Rambling

Flying into LaGuardia – November 14, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

Flying into LaGuardia – November 14, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

December 20, 2o18 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)

RAMBLING

I sometimes suspect
Yoga has woke up
Parts of my body that
Didn’t want to be woke up
Like a dragon sleeping on his hoard of gold
When Beowulf sneaks in
Like a highway patrol hiding behind a billboard
When a speeding Camaro shoots by
(the chase is on)
I have some sentimental music on the stereo
(after awhile everything is sentimental)
Arlen says that at his age the winters can be rough
(we leave the radio station in Santa Fe and
he walks very slowly)
Walking is yoga
Some years ago he asked me about yoga
I told him it’s like a Sonny Rollins solo
Lyrical and intertwined
I tell newcomers to jazz to pay attention to the first note
Everything is connected to it
There’s probably a corollary in yoga? Pranayama? (the breath)
There are yoga postures that make you cross-eyed
Same with Sonny, especially when Max is peppering
                 him with Virabhadrasana (warrior)
“For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”
                 sayeth Supriti quoting scripture (Sir Isaac Newton, 1687)
I got into New York last month just in time for
The big snow storm, we skipped Autumn in New York
And went straight to Winter Weather Jo Stafford
One night, after a recording session, and dinner at an Italian
trattoria in Riverdale, we got a hankering for pastry at Veniero’s
And Ratzo drove us all the way down the Westside Highway
To the Village where the waiter got prissy with us
We were deep into the glories of Red Mitchell
And hadn’t checked the menu, yet, so
He left in a snit
And there we sat interminably
Among hundreds of pastry choices and the aroma of sweetness
Ratzo said, “He’s punishing us”
Francesca was pondering the eclairs
When the aggrieved waiter finally deigned to re-visit our table
I order’d off-menu an apple pie with vanilla ice cream
“a la mode?” he said
I said “Whatever”
Ratzo went avant-garde and had millefogie strawberry
I still remember what Ratzo said a couple years ago
As we drove around the city: “Manhattan
Is not for claustrophobics”
I sometimes over-enunciate words for the pure pleasure
Of sound, purely eccentric I know, the swirl of words
I wish this computer wouldn’t put leading caps at
The beginning of all my lines ——— that’s so Robert Frost,
Even T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound were into that, and my
Man Gerard Manley Hopkins, but not me, I’m a lower case poet
I’m a moon june spoon cacoon smithereens poet

Ratzo B. Harris and Bill Payne ---- House jam at Carol’s – November 17, 2018 – photo by Mark Weber

Ratzo B. Harris and Bill Payne —- House jam at Carol’s – November 17, 2018 – photo by Mark Weber

Gary Levy at Carol’s house jam ------ Saturday November 17, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber (Gary grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and lives thereabouts these days, but graduated from University of New Mexico way back when) ---- that’s Gary’s 1931 Conn alto ----- my wife is a member of the Levy tribe

Gary Levy at Carol’s house jam —— Saturday November 17, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber (Gary grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and lives thereabouts these days, but graduated from University of New Mexico way back when) —- that’s Gary’s 1931 Conn alto —– my wife is a member of the Levy tribe

Bill Payne and Nick Lyons at house jam session at Carol Liebowitz’s studio on 103rd Manhattan – November 17, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber ----- almost the entire afternoon of 4+ hours of music was spontaneously improvised (except for Virg playing Out of Nowhere at one point, and Nick asking Bill if he’d like to have a go at What Is This Thing in trio with Carol on piano)

Bill Payne and Nick Lyons at house jam session at Carol Liebowitz’s studio on 103rd Manhattan – November 17, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber —– almost the entire afternoon of 4+ hours of music was spontaneously improvised (except for Virg playing Out of Nowhere at one point, and Nick asking Bill if he’d like to have a go at What Is This Thing in trio with Carol on piano)

After I read my poem “It is cold and all I want to do is sleep” (#8 in NIGHT RIDERS) w/ accompaniment by Michael Wimberly with mallets on toms, and Gary Levy on saxophone, I handed over the mike to Andrea Wolper and said you take a go at the same poem, and she sang my own poem exquisitely w/ Virg Dzurinko, piano, and Bill Payne, and Michael, this photo is from slightly earlier (Michael shirt says: ROAM FREE – THE GREAT OUTDOORS) – photo by MW 17nov2o18

After I read my poem “It is cold and all I want to do is sleep” (#8 in NIGHT RIDERS) w/ accompaniment by Michael Wimberly with mallets on toms, and Gary Levy on saxophone, I handed over the mike to Andrea Wolper and said you take a go at the same poem, and she sang my own poem exquisitely w/ Virg Dzurinko, piano, and Bill Payne, and Michael, this photo is from slightly earlier (Michael shirt says: ROAM FREE – THE GREAT OUTDOORS) – photo by MW 17nov2o18

