fasstrack

Anyone ever hear the trio record with Larry Young, Grant Green, and Elvin Jones: Into Something? Very nice. I must confess to not being a huge Grant Green fan. He's fine, just never knocked me out except when I was much younger. I really dug him in my early 20s. He just never made any progress in his playing to my ears. Seemed a bit lazy. I appreciate and like when I hear him, though---up to a point. He had a very good sound and great, swinging, time, was lyrical, but had a limited creative range to me and way too much repetitiveness. A little went a long way. And he never played chords. On a guitar.... I always found Eddie Diehl---from the same generation and having done a lot of the same gigs---just as swinging but way more interesting. But when Green recorded with Larry Young he seemed inspired and at his best. They were a good team. And Into Something is a hell of a record.

And then there's Gigot, starring Jackie Gleason as a deaf mute Frenchman. In the film people are convinced he has died and hold a funeral.He shows up and starts crying to mourn the dead.

Why don't you start a personal dialog with the guy and tell him you were offended? His email must be public. He might respond and engage you and concede some ponts. He's obviously thoughtful. I'm not taking sides. He wrote about his experience. Your perceptions are different. Malcolm X visited the Mideast and got an eye-opener of a different sort. Anyway, you might end up having a productive dialog w/Mr. Kelly. You're both thoughtful people. Just a suggestion....

Oh shit! DUELING POEMS!Anyone else? Well done, Peter m'boy Ha! How many sarcasms would you like with that morning coffee, sir? Too much work. Stay alive and sell aluminum siding. No, wait.....Whitney Houston T-shirts!! That's the ticket.....

You should get Tupac to do this one. I wrote it for Whitney---and Michael Jackson. Not that I spent lots of time listening to either. But Michael still has maggots all over him and Whitney's journey into necro-sales is but beginning. Ah, Amerika...... You should get Tupac to do this one. I wrote it for Whitney---and Michael Jackson. Not that I spent lots of time listening to either. But Michael still has maggots all over him and Whitney's journey into necro-sales is but beginning. Ah, Amerika......

BEFORE THE BODY GETS COLD Lyric c Joel Fass Exemplar 2012 Your death was a terrible tragedy We now watch its aftermath unfold And since we offer this world not one blessed thing But for mining vicarious gold We hasten to reach that bountiful mine Before the vein grows clotted with time Before the body gets cold We've grieved so terribly awfully From the dreadful moment we were told Still, life is for the living And product made to be sold Time to rush it off to market Before the story gets old Before the body gets cold Death---it is said---is the shrewdest career move As will those of us who are alive and still here prove So we hope you won't think it too much of a queer move To deem your demise, well, a bit of a dear move For the living have careers, too---and bills in arrears, too And for your generous gift bon voyage to you! So on behalf of myself and my colleagues Who, like everyone, must make a buck Condolences to all your loved ones We wish them all the luck.... Though ourselves we're wishing even more for a campaign crass and bold Time to stock, stock---then overstock There are suckers dying to get rolled No need to push, folks, there'll be plenty for all Once we divvy up that gold Then we'll break every sales record known to man Step right up---the body's getting cold Er, is there a thermometer in the house?

Thanks for the link. I have absolutely no illusions--and depression is already setting in. But I have to try. Re your other point: I chose 'flexible funding' meaning I get whatever I raise, falling short or no. So I'm ponying right up to get that $7. You know, the one I made my brother send in.....

There's a Jimmy Raney date recorded at Bradley's and recently released that lists an 'Eric Diehl' on guitar. I spoke to Eddie Diehl and it's not him. Is this a misprint? Who the hell is Eric Diehl (and why is he saying these terrible things about me?---for trivia bonus points)?

I seem to remember owning an Ira Sullivan LP (I'm pretty sure he was the leader) with Jodie Christian and Wilbur Campbell. Anyone know what it is called? Or am I all wet? Sorry to say that's all I know of Mr. Christian. I gather I missed a lot.

I am going to bump this once daily, because the only way this project will become a reality is through fundraising. I hope you understand and at least a few of you in the position to help will.

Ha! Jesus. I say we all volunteer as paid subjects while there's still time......

I hear you. Still, I'd kill to live in Hastings. Almost made it a few years back---got as far as N. Yonkers. Now the dream has shifted to Woodstock or Ithaca---a smaller community that values its artists and maybe I could teach, play, and commute for the few NY gigs I have. I just have seen the city go downhill, especially under Bloomberg. He wants the exodus of the middle class and working poor, and IMO has engineered it. So I'd like to comply, if only for my own happiness.

Plus she 'sampled' at Whole Foods. The bitch...

