fasstrack

Sorry to read this. I wondered whatever became of him after he got a little play behind some records in, I think, the late '70s or early '80s. Damn good player...

How are you insomniacs faring? I had a Lorazepam-free week, up until last night, when I woke up at 5:30 AM after a night of musical carousing. I needed to be up by 8, so I took the pill. I doubt that I'll do that again any time soon, as I am sleeping pretty well now without synthetic aids... Hope everyone is sleeping well too...

Great singer, tragic demise. She recorded with Johnny Smith among others, and wrote and recorded a song called I Hate Rock 'n' Roll...

Thanks! Will do...

I think Jim in later years allowed those (guitarists) whom he influenced to influence him back. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to the individual listener. I think it may have been a good thing in his own mind. (Of course, I can't know that---never having resided there)...

In Norwood? (;

And last night (at Kim Clarke's Lady Got Chops festival) I discovered I have one musician friend in the neighborhood: guitarist Sheryl Bailey. She's a good player, too: nice chops, articulation and feel. She tells me there are others as well...

Going to a Women's jazz festival called Lady Got Chops. It is run by an old friend, bassist Kim Clarke, and I promised her I'd go. She's playing with Sheryl Bailey, a guitarist...

Sleep holding steady now, with the medicine. One way to look at it is 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. But I vowed to myself to get off all prescription drugs by year's end, replacing them with natural alternatives. Lorazepam is addictive. Already I'm reaching for a pill before bedtime. Every night. That's a jones. I think I'll wean myself off and ride out any insomnia encountered thereafter. Good sleep, fellow insomniacs...

On Jerome Avenue, right?

It's a regular gig for Sean, with rotating guitarists. I'll post when I do it again. Thanks for your positive vibes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDs5KxVif7M

He is a terrific musician (pianist). For a guy in his early 30s he has a hell of a lot of knowledge and scope. He can play stride, bebop, fit into all kind of groups, and plays credible organ. Yesterday I heard him at Fat Cat in NYC, and he joined Terry Waldo and others in an afternoon stride set. Then he led a quartet with bass and two percussionists playing (and even singing) a South American-Jazz hybrid. Keep your ears cocked for what this young man is doing and will do in the future...

A photo from last night: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207645283563481&set=a.2826680959500.135031.1633329653&type=3&theater&notif_t=like We played to a small but intent two tables. I guess everyone was watching the Oscars. Sean sounded great and we got to a lot of material we wanted to play. Big fun...

That sounds good on paper/in print. Not as easy as it sounds, though. I think staying busy and focused (and slowing down when one has to) is the best therapy for both insomnia and depression. Would that we all could apply that every day. As John Lennon said: 'Life is the thing that happens when you're busy making plans'...

Perhaps you're right. Since depression itself is a form of sleep---and equally seductive---there are times when the Lorelei of sleep/depression seem mighty inviting. Those are times when my brain is in overdrive, and at first (as I indicated a minute ago) it seems like a relief from thinking/doing so much (and in my case so fast). I certainly do not want to be depressed at this day and time. I'm enjoying life way too much. But the price seems to be insomnia. Everything is a trade-off, no?

Sorry, Scott. Truly. In my case I think 'this too shall pass'. But only when my brain is in recession. A possible use/reason for depression (until it takes on a life of it's own---another animal altogether) is as a failsafe mechanism to shut off an over-active brain (one that has a lot of stressors). When I'm going off in too many directions, or even when I focus on one, but exert too much mental energy, after a time the noggin says 'time out'---and that's depression time. It's also when I get some off my best sleep...

I'll be damned, but I'm still not sleeping enough---even with medicine. Woke up today like 4:30 AM, and I didn't have to be up till 7:45 or so. Falling asleep isn't the problem. It's getting up after a few hours and not being able to sleep again. I guess I should count my blessings,as some on here don't sleep at all sometimes...

Friends: I will be performing Sunday evening with old friend and great musician bassist Sean Smith at: Walker's Restaurant Sunday, Feb. 28th 8-11 PM 16 North Moore St., Tribeca (one block south of Franklin St.---entrance on Varick St.) (212)941-0142 Directions: Train: 1 train to Franklin St., walk one block south Excellent food, drink. No music charge! Standards and originals Hope to see you there! Joel

Thank you all again for the good cheer. Life is good now...

If I get the chance to record it I will...

Thank you, Organissimo friends, for your well wishes and good cheer! This is gonna work out fine...

No, the evil bastards have been gone for several months. The insomnia came about recently as I came into a creative period with my mind awake, alive, and very active. I mean you can't know how horrible it was. The place was infested with bedbugs and roaches. Rats convened throughout the block (but, luckily, not in the apartment itself). I had to share my room with criminals. One guy, after smoking K2 all day, flipped my bed over with me in it---all b/c I didn't leave him alone in 'his' room quickly enough one morning. The other guy was a Jew-hater who told me he was going to throw me out in a garbage bag, stole money from me, and brought a knife into the room to use. These people are the dross of the city shelter system in NYC. They are out of jails, violent, using substances, and extremely mentally unstable. A topic should be started on what a failure the shelter system is. Again, it's all in the past now. You can see why I'm so thrilled...