Carol Leibowitz at home ---------- Kind of a standard approach to artist + piano, BUT, always good ---- November 14, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

Carol Leibowitz at home ———- Kind of a standard approach to artist + piano, BUT, always good —- November 14, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

The night of the snow storm ----- Carol Liebowitz and I and Bill Payne heading out for dinner, putting our shoulder to the wind ------ November 15, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

The night of the snow storm —– Carol Liebowitz and I and Bill Payne heading out for dinner, putting our shoulder to the wind —— November 15, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

[untitled journal entry 19nov2o18 10:34am Columbus Circle]

In New York City
You see these people
             talking loudly to themselves
             big animated conversations
(I’m one of them, actually)
And
In days past
You figured them for The Unhinged
If not completely bonkers
I steer a wide berth around them
Only
To notice that they’re merely
Talking on a telephone device
Wired into their ears

Boy, did I dig this drummer, he was cool as ice, 84-year-old Arnie Wise (never heard of him before), with the Keith Ingham Trio ---- it was Sunday early evening I was strolling up Broadway and heard them inside at an eastern Mediterranean boite called Cleopatra’s Needle on 92nd Street – w/ Bob Arkin on bass (Arnie told me “He’s the brother of Alan Arkin”) – I play Keith’s records on my radio show all the time – November 18, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber (the obelisk Cleopatra’s Needle from circa 3,500 years ago Egypt can be found over in Central Park behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Boy, did I dig this drummer, he was cool as ice, 84-year-old Arnie Wise (never heard of him before), with the Keith Ingham Trio —- it was Sunday early evening I was strolling up Broadway and heard them inside at an eastern Mediterranean boite called Cleopatra’s Needle on 92nd Street – w/ Bob Arkin on bass (Arnie told me “He’s the brother of Alan Arkin”) – I play Keith’s records on my radio show all the time – November 18, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber (the obelisk Cleopatra’s Needle from circa 3,500 years ago Egypt can be found over in Central Park behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art)

What a great quartet has Russell Malone ----- Neal Smith (drums), Luke Sellick (bass), Rick Germanson (piano) --- I hope they record soon their arrangement and smoking rendition of the George Coleman tune “Five Four Thing” just blew my socks off ----- November 18, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber and tip of the hat to the bartender Tarik, you’re the best, at Smoke @ 105th on Broadway

What a great quartet has Russell Malone —– Neal Smith (drums), Luke Sellick (bass), Rick Germanson (piano) — I hope they record soon their arrangement and smoking rendition of the George Coleman tune “Five Four Thing” just blew my socks off —– November 18, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber and tip of the hat to the bartender Tarik, you’re the best, at Smoke @ 105th on Broadway

The venerable IBeam performance space in Brooklyn the night of our concert: myself reading poems, Carol Liebowitz, piano, and Bill Payne, clarinets ------- November 16, 2o18 ---- photo by Mark Weber

The venerable IBeam performance space in Brooklyn the night of our concert: myself reading poems, Carol Liebowitz, piano, and Bill Payne, clarinets ——- November 16, 2o18 —- photo by Mark Weber

I’m still learning how to use this new camera (Sony a6000 digital) ---- Singer Alexis Parsons and saxophonist Jeff Pearring @ IBeam – November 16, 2018 – photo by Mark Weber -------- This is the night we learned that Jeff is a master of knots for neckties

I’m still learning how to use this new camera (Sony a6000 digital) —- Singer Alexis Parsons and saxophonist Jeff Pearring @ IBeam – November 16, 2018 – photo by Mark Weber ——– This is the night we learned that Jeff is a master of knots for neckties

I have a thing for blurry pictures (altho, I wouldn’t want a steady diet of them) -------- I always encourage my friends to pick up my cameras anytime and shoot (Connie used to do this often, and so does Kazzrie), this shot is by Alexis Parsons of me and Ken Filiano at IBeam, Brooklyn, November 16, 2o18

I have a thing for blurry pictures (altho, I wouldn’t want a steady diet of them) ——– I always encourage my friends to pick up my cameras anytime and shoot (Connie used to do this often, and so does Kazzrie), this shot is by Alexis Parsons of me and Ken Filiano at IBeam, Brooklyn, November 16, 2o18

Lunch with master saxophonist Charley Krachy ------- November 18, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

Lunch with master saxophonist Charley Krachy ——- November 18, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

