Hooked Up To The Sound

KUNM's Internet Tech: Jonathan Longcore, who used to play banjos with Jerry Garcia in the bad old days ---- photo by Mark Weber -- January 20, 2o16

KUNM’s Internet Tech: Jonathan Longcore, who used to play banjos with Jerry Garcia in the bad old days —- photo by Mark Weber — January 20, 2o16

The Thursday Jazz Radio Show

March 31, 2o16 Jazz @ Noon every Thursday (starts at 12:07 after the satellite news) Host MARK WEBER KUNM Albuquerque, USA 89.9 FM (Mountain Standard Time) also streaming on the web KUNM.org Current time zone offset: UTC*/GMT -6 hours (*Coordinated Universal Time)/Greenwich Mean Time)

HOOKED UP TO THE SOUND

Jazz doesn’t function well under constraints.

My favorite jazz is small group rhythm section boiling and churning with a soloist weaving in & out while improvising long lyric lines.

When jazz is 300 years old will there be savants like Phil Schaap who know the entire history?

Neither should it be strained, forced, pulverized, or faked ————— it will resent the intrusion, leaving the poseurs looking dull, unwanted. You cannot shake jazz loose, like a mobster working over a canary, or treat it like a cop on the take. None of that works. (Well, you can fool the hoi polloi, but not the ones with ears.) Jazz happens when the gates start swinging and the pages disappear and fall dissolving . . . old things start percolating, tumbling down from through the ages.

Jack Wilson Trio at The Lighthouse, this was one SWINGING band -- Allen Jackson (bass) and Clarence Johnston (drums) and Jack with his two-piano set-up, a grand piano and a Fender Rhodes that he played simultaneously -- I'll play some on the radio show today so you get an idea what this set-up sounds like (Jack is the soloist on Gerald Wilson's immortal "Milestones") -- photo by Mark Weber -- July 18, 1981

Jack Wilson Trio at The Lighthouse, this was one SWINGING band — Allen Jackson (bass) and Clarence Johnston (drums) and Jack with his two-piano set-up, a grand piano and a Fender Rhodes that he played simultaneously — I’ll play some on the radio show today so you get an idea what this set-up sounds like (Jack is the soloist on Gerald Wilson’s immortal “Milestones”) — photo by Mark Weber — July 18, 1981

Smokey Wilson getting the word from his doorman (that's wife Celie in background, tending bar) at the Pioneer Club -- April 19, 1980 -- photo by Mark Weber

Smokey Wilson getting the word from his doorman (that’s wife Celie in background, tending bar) at the Pioneer Club — April 19, 1980 — photo by Mark Weber

Horace Tapscott Quintet: Roberto Miranda (bass); Son Ship (drums); Dadesi Arthur Wells (tenor); George Bohanon (trombone); Horace Tapscott (piano) at Marla's Memory Lane, Los Angeles -- January 2, 1982 -- photo by Mark Weber

Horace Tapscott Quintet: Roberto Miranda (bass); Son Ship (drums); Dadesi Arthur Wells (tenor); George Bohanon (trombone); Horace Tapscott (piano) at Marla’s Memory Lane, Los Angeles — January 2, 1982 — photo by Mark Weber

Jack Sheldon Quintet -- April 12, 1981 in Cucamonga, California on old Rt.66 at Gilberto's -- photo by Mark Weber ---- Jack (trumpet & humor); Lou Levy (piano); Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Jim DeJulio (bass); Dick Berk (drums)

Jack Sheldon Quintet — April 12, 1981 in Cucamonga, California on old Rt.66 at Gilberto’s — photo by Mark Weber —- Jack (trumpet & humor); Lou Levy (piano); Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Jim DeJulio (bass); Dick Berk (drums)