I'd be happy upstate. Even Westchester, where I was. NYC has no heart anymore. Bloomberg, You drove the final nail in the coffin of the city I love. Hope you're happy, scumbag. Westchester is no longer what is was. It's now filled with people from the Bronx who have a sad sense of self-entitlement! I call it NYC North. I'm from the Bronx. Watch that mouth, er, typing finger. Actually, I'm not sure whether Riverdale qualifies. When I moved there in '95 I ordered mailing labels from a local printer. He asked with a straight face if I wanted Riverdale, NY or Bronx, NY on them. I answered with a straight face (and a creeping sense of snottiness)' Riverdale'. I thought only women got to be 'on Ellen'..... My singing sucks. I'd have to hire a singer and I have no dough. I'd rather sue the SOB. Get a lawyer annoying enough so they'd pay to make us both go away. I thought only women got to be 'on Ellen'..... My singing sucks. I'd have to hire a singer and I have no dough. I'd rather sue the SOB. Get a lawyer annoying enough so they'd pay to make us both go away.

Not to mention the truly bizarre practice of 'outing' dead musicians. I couldn't believe that one when I read it. Like, get a f'ing life, dude. Then there's that old favorite: bitch slapping successful musicians. The mind boggles at the true motivation for that..... I agree with the genuinely decent part, for the record. The same people would be wonderful to meet or know in the flesh. But people get awful brave on the Internet.......

You are doubtless right, but it doesn't mean they aren't deeply sad or horrified. If they really were enablers on some level perhaps they feel responsible. The thing is, as a proud athiest not only don't I believe in God, but don't play him (her? it?) on TV either. And IMO neither should anyone---while being entitled to their opinions, for sure. But it's only that, opinion. I've tried to bring this up before and people tend to get insulted. Tough darts if they do. We all tend to judge people. When we do it seems it's a de facto self-elevation. I don't know the answer to that one, and have met few truly humble people in my time. I really believe ego is involved in judging others. And I'm calling myself out on that one too (maybe first).

I'd be happy upstate. Even Westchester, where I was. NYC has no heart anymore. Bloomberg, You drove the final nail in the coffin of the city I love. Hope you're happy, scumbag.

From: Joel Fass <fasstrack@yahoo.com> Subject: Please support my CD project To: "Joel Fass" <fasstrack@yahoo.com> Date: Monday, February 13, 2012, 10:33 AM www.indieagogo.com/callingallromantics?a=428370 (IMPORTANT: for some reason the link doesn't work, but if you go to the right side 'search' column and key in 'Calling All Romantics" it will come up. Sorry for the trouble. Trying to fix it). I've finally successfully launched an Internet campaign to finance the documenting of my music---writing and playing---on recording. It seems the only way to to it these days. And I'm determined. I'm calling my project Calling All Romantics, and the details can be found at the above website. My playing and writing can also be previewed at: www.myspace.com/joelfass and plenty of live stuff at www.smallsjazzclub.com (go to audio archive and click on the guitar icon and my name). It comes down to this: people believing in me and my music may, if so inclined, support me with small contributions, (amounts are listed at the site. I will not solicit or name amounts. I try to be a class act at least) or the recording won't be made. I want to make this to bring some beauty into the world. Period. Trust me, I ain't getting rich off this. If it even gets done at least it won't be at of my pocket. I believe in the songs, players, singers I will choose. If you are so inclined go to the site and help a bit. With appreciation, Joel Fass

Update: No attorney will return my call, including Legal Aid. Ditto the great champion of jazz musicians (and once a hero) Nat Hentoff. I mention the latter only b/c he told me he was 'really interested in this' and to 'fax him the details'. I did immediately. 2nd follow-up today. We'll see if I get a callback, but I ain't holding my breath. For the record, I guess there's no harm in mentioning now that the first person I contacted when I got out of 'stir' was Stanley Crouch. He immediately called the daily News city editor. Said editor didn't follow up, but that's not Stanley's fault. In the 5 or so years we've known each other he's been nothing but a gentleman---and a true friend. I would like a happy ending to the story not only for myself, but all the poor and homeless crapped on daily in this country. If we only would make enough noise the assholes and meanies----and there are slews, I see it daily from my vantage point, just slews of losers who feel validated finding someone even weaker and treating them like a dog----would lose and the smirks finally be off their faces. For the record I've seen plenty of compassion and kindness, too. But what ain't broke doesn't need fixing. When I get on my feet----I'm thinking more and more this----since the music business is such crap and beats up on so many good and talented people I would like to use my gifts to advocate for people in the position I am now in. They need music, support and (mostly tough) love, not to be kicked in the ass daily by mean pricks. Maybe I can help a little bit, maybe not. But my mind is made up to try.

What I told Chris and the other guy. With all due respect, can't you wait a little? A singer has died and it's a tragedy. Time to mourn and be sad, not play armchair critic. It's not what you said, it's the timing. A mother is in mourning. You guys are too much sometimes. Sensitivity. It's in the dictionary.

How very, very sad. I can only imagine how Cissy must be feeling. This is a real tragedy. Being European and having witnessed that era when that song was "hot" I can confirm 100% what you say. Way over the top, and really caricaturesque in the opinions of quite a few. More of an exercise in voice gymnastics - not only in my ears ... And referring to Stefan Wood's statement that her vocals have become the template for all too many, I figure this kind of vocal jumps definitely is part of that emulation. Maybe so. But your timing sucks. Wait till the body's cold. Show a little respect, man. Jesus...... Being European and having witnessed that era when that song was "hot" I can confirm 100% what you say. Way over the top, and really caricaturesque in the opinions of quite a few. More of an exercise in voice gymnastics - not only in my ears ... And referring to Stefan Wood's statement that her vocals have become the template for all too many, I figure this kind of vocal jumps definitely is part of that emulation. Maybe so. But your timing sucks. Wait till the body's cold. Show a little respect, man. Jesus...... The only thing I can add in my sadness is I wish Natalie Cole good health. She's my girl, the best popular singer out there IMO. Looked fine last time I checked in, despite worrisome rumors.

