Damn Strange

No comment ---- photo by MW September 29, 1991 New Mexico

No comment —- photo by MW September 29, 1991 New Mexico

December 26, 2o19 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)

DAMN STRANGE

Damn strange times we’re living in these days —- A time of “porch pirates” and a president with an ego the size of a dump truck, and humility and brains in short supply, one porch pirate who was caught red-handed explained that it was Christmas and she needed to get presents for her children, well, that makes it okay then ———- And me stepping outside one morning in my underwear the door blew shut behind me locking me out (we have an adobe wall surrounding our front yard or else I wouldn’t be so cavalier about stepping out half-nekkid) And the only way to get to our backyard and thus back inside is through my neighbor’s yard, who hates me (I think she hates all men) —- Can you imagine how that’d play out in court? Judge says, “Now, let me get this straight Mr Weber, you were in this lady’s backyard in your BVDs, is that correct?” Meanwhile, I’m reading Samantha Power’s memoir and she has me paying closer attention to the horror of chemical weapons, we’ll all be dead if things go down that road (Samantha was the United Nations Ambassador for the U.S. for 8 years appointed by Obama).

We lost a dear friend this year when Colleen went away unexpectedly back in March, she was J.A. Deane’s soul mate for 38 years and to my right in my typing room I have the six little meteorites on the windowsill Colleen gave me that she found in the hills above Ribera, New Mexico, when they lived there ---- photo by MW ---- Outpost Performance Space at Dino’s Harmonograph 2x2 performance April 2, 2o10 ---- Left to Right: Colleen Mulvihill, Cris Nichols, Janet Simon

We lost a dear friend this year when Colleen went away unexpectedly back in March, she was J.A. Deane’s soul mate for 38 years and to my right in my typing room I have the six little meteorites on the windowsill Colleen gave me that she found in the hills above Ribera, New Mexico, when they lived there —- photo by MW —- Outpost Performance Space at Dino’s Harmonograph 2×2 performance April 2, 2o10 —- Left to Right: Colleen Mulvihill, Cris Nichols, Janet Simon

Bassist/composer/arranger Al Hines playing Henry Franklin’s bass at the break during recording session for Robert Crowley’s album ONE STEP OUT (Nimbus Records) (that’s Henry in white walking to control room) ---- United-Western Studios, Los Angeles – January 27, 1981 ---- photo by Mark Weber

Bassist/composer/arranger Al Hines playing Henry Franklin’s bass at the break during recording session for Robert Crowley’s album ONE STEP OUT (Nimbus Records) (that’s Henry in white walking to control room) —- United-Western Studios, Los Angeles – January 27, 1981 —- photo by Mark Weber

Tom Albach (producer of Horace Tapscott recordings, age 94) asked me the other day who was that comedian who used to work The Parisian Room, and I immediately said REYNALDO REY! And Tom said, “Yeh! Man he was filthy!” This was the era depicted in Eddie Murphy’s new biopic DOLEMITE IS MY NAME AND FUCKING UP MOTHERFUCKERS IS MY GAME of the pimp-cum-stand-up-comedian Rudy Ray Moore---- That’s Red Holloway(tenor) and Harvey Newmark(bass) – Parisian Room, corner of Washington & LaBrea, June 13, 1980, I’ve been told Parisian Room is tore down and now there’s a post office there, sure was a lot of good music there in those days ---- photo by Mark Weber

Tom Albach (producer of Horace Tapscott recordings, age 94) asked me the other day who was that comedian who used to work The Parisian Room, and I immediately said REYNALDO REY! And Tom said, “Yeh! Man he was filthy!” This was the era depicted in Eddie Murphy’s new biopic DOLEMITE IS MY NAME AND FUCKING UP MOTHERFUCKERS IS MY GAME of the pimp-cum-stand-up-comedian Rudy Ray Moore—- That’s Red Holloway (tenor) and Harvey Newmark (bass) – Parisian Room, corner of Washington & LaBrea, June 13, 1980, I’ve been told Parisian Room is tore down and now there’s a post office there, sure was a lot of good music there in those days —- photo by Mark Weber

