Free For All

This trend seemed to start with the Back To The Future sequels. Remember? They came out in quick succession. Now Matrix and LOTR are doing the same thing. I think fads are coming and going at such a fast rate these days they're trying to cash in while the iron is hottest. It seems our whole culture is creating/catering to an increasingly short attention span. I see this in students all the time- the time required to practice and learn an instrument is definitely more of a turn-off to many kids than it used to be. This age of instant gratification is both a blessing and a curse.

I'm actually considering changing my name to this. Raise a little cash. B) Rooster, I'm all for trying anything. I think the choice would have to be a FZ tune with some substantial melodic/harmonic potential in order for it to come off. Many of FZ's tunes work because of the instrumentation- I often think it might be hard to make specific tunes work w/o vibes/marimba, for example. It's like when you do a piano/bass/drums quartet gig and someone wants an Allman Bros. tune- even if you could (or would) do it it won't sound right. We were talking about that Ed Palermo big band recording of Zappa tunes- I think you liked it more than I did, though I thought it did have some moments. It was a noble effort, but not always successful, and hard pressed to capture the appropriate FZ vibe much of the time, IMHO. I love FZ's music, but I'd be more inclined to try to compose something in that vein than copy or adapt one of his arrangements. Though I did steal some FZ blowing changes once for a tune I wrote. Hmmmm..............

Rooster, as one of those you initially referred to, please accept my eternal gratitude for laying a copy of this on me. Now I'll be happy to comment just as soon as I finish this hellish unpacking process. I have a stack of waiting-to-be-heard CDs that I'm looking forward to checking out in my new listening space. I finally can stay up late and listen to tunes w/o driving my wife crazy! We found a house where my "jazz cave" is far removed from the bedroom. Anyway, I'll post on this as soon as I can. Promise. And thank you again.

10,000 posts and you get to be a token member of Organissimo- you know, stand in front and play tambourine like Linda McCartney! Speaking of that, has anyone heard that tape of her made by the Wings sound man(who I believe got canned)? She's singing "Hey Jude" really badly- apparently her mike was usually off. I know it's not nice to ridicule the departed, but it IS funny stuff (we still talk about the Buddy tapes, don't we?).

Now there's an idea! Guess those "Babe thread" posts and those "how many days 'til Passing Ships" and those "Album cover" posts could come back to haunt you and Sangrey. So it turns out the 4000 post title is "Financier"! Where's Rod Serling when you need him?

I seem to be in a habit of derailing threads lately. Sorry. Jazzkrow, you're right about Blue Mitchell. He has such a great sound, very identifiable- that's one of the most important qualities of any player IMHO. Love his work w/Horace- the band w/Junior Cook was one of my favorites. And yes, his ballad skills really show off a magnificent sound and extreme soulfulness. I think a compilation of his ballad recordings is a great idea. EDIT: As far as "romantic" inspiration, I've always liked Jarrett's Koln Concert and Shirley Horn's Here's To Life. If I'm remembering correctly, that is.

Yeah, Stroud's is some nasty yardbird lovin'. About once every three months. It hurts so good. I've heard about LC's, need to check it out. Austin is also where I became aware of the BREAKFAST BURRITO. Best eaten at 3AM or so. Have you tried County Line? I really liked that place. There also is/was a great place way out in the hill country, like a big barn.........the Salt Lick! I'd have to say the best single BBQ meal I've ever had was in Memphis at a place called the Rendezvous. It must have been a good day, 'cause it was AWESOME! Dry-rub ribs. Man, I loves to talk about da foods! :rsmile:

I heard that there's actually no chocolate in white chocolate- is that true?

I thought their live CD was by far their best.

Foundation jams are going strong. I spent about 10 years in Austin (UT grad student in the 80s- while it was still "undiscovered") where I received my early education in BBQ and Mexican food. I must say I do prefer the KC BBQ, but the actual hangouts in Austin were much more colorful. Considering I moved to Austin from Iowa, where Chi Chi's was the happening Mexican food, it was truly culture shock. Add to that my frequent summer sojourns to Santa Fe, and I've become a bit of a Mexican food snob. So far all the Mexican Food I've found in KC blows. But I'm still looking. From Austin I miss: Threadgill's, Trudy's, Ironworks, Elgin sausage, G+M Steakhouse (on the drag- giant burgers; still there?) Katz' deli to name a few. I'm sure many of these are long gone by now. In KC I've found Bryant's to be inconsistent, which is a drag, 'cause when it's good, it rules. In addition to the usual places (Gates, etc.) I like Rosedale's on SW boulevard. What was this thread about, anyway? EDIT: Also liked County Line BBQ in Austin A LOT!