Saxophonist Mike DiRubbo covering at The Jazz Record Center while Fred was out looking into acquiring a big record collection in Montreal – photo by Mark Weber – November 15, 2o18 NYC

Saxophonist Mike DiRubbo covering at The Jazz Record Center while Fred was out looking into acquiring a big record collection in Montreal – photo by Mark Weber – November 15, 2o18 NYC

It gets dark early in NYC on snowy days in November ----------- photo by Mark Weber @ 3:37pm 15nov2o18

It gets dark early in NYC on snowy days in November ———– photo by Mark Weber @ 3:37pm 15nov2o18

I wish my plate of fried eggs & corned beef hash & potatoes was more in focus ------ After my breakfast at Tom’s (112th & Broadway) I jumped on the 1 Train down to 26th and the Jazz Record Center ---- Later, around 3:30 heading back to my hotel room on 103rd, a girl gets on the uptown train who is the perfect image of Laura Nyro 1967 with long gorgeous black hair, I told myself she’s no doubt heading to the Bronx where Laura grew up, where it seems that gene pool still exists ---- November 15, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

I wish my plate of fried eggs & corned beef hash & potatoes was more in focus —— After my breakfast at Tom’s (112th & Broadway) I jumped on the 1 Train down to 26th and the Jazz Record Center —- Later, around 3:30 heading back to my hotel room on 103rd, a girl gets on the uptown train who is the perfect image of Laura Nyro 1967 with long gorgeous black hair, I told myself she’s no doubt heading to the Bronx where Laura grew up, where it seems that gene pool still exists —- November 15, 2o18 – photo by Mark Weber

My journal says on this day: I’m getting bags under my eyes Hotel room on 103rd The day I flew home from NYC Nov. 21, 2o18

My journal says on this day: I’m getting bags under my eyes. Hotel room on 103rd  >>>>>>>>>>The  day I flew home from NYC. Nov. 21, 2o18

The autumn leaves, with a touch of snow from storm of a few days before //// And here’s my new lyrics: The autumn snow / Outside my window / When it melts / There are the leaves . . . // Each one of those leaves / Remind me of when / We used to walk / In this park and then . . . // You were gone / Gone with the wind /It was over / And then . . . // [bridge]: Such was the time we spent / Together / That leaving hollowed me out, and now / Here I am raking the autumn leaves . . . //// photo by Mark Weber – November 17, 2o18 Central Park NYC

The autumn leaves, with a touch of snow from storm of a few days before //// And here’s my new lyrics: The autumn snow / Outside my window / When it melts / There are the leaves . . . // Each one of those leaves / Remind me of when / We used to walk / In this park and then . . . // You were gone / Gone with the wind /It was over / And then . . . // [bridge]: Such was the time we spent / Together / That leaving hollowed me out, and now / Here I am raking the autumn leaves . . . //// photo by Mark Weber – November 17, 2o18 Central Park NYC

10 Comments

  1. Maryanne deProphetis

    Great photos! . . they really tell a story . . I enjoyed so much!

  2. Bill

    One of the best times that I have had in NYC (every trip happens to be the best). Thanks Mark for a truly great opportunity to work with you again. The house jam a Carol’s was funner than fun. I cannot wait for the next time.

  3. Supriti

    Yes, It was lovely to ramble along with you! When I sang one time with my son at the Red Fox in San Diego, his hornplayer said I sounded like Jo Stafford! Quite a compliment, in my book! Loved the updated lyrics to falling and raking leaves – you’re a hoot! Great photos too.

  4. Carol

    I dig your poetry and the New York storetry! Makes me miss New York. Fabulous photos of all my beautiful friends! Your self portrait is great – whatever’s happening with you is deep and it’s in your aura.

  5. joseph somoza

    thanks for the jaunt through New York, inside and out.