There are musicians I know that don't like that. The piano player I used last time was thrown off by the pool players. But w/o missing a beat he asked how to get his own gig.... Personally the noise (and this is definitely weird since I'm super-sensitive to noise and the everyday sounds people tune out drive me bats) relaxes me. To me, since they knocked the wall to the separate music room down Fat Cat has ruled. It's affordable, ridiculously so, so people are already in a good mood before you play. It gave a lot of good under-the-radar players exposure. There's even a string quartet here, and a gospel group. My old college mate Arturo O' Farrill rehearses a HS Latin band Sunday afternoons---and on and on. I myself play better here (literally here, where I'm typing from) than anywhere in NY. First of all there is no pressure on a band b/c people can choose to listen, play pool, make out in the corner, etc. A few sofas always fill up with listeners. Last time the tip cup (and the pay is not bad besides) was brimming. And I was playing originals! I've always played and enjoyed playing 'background music' especially when I earn the audience's ear and they come to the foreground. If they don't it's cool, too, and relaxes me. It's been a historical function of music and a way a lot of very good musicians have survived. And it's not unheard-of to get other gigs from playing background. Fat Cat is not exactly background or 'foreground'. It's functional music made by very good players and people have a choice where the music should be in their evening. That's kind of unique to me. The main point is this harkens back to a time when jazz was what Miles Davis called 'social music'. The musicians are part of what's going on---part of the joint's social fabric with no partition, like the old days where musicians were guys and gals in the neighborhood everyone knew and respected for sure---but who didn't put on airs. To me the players and audience are a partnership. We have to play something worth hearing for them to drop everything and listen raptly for a set. That's the test anyway. No law says people have to sit like at a Sunday sermon so when they do based on you sounding good and reaching them and not some critic telling them it's good or other nonsense like that you've done well. But if they walk around or play a little pool that's fine by me. I'm not by nature a concert-giver, enamored of situations where people are sitting waiting for you to do something to them. I like something looser and this is my favorite setting, where the music is at the center of the action but isn't the center. We're in it together, IMO the way it should be.

Terri-Lynne is a great drummer and has been for years. Gerri Allen is an intersting pianist. She did a nice job a few years back arranging for alto, trumpet and rhythm for an Andy Bey gig.

Quote Valerieb: you should be done! your argument is absolutely ridiculous, colored obviously by your biases and lack of common sense. you are feebly attempting to compare oranges with Rolls Royces. (just a bit of exaggeration on my part!!) LOL the clubs you mention (wonderful as they are) couldn't begin to afford to even pay the Vanguard lineups!

Yeah, but in that place, it's the argumentative jerk musicians like Dwayne Clemons, not the management, who get into it with the paying customers!! Dwayne never comes in Fat Cat. Smalls is his stomping grounds. I saw him there once in 6 years. We played pool with two ladies who said they owned a clothing store (I visited and they turned out to be employees and not so friendly this time). I know Dwayne since the '80s. We played in a band one summer. Nobody's perfect. He's cool with musicians. Maybe he was juiced or the guy got in his face. It's usually---the rare times it happens---customers that get out of line, never musicians. And the staff is very restrained in dealing with problem kids. I went to hear Bob Mover with Ehud Asherie last week and it was like old Jews week. We embraced (I hadn't seen Bob in around 4 years, and had been asking after him), told off-color jokes. Then they played. Everything was cool until some kid playing one of the games---undoubtedly an entitled brat from Jersey---started getting loud and obnoxious. His blonde trophy girlfriend was looking at him worshipfully. He was asked to be quiet by another customer. I won't repeat what he said in mixed (hi, Valerie) company, but entitled brats from Jersey talk that way. Another guy motioned him over to talk about it. He repeated the same vulgarity and added the now-immortal line 'if I come over there I'll hone you'. By the 2nd set he made more noise and finally I turned around to say 'Shut the F up, asshole'. He made an unkind reference to my age. Jason, on drums, was getting pissed and made some loud protest cymbal crashes. Fortunately, Rich Boy fell out after one mixed drink too many---girlfriend still looking worshipfully, now down at him collapsed in a chair. Ever the gentleman, I went over to the guy who motioned to the loudmouth and told him 'I just want you to know if that kid would have come over I swear I would've held your coat'. I walked away smugly self-satisfied, deluding myself as usual with the self-view of a funny guy. When I saw the pianist Ehud---who had been busy playing aleading the gig and didn't know exactly what was going on---the next week I told him the kid told the would-be saviour of us all 'I'll hone you'. He cracked up. And thus a classic phrase, heretofore unheard-of by me, was born1 The end