Not sure who was the leader of this quartet, but that’s Plas Johnson(tenor), Jimmie Smith(drums), Larry Gales(bass), and Dolo Coker(piano), at UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom --- May 14, 1980 ---- photo by Mark Weber

Not sure who was the leader of this quartet, but that’s Plas Johnson (tenor), Jimmie Smith (drums), Larry Gales (bass), and Dolo Coker (piano), at UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom — May 14, 1980 —- photo by Mark Weber

Henry Franklin and clarinetist John Carter at the Dolo Coker Love-In (he dies April 13, 1983 cancer) at Local 47 March 20, 1983 ---- photo by Mark Weber

Henry Franklin and clarinetist John Carter at the Dolo Coker Love-In (he dies April 13, 1983 cancer) at Local 47 March 20, 1983 —- photo by Mark Weber

Woody Herman backstage at Hollywood Bowl, one of the giants of jazz music, June 20, 1981 ---- Remember that the germ of Supersax was Woody’s Second Herd recording of “I’ve Got News For You” (Dec. 24, 1947) arranger Ralph Burns, “I took a passage note for note off a Charlie Parker record and harmonized it for the saxophones.” Just 8 bars of Bird’s “Dark Shadows.” Med Flory in Gene Lees’ book LEADER OF THE BAND/Woody Herman biography says that it was that short passage that anticipated the concept of Supersax thirty years later. We’ll listen to something from this band on today’s radio show. Photo by Mark Weber

Woody Herman backstage at Hollywood Bowl, one of the giants of jazz music, June 20, 1981 —- Remember that the germ of Supersax was Woody’s Second Herd recording of “I’ve Got News For You” (Dec. 24, 1947) arranger Ralph Burns, “I took a passage note for note off a Charlie Parker record and harmonized it for the saxophones.” Just 8 bars of Bird’s “Dark Shadows.” Med Flory in Gene Lees’ book LEADER OF THE BAND/Woody Herman biography says that it was that short passage that anticipated the concept of Supersax thirty years later. We’ll listen to something from this band on today’s radio show. Photo by Mark Weber

CK Barlow ---- October 10, 1999 Albuquerque ---- CK is a keyboard player & laptop sound designer, many of her compositions can be found on my Zerx Records

CK Barlow —- October 10, 1999 Albuquerque —- CK is a keyboard player & laptop sound designer, many of her compositions can be found on my Zerx Records

Photo by Roch Doran of JANET FEDER in concert at the Littleglobe Theater, Santa Fe, December 8, 2o19

Photo by Roch Doran of JANET FEDER in concert at the Littleglobe Theater, Santa Fe, December 8, 2o19

Chris Jonas & Janet Feder in duet in Corrales, New Mexico ---- December 7, 2o19 @ Live at Thrive (produced by Roch Doran) ---- photo by Mark Weber . . . . from my notebook: Janet’s concert last night very even-temper’d, quiet, quietness being one of her compositional elements, everything cohered, if there was disjunction it was of the sort you’d find in an M.C. Escher, very intricate, with waterfalls that flow down back around itself to waterfall continuously, coalesced, all in agreement, mirror’d images, contrast and recapitulation and uniformity, parallelism, balance, counterbalance, whirling in, all things drawn to the center, together, pulling together as it turns quietly, like a Calder mobile . . . counterbalance best word to describe it, and Chris masterfully found his way into her music beautifully, he being a guest on this

Chris Jonas & Janet Feder in duet in Corrales, New Mexico —- December 7, 2o19 @ Live at Thrive (produced by Roch Doran) —- photo by Mark Weber . . . . from my notebook: Janet’s concert last night very even-temper’d, quiet, quietness being one of her compositional elements, everything cohered, if there was disjunction it was of the sort you’d find in an M.C. Escher, very intricate, with waterfalls that flow down back around itself to waterfall continuously, coalesced, all in agreement, mirror’d images, contrast and recapitulation and uniformity, parallelism, balance, counterbalance, whirling in, all things drawn to the center, together, pulling together as it turns quietly, like a Calder mobile . . . counterbalance best word to describe it, and Chris masterfully found his way into her music beautifully, he being a guest on this

