DO THE MATH

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since

D:O!  is hosting a guest post of mine on Paul Bley.  They really nailed all the links; wow!  Make sure to listen to the La Roca drum solo from the McLean album.

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During the era of my greatest Bley fixation one of my very best friends at Menomonie High was the incomparable Wilson Hall.  Wilson and Krister Johnson (aka Jeremiah Smallchild and Gideon Lamb) have a brand-new book out:  What Would God's Pottery Do?: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Your Teens and/or Being Successful!

(Wilson is playing the "hand percussion.")

Admittedly, I'm biased, but honestly this book is hilarious.  Here's a bit on how to talk to Dad:

You may feel that you don't know what your dad wants from you, but maybe the problem is that he doesn't know what you want from him.  That's why it's important when interfacing with your father to use Positive Reinforcement to let him know that he's doing a good job and the way you appreciate everything he does...even if you don't.  In this particular case, that's not lying, it's called "acting like a grown-up."

Jeremiah recently had a very positive interaction with his father that illustrates how useful this technique can be.  Here's an excerpt:

JEREMIAH

What is that masculine scent?!  Are you wearing a new cologne?

JEREMIAH'S FATHER

Oh, that's just an analgesic balm to help with my bursitis.

JEREMIAH

I'd never even know you had bursitis if you hadn't told me!

JEREMIAH'S FATHER

Sometimes I wonder what the point of all this is.

JEREMIAH

"This...?"

JEREMIAH'S FATHER

[WAVES ARMS AROUND TO SIGNIFY "EVERYTHING"]

JEREMIAH

[PAUSE]

I hear you!

[PAUSE]

Want to watch Knight Rider with me?

JEREMIAH'S FATHER

Talking cars...the world has really gotten away from me.

Fathers often don't show their emotions easily, so don't be discouraged if your conversation doesn't go as well as Jeremiah's did.

Go to the God's Pottery site for more info like videos and tour dates, etc.

Come on Vacation, Leave on Probation

TBP is off until December 25, when we play the Dakota for our annual holiday run.  This will be our longest hiatus since 2003. 

Sincere thanks to all the fans who have come out to see us in 2009.  We expect to be back in 2010 both looking youthful and feeling refreshed.

Possible upcoming DTM:  Interview with Tootie Heath - some lists - Radiohead/Björk tangent.  But posting will get lighter, too.  Visiting only sporadically is recommended.

New readers are directed to the Table of Contents.

They came through on the hot line at about half past two in the afternoon

Thanks to Captain Star for forwarding me the Julius Hemphill.

Thanks to Subtle Brush for forwarding me the Billy Higgins.

Thanks to Sir Google for finding me the Paul Bley. (More on PB soon.)

Just a Trick of the Light

The NYTimes steps into the future with this seven-part exegesis on  "faked" photography by Errol Morris.  There's no way a print edition could support this; bravo.

Alex Ross has moved his blog:  Unquiet Thoughts is hosted by the New Yorker.  I second his recommendation of the marvelous new Mark Padmore/Paul Lewis recording of Winterreise.

When you need more detailed jazz analysis and DTM isn't providing, head on over to Commander James Mahone's Practice Portal.

Patrick Jarenwattananon's (and other authors') blog has been increasingly active.  I especially enjoy the concert updates like this one, which tell me about all the good music I miss when out of NYC.  That same post links to an interesting analysis of bass solos, set-ups and techniques by bassist Ronan Guilfoyle.  For the record, I have no problem whatsoever with Ron Carter's tone on "Invitation" from Tetragon:  that's one of the most awesome bass performances ever, IMO including the tone.  (To his credit, Guilfoyle loves the line, it's only the tone that is "horrible.") My take on Ron Carter is here; my take on "the dreaded bass direct" is here.

Documentation of the James P. Johnson "Last Rent Party" is up in full at the Smalls site. (My six Johnson pieces are halfway through second set.)  Matt LeGroulx has also uploaded two of my performances onto YouTube.  The first is a classical number (discovered at the Institute of Jazz Studies James P. Johnson archive) and the second is completely improvised fantasia on "The Charleston" until the last 16 bars, which are more or less like his published sheet music.  I think my idea was to sound like post-Nancarrow piano roll music a little bit, linking back to the fact that James P. was the original piano roll master.

Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee

Currently in London, England.  RIP Barry Letts.

In Letts's honor I went to Forbidden Planet on Shaftesbury Avenue.

This megastore is really my kind of hang.

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Reid and Dave in conversation:

John Tucker/Pulp

and some groovy blogs:

The Running Bomb

Flora Drury

Oct. 15

Happy BIrthday Reid Anderson!

Far Out in the Uncharted Backwaters of the Unfashionable End of the Western Spiral Arm of the Galaxy

Televideo is a valuable analgesic for those incessantly on tour. For much of 2009, I have been watching Chris Carter’s celebrated The X-Files, mostly with great enjoyment. (Consuming pop culture about 15 years too late to be of much commonplace social use is a frequent “strategy” of mine.)   iTunes has vendored me the first four seasons.  It’s been a great ride, but I think I’m done:  I don’t need to watch the next five series or see the movies.