Weasel Walter quartet - last week

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My thoughts on the economy

Here are my brief thoughts on the situation:
1) There is a lot of money out there that does little or nothing productive that is of actual value.
2) But remember, that money is not everything, unless you are down to your last 2 dollars and you have to walk into town because you can't afford to drive and you are living off ramen. In that case, money might be the only thing. I remember buying ramen and a couple pieces of kale in some of my worst moments. Luckily I had a family.
3) As artists, what we do doesn't put food in anyone's mouth, or keep anyone warm. But it has a value, and the only way it will have a value is if you put something into it. STOP making shitty music that doesn't mean anything! Create something that is beautiful, thought provoking, brutal, harsh, intense, loving.
4) Life is about more than possessions, so treat yourself and the people around you like you are worth more than whatever "things" you can get. Live your life with a value system that affirms what you believe in! And if you don't believe in anything, at least try to have some fun.
5) Do whatever you can to get out of debt, and stop living beyond your means, unless you have to just to eat.

Everyone has their own view, based on their own life, of what they think our society should be. I believe that everyone reading this should take some step towards making that society possible. It's time to stop being bought off by fucking Ipods, videogames, eating out, and whatever else we use to get through life. Stop living the unexamined life right now.

Pitch class squares

7 5 2 3
5 2 3 1
2
1 1 2 3
1 2 3 5

4 x 4 square with a pivot generated from the pair 7 5

2 0 2 2
4 2 2 4
6
2 4 2 2
4 6 2 8

4 x 4 square with a pivot generated from the pair 2 8

6 5 1 4
5 1 4 3
1
4 5 1 6
5 1 6 7

4 x 4 square with a pivot generated from the pair 6 7

"Rediscovering" things you should already know

I started playing around with Max/MSP again yesterday. I had a very simple goal, which was to generate a really big and fat synth bass sound. I had no idea that my simple hunch of using three sawtooth waves slightly out of tune would have done the trick. I'm glad that I didn't end up buying the keyboard that I was thinking of buying!

All I need to do now is put some envelopes and filters on the thing. But I already generated some great sounding material.

That means some new music is coming!

Oh yea, look what Lily made for me on Friday!

I have a wonderful life!

Forbes and Lily's (and Martin and Taylor's) trip to NYC

Dave Douglas: FONT Mogul

Yesterday morning Lily and I left for New York so that I could play at the FONT Benefit concert. Plans changed a couple of times literally as we were leaving, which left Lily in a bit of a grouchy mood. It didnt help that she was hungry. We brought peaches and diluted pomegrante juice along with us, but it didn't do too much good. Things got a little better after I repeatedly apologized and she had a granola bar.

We first went to Middletown, CT to pick up Martin. We ate first, because at that point both of our stomachs were planning an insurrection. Lily was happy, and so I was. Boy that Cajun Spiced Tempeh was good. That's what I'm talking about. It was nice to return to Middletown, a place that I hadn't been to in about 3 years. As we left, I thought about the future of the defense industry, a major employer of Middletown citizens.

Our next destination was Fair Haven, CT, home of Taylor, who finally escaped New York. He and his wife Rachel haven't really finished unpacking yet (the move was recent), but it seems like they are living in a cool little spot. Too bad I've had enough of cities.

We continued the journey, finally arriving at the venue, where Nate Wooley (our co-conspirator in trumpet) was waiting for us. I hadn't seen Nate since last year's FONT, so we chatted a bit and caught up.

Lily had to go pick up her artwork, which had been hanging at the Supreme Trading bar, which (lot of which's in this sentence) was very close to the venue. She returned shortly thereafter and noted her dismay at the complete lack of a security protocol at Supreme Trading. She simply walked in, said she was taking her artwork, and walked out with it.

After we had a short rehearsal, Lily and I braved the hipster wilds of Williamsburg in search of food. We had dinner at Bliss, a spot I hadn't eaten at in years, and then hit up Pennylick's, a new place that has a lot of vegan sweets. It was fun. At least hipsters are down with decent food.



Dave Douglas and Taylor presented an award to Wadada Leo Smith, who this year's festival is honoring. After a couple of short speeches, we opened up the concert with a series of escalating solos, duos, and trios, leading to a fanfare and one of Martin's compositions. I was very satsified with everyone's playing, even my own.





After us John Zorn and Dave Douglas played a duo. I've been listening to John's music for years, ever since I was a teenager, and let me tell you, he put it down. In fact sitting there I found myself a bit embarassed that it took me that long to come see him play. Well minus the time I tried to go see Painkiller in DC in 94 and my dad wouldn't let me go, lol.

They were joined by Josh Roseman, the proprietor of the venue for an excellent trio. Dave Douglas played with a lot of economy and soul. I was very pleased with the music. Josh did funny dances while he played. He also played great. It was awesome to meet him.





Finally Wadada did a duo with Pheeroan AkLaff, which ranged in texture from the bombastic to the sublime. Every time I've seen Wadada play has been great and this was no different.

As an encore Dave, Nate, Martin, and myself joined Wadada and Pheeroan for a short piece. Also superb.



Basically, I had a great time, everyone was really kind, there were a lot of good vibes all around, and I got to see some friends that live in NYC too.

We drove back that night which was pretty punishing. Luckily Martin and Taylor helped.

Thanks guys! And everyone else too.
All photos posted by Lillian Schrank.

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Alvin Ayler and other stories

Here is a write up of Weasel Walter, who I'll be playing with (along with Greg Kelley and Paul Flaherty) this Tuesday. Really exciting, I feel it will go well. White Mice are also on the bill and they are a band that I've always liked.

Please note that we all make mistakes, but I definitely did a slight chuckle at the mention of Alvin Ayler.

I'm going to call Albert Ailey about this!

I'm also playing in NYC on Saturday at a benefit concert for the Festival of New Trumpet. I'd like to thank Taylor for getting me involved again.

In closing, a word of advice: In music, don't play by the common groupthink rules established by your particular sector of musicland unless you really truly believe in them.

Chris Rock is my favorite comedian

My dad was an early adopter of cable: we had it in the early 80s.
My mother also got cable fairly early, and I remember watching Comedy Central at her house as a pre-teen. Back then Comedy Central was mostly clips of stand up. No South Park, Daily Show, none of that. I loved Margaret Cho and I was even a big Ellen Degeneres fan back in the day. She has a good self-deprecating style of stand up.

Different comedians have different strengths, Dave Chappelle can distil larger bits of information into a soundbite, Katt Williams is an amazing physical comedian. Chris Rock does some of the best things that comedy can do: make us look in the mirror.

I can't tell a good joke to save my life though..

Yesterday I was playing around with Garageband making beats out of the pre-made loops that came with my computer. Which was fun and all until I asked myself the question "what do I want to say with this?"

I didn't have the slightest idea. Hopefully I'll figure it out.

Still not too motivated to write

Also I hate politics.
I redid the Blaq Lghtn site
www.blaqlghtn.com

I have been listening to a good deal of juke and ghettotech lately.
Also, I am doing the edits on the recording I did with Tatsuya Nakatani in July. Trying to get some more records out.

Basically yea thats the deal.

I wish I could dance! (I mean like real good. That reminds me Hive is coming to Boston!)

Check this out! Michael Myers meets footworking