I'd known that George was in poor health for a while- Ran Blake and George were close, and when I was working for Ran five years ago people were already worried about George. I would mention that one of the contributing factors to George's health issues was tinnitus, a condition I've been dealing with for ten years. I would say that if you're ears ring in a way that bothers you, don't ignore it- it can literally drive you crazy. While there is no cure per say, several Eastern medicine treatments, meditation and diet adjustments have been very promising in coping with it. For me, yoga has been a godsend as therapy, but I know that's not the only approach. I would encourage anyone with issues here to look for help- I'm glad to answer e-mails as best I can, and send resources.
Showing posts with label homefront. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homefront. Show all posts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Inhale, pause, exhale, pause... pause
I have accepted a promotion at my yoga job, which so far has been a little more than I bargained for. So blogging will slow dramatically until I get my feet under me here. I have a stack of CDs I've picked up in the past month and want to blog about, so maybe some capsule reviews will tide me through.
Oh, the verdict is in on the MySpace contest, and Larrylove wins with the title "Hopscotch". I like it, and it's the only one that came in. So Larry, please send an address and I'll send a copy of the CD to your lovely wife. And thanks to all who listen
Oh, the verdict is in on the MySpace contest, and Larrylove wins with the title "Hopscotch". I like it, and it's the only one that came in. So Larry, please send an address and I'll send a copy of the CD to your lovely wife. And thanks to all who listen
Friday, May 11, 2007
Just another orgy
It's finals season again at Harvard, which means that while they toil, the rest of us can enjoy their orgy season, many hours of programming based around a single composer, player or theme. (I'm late on reporting this one, and already missed the massive Brahms orgy.) Current listening is the "Film Jazz" orgy, which so far has featured the Miles "Elevator" soundtrack, Terence Blanchard's film tribute album (good playing, lousy recording) and right now the "Round Midnight" soundtrack. Other highlights, both jazz and otherwise:
Sunday 5-11am: Bhangra orgy
Sunday noon to Wednesday 10pm (exept overnight): Igor Stravinsky Orgy
Thursday 9am to 10pm friday (exc. overnight) "Liberation Music Orgy"
Tuesday 5/22 to Friday 5/26 6am to noon: Art Blakey Orgy
** Wednesday 5/23 and Thursday 5/24, 1 to 11pm: Ligeti Orgy
Sunday 5/27 all day (exc. 11am-12:30pm) Victor Feldman orgy
Locally, it's 95.3 FM. Online, it's here.
What, what did you think I meant by the title?
Sunday 5-11am: Bhangra orgy
Sunday noon to Wednesday 10pm (exept overnight): Igor Stravinsky Orgy
Thursday 9am to 10pm friday (exc. overnight) "Liberation Music Orgy"
Tuesday 5/22 to Friday 5/26 6am to noon: Art Blakey Orgy
** Wednesday 5/23 and Thursday 5/24, 1 to 11pm: Ligeti Orgy
Sunday 5/27 all day (exc. 11am-12:30pm) Victor Feldman orgy
Locally, it's 95.3 FM. Online, it's here.
What, what did you think I meant by the title?
Friday, March 16, 2007
drop-step
One of the joys of working with kids is you pick up their energy, their enthusiam... and their viruses. I am recovering from an ugly little stomach flu. At least it's the first weekend of the NCAA Basketball tournament, always a pleasant waste of time. (Go, Holy Cross!) Blogging will resume by Monday.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
In the news
The Boston Globe today put forward two articles too good to pass up for me:
"For Rick Looser, the last straw came on an airline flight a couple of years ago when a 12-year-old Connecticut boy sitting next to him asked, "Do you still see the KKK on the streets every day?"
That prompted the Mississippi advertising executive to spend his own money on a campaign to dispel Mississippi's image as a forlorn state of poor, illiterate, racist "good ole boys." (full article)
On the one hand, I admire this guy and his efforts. But in case we needed any reminding, Mississippi has the second highest rate of extreme poverty, the worst literacy rate and the highest infant mortality rate in the country. You can put a coat of paint on a trough, but that doesn't make it a townhouse. Maybe that money would be better spent advocating for a better Mississippi, not a glossier image. (Full disclosure: I misspelled Mississippi twice in writing those few paragraphs...)
On a more local, more relevant note, Berklee School of Music announced the beginnings of a big expansion plan in the Back Bay of Boston today. This is good news on several levels, though I imagine it will make Mass. Ave. a bigger mess than it already is. I have mixed feelings about elements of the Berklee education (did spend some time as a high schooler in programs there), but it is a vibrant place who has certainly outgrown its current digs. And I have no doubt that a new performance center would be fantastic, if the current one is any indication. However, I did a double-take on this one:
"Mainzer-Cohen (spokesperson for a neighborhood association) said she did not object to Berklee building dorms in the neighborhood because its students are more well behaved than many other colleges' students; Berklee students are usually busy practicing and composing and do not have much time to devote to partying."
