And what will we be laughing about twenty years from now?

Okay, it's not exactly on topic, but I thought this would be of interest to the three still reading this: Spinal Tap performing live again.

Just watched the 2oth anniversary edition of the film with brother Randy, who'd never seen it, and have to say it holds up well.

"The director [Rob Reiner/Marty DeBergi] said the new short film explains what the band has been doing with their lives lately. Nigel has been raising miniature horses to race but can't find jockeys small enough to ride them; David is now a hip-hop producer who also runs a colonic clinic; and Derek is in rehab for addiction to the Internet."

Remember records?

Remember vinyl? The 80s? Those 12" disco singles of longer and different remixes of artist's songs for play in dance clubs?

Well the latest in several anthology/best of CDs by Prince has finally included some of these remix gems (if you like Prince), and I quickly bought my favorites off of iTunes and burned a disc for the car. So that's what I've been listening to this week: Pop Life, She's Always In My Hair, Let's Work, Kiss, Thieves In The Temple -- all extended, and usually better than the original, mixes. So sue me, I like the little Prince guy.

Also, with excellent co-writing help from my co-workers, studio assist from The Works' Steve Patrick (track creator extraordinaire) and Jason Tedford (engineer and mixdown champ), Barbara Raney's inspired background vocals, my own lead vocals, and a great video slideshow put together by Chip Bayer (co-worker) in one afternoon, we have assaulted the YouTube galaxy with that Sanjaya/Kaw-Liga thang I was coughing about last week. Go to this link for a listen/view. Share with your friends.

Ed--4/22

I traveled to Savannah this week on business, but also got to spend some time with Richard Leo down there. Great hospitality from him and Ms. Jane, who haven't changed a bit (Jane can still tell a five minute story in less than an hour). I walked him through posting here, so if we're lucky we'll hear from him.
Coincidentally, I'd gone to the library last week and borrowed the 1985 Across a Crowded Room by Richard Thompson.
I remember discussions with both Mr. Johnson and Mr. Patrick back in the early '90's that can be condensed into something like this: (them) "Richard Thompson is a really good guitar player." (me) "No, he's not."
Back then, I was allowing technique to play a pretty big role in what I judged as greatness. Of course, back then I still wasn't ready to admit that technical whizzes are a dime a dozen. People who play wonderously unexpected parts that are exactly right for the song are extremely rare.
Richard Thompson is one of those.
If you can get ahold of this album, note the solo on "I Ain't Gonna Drag My Feet No More." Or maybe "Fire in the Engine Room."
Yeah. Richard Thompson is a really good guitar player. There, I said it. Satisfied?
He can also turn a phrase, when he wants to. Not that I put too much stock in lyrics.

New Members

I've invited a couple of new potential participants: my pal Chuck, and our old friend Richard Leo, whose photo you'll see below.
Now Steve, you be nice. They might be sensitive.

charlie shoe and junkfish...after the recording session...

The Old and the New

I've got a lot more old music on my computer than I do new. For years I wasn't exposed to any new music unless it was through friends. Then I discovered the digital music stations offered by Cox Communications. I'd load a blank DVD into the recorder and stream the jazz, blues, alternative, or even the showtunes channel. I could get 6 hours of music on a DVD! I discovered a lot of new artists that way.

When my wife got a free subscription to Paste magazine from a friend she worked with, we discovered new independent label bands and songwriters. Over the years, the magazine has expanded to cover films, books, interviews, etc. We've been subscribers for three years now. Every month a new issue arrives with a CD with over 20 songs. The latest contains Umphrey's McGee, Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs, and a band from Siloam Springs (now in Nashville) - Jackson Waters. In past issues: Norah Jones, Son Volt, Hem, Beck, and Lucinda Williams.

I also subscribe to a couple of sites where I can download mp3s at a fair price. Recent downloads: The OKeh Ellington a two-disc collection of greats from the Duke, including East St. Louis Toodle-oo, which Steely Dan covered in 1974 on Pretzel Logic. Jazz pianist Jacky Terrasson and a host of Paris-based musicians - A Paris.... I recently found a couple of projects interpreting the music of a couple of megastars: Guitarist/composer Joel Harrison's Harrison on Harrison where he explores some interesting arrangements of the music of George Harrison. And, saxophonist Tim Reis's The Rolling Stones Project.

Long-time friend and former bandmateTim Alexander turned me on to Verve Unmixed, Vol. 2: Dizzy Gillespie, Nina Simone, Ramsey Lewis, Cal Tjader. I don't really have a favorite cut -- they're all good. But when I put this disc in my cd player, I'm always reminded that I should listen to more of the underrated tenor player, Archie Shepp. In fact, I'm going to go look for some Shepp downloads now.

Ah, brothers ...

Seems my listening as of late has been influenced by my siblings.

Young Vinnie, in his continuing inability to master his computer, asked me to download and burn for him one of the newer male soul singers -- a guy with a retro attitude and sound: Musiq Soulchild (aka Taalib Johnson). His new CD, Luvanmusiq, has some very pleasant vocal performances (mostly sans rap), and you never know if the analog sounds you're hearing are from a sample or an antique instrument. According to the reviews, many are made from sampling older songs from the 70s and 80s. Though still a little modern (e.g. Justin Timberlake) sounding for my taste (give me Marvin Gaye), it was nice to hear someone actually entering the charts with nicely performed R&B vocals rather than strictly rap or American Idol-type, Glee Club voices. (Speaking of American Idol, my buddies at work and I plan to do a parody rewrite next week of Kaw-liga using, instead, the name Sanjaya). In conclusion, I have to admit that Musiq is well-sung (rim-shot).

As for my brother Jay, in a return to his occasional penchant for 70s contemporary Christian music artists (hardly contemporary any longer), burned me a new acoustic, live-in-the-studio CD by Randy Stonehill (w/ Phil Keaggy). The revisited songs from years/careers past are a bit preachy, but such is the context, ... duh. Keaggy's fluid acoustic leads are nice over Stonehill's "James Tayloresque" chording style. Both still sing well. 'Nuff said.

Finally, in my MySpace meanderings I happened upon a link to a very nice video overview of the quirky guitar genius of Adrian Belew (another Zappa-connection player, like Johnny "Guitar" Watson). Enjoy, and read you next time.

Ed--April 10

I have a jazz gig this week. So I've been listening to XM jazz and some other stuff:

Modern Jazz Quartet The Complete Last Concert

Etta James The Sweetest Peaches, pt. 2 Dang, she has a lot of anthology albums out there.

Sonny Rollins Plus Four

Chet Baker Stella by Starlight Sounds like this one was cobbled together from several performances, both live and in the studio. Kind of inconsistent. If anyone can recommend Chet Baker albums from his earlier days that have more up-tempo material on them, let me know.

Clifford Brown More Study in Brown This is a guy I never listened to when I was "into" jazz earlier in life. The more I hear him, the more I like him.