Free For All

Not much going on outside of Iowa City, but there's a great b-3er in Des Moines named Sam Salamone (sp.?). I don't know where he might be playing, but there are some places on Court Avenue (near downtown) that occasionally have live jazz, and it'd be worth checking to see where he might be performing. There's also a Des Moines Big Band that plays on Mondays at the Spaghetti Works (also on Court Ave.) which is run by Jim Oatts (brother of saxophonist Dick). When I first started playing with the DMBB, the lead trombonist (an early mentor of mine) was Steve (aka TOAD) Stewart- his son is drummer Bill Stewart. I grew up in Iowa- got a great education and was exposed to great jazz, but there's NO PLACE to gig, so everyone leaves. That's why the average age there is so high- young people tend to split. Good luck! BTW, any Organissimopolitans planning on making the Iowa City festival this July? Maybe we can organize a hang.........

To me, Mahler is to music what William Faulkner is to literature. Dark, brooding, often verbose, requires a lot of focus to get through, but ultimately very much worth the effort! I think the piece you're going to hear, Peter, is, as Rooster said, more accessible. Great harmonies in Mahler. He's created some great moments for brass sections, if I may indulge my own preference.

I heard form a reliable source that his health is deteriorating. From what I understand he's been fighting cancer but has discontinued treatment. What an amazing life he's had, though! How many artists have trancended as many genres as him? Rock, R&B, country, jazz, pop, etc. He brings a classy element to anything he does, IMHO. His music is always uplifting and comforting. A true icon in every sense of the word. He's one of those guys that you wish would be around forever.............

Cool looking map Rooster! Looks like a mosaic...... ......mmm...............Mosaic...........must...buy...Shorter/Morgan...set....... Boy, that one county in the middle of N. Dakota is really hanging in there with the "soda" thing while all around them are opting for "pop". In Iowa, too- is that Iowa City?

I'm not sure, John, but what about Jay McShann? Another KCer.

Perhaps (among other things) use the inspiration to write a new tune documenting the occasion?

Congrats, Jim! Glad everyone's OK. What a beautiful baby! Thanks for sharing the photo and news with us so quickly! And now the fun begins................ ......and of course you realize that on April 24th, 2007 she'll b-3!

You mean like a doorway to the Bizarro Organissimo dimension?

I've always loved Jazz At The Plaza. On Oleo, the transition from Miles' solo to Trane's (where Trane finishes Miles' scalar idea before taking off on his own thing) is one of my favorite musical moments. And yes, Cannonball was ON!

Regarding Wynton following Trane, it would seem to me that players of that calibre must be fairly self-assured and confident and could care less who they're following. I would think that they look forward to the opportunity to contribute their input to the piece, and while it might not be as spectacular as say, a Trane solo, Trane's solos might also not be as spectacular without the contrast created by more understated soloists like Wynton, or Miles for that matter. I think "spectacular" refers to more than a soloist playing with technical prowess and high intensity; to me "spectacular" also refers to a soloist consistently playing their own thing (regardless of who preceeds them) and not always trying to "one-up" someone else. I don't think Wynton was intimidated for a minute. But OK, I'll play. I wouldn't want to have been Dizzy following the tenor solos on Eternal Triangle. B)

Quisp vs. Quake...............your thoughts? Old big GI Joe (pre-hair)vs. new tiny GI Joe......... Major Matt Mason.............. Incredible Edibles/Thingmaker*............. Sno-cone machine*............ Strombecker 1/32 scale slot cars........... Mouse Trap game*............ Operation game*............. Rock'em Sock'em Robots*............. *these are things I was totally jonesin' for and never got. I apologize to our international friends for these obscure references to lame 70s American pop culture.....

The words "wiggle" and "wriggle" mean exactly the same thing. Do we really need both of them? Perhaps it's time for one of them to gracefully bow out, fall upon the sword, like the famed Quisp vs. Quake saga. I personally favored Quake, BTW. He foreshadowed the Village People in a breakfast-cereal sort of way.

I've read bios, heard stories, had personal experiences that should have colored my opinion of certain players but I find myself still listening to most of them. For example, I've struggled with coming to terms with what Rosolino did, but I still listen to his recordings and am awed by his playing. Most of these guys who may be considered jerks had only music to express their inner self- what you hear them playing may be the only real constructive beauty they contributed in their life. Some were manipulative and opportunistic assholes, some were/are great guys being tormented by inner demons (like Tom Harrell, who shouldn't even be mentioned on this thread). Look at the "Great Day In Harlem" poster- the majority of those musicians were "dysfunctional" in one way or another, but I'd hate to be without their music. And no, I can't rationalize some of the lame shit they pulled. It's ironic, though, that some of the most extreme "characters" also happened to provide us with some of the most memorable music that we still crave to this day. Having been on the road, I realize that many times someone catches you in a weak moment, and you can't be at your best 24/7. I try to remember that, it helps to understand a negative experience. There are so many stories of jazz musicians who can't "function" in society- I personally know many of them and refuse to become a "co-dependent", but I can't ignore the contribution that these "tortured souls" often make. Great to be with on the stand, a total drag outside the club. I've had to adopt a forgiving persona lest I let these people drive me crazy. That's just part of the gig, though. Being a jazz musician is a hard fucking thing to do- I really try to cut people some slack. Now someone who's high-maintenance and can't play, well that's a whole 'nuther thing......

Bjork- Vespertine

Forum awards? Prediction: Sangrey will clean up in a Lord-Of-The-Rings-sweep. He'll have more Orgys than Ron Jeremy.

I was thinking the other day about an alarm clock I got for Christmas in the early 70s. It was marketed as a "digital" clock, but was really a mechanical device where the digits changed by flopping over rolodex-style. Anyone remember these? Plus it was noisy, but it seemed cool at the time. The alarm was one of those jarring loud buzzers that jolted you out of sleep. I like my current alarm much better- one of those that starts soft and gradually gets louder. I also remember buying those cheap styrofoam/balsa gliders. And my little gas-powered dune buggy (you know, with one of those Cox .049 or whatever engines). No radio control, you just started it up and let it go. And it had one of those purple "metalflake" paint jobs. Groovy. I also used to build model cars obsessively. I'd sit for hours in front of all that glue and paint- I expect I fried part of my brain. Oh well........ And in high school jazz band concerts we used to wear "dashikis". At that time it was cool- remember the Thad/Mel band attire from the 70s? Anyone have memories of interesting low-tech gadgets, hobbies, nostalgia, etc. from yesteryear?

Keith Jarrett, Koln Concert Shirley Horn, Here's To Life Stevie Wonder, Innervisions

Don't you mean Warne Maysh?

Nice essay, Joe. It's important to literally stop and smell the roses every now and then, especially this time of year. I love this time of year as well as fall. Cool weather, changing scenery. My yard is coming back to life. I actually enjoy yard work for the most part. When I'm working on a tune or arrangement I often get more done when I get away from the keyboard or my axe. I take a walk and think about what I'm working on, and 9 times out of 10 the logical solution will present itself. It's like the tune/arrangement exists in your head already, you just need to allow it to come out. Trying too hard often inhibits this Zen-like process. Just don't walk into traffic!

Wow. And I thought my Lee Morgan Halloween costume was hapnin'. LESSON: If you have a big ol' gut, perhaps TRON isn't the best choice. Or maybe if you're over 40!!!! How the hell do you find this stuff, Jim?

h A p P yB i R t H d A y s H e L d O n M! !

I remember when this came out. A little hit-and-miss, but not terribly unpleasant. How's that for cautious optimism?