James

Yeah Randy, suspected as much. Hope someday enough California action comes together to justify a trip. I've been recently disappointed that Donny McCaslin's left coast tour didn't even include an L.A. concert. Hard to comprehend, really.

Need to second GloriousBlues' rec. for Dizzy's. (San Diego) Chuck is as straight as the day is long, and I could probably help out with local (jazz) radio promotion. Only thing...............Dizzy's books a few months in advance, so plan your contact accordingly. What are the odds of a left coast swing, guys? I'm too lazy to scan the entire thread to check for what's been tossed out.

FFA, once and for all... "should of" = shoulda "could of" = coulda "would of" = woulda Sorry to go all "Street" on ya, your pal, James :-) w/regard to the topic...........what Jim said.

I was in the front row at a jam/benefit once where tenor player Joe Marillo casually commented on the number of Italian Americans on the bandstand. "There's Pete Deluke, so-and-so, so-and-so, so-and-so, and Mags (Bob Magnusson) ---- his Mom's Italian." To which Bob responded in a somewhat dry tone......"Yeah -- and my Dad's Icelandic..........which makes me a Wopsicle." I sprayed the front of the stage with the belt of drink I had in my mouth, and still grin today at the memory.

During high school I was banned from a buffet............but it was a guilt by association scenario. My best friend (massive guy, no fat) and another guy his size went in with me one evening, and they decided to compete to see who could eat the most fried fish filets. Big chunks of fish though they were, my buddy won by knocking down around 25, IIRC. We didn't get any flack on that occasion, but my friend is hard to forget -- and the next time we arrived we were turned away at the entryway.

I recall an interview wherein she recounted aspiring to be a jazz singer, and NEVER HEARING Billie Holiday. How the hell is that possible? Y'know -- I aspire to be a jazz tenor player, and am certain I'll be a great one. Can somebody tell me who the hell this Coltrane character is, and what the fuss is all about?

So far, only one person I know well lost her home. (local vocalist) Two other female vocalists had extremely close calls, as did one of my best friends in one of the hottest of the hot spots. A gal I work with lost her home as well. I personally was never forced to evactuate, but was by no means completely insulated from the threat since the community I'm right next to could easily have gone up like flash paper. I know as time progresses I'll discover that more of my aquaintances were seriously affected. Someone brought up migrant workers............in fact four were found (deceased) in the burn zone --- no doubt trapped and incapable of outrunning the blaze. I'd be amazed if many more weren't discovered as time passes. There has been so much loss of property almost everyone knows someone who either lost their home or had a fairly close call. (required evacuation) Edit: Still today, the air quality is very poor. A couple of days ago my car was covered with ash in the driveway. Ash was/is everywhere, depending on your location. Using the hedgetrimmers on the small trees that line the outside of my pad kicked up such a sooty stink yesterday that I had to stop and put on a high quality mask.

I'll be more than a little confused if you like this album (in particular tracks 1 and 4) while still hating Metheny. Feelin ya on this one, Joe. I was actually comparing Maria with Pat in a conversation with a friend of mine who's a Metheniac. There's a beauty and poignancy in the composition styles of the two which (to my ears) is indisputable.

There's a third one, also: Journey Home How nice to watch someone who actually knows how to conduct an orchestra (and is so cute, too), as opposed to standing off to the side, snapping one's fingers and trying to look relevant. And equally important, she doesn't (melodramatically) overconduct. I saw her orchestra live in Orange County following the release of "Allegresse." Her style of conducting was both appropriate and grace-filled. A dance, almost. I'll never forget this perfomance as long as I live.

Maria really does use Luciana's beautiful voice to maximum advantage. My ears have become so attuned to her presence that even in dense musical passages I can hear when Luciana enters and exits. To my ears, Cerulian Skies is yet another of Maria's masterpieces.

I imagine that a few of you are aware of the long running thread pertaining to the conspicuous decline of L.A.'s jazz station KKJZ FM on the AAJ BB. Recently, a threat from the station in the form of a cease and desist order has compelled the moderators at AAJ to close the thread -- and it will disappear sometime tomorrow. Regardless of whether or not any lawsuit brought by KKJZ would have legs, the website cannot afford the time/$$/distraction involved in dealing with potential litigation. And of course KKJZ knew that when they presented their (likely hollow) threat involving a charge of libel. This punkish move on the part of the station it is essentially without consequence, since the entity deciding which management group will take over the station (the CSULB Foundation) has been following the thread for some time, and we've had ample opportunity to make our case and disseminate important information. That being said, it would be useful to have a thread dedicated to discussion of this very important issue on a jazz radio BB -- and hence I'm restarting the thread here at Organissimo. For any L.A. jazz fans who are unaware, talented KLON alums Ken Borgers & Ken Poston (The Los Angeles Jazz Institute) have submitted an application for station management. Many fans (including myself) feel that the LAJI would do the best job in rebuilding the station and returning KKJZ to it's former status as a credible jazz messenger. FYI -- jazz radio "mogul" Saul Levine has also submitted a bid. The California State University Long Beach Foundation will be rendering a decision on who'll take over the station sometime in Sept. or Oct. If you have strong feelings on this issue, and would like to share them with the Foundation -- here's their address: CSULB Foundation Attn: Robert Behm 6300 State University Drive #332 Long Beach, CA 90815 If you'd like to lend your support to Ken Borgers and Ken Poston you can contact them through the website of The Los Angeles Jazz Institute.

