fasstrack

And/or Finland I think. Basically they set the fine as a percentage of gross income. Say 0.1% of one's monthly income, for instance, which would be quite different for someone very rich, vs. someone working for double-minimum wage (or less). The notion is that this is "fair" because the percentage is the same. And I rather like this idea, myself. Make the fat cats feel it just as much as those who don't make much. Otherwise a $35 parking ticket, or a $120 speeding ticket amounts to nothing more than a drop in the bucket for some Executive VP or CEO. Do you think I'll get any real response to this? I really hope I do. I doubt we'll catch up to Finland anytime soon, but I feel many people are fed up but just don't have a vehicle. They're also caught up in treading water, but that's how the pocketpickers get over.

pieces of $%()? I send out 3 mass emails a year---either when I have a topic I feel strongly about or, much more rarely, to promote a gig----and am too polite to tell the people who endlessly deluge me with their self-absorbed BS to get stuffed, though I'm dying to. So I get a message from a singer with a big head icily telling me to bugger off, take me off your list. Went to hear her on gigs, have mutual friends, etc. I most certainly will take you off my list, lady. The list of human beings i know....

It's been picture perfect for almost an entire week in NY after a lot of rain. The 4th was perfect and so's today.

I think Denmark, or Norway has a tiered ticket structure. It definitely seems like this sort of activity -- speed traps, etc., -- picks up toward the end of each month. It's picking up now b/c everyone's broke, especially cities. When times get tough, the greedy get greedier.

I'm suggesting that cities and towns stop towing and impounding first and asking questions later. Legal larceny it is, and people should not be taken advantage of. If you have a legit ticket, pay it. If you think it's not, fight it, but IMO it's a stacked deck if you're poor. But people should not have to countenence whatever mistakes they made being capitalized on by thieving cities and towns who figure everyone's too busy keeping their heads above water and will basically accept the passed Vaseline. If people stop complaining and act to change laws and protest and don't let up things might change. Maybe not overnight, but some forward motion is better than lying down and taking it. People need to keep hammering the point that it's just about the money and it's unfair. And make a few politicians get off their asses or risk losing their jobs. That usually works, but you have to keep the pressure up and the flame on the right asses. I'm not in the position to lead this, BTW. But if I'm the impetus for anything happening and I can attract gifted, organized activists that can help others that went through what I have I'll be thrilled.

Especially if you are working poor and dependent on driving this message is for you. I am looking for like-minded people who believe the reason for excessive ticketing, towing, impounds is money for cities. Period. People who are tired of having their mistakes endlessly taken advantage of by city fathers using police as collectors for the city's undeclared, unfair, and regressive taxes on drivers. Have you had a nightmare experience? Is your car still in the tow pound? Are you tired of being a 'chump', a 'pigeon' because the city feels they can do what they want since no one will rise up? THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS! I want to form an organization with the goal of pressuring politicians to make the laws regarding driving, parking offenses fairer to the working poor. I would like to hear from people who would like to be activists to lobby to change the laws and participate in protests and civil disobedience. Perhaps a pool of money could be created to help poor drivers whose cars get taken and lack funds to retrieve them. I would also like to hear from attorneys whose God is not money and would like to make a difference in the lives of people already struggling in very tough times. Please contact me at fasstrack@yahoo.com PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ALONG!!

I got to play with Frank maybe 4 or 5 times, in sitting-in situations, in the last decade. I'm very lucky, b/c to experience a master first-hand, and to play unison melodies with him, wow! The thing that strikes me about Frank, and the other octogenarians out here now and playing great, is the utter smoothness. Frank has this creaminess in his sound and utter assurance in the way he deals notes off. It's more than control, it's ownership. I can hear his influences like Byas and others, but it's the mastery of control and the ease with which he executes beautiful ideas, things he's played hundreds of times but just slants a little this time. He's so relaxed. That's how to do it, and what I wanna be when I grow up. He's a national treasure.

Get anything solo by Chris Anderson. And prepare for a unique journey. Did anyone mention Hawk's Picasso? Well, I guess someone did now. Also Sonny Rollins, too many to mention. Aside from the great Mr. Pass, there has been outstanding solo work from many, and will always be, since the instrument is a natural for it. I won't even cite examples or names, as there are simply too many.

I think the earlier the Barney, the better. Like Jammin' the Blues. For me, he got progressively more heavy-handed and corny. I liked his chords---they leapt out and announced themselves---and his blues feel and his soloing when he copied Christian. I like the job he did on Julie London's Julie is Her Name. After that it falls apart for me. But he never was a bebopper. Jimmy Raney was the bebopper. Kessel was a real blues player and swing-era child of Charlie Christian. I doubt he was scared to play with Bird, though I wasn't in his head. He was a pro by then. He just didn't really exactly fit in, though he did a good job. I think the cats probably liked him well enough. Too bad Jimmy never recorded with Bird. He was the first guitar player to 'get it'. Interesting stuff there fasstrack, I suppose Barney never really was a bopper per say, just a really amazing musician. I think the amount of session work he ended up doing may have had something to do with the decline you're hearing, althought I must say, I don't really hear it myself. But he did work for both Brian Wilson and Phil Spector and that would probably end up hurting anyone's brain. :D I respect him, just don't always enjoy him, rest the dead. But some of that early stuff----very happening.