Jim Ahrend and Alex Murzyn as part of the Bobby Shew Sextet ---- December 12, 2o19 Outpost Performance Space ----- So glad that Patti Patten filmed this concert, it was off the map ----- photo by Mark Weber

Jim Ahrend and Alex Murzyn as part of the Bobby Shew Sextet —- December 12, 2o19 Outpost Performance Space —– So glad that Patti Patten filmed this concert, it was off the map —– photo by Mark Weber

A new acquisition of Bobby Bradford’s, a 1960s Benge flugelhorn --- artistic rendering by Cal Haines of photo by MW November 2o19

A new acquisition of Bobby Bradford’s, a 1960s Benge flugelhorn — artistic rendering by Cal Haines of photo by MW November 2o19

Lee Deffebach exhibit @ Art Barn, Salt Lake City ---- this was opening night February 24, 1991 ---- photo by Mark Weber

Lee Deffebach exhibit @ Art Barn, Salt Lake City —- this was opening night February 24, 1991 —- photo by Mark Weber

Is that the look of a outlander, or what? Lee Deffebach (1928-2005) and one of her combine assemblages ---- photo by Mark Weber February 24, 1991 ---- Life-long Utah artist, I’ve loved her approach to canvas ever since I came across that postcard announcing this show in Salt Lake City when I worked at the post office (she laughed when I told her that story)

Is that the look of a outlander, or what? Lee Deffebach (1928-2005) and one of her combine assemblages —- photo by Mark Weber February 24, 1991 —- Life-long Utah artist, I’ve loved her approach to canvas ever since I came across that postcard announcing this show in Salt Lake City when I worked at the post office (she laughed when I told her that story)

En route to the Poetry Rendezvous in Great Bend, Kansas ---- the name of the gas station was You Pump It ---- I said to Todd, “Check out the name of this place” and he observed ruefully, “Yeh, you pump it and we’ll sell it” ---- I still laugh every time I think of that one, Todd was a master of one-liners ---- photo by MW Dalhart, Texas, August 6, 1994

En route to the Poetry Rendezvous in Great Bend, Kansas —- the name of the gas station was You Pump It —- I said to Todd, “Check out the name of this place” and he observed ruefully, “Yeh, you pump it and we’ll sell it” —- I still laugh every time I think of that one, Todd was a master of one-liners —- photo by MW Dalhart, Texas, August 6, 1994

Self-portrait in broken mirror ---- a mile down the road from where Charley & Peggy Krachy live in Garrison NY when I was staying with them that week last September (2o19)

Self-portrait in broken mirror —- a mile down the road from where Charley & Peggy Krachy live in Garrison NY when I was staying with them that week last September (2o19)

Petroglyphs of ancestral pueblo people on the West Mesa of Albuquerque ---- some of the petroglyphs date back 3,000 years ago but these are probably circa 1300AD in Rinconada Canyon ---- photo by Mark Weber September 21, 1991

Petroglyphs of ancestral pueblo people on the West Mesa of Albuquerque —- some of the petroglyphs date back 3,000 years ago but these are probably circa 1300AD in Rinconada Canyon —- photo by Mark Weber September 21, 1991

7 Comments

  1. Janet Feder

    What an honor to be included in your abundant world! Thank you, Mark, for bringing it all to life.