I sampled XM for a few days last week, and am now sampling Sirius. I find programming on both to be too conservative for my taste. And the point re. support of the local scene is not to be taken lightly, IMO. Here's a short list of recordings from my collection that I'd expect to hear, but likely never would: Michael Brecker's Quindectet: Wide Angles Anything by Martial Solal Coltrane's "Crescent" [?!?!] Anything by Marty Ehrlich Trio "Fly" Anything by Billy Harper Any of the more adventurous Blue Notes --- fuggetabout Cecil The corny sounding cat on right now just announced...."Well, they may not be the hottest group in jazz right now, but they're still the best. Here's Lambert, Hendricks and Ross........" [You had to hear it -- trust me] Oy vey. I think both Sirius and XM need to expand their jazz programming options to include programming for the large jazz listening demographic that expects some adventure/edge. Right now it's either non-jazz [smooth] or conservative jazz. Edit: the dj I referenced above is Les Davis. No wonder --- knew he sounded familiar. Can't handle this guy at all.

How about Isla Eckinger?

Last time I visited KSDS San Diego I checked the airplay "This is the Place" was getting --- and discovered that it's a pretty damn popular disc among the jocks, fellas. Congrats again on the success of the release!

Eric ---- I understand you not wanted to ignite a full-fledged assault the likes of which has transpired on the other board. Neither do I. In a nutshell, KKJZ has "centered" their music to the point of absolutely sterilizing it. No emotional extremes - no attack, no lament, etc. The emotional honesty and completeness that helped us fall in love with jazz in the first place. Now mind you -- this is not a judgement on the quality of the music that's being played. The station has improved recently in terms of it's loyalty to local players. The problem is the lack of emotional range reflected in the playlist -- as well as obvious instrumental substitutions. More guitars taking the place of those "oh so aggressive" horns, for one example.

Can't imagine why. Just go to the playlists and you'll see they've sucked the life out of the once proud KLON. Taken out anything with the slightest attack or passion of *any* kind. There are pages upon pages of conversation re. the *obvious* decline of this station on another jazz BB.

Great job guys -- all of the kudos are well deserved. When my disc arrived, I was very excited and popped it into my walkman immediately as I commenced a few outdoor chores. Thoroughly enjoyable! On a sidenote -- your version of Peaches En Regalia brought back sentimental memories of a group of guys I used to play in a garage band with as a kid. (We played a lot of Zappa tunes) To the point, actually, where I google-searched one of the members and came up with a hit. I had to attempt a second-hand contact (guitar store he used to work for) and am very curious as to whether or not we'll connect --- or for that matter if Danny is still walking the planet. See what you instigated!!!

I used to get bummed at the obnoxious crap that they blasted at the Music Trader store I used to shop at, but it usually wasn't played so loud that I couldn't preview the jazz discs I was considering buying. (They had cd players in the stores + headphones) On those occasions when the music WAS too loud to preview my selections I politely informed them, and they cranked it down. On a positive note, I was once in a Tower Record store while they were playing Milt Jackson's "Soul Route." While in line, I noticed the guy in front of me was holding a copy of the album - so I asked him "Liked what you heard here and grabbed the album, huh?" His reply: "Oh no ---- I heard this on KSDS and decided to get it." At the time I was on the air at the station, and being a Milt fan gave that LP fairly heavy air play. It was a satisfying moment.

Caught the trio here in S.D. last night. Easily one of the best performances of the last couple of years. Luckily, I was able to be at the venue for both the early and late sets. The second set concluded with a mind-melting West Side Story medley - performed by the group without music. Ballads, burners, and everything in between --- all interesting takes on standards. The amazing thing is that I would have missed the performance completely had I not been called on [last minute!] to dash to a music store for replacement drum heads for Kenny Washington! Through rush hour traffic I was able to make the delivery so that the concert started just ten minutes late. What a treat.

James sounds very nice as a sideman on Billy Higgins' LP "Bridgework" where he appears on three tracks. (Harold Land is on the remaining tracks) As far as Coleman recordings go, I'm particularly fond of his collaboration with Tete titled "Dynamic Duo."

i'll check into the archiving issue lazaro. if you search the website i believe you can at least hear the interview. http://www.jazz88online.org

actually, the concert took place at 11 eastern time. i did fine last nite [better living thru chemistry] but i'm not so sure 5 entry incisions qualifies as non-invasive. at least it sure doesn't feel like that today.......... terri lyne and co. SMOKED!

with the right arm in a sling [where it will stay for at least 6 weeks] this won't be any real review, but terri and her pack of young lions really tore it up tonite. many magical moments delivered via beautiful arrangements, solos mature well beyond the cats' years, and texture-shift from tune to tune. no clones on this bandstand --- young players intent on developing their unique voices. great, great night ---- such sweet medicine.

Sounds like the Percy Heath that I met in '84. I was introduced to him at the beginning of the concert, and he was referring to me by first name at the end. Really blew me away. Thanks for all of the joy, Big P!

Actually, Lazaro, the Saville Theater is on the campus of City College in downtown San Diego --- about one hour south of NE Oceanside where I live. It's adjacent to the building where the radio station broadcasts from. Some friends of mine think I'm nuts for considering attending, since I have rotator cuff surgery scheduled for this morning. I'm sure all of the jazz junkies on this board can relate to my dilemna.