She just doesn't go to the right parties...
"For Rick Looser, the last straw came on an airline flight a couple of years ago when a 12-year-old Connecticut boy sitting next to him asked, "Do you still see the KKK on the streets every day?"
That prompted the Mississippi advertising executive to spend his own money on a campaign to dispel Mississippi's image as a forlorn state of poor, illiterate, racist "good ole boys." (full article)
On the one hand, I admire this guy and his efforts. But in case we needed any reminding, Mississippi has the second highest rate of extreme poverty, the worst literacy rate and the highest infant mortality rate in the country. You can put a coat of paint on a trough, but that doesn't make it a townhouse. Maybe that money would be better spent advocating for a better Mississippi, not a glossier image. (Full disclosure: I misspelled Mississippi twice in writing those few paragraphs...)
On a more local, more relevant note, Berklee School of Music announced the beginnings of a big expansion plan in the Back Bay of Boston today. This is good news on several levels, though I imagine it will make Mass. Ave. a bigger mess than it already is. I have mixed feelings about elements of the Berklee education (did spend some time as a high schooler in programs there), but it is a vibrant place who has certainly outgrown its current digs. And I have no doubt that a new performance center would be fantastic, if the current one is any indication. However, I did a double-take on this one:
"Mainzer-Cohen (spokesperson for a neighborhood association) said she did not object to Berklee building dorms in the neighborhood because its students are more well behaved than many other colleges' students; Berklee students are usually busy practicing and composing and do not have much time to devote to partying."
She just doesn't go to the right parties...
Thursday, November 02, 2006
finally, the ears have it
I promise soon I'll write a post for a reason other than to explain why I haven't been blogging...
I am pleased to announce that Ran Blake's book Primacy of the Ear, which I've been a contributor and editor to for way too long now, has cleared the last hurdle (a grant review at NEC) and is headed to press this month. Anyone who knows Ran knows how dear this project is to him, and what a long and surreal road it's been to its completion. (But with Ran, is there any other way?) Details as they come to me, but suffice to say I'm elated and relieved.
I am pleased to announce that Ran Blake's book Primacy of the Ear, which I've been a contributor and editor to for way too long now, has cleared the last hurdle (a grant review at NEC) and is headed to press this month. Anyone who knows Ran knows how dear this project is to him, and what a long and surreal road it's been to its completion. (But with Ran, is there any other way?) Details as they come to me, but suffice to say I'm elated and relieved.
Monday, August 14, 2006
calling all frogs
In my inbox this morning, from Andrew DiMola, booker at the Lily Pad, the anything goes music venue in Cambridge:
IMPORTANT!!
the lily pad - boston's beloved forum for original, creative music - has been forced to cancel all shows until further notice. due to noise complaints, the cambridge licensing board is obligated to follow the letter of the law in serving the lily pad with a 'cease and desist' order. the lily pad needs YOUR help urgently to survive. we need to show the city that the lily pad is a vital cultural center that serves a valuable function by providing a forum for creative musical expression. by showing our overwhelming support we can help overturn the order.
what you can do to help RIGHT NOW:
1. write a letter of support for the lily pad, stating that the venue is a vital asset that is necessary to the community, and that it does no harm. letters can be sent by mail to the following address:
Richard V. Scali, Chairman
Cambridge License Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-3068
or via email:
license@ci.cambridge.ma.us
I am looking forward to both hearing and playing music at the Lily Pad in the future- it's the last place in Boston that gives artists the freedom to pretty much do what they want. (Mind you, we pay up front, which doesn't thrill me, but...) Andrew and Gill, the owner, are two striaght up good guys in a business that discourages any decency, and my letter goes in the mail tomorrow.
IMPORTANT!!
the lily pad - boston's beloved forum for original, creative music - has been forced to cancel all shows until further notice. due to noise complaints, the cambridge licensing board is obligated to follow the letter of the law in serving the lily pad with a 'cease and desist' order. the lily pad needs YOUR help urgently to survive. we need to show the city that the lily pad is a vital cultural center that serves a valuable function by providing a forum for creative musical expression. by showing our overwhelming support we can help overturn the order.
what you can do to help RIGHT NOW:
1. write a letter of support for the lily pad, stating that the venue is a vital asset that is necessary to the community, and that it does no harm. letters can be sent by mail to the following address:
Richard V. Scali, Chairman
Cambridge License Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-3068
or via email:
license@ci.cambridge.ma.us
I am looking forward to both hearing and playing music at the Lily Pad in the future- it's the last place in Boston that gives artists the freedom to pretty much do what they want. (Mind you, we pay up front, which doesn't thrill me, but...) Andrew and Gill, the owner, are two striaght up good guys in a business that discourages any decency, and my letter goes in the mail tomorrow.
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