Robert J

I heard a couple of cuts from the recent "For My Father" - will probably buy the CD. Amazing still at 85. I agree with the "safe" mode he's in, but man, it works so well. Still, if you were nearing the end of this mortal coil wouldn't you want to "rage, rage against the dying of the light"? Also, I have loved his duo recordings with Tommy Flanagan. Geoff Keezer has recently paid an homage with his new Sublime. I always listen to the two Fantasy Studios piano recordings, but I don't know much about how they came about, etc. I have the live MPS date in Germany too, I'm all smiles - Rocking in Rhythm smokes!. (I think he did something with John Lewis as well). Also, who would he pair up with if he could again? Why not with his friend Barry Harris? Tell him I think he's the best!

I am ashamed to know this, but "Let's Hear It For The Boy" was not sung by Madonna, but rather by Deniece Williams. My sisters had the frickin' soundtrack and played it constantly, ok?! I swear... ← See, I've partially purged myself by forgetting the singer... I just assumed, bad singer, catchy pop drivel... I still remember the woman I accompanied, and she was very enthusiastic, very peppy. Somehow I did it on stage with an acoustic piano alone, no beats or synth. 5 years later I saw Oscar Peterson on that same stage. I feel so ashamed...

Also - my dad bought me a bbq apron one summer. It's a little corny but the material is thick. It's not those stupid ones where you'd keep all the utensils in. You don't realize how handy it is until you'vre ruined a few good white shirts due to un-detected grease pops and flying charcoal flakes. Plus it gives you a large area to wipe your dirty hands. I do like the dual purpose of these spatulas

Broil King Regal II This is an updated version of what I have. Now going on its 11th summer, direct gas hookup. I bbq year round, just have to clear the snow off the lid. So the paint is peeling, and I have some clogs due to spiders. I just love the grill. I have not yet tried the beer can chicken though I have seen it done. I'd use a crappy beer for sure. The real question is how many beers do you consume while grilling? My rate: 1 per 10/15 minute stretch. So some parties I am cooked when grilling. Regarding wood chips: I've thrown them right on the coals. I bought a smoker box but then I found the heat distribution gets disturbed where the box is sitting. Can this be avoided? Anyone used cedar planks for fish? I do that with salmon a lot. Lots of Vidalia onions lately - I usually dry marinade them with a mix of pepper, dried garlic and basil then drench in olive oil when they get going on the grill.

Do women really want to hear mush like that? Sounds pretty damn clingy to me. I apologize if anyone's got an ear worm now. I know I do. ← Oh god - I was in a band (late high school) and we played that tune more than a few times. I had that electric piano thing going well as I recall (cringe). I do remember Catera wrote in some odd keys or there were some changes you wouldn't expect. Still, early 80s shite. (Oh no - another bad memory - accompanying a singer who belted out "Let's hear it for the boy" (Madonna) Now that's ear worm (or grub) torture. Now that I think of it, I accompanyed a lot of bad 80s tunes for singers.

Just seems to get more interesting as I dig through the net. Singers he's worked with Disney films Commercials - some sound clips too

Bjork Radiohead Fugazi Pixies Frank Black Mike Watt Sonic Youth (early 90s) PJ Harvey Sugar/Bob Mould White Stripes revitalized Pere Ubu ("Arkansas")

© 2005 Dow Jones Reuters Thurl Ravenscroft, whose voice was known worldwide through his work in movies, TV and at Disneyland, died Sunday from prostate cancer. He was 91. Tony the Tiger? That was Ravenscroft. Disneyland? Too many voices to mention, but Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and the Enchanted Tiki Room were all graced by Ravenscroft's pliable, unique voice. Movies? How about "Cinderella," "Dumbo" and "Lady and the Tramp"? "Disneyland wouldn't have been, and wouldn't be, the same without him," said former park President Jack Lindquist. "It's all part of the experience. You can't go home with a ride, but you can go home with a memory, and part of that is the audio -- the sound part of it. His voice was one of the things that made it all come alive." Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft was born Feb. 6, 1914, in Norfolk, Neb. He moved to California in 1933 to study interior design at the Otis College of Art and Design. While in school he was encouraged to go into show business and auditioned at Paramount studios to be a singer. By the mid-1930s, he was appearing regularly on radio, first on a program titled "Goose Creek Parson." In the late 1930s, he appeared on the "The Kraft Music Hall" with Bing Crosby, singing backup in a group called the Paul Taylor Choristers. That group eventually became the Sportsmen Quartette. After military service during World War II, he returned to Hollywood, later becoming involved in the Mellomen singing group, and began a career in radio, movies, television and commercials. In 1952, Ravenscroft achieved a measure of immortality, thanks to a TV commercial. "I'm the only man in the world that has made a career with one word: Grrrrreat!" Ravenscroft roared in a 1996 interview with the Orange County Register. Ravenscroft's involvement with Disneyland goes back to opening day in 1955, when he was the announcer for many of the ceremonies and events. His voice has been heard on numerous Disneyland attractions and rides, including Adventure Through Inner Space (1967-1986). He was the original narrator on Submarine Voyage. In 1966, Dr. Seuss and Chuck Jones teamed up to do "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" for CBS. Ravenscroft recalled the Grinch fondly, saying, "That was my chance to prove I could really sing." The success of the Grinch led to other projects with Dr. Seuss, including "Horton Hears a Who" and "The Cat in the Hat." His singing career continued into the 1970s. As a member of the Johnny Mann Singers, he sang on 28 albums, appeared on television for three seasons and performed for President Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev at the White House.

