Zooky Mehtaba | Jazz in the Year 2342

R.L. Burnside bringing a bucket of that deep Mississippi Delta mud to the Dingo Bar, Albuquerque -- May 15, 1998 -- photo by Mark Weber

R.L. Burnside bringing a bucket of that deep Mississippi Delta mud to the Dingo Bar, Albuquerque — May 15, 1998 — photo by Mark Weber

THE THURSDAY JAZZ RADIO SHOW

April 9, 2o15 – 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)

ZOOKY MEHTABA – – Jazz in the Year 2342

The music will have gone through several Eras by then, in 2342. We are now living at the end of the First Era. There will also be a 2nd Era and a 3rd Era before we reach 2342. Music is always necessary to human life. It is more ancient than speech. The birds taught us how to communicate with song. Those first singers are lost to history, but not to our shadow memory. The names of Ellington, Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Lennie Tristano, Ella Fitzgerald, are mythological from the First Era. They are mere luminaries in the chronicles, from a glorious time, remember’d only on valedictory occasions, thought about no more than anyone now thinks about Pericles, or Ramses II, or the Venerable Bede. By 2342 there has been a lot of legends in the interim. For awhile in the 2nd Era the musicians were having chips put into their brains so that they could improvise freely and that’s why we don’t have many legends from those times, not until the Reconfiguration when Zooky Mehtaba, who had an old 1930’s Balanced Action saxophone prooved jazz had to be organic, it had to be natural, and be what is. Is-ness he called it. “Is you with the Is? Oh yeh . . . .”

In all my past lives it was Zooky who was the greatest of them all, he touched on such deep wellsprings of desire for redemption and reconciliation and things that were once thought lost to memory, like the early bird songs, that sorrow and loss all became part of his music and came to life in his time.

Today on the Thursday jazz show we’ll listen to some of the masters that Zooky learned from.

Words like “ancient” do not exist for today.

The bluesmobile : 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham & Lou Ann Barton -- San Francisco Blues Festival --  Sunday August 12, 1979 -- photo by Mark Weber

The bluesmobile : 1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham & Lou Ann Barton — San Francisco Blues Festival — Sunday August 12, 1979 — photo by Mark Weber

Mad Hatter Studios (Chick Corea, owner), Griffith Park Blvd, Silverlake, Los Angeles -- recording  session for Jesse Sharps album SHARPS AND FLATS (Nimbus West 3702C) -- Tom Albach,  producer (with cigar); Horace Tapscott looking over engineer's shoulder; and the engineer I  believe is Dennis Moody (there is one other engineer in subsequent photos from this session) -- March 26, 1986 -- photo by Mark Weber

Mad Hatter Studios (Chick Corea, owner), Griffith Park Blvd, Silverlake, Los Angeles — recording session for Jesse Sharps album SHARPS AND FLATS (Nimbus West 3702C) — Tom Albach, producer (with cigar); Horace Tapscott looking over engineer’s shoulder; and the engineer I believe is Dennis Moody (there is one other engineer in subsequent photos from this session) — March 26, 1986 — photo by Mark Weber

Billy Hart -- August 11, 1998 -- Iridium jazz club, NYC -- photo by Mark Weber

Billy Hart — August 11, 1998 — Iridium jazz club, NYC — photo by Mark Weber

Odean Pope Trio -- old Outpost, Albuquerque -- October 13, 1997 -- Craig McIver, drums; and  Tyrone Brown, bass ---- Odean has a sound like nobody else, it is molten, like metal that has been  stripped of chrome, or those nails that have been electro-plated --galvanized-- so they don't rust, it is  deliberate, he doesn't throw a bunch of notes at the wall to see if any stick, these notes emanate from  a thoughtful mind, unvarnished, curdled, ambergris, thick, percolates, it doesn't erupt or blast or frenzy, it is  pure resinous gold overflowing from deep currents, inexorably, surging forth, at times it can become  cyclonic, like when he awakens his pranayama cakravat (that's my Sanskrit approximation for circular  breathing), his spinning mandala of sound ---- photo by Mark Weber