  6. Mark Weber

    ——————————–playlist———————————
    Reindeer Can Really Fly Jazz Radio Show
    December 20, 2o18
    KUNM Albuquerque
    Host MARK WEBER
    1. Bobby Timmons Trio “Winter Wonderland” – 24nov64 Lp HOLIDAY SOUL
    2. Sheila Jordan & Harvie S “God Rest Ye/We Three Kings” – 1995 (“….guide us through with perfect light”
    3. Chico Freeman Quartet w/ ELVIN JONES(drums), Cecil McBee(bass), Kenny Kirkland(piano), Chico(soprano sax) “God Rest
    Ye Swinging Gentlemen” — 1995 cd MORE MISTLETOE MAGIC
    4. Todd Moore poem “xmas eve 98” —23dec08
    5. Don Patterson Trio “You’re all I want for Christmas” – 25nov64 Lp HOLIDAY SOUL w/ Billy James(drums), Don(organ), Pat Martino(guitar)
    6. Todd “mackley poured”
    7. Diane Reeves a sultry “Jingle Bells” – 19sept96 cd YULE BE BOPPIN’
    8. Elaine Elias “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” w/ Marc Johnson(bass), Elaine(smoking piano), Satoshi Takaishi(drums) –3dec96 cd YULE BE BOPPIN’ (Blue Note)
    9. Heath Brothers “Our Little Town” – 1980
    10. Todd “i used to”
    11. Bob Dorough & Bob Belden “Blue Xmas” – 1997 w/ Tim Hagens(trpt), Bob Belden(sop), Greg Osby(alto), Bobby Watson(tenor), Bob Dorough(piano & vcl), Scott Kinsey&synth), Ira Coleman(bass), Billy Kilson(drums) cd YULE BE BOPPIN
    12. Zoot Sims & Hans Koller, clarinets — “Minor Meeting for Two Clarinets” w/ Peter Trunk(bass), Kenny Clarke(drums), Hans Hammerschmidt(piano&comp) – 23june58 cd BADEN-BADEN LOST TAPES (JazzHaus)
    13. Jo Stafford “Winter Weather” – 1955
    14. Joe Lovano “Carol of the Bells” –6march97 w/ Joe(tenor&gongs&chimes), Dennis Irwin(bass&gongs&chimes), Yoron Israel(drums), Judy Silvano(vocals&gongs&chimes) cd YULE BE BOPPIN’
    15. Louis Bellson Quintet “Winter Wonderland” –8april1994 – w/ BOBBY SHEW(trpt), George Young(tenor), Willie Pickins(piano), Keter Betts(bass), Louis Bellson(drums) cd A CHIAROSCURO CHRISTMAS
    16. Jack Sheldon & Barry Harris “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” –25may1986
    17. Royce Campbell “Elegy to a Friend” –1990 Indianapolis w/ Ratzo B Harris(bass), Royce(guitar), Terrence Cook(oboe), Stan Gage(drums on the date but not this track) cd ELEGY TO A FRIEND (Moon Cycle Records)
    18. Bobby Watson – Jack Walrath Sextet “Cristo Redentor” (Duke Pearson) w/ Judi Silvano(vcl), Bobby Watson(alto), Franck Amsallem(piano), Jeff Andrews(elec-b), Tony Reedus(drums), Jack Walrath(trpt) – 19dec94 cd YULE BE BOPPIN’

  7. Richard Tabnik

    banned for refusing to analyze my “symphony for jazz trio: a prayer for peace”…

    almost 100 years of jazz, it’s the first of its kind!

    i just wanted people to hear it unfettered…

  8. Mark Weber

    ——————————————playlist——————————
    End of the Year Jazz Radio Show
    December 27, 2o18
    KUNM Albuquerque
    Host MARK WEBER
    1. Miles Davis Sextet “Flamenco Sketches” –22april59 a nice laid-back poetic track from KIND OF BLUE for a wintry afternoon
    2. Bill Evans Trio “Tenderly” –15dec58 w/ Scotty LaFaro & Paul Motion – Bill’s first album EVERYBODY DIGS BILL EVANS
    • We just watched the documentary TIME REMEMBERED (2o15) the night before over at John Breckow & Dory’s place – fabulous production, well paced —– odd that one’s life can be boiled down to 90 minutes, no?
    3. Mundell Lowe Quartet “It’s a Grand Night For Swinging” from 1957 album of same name w/ Billy Taylor(piano & composition), Ed Thigpen(brushes), Les Grinage(bass), Mundell(guitar)
    4. Christian McBride’s New Jawn Quartet “The Middle Man” a flag-waver for tenor sax Marcus Strickland, whew – May 2017
    5. Harold Land “Grooveyard” w/ Carl Perkins(piano & composition), Leroy Vinnegar(bass), Frank Butler(drums), Rolf Ericson(trpt), Harold(tenor) from Lp sometimes called GROOVEYARD sometimes called HAROLD IN THE LAND OF JAZZ (Contemporary) – 13jan58 Los Angeles
    FOUR TUNES COMPOSED BY LENNIE TRISTANO
    6. Ted Rosenthal Trio “Wow” w/ Billy Drummond(drums), Ted(piano), Mike Formanek(bass) – Dec.1994 cd ROSENTHOLOGY (Concord)
    7. Lars Gullin “Ablution” – Autumn 1963 Stockholm — cd THE LIQUID MOVES OF LARS GULLIN w/ Rolf Bilberg(alto), Nils Lindberg(piano), Bjorn Alke(bass), Lars(bari), Jan Carlsson(drums)
    8. Lenny Popkin Trio “Lennie-Bird” Fall 1979 cd 317 EAST 32nd w/ Eddie Gomez(bass), Peter Scattaretico(drums), Lenny(tenor)
    9. Eric Rasmussen 4 “Victory Ball” – July 2007 cd SCHOOL OF TRISTANO vol. 2 (Steeplechase)
    10. Duke Ellington Orchestra featuring Paul Gonsalves(tenor solo) “I’ve Just Seen Her” – 1962 album JAZZ AMERICAN (Col.) * John Breckow put me on to this track
    11. John Graas Nonet featuring Art Pepper “Jazz Overture” – 22july57 *another track from the mind of John Breckow
    12. Zoot Sims “A Time for Love” ballad – 1984 ZOOT PLAYS JOHNNY MANDELL (Pablo) w/ Mike Wofford(piano), Chuck Berghofer(bass), Nick Ceroli(drums)