I think the earlier the Barney, the better. Like Jammin' the Blues. For me, he got progressively more heavy-handed and corny. I liked his chords---they leapt out and announced themselves---and his blues feel and his soloing when he copied Christian. I like the job he did on Julie London's Julie is Her Name. After that it falls apart for me. But he never was a bebopper. Jimmy Raney was the bebopper. Kessel was a real blues player and swing-era child of Charlie Christian. I doubt he was scared to play with Bird, though I wasn't in his head. He was a pro by then. He just didn't really exactly fit in, though he did a good job. I think the cats probably liked him well enough. Too bad Jimmy never recorded with Bird. He was the first guitar player to 'get it'. Wouldn't that have been something! He did sit in. Chris Anderson got to record (only b/c someone taped a gig). It was the thrill of both their lives, I'm sure. Jimmy was like 20 and already good enough.....I don't remember talking to either about it, but you can bet it was a thrill. I think Jimmy was quoted as saying 'to play with God'......... A guitar player that did a nice job with Bird on his last ill-fated Verve album of Cole Porter tunes was Jerome Darr. Billt Bauer was on some of it, too. It's nice to have guitar instead of trumpet sometimes, b/c guitar can go from ensembles to comping to solos. No slam on Barney, BTW. He was in there and hung. Just not my favorite----but I dug him back in the day a lot more.

I think the earlier the Barney, the better. Like Jammin' the Blues. For me, he got progressively more heavy-handed and corny. I liked his chords---they leapt out and announced themselves---and his blues feel and his soloing when he copied Christian. I like the job he did on Julie London's Julie is Her Name. After that it falls apart for me. But he never was a bebopper. Jimmy Raney was the bebopper. Kessel was a real blues player and swing-era child of Charlie Christian. I doubt he was scared to play with Bird, though I wasn't in his head. He was a pro by then. He just didn't really exactly fit in, though he did a good job. I think the cats probably liked him well enough. Too bad Jimmy never recorded with Bird. He was the first guitar player to 'get it'.

What an amazing guy. I don't agree with him being a shill for cancer drugs' corporate scions, but they did save him, I guess.

I had 2 x-500s and loved them, and 1 Artist Award and hated it. It was new and sounded like my ass. Attilla Zoller put his pickup in, but it was beyond help. Gave it back and got an old Epi, which I loved, but the neck kept moving faster than the gas needle on a Camaro, so, alas, au revoir. Anyway, they are things of beauty, but if it sounds and plays good it is good, and the converse. Beauty's only lamination-deep.

That's too unhealthy. High cholesterol. Couldn't we "SAUTE EM ALL"?

True. Your powers of observation best my own, oh (that thing David Carridine called people on Kung Fu, before my brain rotted)

I don't think it opens. If not, www.soundclick.com/joelfass and click on 'music' Now I'll go get a life.....

I've seen this before. Oscar Peterson is also on this, and his group, if I'm not mistaken. I'm a big Getz fan but he looks (operative word looks, not sounds) like he didn't know what hit him on this. A Trane hit him. To his credit, he never yielded to temptations of trends or popularity, just stayed Getz to the end and got deeper, more muscular, more emotional.

This one what? We can see it's a guitar. Who made it?

They ain't got me yet. The trick: don't leave a paper trail. (No letters, just don't answer). However, I feel eventually, like Huck Finn, I'll be run to ground.......

top 50 at soundclick. (sorry for the mean teaser). I know this is very self-absorbed and crass, but I really need cheering up right now with a lot bad that's going on. I'm proud, though it doesn't earn me a penny, etc., that FWIW people took the time to listen, enjoy, vote. #37 out of 29,000 ain't too shabby. Also, every song received 5 stars. I try to write songs about hope. This gives me hope when I need some. Now that my old friend is Biden's chief economics honcho, I guess that gig at the White House can't be far off. Oh, er, wait a sec. The White Castle, that's what he said..... http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=645953

Go to the Museum ot Television and Radio in NY or LA. There all there for the price od admission. You go to a private booth. I've seen Pres, Billie, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, and many others (my memory is failing) I will do that. I never of thought to do that. While you're there ask for library assistance. It will blow your mind what they have for viewing. Ask about 'A Contemporary Memorial', which was a tribute to RFK after the assassination, and featured Duke, Horace Silver with Randy Brecker and Fathead, Bill Evans and symphony orchestra, Grady Tate with Richard Wyands, Joe Williams----on and on. It's in 2 parts, make sure to ask for both. This was never commercially available, to my knowledge.

Go to the Museum ot Television and Radio in NY or LA. There all there for the price od admission. You go to a private booth. I've seen Pres, Billie, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, and many others (my memory is failing)

Absolutely picture perfect afternoon here in Greenwich Village. Can't wait for the fireworks. Happy 4th, all.

Please, no time soon...I couldn't take the wall-to-wall "heartfelt farewells". Or did you just mean canned? If you can get someone to do the job...... Can they at least whack his hair?

I didn't read every post, so sorry if this has already been said. But, once again the morning shows show what whorish putzes they are by filling every second with this. Fuck them, they could care less about Michael Jackson, his fans, or anything else besides ratings, despite crocodile tears. When will Matt Lauer be done away with? When will this country grow up and have respect for themselves and their own icons even?