Odean Pope Trio — old Outpost, Albuquerque — October 13, 1997 — Craig McIver, drums; and Tyrone Brown, bass —- Odean has a sound like nobody else, it is molten, like metal that has been stripped of chrome, or those nails that have been electro-plated –galvanized– so they don’t rust, it is deliberate, he doesn’t throw a bunch of notes at the wall to see if any stick, these notes emanate from a thoughtful mind, unvarnished, curdled, ambergris, thick, percolates, it doesn’t erupt or blast or frenzy, it is pure resinous gold overflowing from deep currents, inexorably, surging forth, at times it can become cyclonic, like when he awakens his pranayama cakravat (that’s my Sanskrit approximation for circular breathing), his spinning mandala of sound —- photo by Mark Weber

I love putting Art Pepper on the airwaves, people love his energy, and old heads remember  what it was that originally attracted them to this jazz music:  Honesty & Fire ---- photo by  Mark Weber ---- Donte's, North Hollywood ---- April 27, 1977

I love putting Art Pepper on the airwaves, people love his energy, and old heads remember what it was that originally attracted them to this jazz music: Honesty & Fire —- photo by Mark Weber —- Donte’s, North Hollywood —- April 27, 1977

Chris Allen, vibraphone; and Lewis Winn, guitar ---- Albuquerque & Santa Fe have so many A-List musicians  it's some sort of cultural efflorescence ---- Chris drifted down here from Denver in the mid-to-late 90s  and stayed about 15 years transforming himself into a scientist in the Genome research field (after  having been at Berklee School of Music), we miss him, he went back to Colorado ----  Lewis fell down here  from Montana and is a staggering guitarist of six dimensions -- When I took New Yorker Nick Lyons  to hear Lewis, his eyes bugged out, and I said, "Didn't I tell you, something else, eh?" and Nick  said unequivocally: "A very intuitive player." ---- May 1, 1998 -- photo by Mark Weber

Chris Allen, vibraphone; and Lewis Winn, guitar —- Albuquerque & Santa Fe have so many A-List musicians it’s some sort of cultural efflorescence —- Chris drifted down here from Denver in the mid-to-late 90s and stayed about 15 years transforming himself into a scientist in the Genome research field (after having been at Berklee School of Music), we miss him, he went back to Colorado —- Lewis fell down here from Montana and is a staggering guitarist of six dimensions — When I took New Yorker Nick Lyons to hear Lewis, his eyes bugged out, and I said, “Didn’t I tell you, something else, eh?” and Nick said unequivocally: “A very intuitive player.” —- May 1, 1998 — photo by Mark Weber

I have a real soft spot for that old trope of the beachcomber with a crazy straw hat and a flute at the ocean ---- the Beatnik bhikkhu daydreamer, Mexican huaraches & a serape, goatee, jug of grape, bongos, a carefree lady friend barefoot in long flowing cotton dress, ---- it touches upon our sense of wanderlust and freedom ---- in my universe Herbie Mann embodied that ideal, and what a great body of work he left for us ---------- Herbie Mann & Sona Terra ---- opening night at the new location for the Outpost Performance Space, and on a stage that Tom, me, and JG built -- built to last, baby ----- (Sona Terra: Gil Goldstein, accordion; Geoff Mann, drums; Alexander Fedoriouk, cimbalom; Paul Socolow, bass; Bruce Dunlap, guitar) ---- May 15, 2ooo -- photo by Mark Weber

I have a real soft spot for that old trope of the beachcomber with a crazy straw hat and a flute at the ocean —- the Beatnik bhikkhu daydreamer, Mexican huaraches & a serape, goatee, jug of grape, bongos, a carefree lady friend barefoot in long flowing cotton dress, —- it touches upon our sense of wanderlust and freedom —- in my universe Herbie Mann embodied that ideal, and what a great body of work he left for us ———- Herbie Mann & Sona Terra —- opening night at the new location for the Outpost Performance Space, and on a stage that Tom, me, and JG built — built to last, baby —– (Sona Terra: Gil Goldstein, accordion; Geoff Mann, drums; Alexander Fedoriouk, cimbalom; Paul Socolow, bass; Bruce Dunlap, guitar) —- May 15, 2ooo — photo by Mark Weber