And not just the symphony.

Holy shit!

I myself find the "Brotzmann Plays For Lovers" compilation really drives the ladies wild.

You built us a great hangout, Jim. Be careful what you wish for! BTW, my personal favorites were posts #47,923 and #19,645. Man , I just crack up when I think of those. Oh, and also #52,980. Priceless.

Trombone can be a pretty discouraging instrument for beginners. It takes longer to develop proficiency and in the meantime the trumpet and clarinet beginners are improving quickly and playing hipper material. In most beginner bands the bones get whole notes while the button-pushers get the fun. I often refer to the trombone section as the "offensive line" of the big band- lots of dues,not much glory. The problem is that most writers don't challenge the bones much, so they don't have much initiative to improve. A vicious circle. I initially got interested in jazz trombone through the horn bands of the 70s- Chicago, BS+T, Tower of Power, Crusaders. The next step was the big bands, and then small group jazz followed. I think the key of enlightenment for me was not to constantly compare trombone to sax/trumpet, but instead to deal with it on its own terms, kind of "differently enabled" as opposed to "disadvantaged loser". If I could go back and do it differently I'd choose the same axe, no question about it. It's my voice.

Finally, an easy poll. I was a discouraged and uninterested trombonist in jr. high, about ready to quit. My jr. high band director had sent word ahead to the high school band director that this kid was not salvageable. Rightly so, too- I screwed around in band and forged my practice card- band director's worst nightmare. When I hit high school I started to hang out w/some of the jazz band crowd, and baby, that was it. They introduced me to the music- I wish I could relive that rush of hearing great recordings for the first time (the closest thing is watching students go through the same experience). I started practicing like a demon, and have been obsessed ever since. I'm not rich, but I'm doing something I truly love, and I'm grateful for that. Plus I get to hang out w/you losers! B)

HaPpY BiRtHdAy cLaUdE! :rsmile:

Funny this should be a thread- someone recently sent me these "jazz haikus". Jam session bassist Observes fourteen soloists Contemplates murder Say, do you guys know "Wedding Song" by Kenny G? Buy the damn record Riffing on "Rudolph" Musicians in red and green Learn humlility I'm sending a sub But don't worry, he'll be fine He's fresh from rehab Solo pianist Freed from all constraints of form Heedlessly mangles Jazz nymphs crowd bandstand Offering carnal delights My alarm clock rings Forty-two straight gigs With no requests for "Take Five" Time to call Guinness New Years revelers Here's hoping the stroke of twelve Sends you the hell home That plate of hors d'oeuvres Cost more than we're getting paid Think we underbid? God Bless trust fund gigs Only have to eat ramen For a few more weeks

Oops. I thought this was Chuck Nessa's birthday thread. My bad.

"Transformers". "back in the day". Geez, Jim, you sure know how to make a guy feel old. SS's picture reminded me of the Cosby album "Wonderfulness". One of my first comedy records (next to the Smothers Brothers- "I Fell Into A Vat Of Chocolate")- it had "Chicken Heart" and "Ice Cream" among others. Classic stuff. Still funny.

BTW, where's Rooster and his "Joel and the cats" thing? Finally been retired?

HaPpY bIrThDaY CaTeStA! I hope you appreciate how much that taxed my typing skills. B) Hey, let's have a party! Howzabout some birthday anagrams? ***C A T E S T A*** Ate cats. Teat sac. ***Now*** sing "ca-TES-ta!" to the tune of "by MEN-nen!" (or Ca-STAN-za for you Seinfeld fans). Wasn't that fun? I guess that's about it. Party's over. Everyone get the hell out now.

Hope you have a good one. Buy some new music. Eat something that's bad for you. Sleep late. And keep posting! Just don't start a fire with that birthday cake!

I would have to add, as a guilty pleasure, the Singers Unlimited Christmas side.