fasstrack

I heard Ineke w/Liebman at Murphy's Law in the Hague, also met him in the library there. He's on a nice long clip on youtube w/Wes Montgomery in Holland in '65. The whole group fall right in as Wes teaches them his changes to End of a Love Affair. They swing their tails off and make Wes comfortable. I've heard him w/Jimmy Raney too, also I believe w/my favorite Dutch guitarist-not widely known here-Wim Overgrouw (sp?-I'll correct it later). He's a pro w'a light touch and a talent for selflessness and bringing out the featured performer-which is why he always works. I'd love to read his book. Cats of that ilk got to know 'where the bones are buried'.

Saw Stardust Memories yesterday on DVD. Not bad at all. I think he used the Fellini elements in a good, absurd way: weird, ugly people horning in wanting things from this guy who can barely figure out his own life. He nails the shallowness of the Bates character and the idiocies of the harpies. What I didn't like or appreciate was that fake-out 'ending', where he's shot and killed by a fan, but not really. When he's 'dead' he realizes that he had a good life with Dorrie despite all his tribulations. The film should've ended there, with his little epiphany. Instead he wakes up from what was merely a faint and goes off with the Isabelle character. But it was a good send up of stars and hangers-on, explored again later in Celebrity.

Word. I got a PM from a Bix something-or-other who turn up phoney.

I hear you. But I usually post from a cell phone w/o the luxury of a computer---making checking a bit unweildy. Navigation generally even within one thread is hard and I find ways to beat it. But, like Gordon McRae once sang, I'll try, I'll try, I'll try.....

Final version, my editing today. JF

What evil lurks in the foreskin of baby boys? Maybe part of the self-deprecation and a built in sexual low-self esteem based on, um, dimensions, begins with the removal of said foreskin. It's a hell of a way to start life a week in---a little 'short'--compared to, say, our Sicilian brothers whose mothers in the first days after birthing male children are rumored to.....well don't make me say it! I'd say they they may just view life as way more fun getting that kind of, um, 'head' start.

It's kind of hard to believe such a statement could come from someone not only as forward-looking as he always has been, but who has worked with and embraced such international talent as Milton Nascimento, more recently African Lionel Louke. I doubt he said this. Jazz is an international language now. Not only do we not own it, but there is exciting and fresh improvised music coming from all corners of the world b/c a great thing seems to have happened: The Europeans and others grew up, embraced their own traditions, and said 'the hell with copying America. Let's do our thing. Of course they respect and study our tradition and masters but now they've taken the leap of faith all real artist do, predicated on the realization that you are only yourself, are stuck with it, so you may as well love it. You get a foundation and grounding, then the ball is passed to you. Catching and running with it is how not to be a copycat. So what Herbie said or did not say is a red herring. Somewhere a budding Thelonious Monk, African, Croatian, or Finlandic-style is playing vibrant jazz based on what is real to him.

And that, ladies and gents, was the starting gun---and----they're off!!

If that shot was a little longer they'd have to say 'boner track'---and we'd know what the mohel knows

Funny how this thread was never moved. Well, I guess since we all wrote our answers it does now qualify as 'jazz in print'!

If you're inferring that Baraka is some sort of edgy innovator somehow on a par with great jazz musicians or other artists, sorry but no cigar from me. I'd say he's very bright and likes to call attention to himself--even more than his views---by intentionally instigating. I'm not sure what good that does, especially in comparison to music which, when done right, is a healer. I'm not sure Baraka's motivation is to get people together. If he were a player to me he'd be stuck in 'self-expression mode', which to mean means talented but missing the point. It's a selfish kind of art that pales very fast---just my opinion. Still he's a good, thought-provoking writer I always enjoyed---best taken with a grain of salt.

Among musicians there is nothing but genuine respect/affection due to to Nica's very real and often risky generosity-no 'hagiography'. The jazz press maybe deifys her a bit. Except for the always-tactful Amiri Baraka, who called her a 'dilettente' and 'groupie'. We all know he has, um, issues. The good news: w/these new books/DVD the public can make more informed conclusions on Nica now.

Private tape. Aargh!!

Michael: Actually I did. One side piano, the other vibes. It may have been when you played it at KCR. Either that or Burt Eckoff has it. I was hoping you'd respond b/c I remember that same show you playing a long trio cut of Buddy playing IIRC Maybe September. If not it was another ballad. Is this obtainable anywhere? This guy was under-recorded.

'Thweetie, have I got a THUPWISE for YOU'...

Does everyone know the decidely un-self deprecating story about Berle? Reportedly he was among the best, well, ENDOWED men in show biz. A bet was made that this was so and Mr. Television was approached by the bettor for proof. 'How much do you want me to show him' 'Just enough to win'...

To Freelancer's question about children in Allen's film: they may have had all the lines of stick figures, but Virgil Stockwell and his wife had kids. His charaater in Manhattan has a son ('he just started ballet lessons..'). Not to mention the cradle-robbing involved in dating Tracey. Hannah etc. is as much about kids as adults. Cliff, the filmmaker in Crimes and... has a neice he's fond of. The writer in Deconstructing... brings his kid on a long trip, behaving in most unfatherly fashion. and of course for all you jazz fans (to POOP ON...) there's Wild Man Blues co-starring a certain child bride (;

Jim: Ow, my head hurts now. Um, could we change the subject to, say, great Jewish basketball players?

Jim, it's a slam dunk people will be watching Annie Hall generations from now. The simple reason being that it has reaches out and connects on the most basic levels. Anyone can understand it and all but the most shrivelled prune can feel it.

'That's a PLAIN b'...

Not worthless, Larry. But do let us have a bit of perspective re the importance of the parsed vs. the parser. In this case I believe the vox populi to be correct. You know, that pesky old saw about the 'test of time'.

Lots of folks flocking to see, internalize, and quote from David Kehr's films over a nigh 50-year period, are there?

Thanks! Though I've neither turntable nor needle...

Jeez, I thought I was the only Torme detractor. He was a great musician, and everything looked good on paper. The man did not reach me is all... Jeez, I thought I was the only Torme detractor. He was a great musician, and everything looked good on paper. The man did not reach me is all...