  2. Mark Weber

    —————————————-playlist———————————-
    The Baba Ram Dass Memorial Jazz Show
    Thursday December 26, 2o19 —- KUNM Albuquerque
    Host MARK WEBER
    1. Billy Lester Trio “Consolidation” – 13aug2o16 cd ITALY 2016
    FIVE VERSIONS of a Monk Tune (173 recorded versions listed at Tom Lord Discography)
    2. Thelonious Monk Quartet “Ugly Beauty” —14dec67 album UNDERGROUND w/ Charlie Rouse, Ben Riley, Larry Gales
    3. George Cables Trio “Ugly Beauty” 26oct2o18 cd I’M ALL SMILES w/ Essiet Essiet(bass), George(piano), Victor Lewis(drums)
    4. Putter Smith “Ugly Beauty” Lp LOST & FOUND w/ Gary Foster(alto), John Gross(tenor), Putter(bass) – trio — 1977
    5. Carmen McRae “Still We Dream” (lyrics on Ugly Beauty by Mike Ferro) –13april 1988 w/ Eric Gunnison(piano), George Mraz(bass), Al Foster(drums) cd CARMEN SINGS MONK
    6. Frank Kimbrough Quartet “Ugly Beauty” w/ Scott Robinson(tenor), Rufus Reid(bass), Frank(piano), Billy Drummond(drums) – 30may2018 box set MONK’s DREAMS
    7. Dexter Gordon Quartet “Catalonian Nights” w/ Billy Higgins(drums), Tete Montoliu(piano), NHOP(bass) – 14sept75 Lp BOUNCIN’ WITH DEX (Inner City) **I was reminded of this great tune when Doug Lawrence played it recently at the Outpost Performance Space w/ George Cables, John Webber, Louis Hayes
    8. David Sills & Michael Kanan, tenor saxophone & piano duets Dec. 2010 cd THE SWEETEST MELODY “Gone With the Wind”
    9. Milt Jackson “Bag’s New Groove” Lp BAGS & FLUTES (Atlantic) w/ Bobby Jaspar(flute), Tommy Flanagan(piano), Milt(vibes), Kenny Burrell(guitar), Percy Heath(bass), Art Taylor(drums)—21may57
    10. Art Farmer & Fritz Pauer, flugelhorn & piano duets Lp AZURE “Soul Eyes” (this is how I’ve always felt this great Mal Waldron tune should be played: Noir) – 1987 Vienna (Soul Note)
    11. Woody Herman Orchestra / the 2nd Herd “Four Brothers” – 3 tenors & a baritone —-27dec47 solo order: Zoot, Serge Chaloff(baritone), Herbie Steward, Stan Getz —- one of the pivotal recordings in jazz history, composed/arranged by Jimmy Giuffre
    12. Sam Newsome & Jean-Michel Pilc, soprano saxophone & piano duets MAGIC CIRCLE “In a Sentimental Mood” –23june2o17
    *Ram Dass d. Sunday Dec. 22 age 88

  3. Mark Weber

    So, it was ten years before anyone tackled “Ugly Beauty” after it was introduced by Monk on UNDERGROUND in 1967. Putter Smith in the liner notes to LOST & FOUND says the tune is of a magnitude equal to “Round Midnight” and I agree.

  4. Mark Weber

    [William Roper sent this photo of mine (Reynaldo Rey) to Harvey Newmark and his response]:
    Hi Bill,
    Thank you for sending this to me, that was very thoughtful and I really appreciate it very much.
    I had the mustache at that time because I was still with the Baja Marimba Band….mustache and cigar smoking required.
    Red Holloway hired me for the gig. [Depicted in photo —- Red & Sonny Stitt at Parisian Room]

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
    Harv [email to WR Dec. 25, 2o19]
    —————————————————-
    [William’s response to Harvey]:
    Harvey,
    I hope you are doing well and having happy holidays.
    If you take the link in Mark’s message, you will find that the fourth photo is of you playing at the Parisian Room. I have never seen a photo of you that young. I had to convince myself that it is actually you.
    [email Dec. 25, 2019]
    ——————————————————————————————-
    [I wrote Harvey Newmark and asked him about the Baja Marimba Band and the mustache]

    Hi Mark,
    There isn’t much to the mustache story. I was working that night at the Parisian with Red Holloway, Sonny Stitt, Bruno Carr and I’m not sure who the piano player was, but it might have been Art Hillary.
    Red had been using me with that same group on other gigs around town including the Lighthouse.
    The only reason I had the mustache was because I had been with the newly reformed Baja Marimba Band from the 60’s. I was one of the new guys, when Julius Wechter decided to start working again in 1979 after a ten year lay-off.
    The gig required a mustache and cigars.
    [email HM to MW Dec. 27, 2019]
    ————————————

    Hi Mark,
    I joined the Baja Marimba Band in 1979…. the members where: Julius Wechter, marimba, the creator, leader and wrote and arranged most of the music. The other original members were:
    Bernie Fleisher, Sax and flute, Dave Wells, trombone,
    Frank DeVito, drums, Charlie Charenza, 12 string guitar…… the new guys where: me on electric bass,
    Jules Greenberg, 2nd marimba, Carmen Fanzone, trumpet, and a 2nd guitar who’s name I can’t remember (his first name was Kim….)
    Thanks
    Harvey [email Dec. 29, 2o19]

