Free For All

Did I Cause Kaos?

This be effed up.

Yes, yes and yes.

Sumpin's messed up. Lots of folks on the board but no new posts (when I hit "view new posts") for a couple of hours now.

Last weekend I did the the UNC (U. of No. Colorado) festival for about my 10th year. It's always been big fun and every year they bring in some amazing artists. This year there were about 300 big bands (middle & high school & college big bands), some very good and some not. The quality of jazz education is very dependent on who is teaching. Some teachers prepare their bands for competitions, some prepare their bands for life. I've always been a believer of the latter. The adjudication of these events is often a little tricky, frequently the most significant suggestions need to be made to the directors and not the kids. Anyway, the evening concerts were big fun. On Friday, the concert order was Wayne Bergeron w/the UNC big band in a tribute to Maynard (also featuring our good friend Duke City tearin' it up on bari sax). Afterwards was the Mingus big band, which was very, very good. After the concert there was a session back at the hotel featuring the "house band" (the rhythm section was the jazz faculty at UNC, an excellent rhythm section) plus some of the clinicians. So, here's the highlight...the bari player from the Mingus band (didn't catch his name, sorry) called up the tune Cherokee and the drummer kicked it off at a bright (300 bpm-ish) tempo. The bari player blew for awhile, then the house guys, Don Aliquo on tenor and Dave Pietro on alto played. Then came the Mingus band guys- Wayne Escoffery & Donnie McCaslin on tenor, then Craig Handy on alto and finally Bobby Watson on alto (non-Mingus, Bobby brought his college big band from KC). So, SEVEN sax solos and no one was playing short, but all had much to say. The tune clocked in at almost half an hour, and I hope someone bought the bass player a big-ass drink. It was definitely rhythm section abuse, but all the cats were playing some baaaaad shit, so all was forgiven. On Saturday, the clinicians played a big band concert (because of the size of the festival, there were enough clinicians to populate a big band, and each year there are several commissions of new music). This was the part in which I participated, and I had much fun, got to blow some. After our set, it was Chris Potter and the Underground band (Adam Rogers, guitar, Scott Colley, bass & Nate Smith, drums). It was absolutely amazing- Chris Potter is the shit, no question. He has some serious stamina; he blew long solos on tenor & bass clarinet and it was never for a minute less than totally engaging. Got to hang with the guys at the hotel bar, all were very nice. That was the first time I'd met Scott Colley, he's a super nice guy as well as a MF musician. I'm very thankful for all opportunities to see my friends and play & hear some great music. And I have to add that these were all friends who teach, play & write, and I have a great respect for them because they do jazz education "right" IMHO.

Just trying to contribute in some way.

......and again tonight, with some shredded rotisserie chicken on top.

Thanks for the heads up on this, Weiz. Of course as usual I ended up spending more than I intended..........

I read the book and enjoyed it very much. If isn't too "Hollywoodized" it could be a good film.

So what's the verdict on this, Dan? (I'm primarily interested in Rosolino's contribution).

Man, I haven't listened to that in ages. One of my all-time favorites. Thijs Van Leer and Jan Akkerman! Those guys were nuts! Thanks for posting that.

Happy Birthday! :party:

Happy Birthday! :party:

Huh? Sorry if I offended you, Valerie. I really didn't intend for my post to be disrespectful. I should just keep my pre-pubescent reminiscences to myself, I guess. That being said, you probably shouldn't click on Sangrey's link.

There's a great version of Cute where someone sampled Buddy Rich's verbal rants and used them rhythmically in place of all the drum fills. Very funny!

I don't think Bea would mind a bit, however. Did you see her on the Comedy Central roast? She was very funny, and quite nasty.

Off topic, but speaking of Maude, did anyone else have a thing for Adrienne Barbeau? I sure did.

Bea Arthur NY Times obit I just heard about her passing and didn't see an existing thread, so... I always liked her, going back to her appearance on All in the Family that created the spin-off Maude. I never was much of a Golden Girls fan. I did recently see her on a Comedy Central roast, can't remember which one.....still very funny (and bawdy). RIP .......that compromisin' enterprisin' anything but tranqulizin' Right On Maude!!!

Here's Tim Woodman. Close enough?

Yes, this makes about any cola drinkable.

I often see drummers at all levels drop sticks. No biggie, it happens- a result of playing with a relaxed grip (which is a good thing). Most drummers just keep replacements close by. Sitting in big bands as I have much of my life (often right next to the drummer) I've been hit by flying sticks and broken stick shrapnel many times. Occupational hazard. I've also learned how to fix a hi-hat that's come apart during a performance, and caught tipping cymbal stands with my foot.

Happy Birthday Niko!

It's come around again, Joe! Birthday time! A VERY HAPPY 39TH! ENJOY IT! (you and Jack Benny) (I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.....)

I once was a fan.

So does this mean a name change to "olacacocraluger"?