Free For All

What makes it acceptable for me is the quality of the arrangements. A good arranger will not try to write for strings in such a way that they are required to swing (like extended eighth note lines), because they can't. The exceptions are some of the classic string projects (like the Bird and Clifford, for example). The arrangements (IMHO) are for the most part pretty bland and "pop"-ish (I'm sorry, but even Neal Hefti can be pretty square sometimes) but these sides work because of the playing of Bird and Clifford. Otherwise I think I'd go into hyperglycemic shock! I thought the arrangements on Focus were outstanding. I also like Johnny Mandel's arrangements on Shirley Horn's Here's to Life, which seems to get mixed reviews. I like Symbols Of Light, the Osby side discussed in another thread. Speaking of strings, I heard the San Francisco symphony last night and they played a John Adams piece called "My Father Knew Charles Ives". I thought it was outstanding! This was more interesting than any of his works I'd heard before.

Remind me to keep an eye on you if you ever come to visit.

Playing With Fire (Bobby Shew and Tom Harrell) I enjoy this one quite a bit. Bobby also did one with Chuck Findley a few years back that I think was called Trumpets No End.

I figured as much- I just wanted to get my well wishes in early for once, before Moose steps in the cake again.

I know, I know; I'm jumping the gun on this by a day, but hell, deus's "perpetual birthday" has made this a "free for all" .....anyway, I'm heading out of town on Thursday and wanted to be one of the first to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to JOEL AND THE CATS. Rooster, you've become one of my favorite buddies since I moved to KC, and you're certainly one of the mainstays of this board. Your taste in music is an oasis in an otherwise conservative place (I mean KC, not the board). You've shared personal things here on several occasions and you've gone out of your way to help out your fellow boardsters. Your presence classes up the joint and you are appreciated by all.......most?........some? H a P p Y b I r T h D a Y r O o S t E r ! Just quit moving those posts, wouldja? It creeps me out!

I've never been able to figure the old saying that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's. I mean, yeah, the dogs licks its own ass, or eats its own shit, then licks you? I don't know. I'm no dog expert. Maybe dogs have less bacteria in their mouths? But, maybe the dogs need less bacteria? Maybe the bacteria in a human mouth is necessary and humans would have problems if the bacteria weren't present? Where's Mnytime when you need him? Maybe he could comment on the amount of bacteria/filth in a human mouth versus a dog mouth? Yeah, really. After I eat MY poop I at least brush my teeth. I mean really, people.

Our dog likes to eat his own poop every now and then. What's up with that? Seems like he got it right the first time, no need to run it through again. And of course immediately after he does it he wants to french-kiss me. My apologies, wesbed. I'm sure you didn't see THIS coming..............

Hey Rooster, we went to hear the San Francisco symphony tonight. Great stuff, they really swing. They played a John Adams piece that was very hip. The hall here really sucks though.

Her jazz chops are minimal- she likes to play in a big band section, but doesn't improvise. She's awesome on legit stuff, though- last weekend (of the big basement flood) she was in St. Louis playing with the symphony. My classical chops are minimal- I practice the stuff to stay in shape and play an occasional "legit" gig here and there, like Easter or Christmas. We don't venture TOO far into each other's musical territory- that's why the marriage works! I'm just waiting to get that call- "Hey Paul, I need a trombone player for a gig this weekend- is your wife home?" It's funny, every girlfriend I've had at some point would become resentful of the time I spent practicing, gigging, etc. which would immediately kill the relationship. "Why do you have to practice so much?" "You just played a gig last weekend!" Don't make me have to make a choice, honeycakes! Now I'm married to someone who practices MORE than I do. She indirectly vibes me into practicing more- I'll be watching some lame-ass thing on cable and I'll hear her start to warm up, so I'll think "well, I'd better go play some too". All I gotta say is be careful what you wish for! B)

Just for clarification, Mrs. FFA is playing with a different group (a trombone ensemble) Saturday morning(I'm playing one piece with them as well), just in case you were expecting to hear her and me at the same time. Hope to see you Weizen! Make sure you make yourself known- though I think I'd recognize you even without the keg. As I've said before, our dog must think all humans play trombone.

Hey gang! I'm playing Friday afternoon at the Eastern Trombone Workshop, which is an annual gathering of trombonists featuring concerts in all musical styles. I was invited to participate this year, and I think it'll be fun. Mrs. Free For All (who also plays trombone FYI) has also been invited to play, so we're going to make a little mini-vacation out of it and do some sightseeing on Saturday. All the times I've been to D.C. I've never checked out the national monuments! I play on Friday from 4 to 4:50 (just me and a rhythm section)at Brucker Hall (where all the events take place) which is in Ft. Myers, VA. I guess it's the band rehearsal facility for the military bands- they're the sponsor of this event. There is a website with more info- search for "Eastern Trombone Workshop". Anyway, if any board members live in the vicinity and are available, please stop by and say hello. EDIT:..............and it's FREE!! FOR ALL!!