About twenty years ago the Los Angeles saxophonist Bill Plake was staying with us while he did a series of gigs around Albuquerque and one afternoon when I got home he was deep off into a Warne Marsh - Lee Konitz Quintet LP and when I walked in the door he started raving at me: "DO YOU KNOW HOW HIP THIS IS!" in a heightened state of excitation, "THIS IS INCREDIBLE!" jumping all around the room, he was in complete disbelief, "DO YOU KNOW . . ." Yes, Bill, I do know, you did find the album on my shelves, after all (it was the green Lp on Storyville JAZZ EXCHANGE Vol. 1 -- 1975 in Copenhagen) ---- Bill is a saxophonist's saxophonist and has written a method book (on negotiatiing wide intervalic leaps) and knows a little about saxophones -- This episode illustrates my suspicion that saxophonists get the biggest thrill out of Warne, there are technical things that Warne pulls off that only saxophonists would know about ------ This photo was in Warne's converted garage in his backyard in Pasadena (1490 N. Mar Vista), a "detached garage" as they say, Spanish tile roof -- December 15, 1976 -- photo by Mark Weber

About twenty years ago the Los Angeles saxophonist Bill Plake was staying with us while he did a series of gigs around Albuquerque and one afternoon when I got home he was deep off into a Warne Marsh – Lee Konitz Quintet LP and when I walked in the door he started raving at me: “DO YOU KNOW HOW HIP THIS IS!” in a heightened state of excitation, “THIS IS INCREDIBLE!” jumping all around the room, he was in complete disbelief, “DO YOU KNOW . . .” Yes, Bill, I do know, you did find the album on my shelves, after all (it was the green Lp on Storyville JAZZ EXCHANGE Vol. 1 — 1975 in Copenhagen) —- Bill is a saxophonist’s saxophonist and has written a method book (on negotiatiing wide intervalic leaps) and knows a little about saxophones — This episode illustrates my suspicion that saxophonists get the biggest thrill out of Warne, there are technical things that Warne pulls off that only saxophonists would know about —— This photo was in Warne’s converted garage in his backyard in Pasadena (1490 N. Mar Vista), a “detached garage” as they say, Spanish tile roof — December 15, 1976 — photo by Mark Weber

The maestro Bill Plake in his studio in Redondo Beach, or, as he called it "The Condo in Redondo" (he now lives in Los Angeles proper) -- photo by Mark Weber -- November 25, 1996 -- when I stayed there we could walk down to The Lighthouse and look at the ferns

The maestro Bill Plake in his studio in Redondo Beach, or, as he called it “The Condo in Redondo” (he now lives in Los Angeles proper) — photo by Mark Weber — November 25, 1996 — when I stayed there we could walk down to The Lighthouse and look at the ferns

"Music is a work in progress, you hear something frozen like that [records], it's unnatural to my perception because music, to me, is fluid, it's always changing, even when I'm recording I'm hearing something live, and I never listen to records once I'm through with them, unless I absolutely have to for some reason" -- Linda Ronstadt, November 14, 2o14 interview for San Francisco television ------ Photo by Mark Weber -- August 9, 2o11 of Carol Liebowitz (piano) and Adam Caine (guitar) NYC

“Music is a work in progress, you hear something frozen like that [records], it’s unnatural to my perception because music, to me, is fluid, it’s always changing, even when I’m recording I’m hearing something live, and I never listen to records once I’m through with them, unless I absolutely have to for some reason” — Linda Ronstadt, November 14, 2o14 interview for San Francisco television —— Photo by Mark Weber — August 9, 2o11 of Carol Liebowitz (piano) and Adam Caine (guitar) NYC

Harold Land & Blue Mitchell -- July 10, 1977 -- photo by Mark Weber at Donte's, North Hollywood

Harold Land & Blue Mitchell — July 10, 1977 — photo by Mark Weber at Donte’s, North Hollywood