-For years I have wonder'd who the uncredited sculptor on this LP was ---- the photo is by Irv Glaser and Bobby has always said that they were at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and obviously it had to be around the time of the album production (recording session was April 3, 1969) ) ---- my artist friend, Wayne Mikosz, who lives in the little mountain village of Placitas, New Mexico, looked into it, and his research located the scholar David Eppen who peered into the LACMA storage bins (the sculpture is not presently on display) and answered all my questions:  The piece is by Romanian-born Canadian artist Sorel Etrog (1933-2014) entitled "Moses"(1963) -- it is cast in bronze and hollow, according to David: "Etrog actually created three such sculptures, cast in bronze and hollow, with the others currently situated in Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv." One copy was on display at the 1967 Expo in Montreal. See > http://www.uleth.ca/unews/article/proud-history-moses#.VRqibivwL9p

-For years I have wonder’d who the uncredited sculptor on this LP was —- the photo is by Irv Glaser and Bobby has always said that they were at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and obviously it had to be around the time of the album production (recording session was April 3, 1969) ) —- my artist friend, Wayne Mikosz, who lives in the little mountain village of Placitas, New Mexico, looked into it, and his research located the scholar David Eppen who peered into the LACMA storage bins (the sculpture is not presently on display) and answered all my questions: The piece is by Romanian-born Canadian artist Sorel Etrog (1933-2014) entitled “Moses”(1963) — it is cast in bronze and hollow, according to David: “Etrog actually created three such sculptures, cast in bronze and hollow, with the others currently situated in Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv.” One copy was on display at the 1967 Expo in Montreal. See > http://www.uleth.ca/unews/article/proud-history-moses#.VRqibivwL9p

Connie Crothers and Kazzrie Jaxen -- September 18, 2oo5 ---- photo by Mark Weber

Connie Crothers and Kazzrie Jaxen — September 18, 2oo5 —- photo by Mark Weber

Ridin' in style: Count Basie arrives at Hollywood Bowl ---- The quiet genius behind the idea  of a band put together out of riffs ---- June 20, 1981 -- photo by Mark Weber

Ridin’ in style: Count Basie arrives at Hollywood Bowl —- The quiet genius behind the idea of a band put together out of riffs —- June 20, 1981 — photo by Mark Weber

Afternoon workshop at Outpost Performance Space with Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom ---- that's Merit Wise on alto sax who is 8th grader at Madison Middle School, and his sister Justice Rebecca Wise on  flute! who is the Outpost intern and a student at Sandia High School, Albuquerque USA ---- If you're  in the area stop by Outpost on May 17 at 1 in the afternoon for Justice's Flute Recital and check out  who's coming up in the music -- (Boom Tic Boom: Kirk Knuffke, cornet; Jenny Scheinman, violin; Todd Sickafoose, bass; Myra Melford, piano; and Allison on drums) -- photo by Mark Weber -- October 10, 2o14

Afternoon workshop at Outpost Performance Space with Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom —- that’s Merit Wise on alto sax who is 8th grader at Madison Middle School, and his sister Justice Rebecca Wise on flute! who is the Outpost intern and a student at Sandia High School, Albuquerque USA —- If you’re in the area stop by Outpost on May 17 at 1 in the afternoon for Justice’s Flute Recital and check out who’s coming up in the music — (Boom Tic Boom: Kirk Knuffke, cornet; Jenny Scheinman, violin; Todd Sickafoose, bass; Myra Melford, piano; and Allison on drums) — photo by Mark Weber — October 10, 2o14

There's a lot of music in these two ladies -- Connie Crothers & Kazzrie Jaxen -- Brooklyn NY --  September 18, 2oo5 -- CC and Kazzrie tap into the clouds and mists that surround mountains -- photo by Mark Weber

