part of the popular recorded version of the tune with which audiences were familiar. You still hear players dutifully playing the quote (most of the time they don't even realize it was Thad's), recreating the famous solo (similar to the recreation of Bobby Hackett's "String of Pearls" trumpet solo). This has always been a difficult reconciliation for jazz musicians- the desire to be spontaneous and unique on every performance which conflicts with the desire of the audience to hear something familiar. It happened to me once on Woody's band when I played on Bijou, a piece made famous by Bill Harris. After the set, someone was upset I didn't play the "famous Bill Harris solo". My response was that even Bill Harris didn't play the "famous Bill Harris solo" every night. It's that concept of the repertory band- I believe in studying the recording and attempting to play in the appropriate style, but playing someone else's EXACT solo is (IMHO) impossible to do with anything approaching the same level of spontaneity. It's like when someone says "tell that funny story"- it almost always bombs because it's too contrived and not at all spontaneous.

Happy 50th, and many more to come! (I'm not far behind you!) Glad to have you here!

You know, for whatever reason Ornette still feels so fresh and rebellious and electric to me. Very timeless music. I envy those who get to hear it for the first time. Some of my favorite music took me a while to "get"- Monk, Mingus and Ornette come to mind (also a lot of early jazz I initially overlooked). It's that music where you keep discovering deeper layers. Duke was that way for me, and also some Miles I didn't like at first.

Just got my Daedelus order in the mail today, plus these. Lotsa new stuff to listen to.

It's good. Debra says it's good. As for me, I would agree. Kenny Wheeler's great!

Alt+0153 = ™ Alt+0174 = ® Alt+0169 = © Or alternately, they're all available on your computer at charmap.exe. edit - Sorry, I wasn't Tom, so I can delete that if you prefer... Thanks! You don't need to know the code to post on the board. Parentheses around tm, c and r will make it happen. © ® Thanks Dan! Agg, STFU!

Alt+0153 = ™ Alt+0174 = ® Alt+0169 = © Or alternately, they're all available on your computer at charmap.exe. edit - Sorry, I wasn't Tom, so I can delete that if you prefer... Thanks!

What I want to know, Tom, is how to make that little trademark thingie on the thread title.

That's pretty cool!

Mmmmmm, limoncello!

I've enjoyed this compilation:

Conn-junctivitis.

Well, that's always a good thing, isn't it? I mean as opposed to the alternative......

So do you miss the warm & steamy south? I think not.

Wow! I'd like to hear your definition of "modern" sometime! Glenn Miller on up Or Glenn Miller on crack.

Seriously. WAY out.

25% off through 2/10

"Oops I crapped my pants"

In keeping with the spirit of the thread, here's a guy with a beard of bees!

I hear he likes the girls...........