So David, you typically keep the synths and the guitars apart (in composing and performing) then? (ie, no MIDI interface)

That's a great price. I remember (OK it was in the 80s) when samples like this cost a fortune. Because, of course, sampled sound was going to replace every live orchestra player in the country! (sounds funny but I remember seeing statements like this in my Musician's Union newsletters - wasn't there a propoal that would require you to record (say) a violinist's sound at scale if you needed a sample, or am I nuts?). Are you using this just through your keyboard or will you trigger the sounds from your guitar as well?

Ralphie beat me to Big Black, but since we're on that label - Touch & Go - I'd have to say they've collectively got the best album titles. A sample: Two Nuns and a Pack Mule Me and Guiliani Down by the School Yard We're the Meatmen and You Suck Crippled Children Suck I Have Been to Heaven and Back: Hen's Teeth and Other Lost Fragments of Un-Popular Culture Vol. 1 Little Miss Carriage! Jesus Urge Superstar Intellectuals Are the Shoeshine Boys of the Ruling Elite

Damn! the laugh Riddler's first episode

Oh man - it's like I've gone back to grade 8 again . Those were the days. Coleco anyone?

From Fleck's website: Trio! is a brand new group featuring French violin legend Jean Luc Ponty, bass superstar Stanley Clarke, and Béla. They are putting together a repertoire of new music, and are at least as curious as you are about what it will sound like! It's gonna be fun and a brand new experience. Look for Trio! shows throughout the US and Europe this summer. You might want to hold on to that pessimism Joe.

The Toronto Jazz festival is having Bela Fleck playing as a trio which includes Stanley Clarke and Jean Luc Ponty. Has anyone heard this configuration? They don't start their tour until June. First gig is in Burlington, VT. Just want a heads up as to whether or not it will be a wank-athon. Thanks.

That was his selection. We told him that it may be very very bright for the swatch he chose but....

Hey thanks for all the replies. Mr Kirn - been awhile! The good looks comes from his mother, believe me. That's funny you guys can spot a G chord like that. He's doing some real tunes like Linkin Park "In the End" and some rap tune that does "the "Crazy Train" riff - got me to introduce him to Randy Rhodes. There's one cool book he uses called "You're in the Band" (Willis Music) kind of an Abersold for Rock that really works well. He's already starting to talk like a rocker. After one of his lessons he said to me: "have you heard of this guitarist called Jerry Garcia?" He heard some story about Jerry damaging his finger (?) and was excited. Soon he'll be into my vast LP collection for guitar... I hope. Zappa, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, Yardbirds, Zep, Sabbath, etc etc etc. Wait for the jazz though. Anyhow - just happy he's so into it and progressing so well. His younger sister (7) takes piano, and though she's got a great ear, can play "Louie Louie" chords in a few keys and can improv on a pentatonic scale, she needs me to be there when she practices. I (sadly or proudly) have done nothing for my son. He just practices, maybe asks me a couple of things, but figures it all out himself. He has a cousin who is 14 and plays drums. In fact she has a Roland - V drum kit so they can jam. The place where he takes his lessons has a "Band Chops" course, where in addition to private lessons, you get 1 hour a week to work in a band setting, with a pro teacher to work on repertoire, ensemble playing, recording, etc. We'll see.

I just saw that dumb ad on TV last night where they're "introducing" Coke with Lime as a brand new concept. None of those bozo's ever had a rum and Coke?

amp

This relates to an earlier post where I asked for info about Randall amps. Thanks everyone. For my son's 11th birthday we promised to allow him to go electric. He's really been coming along with close to 3 years private study. His man axe is a Baby Taylor. So with some of his birthday and paper route money, plus a top off from his parents, he's now a proud owner of an electric guitar and amp. The guitar is a Godin Detour, new in the Godin line. A step up from the SD - it's a double cutaway solid-body and has 2 humbucker pickups. I thought they were Seymour Duncan, but I could be wrong. I know SD makes them for Godin. The amp is amazing for its price. 30 watts of really clean sound. Plus the built in OD and effects. It also has a pedal switch, CD ins, an effects return and a headphone out. Of course my son is thrilled. He’s upped the daily practice from 20 minutes to around an hour. And hearing feedback emanating from the hands of one of my offsprings has been a lifelong dream. I think his rap fascination will feel some tension from the other stuff he does in his lesson. But he’s a good kid, I put up with the rap he plays (on CD), and we try to identify any guitar lines or melodies (if there is one) on songs he likes. I got a bit of a deal on these from the music store I used to work at.

Looks like the set design from 2001: A Space Odyssey! Ad copy we'll never see again: served by our stewardesses in their pretty new outfits

There's a blues guitarist called James “T-Model” Ford who records for Fat Possum. He started playing guitar at 58. He's now 81.

In parts of Northern Canada you get the 8-track thrown in as well.

Saw the Triplets of Belleville with my wife and kids on the weekend on DVD. Was the most original animated film I've seen in a long time. And it was done with virtually no dialogue. I will probably buy it for the collection.