There’s a lot of music in these two ladies — Connie Crothers & Kazzrie Jaxen — Brooklyn NY — September 18, 2oo5 — CC and Kazzrie tap into the clouds and mists that surround mountains — photo by Mark Weber

Janet waiting in line ---- Red Grooms "Subway Token Booth With Commuters"(1975-1976) from his  project Ruckus Manhattan ---- Allen Museum, Oberlin, Ohio -- photo by Mark Weber -- April 30, 1988

Janet waiting in line —- Red Grooms “Subway Token Booth With Commuters”(1975-1976) from his project Ruckus Manhattan —- Allen Museum, Oberlin, Ohio — photo by Mark Weber — April 30, 1988

5 Comments

  1. mark weber

    2 THINGS

    1) for that shot of R.L. Burnside I wasn’t crawling around on stage with my camera, that view was through the window (no glass) from the room that had the pool tables at the now-defunct Dingo Bar, downtown —- saw a lot of great music there: Jimmy Rogers in his last days, Duke Robillard, Sleepy LaBeef, Selsun Blue, etc

    2) in the photo of Lou Ann Barton, that’s Stevie Ray Vaughan on extreme right holding can of beer, and behind the Cadillac that’s the stage facing out to the audience in Golden Gate Park

  2. mark weber

    ALSO caught Maria Muldaur at the Dingo, and guitarist Joe Louis Walker and he did that strobe-like thing where he repeats a short phrase over & over & over until you are hypnotized

  3. Mark Weber

    —————–playlist————————-
    Zooky Mehtaba Jazz Radio Show
    KUNM Albuquerque
    April 9, 2o15
    Host MARK WEBER

    1. Odean Pope Trio “Knot it Off” –Oct.1995 cd NINETY-SIX
    2. Odean Pope Trio “Trilogy” ibid.
    3. Herbie Mann New York Quartet w/Mat Mathews, Joe Puma, Whitey Mitchell “Adam’s Theme” –2jan57
    4. Connie Crothers – Lenny Popkin Quartet w/Carol
    Tristano & Cameron Brown “Time Step” –26march93 cd JAZZ SPRING
    5. Herbie Mann’s Californians “Tenderly” –10aug57
    6. Art Pepper Quintet “Las Cuevas de Mario” –Oct.1960 cd SMACK UP
    7. Kazzrie Jaxen Quartet w/Bill Chattin, Charley Krachy, Don Messina “When You’re Smiling” –26aug12 cd QUATERNITY
    8. Jesse Sharps Quintet w/Horace Tapscott “As a Child” –26mar86 cd SHARPS AND FLATS (Nimbus West Records)
    9. Chris Allen & Lewis Winn “Gentle Rain” –17june01 unreleased material recorded at KUNM
    10. Count Basie & Zoot Sims “Captain Bligh” –9apr75 (Pablo)
    11. Herbie Mann “Don’t Be That Way” –Jan/Feb. 1957
    cd MUSIC FOR SUBURBAN LIVING
    12. Odean Pope “Coltrane Time” ibid.
    13. Lenny Popkin – Connie Crothers Quartet “Beyond a Dream” ibid.

  4. Charley Krachy

    Thanks Mark, and also for the recent disc …..charley

  5. Mark Weber

    Tom Albach was over today and he confirmed that Yes that’s Dennis Moody in photo from Mad Hatter Studios — Tom still used Dennis to this day for his Nimbus West polishing & mastering —- (I do the grunt work of transferring tapes into the digital realm, ha ha ha) ——– today Tom had me working on some March 1987 recordings of his Nimbus Collective that he intends to release soon —- Tom will be 90 this coming December 13 and he’s as spry as ever, “At least once a day I stop and wonder How and WHEN is it going to happen? [laughter] Then I go on to thinking about other things [laughing hard] Glaucoma has claimed his right eye but he still has the left and he still goes down the street every afternoon (in his neighborhood of Four Hills in Albuquerque) and plays pool — always great hanging with him.

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