  9. Mark Weber

    ——————————————playlist——————————————
    The Snowed-over Jazz Radio Show
    January 3, 2o19
    KUNM Albuquerque
    Host MARK WEBER
    1. Harold Land Sextet “Dark Mood” –22oct81 Lp XOCIA’S DANCE (Muse)
    2. Paul Motion Electric Bebop Band “Blue Pearl” – Nov. 1998 cd PLAYS MONK & POWELL
    3. Gerry Mulligan Sextet “Demanton” –22sept55
    4. Mel Lewis Septet “Sir Richard Face” w/ Richie Kamuca, Jerry Coker, Pepper Adams –20nov56
    5. Bobby Bradford explains “Miss Ann” ——–27july2018
    6. Greg Osby Trio w/ Jeff Tain Watts(d) & Matt Brewer(b), Osby(soprano) “Miss Ann” –Feb.2oo5 cd CHANNEL THREE
    7. Anthony Ortega & Cash Killion, alto & bass duet “Jupiter” – 12jan2005 cd AFTERNOON IN PARIS (hatology)
    8. Lenny Popkin Trio w/ Carol Tristano(d) & Eddie Gomez(b) “Origin” —-27feb2004 cd NEW YORK MOMENT
    9. Benny Golson Nonet “Whisper Not” – 1957 cd NEW YORK SCENE
    10. Bill Evans Quintet “Funkallero” – 21aug62 / Philly Joe, Zoot, Jim Hall, Ron Carter cd COMPLETE INTERPLAY SESSIONS
    11. Harold Land “Xocia’s Dance” ibid. w/ George Cables, Billy Higgins, Oscar Brashear, John Heard, Bobby Hutcherson, Ray Armando
    12. Azar Lawrence & Al McLean, duel tenors cd FRONTIERS in Montreal – “Mystic Journey” w/ Adrian Vedady(b), Paul Shrofel(p), Greg Ritchie(d)
    13. Greg Osby Trio “Mob Job”(Ornette) ibid. cd CHANNEL THREE

    *at the intersection into the next radio show —– every other week, this past year, I read a poem per request from host Brandon Kennedy — today I read untitled poem with first line “Truth has sure turned into an abstraction these days, hasn’t it?” written specifically for Brandon’s show, as he was following my reading with Joan Baez reading “No man is an island” from her 1968 album BAPTISM

  10. Mark Weber

    Truth has sure turned into an abstraction these days, hasn’t it?
    Turned sideways and shaken like a salt shaker
    “Would you like some pepper on that?” wearing the white apron
    holding a pepper mill that
    looks as if it was once the leg of King Henry the VIII’s table
    or
    the newel post to a jury box
    “Forsooth,” I say, “pepper up the truth”

    The bellows of the blast furnace

    Amongst and between and the supernatural unseen

    The wind has stopped
    And the birds who are wintering-over here this year
    Have come out from wherever they were
    To fill up on seeds my wife has put out

    Forsooth, the truth:
    No man is an island
    Our country has been turned into an episode
    of The Apprentice
    It’s kind of embarrassing, and somebody is always
    getting fired, and now the president
    separates himself from those he calls Losers
    and
    any idea that our little planet might should work together
    We
    Are spinning backwards
    Forsooth, it does not take keen eyes to see
    That no country stands alone, no man is an island
    That unity will come what may

    The profit motive is not a governing principle
    O, it has its place in the grand scheme of things
    But not in La Casa Blanca

    1-3jan2019 MW

Leave a Reply to Mark WeberCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2024 Mark Weber

Theme by Anders Noren adapted for M.etropolis by RavanHUp ↑