I just hate when that happens.

That's what I was going to do 'til I started to read about it. Check out the EPA website. It's not a big problem until you pulverize the tiles and they get into the air- I just saw a lawyer's ad on TV soliciting people who have health problems related to asbestos inhalation. Kind of an ambulance-chaser thing, but I think the health threat is real- you don't want those little buggers floating around the house. I'm going to talk to an expert about it, but it seems the likely solution will be to leave it, maybe seal it with something and cover it with new tile. I still think the inspector should have caught this. Lame. Jim, if it's in a heating duct, doesn't that mean it could circulate? Make sure it's OK to leave it. BTW, they finished the work on the outside of our house today. They took a dump truck load of dirt (which was deposited in our front yard- I'm sure the neighbors just loved looking at THAT) and put it around the foundation and also beefed up our downspouts. I hope to hell that takes care of the water problem- I guess the next step would be to install a sump. I'm NOT going to have a wet basement dammit! Next up.....tiling the basement floor. I had to move all my CDs to a temporary place and I want to get my hang happening again.

Thanks for the advice guys. We did have a radon test done when we bought the house last October, so that's not a problem.

I did a jazz festival last weekend and got to play with Bobby. I've known him for quite a while and can say he's a wonderful person as well as a MF of a player. I asked him to play on my own CD some time ago, and when it came time to pay him he wouldn't accept ANY money. Bobby wears multiple musical hats- he can do the spectacular high-note thing very well, but his heart seems to really be in being a jazz player. It's obvious upon hearing him play that his main cats are Blue Mitchell and Clifford. He's the first one to acknowledge the high notes as what "pay the rent"- I respect that. The audience almost always responds to the "amazing feats" more than the "tasty jazz solo"- that's often frustrating, and Bobby's the first one to recognize that. One thing Bobby always has in his posession is great charts- he commissions things all the time from obscure writers that he thinks deserve wider recognition. He's been a "guru" to many musicians over the years, and always spends time with the young students. Some more famous players don't do that. Check out the CD with Tom Harrell called "Playing With Fire" or the CD he did with Carl Fontana called "Heavyweights" and tell me this cat can't play. And on top of that, he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Kind of an under-appreciated player, IMHO.

OK, up for a new problem. After a recent bout with a wet basement, we tore up some trashed carpet only to discover tiles underneath. These are obviously OLD tiles, the 9X9 type, and since the house was built in the 50s we are afraid of ASBESTOS content. We're going to get them tested to be sure. I got on the EPA website and it said that if the tiles aren't trashed (which these aren't) you might want to just leave them as is (and cover them with something like new tiles). Apparently the cost of having them removed is MAJOR, requiring the guys in space suits, like in ET. They are only in the basement, BTW. My jazz cave. My questions are: What should we do? How much does it cost to have the official removal? My first inclination is to get that shit out of the house, but what if it costs THOUSANDS to do it? Are we at a huge risk? Shouldn't the guy who did the house inspection before we bought it have caught this? Or the former owner's disclosure? If we did decide to leave them, should we apply some kind of sealant (before laying the new tiles on top) to further inhibit dispersion? We don't have kids, so that's not a concern. This just sucks to holy hell. Please send good news....

Left on my own I'll gravitate towards staying up til 2-3 A.M. (like right now), but I can no longer sleep past about 8 A.M. at the very latest. My daytime schedule changes constantly and my wife is an early-to-bed-early-to-rise type. When I've gotten into a early groove I've really enjoyed the morning- it's a good time to write music, for one thing. You're un-impeded by the day's BS, and the self-judgement darkness is at a minimum.

My wife has that problem and takes that Lactaid stuff (before our ice cream jaunts) which seems to do the trick.

Having recently been the recipient of a very nice b-day thread, I'll start this one off. Happy Birthday to a long-time veteran of this as well as the BNBB! I'll look forward to reading what I 'spect will be some interesting birthday wishes for one of our more enigmatic members. PISCES RULE BABY!