  5. Mark Weber

    ——————————-playlist————————–
    The Multilateral Jazz Radio Show
    Thursday January 2, 2o2o ———— KUNM Albuquerque USA
    Host MARK WEBER
    *Mostly featuring West Coast bop trumpeter/singer/comic JACK SHELDON
    Died last Friday age 88
    1. Jack Sheldon California Cool Quartet “Yardbird Suite” –2007 cd IT’S WHAT I DO
    w/ Joe Bagg(piano), Bruce Lett(bass), Dick Weller(drums)
    2. Jack Sheldon Quintet “Groovus Mentus” –4apr55 w/ Zoot Sims(tenor), Walter Norris(piano), Bob Whitlock(bass), Lawrence Marable(drums)
    3. Jack Sheldon Orchestra “Caravan” featuring Andy Martin(trombone) & Ray Brinker(drum solo) – 2001 cd JSO LIVE! ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN (aboard the Queen Mary, Long Beach)
    4. Blossom Dearie “Tea for Two” —- 1958 *We’ve been watching the TV series The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Blossom is in the soundtrack, and Lenny Bruce is a character
    5. Jack Sheldon Quartet “Mad About the Boy” – 1954 album GET OUT OF TOWN w/ Walter Norris(piano), Ralph Pena(bass), Gene Gammage(drums)
    6. Art Pepper “Las Cuevas de Mario” –1960 album SMACK UP! (Contemporary) w/ Jack(trumpet), Art(alto), Pete Jolly(piano), Jimmy Bond(bass), Frank Butler(drums)
    7. Lenny Bruce “Don’s Big Dago” —–1959
    8. Evan Christopher “If I Should Lose You” [I didn’t actually mean to play this one — Jack is not on this track —- See I.D. 10 below] GREAT TRACK, tho.
    9. Jimmy Giuffre Four “Lazy Tones” – June 1958 Hollywood – album TANGENTS IN JAZZ w/ Jack(trpt), Ralph Pena(bass), Artie Anton(drums), JG(clarinet)
    10. Evan Christopher Quartet + singers Tierney Sutton & Jack Sheldon “I’m in the mood for love” —Feb.2000 L.A. cd CLARINET ROAD
    11. Jack Sheldon cd ON MY OWN in duet with Ross Tompkins “Avalon” — 1991
    12. Jack Sheldon Quintet “Lester Leaps In” –19june2005 Live at the Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach CA w/ Tom Kubis(soprano sax), Ross Tompkins(piano), Ralph Penland(drums), Tony Dumas(bass) cd SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE LIGHTHOUSE (Woofy)
    13. Lenny Bruce “White Collar Drunks” —-1959
    14. Curtis Counce Quintet “A Fifth for Frank” album LANDSLIDE (Contemporary) —8oct58 w/ Jack(trpt), Harold Land(tenor), CC(bass), Carl Perkins(piano), Frank Butler(drums)