Debra Taylor in KUNM Studio A broadcast of six trombonists playing Michael Vlatkovich's Christmas arrangements -- December 22, 2007 -- I produced this live broadcast with a grant from the station, and asked Debra to act as contractor, she is the Principle Trombonist with New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (at the time of this broadcast, now the band is called New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra) and she brought in her colleagues from the orchestra -- in this shot: Left to right: Debra Taylor, Dave Tall, Byron Harrington -- photo by Mark Weber

Debra Taylor in KUNM Studio A broadcast of six trombonists playing Michael Vlatkovich’s Christmas arrangements — December 22, 2007 — I produced this live broadcast with a grant from the station, and asked Debra to act as contractor, she is the Principle Trombonist with New Mexico Symphony Orchestra (at the time of this broadcast, now the band is called New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra) and she brought in her colleagues from the orchestra — in this shot: Left to right: Debra Taylor, Dave Tall, Byron Harrington — photo by Mark Weber

Lisa Polisar Trilogy -- May 5, 1997 @ Outpost Performance Space (old location) -- Lisa (flute); Rick Fairbanks (bass); Michael Anthony (guitar); plus guests: Jack Manno (piano); David Parlato (bass); Arlen Asher (woodwinds); Michael Candito (drums) -- photo by Mark Weber

Lisa Polisar Trilogy — May 5, 1997 @ Outpost Performance Space (old location) — Lisa (flute); Rick Fairbanks (bass); Michael Anthony (guitar); plus guests: Jack Manno (piano); David Parlato (bass); Arlen Asher (woodwinds); Michael Candito (drums) — photo by Mark Weber

 Todd Moore and J.A. Deane during the creation of our masterpiece DILLINGER (Zerx 039) -- I didn't take all that many photos during this 3-day session because I was busy with production duties, but this disk is one of the killingest I've ever produced, it was my idea to get Dino and Todd together -- KUNM Studio A -- December 15, 1997 -- photo by Mark Weber

Todd Moore and J.A. Deane during the creation of our masterpiece DILLINGER (Zerx 039) — I didn’t take all that many photos during this 3-day session because I was busy with production duties, but this disk is one of the killingest I’ve ever produced, it was my idea to get Dino and Todd together — KUNM Studio A — December 15, 1997 — photo by Mark Weber

Cal Haines and Mark at private house party in Corrales NM on December 13, 2015 -------- photo by Victoria Rogers

Cal Haines and Mark at private house party in Corrales NM on December 13, 2015 ——– photo by Victoria Rogers

Sandia Mountains from Nob Hill, Albuquerque USA -- December 30, 1997 -- photo by Mark Weber -- those mountains crest at 10,678 feet and are the mountains cowboy Jack Burns and his horse Whisky epic-struggle to cross to get away from encroaching civilization in LONELY ARE THE BRAVE (1962) one of my Top 3 all-time favorite movies ---- They are also the mountains that Sheila Jordan is on top of for the cover photo of her album THE CROSSING (1984) where she's looking down at the silvery Rio Grande snaking off into the distance

Sandia Mountains from Nob Hill, Albuquerque USA — December 30, 1997 — photo by Mark Weber — those mountains crest at 10,678 feet and are the mountains cowboy Jack Burns and his horse Whisky epic-struggle to cross to get away from encroaching civilization in LONELY ARE THE BRAVE (1962) one of my Top 3 all-time favorite movies —- They are also the mountains that Sheila Jordan is on top of for the cover photo of her album THE CROSSING (1984) where she’s looking down at the silvery Rio Grande snaking off into the distance

7 Comments

  1. BillPayne

    Love it!!!

  2. Carol Tristano

    Great stuff Mark! I adore the photo of Warne – so captures his personality – his feeling – the horn right there! All of your photos make a fantastic documentary. Also I dig the one of you and Cal. And want to say I dig Cal’s playing.
    I dig what you express about the truth of jazz – but have to say Phil is no savant. Sorry!
    Sandia Mountains – poignant photo – so majestic as the back drop to the town – and you can feel that decade.

