CORRECTING MYSELF, PLUS A SAD NOTE

A while back in this post I discussed the wonders of Stan Kenton’s Intermission Riff, particularly a 1954 recording with Stan Levey on drums. I erred in my recollection. The recording I’m most familiar with was from February 11, 1958, and featured Mel Lewis on drums. Those of you laying up nights wondering when I’d get around to fixing this grievous error may sleep soundly tonight.

And since we’re on the subject of big band jazz, let me note the passing of Frank Mantooth, composer and arranger extraordinare. The name is probably only familiar to you if you played in a high-school or college jazz band during the 1980s, 90s, or this decade. But if you did, you knew what a treat it was to play a Mantooth chart–always tasty, always melodic, always great to listen to and ten times as much fun to play.

I had the privilege of meeting “Tooth” once, back in 1991 when I was a student at Augustana College. He was conducting a clinic with the college jazz band; since I wasn’t a member, I begged for (and received) permission to sit in on the session. Tooth was funny, affirming, friendly, and instructive–a real peach of a person. I had always hoped I’d meet him again. Not this side of the parousia, I’m afraid, but maybe in heaven I’ll beg some harmony lessons from him. He’ll be missed here on earth, though.

STICK IT TO THE MAN, KOREANS!

Mythusmage is talking about a small revolution in North Korea:

The people of North Korea are now engaged in open, free trade. In small items, true. Over short distances, true. But they are engaged in trade that is not controlled by the government. Furthermore, they, the people of North Korea, forced local government officials to allow this trade, and the central government has not intervened to force the people to do it the ‘right way’.

Pyongyang has lost control of the North Korean people. In a small way, that is so. But it is a loss of control that could grow in ways we can’t see as yet. For when a people see an all controlling entity lose just a miniscule piece of that control, when they see a faint glint of freedom, they start demanding more. Not at first, not with any great effort. But they do start demanding. The concessions made start small. Often ‘justified’ or rationalized by the ruling authority. But soon anon the ruling authority finds itself granting concessions that only a few years ago would’ve lead to widespread repression and the deaths of thousands.

Who was who said that the ironic thing about communism was that it failed because there was no money in it?

I FOUND IT

Without even hearing it, I’m pretty sure this must be the worst record album ever.

SPOIL YOUR EYES

Go poke around this site for a while. Features some of the ultimate in cool/weird album covers from the vinyl era. I am loving this site.