  6. Mark Weber

    ———————————-playlist—————————
    The Tenderly Jazz Radio Show
    January 9, 2020 —–KUNM Albuquerque
    Host MARK WEBER
    1. Kenny Burrell “I’m just a lucky so and so” – 7apr64 album SOUL CALL (Prestige)
    2. Doug Raney Trio “Tenderly” – Nov. 1998 cd YOU GO TO MY HEAD w/ Billy Hart(drums), Doug(guitar), Jay Anderson(bass)—what a great cd, totally!
    3. Emil Richards Microtonal Blues Band live at Donte’s – 1969 – “All Blue” [sic] *and that’s the way Emil announces the tune on stage —- Lp SPIRIT OF 1976 (this title a reference to one of the compositions that has 76 beats) w/ Joe Porcaro(drums), Dave Mackay(piano), Emil(vibes), Ray Neapolitan(Fender-bass), Mark Stevens(perc)
    4. Michael Anthony First Take Trio “Mr Lucky”(Mancini) w/ Cal Haines(drums), Michael(guitar), Michael Glynn(bass) 2013 cd RECOLLECTIONS
    5. Motherless Brooklyn soundtrack “Daily Battles” 2019 w/ Wynton Marsalis(trumpet) melancholy
    6. Virg Dzurinko & Ryan Messina, piano & trumpet duet “Walking Through” – 2o19 NYC
    TWO SONGS FROM SWEDEN FOR A STARK & COLD OVER-CAST DREARY DAY both composed by Bengt Hallberg
    7. Arne Domnerus 6tet “Studio A” 30nov59 Stockholm w/Arne(clarinet), Rune Falk(baritone sax & great solo thereupon), Jan Allen(trpt), Gunnar Svensson(piano), Georg Riedel(bass), Egil Johansen(drums) cd JUMP FOR JOY (Dragon)
    8. Bengt Hallberg Sextet w/ Lars Gullin(baritone) “Side Car” – 9nov53 Stockholm
    9. Abdullah Ibrahim Trio “Song for Aggery” conciliatory —— 1997 cd CAPETOWN FLOWERS (enja)
    10. pianist Chris Ishee surprise visit to the show, we talk a little about this & that and I have him announce next track:
    11. Jack Sheldon Quintet “Beach-Wise” w/ Zoot(tenor), Walter Norris(piano), Bob Whitlock(bass), Lawrence Marable(drums), Jack(trpt) – 4 apr55
    THREE TRACKS of WOODY HERMAN & SIDEMEN
    12. Al Cohn – Richie Kamuca – Bill Perkins “Blixed” June 1955 L.A. —- sort’ve a happy upbeat tune in the vein of West Coast Chet
    13. “Kim’s Kaper” as previous, but a blowing tune —— 3 tenor saxophones!
    14. Woody Herman LIVE AT MONTEREY – 3oct59 “Like some blues man” solos: Victor Feldman(vibes), Conte Candoli(trpt), Perk(tenor), Urbie Green(trombone), Charlie Byrd(guitar)