    Bravo to Jonathan Longcore!

  3. Mark Weber

    NOTE that in the Lisa Polisar photo that Rick Fairbanks is on bass — He and David Parlato were taking turns that night — I have 13 shots from that night with either/or.

    * That oblique statement about ferns refers to The Lighthouse being a “fern bar” in the 90s and called The Lighthouse Cafe . . . .

    * I use the term “savant” to refer to Mr Schaap’s unnatural memory for jazz history. Carol would know all about Phil as I think they grew up in the same block in Queens — ? as that Palo Alto Avenue?

    * In photo of Jonathan Longcore you can’t see his ponytail that speaks to his San Francisoco Bay Area past — (He went to high school with Bill Kreutzman).

    * And Byron Harrington just conducted New Mexico Philharmonic w/ Bobby Shew + jazz rhythm section (Cal Haines, Colin Deuble, Jim Ahrend) at Popejoy Auditorium March 5th — I got to go to rehearsals, it was a gas! And Debbie and Dave Tall were in the trombone section, still.

  4. Carol Tristano

    Mark – it is some how telling that you would say “unnatural memory” – it’s almost an oxymoron. So actually, our paths did not cross in the old hood. The reason I said that is because even though I know Phil has done a lot of good, along the way he has skewed some facts which I consider very important to the history of jazz. Therefore, I don’t relish a world 300 years from now that would hinge on Phil’s collection of memories!

  5. Dave Laczko

    I love that pic of the Sandias! I miss those mountains every day!

  6. Dudessa

    This is excellent! Can’t wait for your memoir! Dillinger was epic, by the way.

    Love, Cuzzin Patsy

  7. Mark Weber

    ———————–playlist————————-
    The Fibonacci Spiral Jazz Radio Show
    March 31, 2o16
    KUNM Albuquerque
    Host MARK WEBER

    1. Theme: Cal Haines (drums) & Michael Vlatkovich w/MW “Are you on the guest list?”
    2. Paul Gonsalves “Cleo’s Asp” –21may63—Kenny Burrell, Hank Jones, George Duvivier, Roy Haynes, Manny Albam(tree bells) cd CLEOPATRA FEELING JAZZY (Impulse)
    3. Jack Wilson Trio “He That Murmureth” –March 1979 album MARGO’s THEME (Discovery)
    4. Mose Allison Trio “Parchman Farm” — 8nov57 w/ Nick Stabulas, Addison Farmer
    5. Todd Moore poem “tornado liked” –1nov99
    * six or seven of Todd’s Tornado Jones poems are inserted between tracks during show
    6. Bill Plake “Mescalito” –20nov94 cd SOUTH (9 Winds)
    7. Chris Lightcap Big Mouth band “Epicenter” –Dec.2o13 *This band at Outpost Performance Space
    this night — during performance Chris explained that the Village Vanguard was subject of this composition
    8. Beth Custer Ensemble “At Prague Castle” –c.2016 cd FOR THE GRACE OF ANY MAN
    9. Alexa Fila & Sal Mosca “Just One of Those Things” –no date listed– cd A WORK OF ART (Zinnia Records)
    10. Dena DeRose Trio w/ Martin Wind, Matt Wilson “How Deep is the Ocean” –2005 cd A WALK IN THE PARK (Maxjazz)
    11. Leslie Pintchik “Just Sayin'” –c.2016 cd TRUE NORTH (Pintchard)
    12. Lisa Polisar Trio w/Cal Haines(drums) & Colin Deuble(bass), Lisa(flute) “Stella by Starlight” from
    aircheck 13sept2007 Live on the Thursday Jazz Show KUNM
    13. Gerald Cleaver “Pilgrim’s Progress” –18dec06 cd GERALD CLEAVER’S DETROIT (Fresh Sound)
    14. Dave Brubeck Quartet “Out of Nowhere” — London November 1966 (Domino Records)

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