I love good ice cream. When I was living in Austin I discovered Blue Bell, I think it was initially their cookies'n'cream. Great stuff. Also liked their banana pudding flavor as well as their vanilla bean, which was awesome. They have Blue Bell in the stores here in KC................bastards. Well, in middle age, ice cream has become an evil temptress- very naughty, a very high price to pay fat-wise. I have to limit my intake, but I'd still rather eat GOOD ice cream once a month than eat that crappy fat-free stuff every day. When I read the label (like on B+J's or Haagen-Das) it just about makes me freak. We've discussed this before, but those little pints are supposed to be like 2 or 3 servings. Bullshit. It's ONE serving. Unfortunately that ends up being your saturated fat intake for something like a month. We do go out to the local frozen custard hang every now and then, but at home it's usually Healthy Choice. Yippee. You young flat-bellied whippersnappers enjoy it now, 'cause you'll have to lay off it later. Jim, regarding ice cream-induced stomach aches, are you maybe a little lactose-intolerant? Sometimes that's what causes that kind of reaction. EDIT: I meant to also mention two other favorites- home-made ice cream (strawberry rocks)and italian ices, the latter being minimally naughty.

Omigod, Moose, by purchasing that side you've inadvertantly triggered the onset of the apocalypse!! Good work dude!

This kind of shit just irks the hell out of me. You're just trying to survive and claim your tiny piece of the pie and someone comes along and makes your life a little more difficult. As if you were living rich as Rockefeller. Gold dust at your feet, etc. So Jim, without getting too personal, was this really unexpected? Were there no "warnings" etc.? I got nailed (not as bad) many years ago, but it was really my own fault, which I freely admit. What grinds me is the hard-ass collection agency 'tude. It's scary to realize that there are facets of our government that can totally kick your ass anytime they want to. One of my goals in life is to just try and stay off the radar. Good luck, bro-you'll weather this little squall. They're just taking you out for a little ride. You'll survive.

I remember hearing jazz at a very early age- this would have been mid-sixties. My dad (RIP) was a fan and used to play records on a local radio show he had. I remember specific titles- Time Out (Brubeck), Monster (Jimmy Smith), Goin' Out Of My Head (Wes Montgomery), Quincy's Got A Brand New Bag (Quincy Jones) and various Kenton sides. Not exactly hard-core jazz, but it planted a seed in my head that would be cultivated later on. It wasn't all jazz- there was the odd Mitch Miller "Sing Along With Mitch" debacle here and there. At the time, though, I dug it all! I'd lie on my back on the carpet, close my eyes and really listen. I didn't understand what was going on in the music like I do now, and sometimes I miss being able to listen with that naive youthful fascination. Now I automatically "analyze" and sometimes that's really a drag. I also remember the ambience that accompanied the listening sessions- low room light, some colored lights (red-blue-green) and some adult beverage (not for me of course- that also would come later ). A real 60s/70s attempt at a perceived "jazz club" vibe. I even remember the hip blue light emanating from my dad's Marantz amp. At that point of my life I wasn't really connecting with the music specifically, but I liked the general vibe of the hang. Also very important- focused listening, no talking allowed. When I started to play trombone (fifth grade) I wasn't really into it all that much until high school jazz band. That pulled me in (forevermore) and I for the first time in my life became a self-motivated student of music. It's funny, later on in my life I bought pretty much all of the stuff my dad had played in those early years- it is definitely comfort music to me. Not so much for the musical content, but more for the memories those sides reveal. These are the most vivid memories I have- these listening sessions ultimately pointed me towards what I seemed destined to eventually do and be. Doo-be-doo-be-doo.

Ornette too! Thanks, man. Happy bday, FFA. Same to you, Joe- hope you had some fun today. Don't forget, today is also Bix's birthday! Thank you very much everyone! I know it's a bit of a job keeping up with all the birthdays around here, but it's really nice being on the receiving end of the well wishes when it's your turn. I really enjoy the time I spend here- visiting the board each day has become a ritual I really look forward to. Besides all the knowledge and information we share about our common passion, I also enjoy all the peripheral discussions and tangents that erupt here and there regarding this and that. There is a positive spirit here, and a impressive level of civility for an internet board. Most of the time. Considering the majority of us know each other only through our posts, I'm surprised at what a close-knit community this has turned into. I hope I get to meet (and maybe even perform with) many of you someday. And thanks again.

I'm glad to see Ready For Freddie get some renewed exposure. There are great tunes on this one that should be played/covered more than they are, like (in spite of the unusual key signature of B major) Crisis, Shorter's Marie Antoinette and of course Birdlike (which I've always thought was spelled Byrdlike...........whatever............). Anyway, it's a great F blues (with a little chromatic turnaround) that's fun to call at gigs. You can also do this one to a funky two-feel. Is this one in Organissimo's repertoire? Seems like a good fit. This is IMHO one of Freddie's best BN outings. It's great to hear Freddie in his prime.