  7. Mark Weber

    ———–playlist———————–
    Dark Clouds Brewing Jazz Radio Show
    January 16, 2o2o —————–KUNM
    Host MARK WEBER
    1. Woody Herman Quartet “Alexandra” – January 1962 Lp SWING LOW SWEET CLARINET (Philips) w/ Nat Pierce(piano), Chuck Andrus(bass), Gus Johnson(drums)
    2. Four Brothers Together Again! (RCA) “Four Brothers” 2nov57 re-Union ten years later of this renowned mellifluous tune for 3 tenors + baritone: Zoot Sims, Herbie Fields, Al Cohn (in Stan’s slot) and Serge Chaloff ———– smokin’ (originally recorded in 1947)
    3. Jerry Coker Quartet “You’ll Stay” Nov.1956 w/ Alan Kiger(trpt), Jerry(tenor), Dean Reilly(bass) and the late Eddie Duran(guitar —died Nov. 22, 2o19 age 94 Requiesce in Pace) cd JERRY COKER MODERN MUSIC (Fresh Sound) one of my favorite re-issues of 2o16
    4. Ralph Burns 4 “Spring Sequence” languid for a snowy day in Albuquerque w/ Ralph Burns(piano), Tal Farlow(guitar), Clyde Lombardi(bass), Osie Johnson(drums) – 1955 cd BIJOU (Prestige)
    5. Bill Perkins w/ Jan Lundgren Trio “Easy Living” cd PERK PLAYS PREZ (Fresh Sound) June 1995 w/ Lundgren(piano), Dave Carpenter(bass), Paul Kreibich(drums) * on the air I said that I wasn’t sure Prez ever recorded this tune, but, now I see that he was on the very first version ever recorded of 539 versions (listed at Tom Lord) w/ Teddy Wilson & Billie in 1937
    6. Jerry Coker THE VOGUE SESSIONS: THE THIRD HERDSMEN BLOW IN PARIS “Thanks for You” – 5may54 w/Cy Touff(bass trpt), Ralph Burns(piano), Coker(tenor), Jimmy Gourley(guitar), Jean-Marie Indrand(bass), Chuck Flores(drums)
    7. Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now” w/ 87-piece orchestra at George Martin’s studio in London —- 2000 ** Joni sang with the orchestra, she did not overdub her vocal! YES, the organic & holistic way!
    8. MJQ “Blues in C Minor” – Nov. 1973 album BLUES ON BACH (Atlantic)
    9. Woody Herman Quartet “Rose Room” Lp SWING LOW SWEET CLARINET **We associate this tune with Benny Goodman but BG took it on the mid-30s after it had already been around ten years —- versions by Barney Bigard w/ Duke, and Jimmy Dorsey w/ Red Nichols in the 20s were Woody’s inspiration
    10. Woody Herman Orchestra “Laura” — the very first jazz version of this tune from 1944 Gene Tierney movie of same name – 19feb45 (Proper Box)
    11. Woody Herman “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plans” – March 1957 w/ Hal McKusick in the section! Also Billy Bauer, Milt Hinton, Jimmy Rowles, Joe Mondragon, Charlie Shavers, Ben Webster among a gang of others — cd SONGS FOR HIP LOVERS (Verve) ** One of my favorite tunes as done by Prez
    12. Earl Coleman (vcl) & Bird “Dark Shadows” — 19feb47 (Dial)
    13. Woody Herman Orchestra (aka Second Herd) “I’ve Got News For You” –24dec47 —- Woody(sings it) arranged by Ralph Burns who says, “I took a passage note for note off a Charlie Parker record and harmonized it for the saxes” The passage, eight bars long, derived from Parker’s solo on Dark Shadows occurs right after Woody’s vocal. It anticipates Supersax – Med Flory said that it was the memory of I’ve Got News For You that inspired his formation of Supersax in the early 1970s (Gene Lees’ book LEADER OF THE BAND Woody bio)—-from Mosaic box 1945-1947 Woody Herman
    14. Al Cohn – Bill Perkins – Richie Kamuca – 3 tenors! “Gay Blade” —24june1955 NYC w/ John Beal(bass), Barry Galbraith(guitar), Hank Jones(piano), Chuck Flores(drums) cd THE BROTHERS! (Mosaic)
    15. Dick Hafer Quartet (Dick was in Woody’s Third Herd 1951-1955) “Moten Swing” w/ Ross Tompkins(piano), Dave Carpenter(bass), Jake Hanna(drums) 1994 Hollywood cd PREZ IMPRESSIONS (Fresh Sound) — Dick on tenor saxophone supreme, one of my favorite records

    THEN at the top of the next radio show: Brandon Kennedy’s Afternoon FreeForm I read this poem at his behest:

    POEM IN 3 PARTS

    The Buddha has me all figured out
    He sees me at the riverbank stranded
    staring across to the other side
    where there is peace and tranquility
    There are people all around me
    running up & down, where nothing
    is certain, we are the indefinite,
    Our brains are like jittery seeds on a hot griddle,
    Unsettled
    It’s crowded and disorganized
    on this side of the river
    I am forgetful, meditation is simple
    And yet, I never get around to it
    It alludes me, the Buddha
    told us how meditation is the ticket:
    Out of the mist a boat will be there
    if we’d only stop
    Sit and meditate

    (Is the river amused at all the ways we use it
    as a metaphor? One minute we’re suppose to flow
    with it, and in another we’re hoping to cross it, and yet
    in another we’re suppose to dam it up)

    The river represents your life
    It starts in the high mountains
    Flows across the plain
    Eventually to the sea —-
    Flows across the plain
    Where all kinds of dreck is dumped into it, various
    Encumbrances, sludge, slime,
    And then it rains for 40 days and 40 nights, you
    missed the Arc, you’re treading water, your pockets
    full of cubits dragging you down, right now
    would not be a good time to meditate
    You can’t see the shore
    The sun has come out —- that lucky ol’ sun rolling around
    in heaven all day —- the water is now ankle
    deep, your social security check seems to have been lost
    in the mail, You’re an amphibian resisting the pull
    of the ocean, there are sharks out there, and
    altogether too salty for an amphibian, I think I’ll be
    a mammal for awhile
    (January 14, 2o2o)

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