last updated by Blair on 8/31/03

blog of a bandleader percussionist music-lover living in San Francisco
the topic: m u s i c
coded in vanilla html (for the time being)
hand on mallets on marimba 7/31/03; taken with sidekick-cam the san francisco skyline 12/21/02; taken with sidekick-cam
the current blog
music just performed
music in preparation
tales of the echo beach band
music heard while typing
music heard away from the computer
music at large
as seen on tv

Music just performed

Monday, August 25, 2003 9:21:08 AM
Yesterday, Echo Beach at Stonestown's Borders Books:
"Sharkbeat" (written by me, based on field recordings on Folkways Records of Hawai'ian hula rhythms); "Merengue" written by Michael Lloyd; "Jamaican Sun" written by Roy Brooks, adapted by Echo Beach from Max Roach's M'Boom ensemble; "Delicate Creature" written by me; "Afro Blue" written by Mongo Santamaria; "Tune Up" written by Miles Davis played solo by John on acoustic guitar; "Girl from Ipanema" written by Antonio Carlos Jobim; "Vagabond Virgin" written by Dave Mason; "Place To Be" written by Nick Drake; "Morning/Midday" written by Omar Clay and Warren Smith; "Wave" written by Antonio Carlos Jobim; "Footprints" written by Wayne Shorter; solo marimba improvisation by me using Akai Headrush echo pedal; "Key West Intermezzo" written by John Mellencamp; "Viva Tirado" written by El Chicano; "Cal's Pals" written by me; "Blue Bossa" written by Kenny Dorham.

Friday night the 22nd with Pacific Sticks at Clarion Music Center, San Francisco:
"William Tell's Canned Overture" composed by Michael J. Rhodes; "Domes" composed by Christopher Fulkerson; "Stinkin' Garbage" composed by Ed Argenziano; Tam tam improvisations by the whole group; "Theme and Variations, Variation II excerpt" composed by William Kraft; "Suite for Percussion, Movement 3, Metallics" composed by Acton Ostling; "Music for Coffee Cans" composed by Greg Bottini.

Music in preparation

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 9:33:02 PM
John and I met for a couple of hours today to discuss composing together, and a range of cover tunes to consider. It's been a year since we last sat down to discuss this stuff -- hard to believe. It was a great planning session and a lot of results will follow from it for Echo Beach in the upcoming months.

Thursday, August 21, 2003 1:11:53 PM
Last night Justin, Darrell, Rob, John and I rehearsed nearly every song that we'll play Sunday at Borders Stonestown. When I arrived at Hitwall Studios to load in my gear a band down the hall from us was playing Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding", and doing it pretty well (in the Elvis Costello style). After I set up the marimba, a percussion mic pointed at the marimba, and the Headrush pedal I began experimenting with looping and echo of the mic'ed marimba. I'm pretty happy with the results. Sunday I'll play my solo ideas using the Headrush, for an audience. Today my attention returns to the pieces for tomorrow night's Pacific Sticks concert.

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 3:12:51 PM
Echo Beach rehearses tonight.

Tuesday, August 19, 2003 4:41:09 PM
Practice pad work continues, today on "William Tell's Canned Overture". Also referring to the tam tam section of the book The Logic Of It All by Anthony J. Cirone and Joe Sinai. Tomorrow I'll be adding marimba practice and using the Akai Headrush delay/looping pedal to practice my solo marimba piece for Sunday's concert.

Monday, August 18, 2003 4:51:00 PM
Three-hour rehearsal today with Pacific Sticks at Dominican University in San Rafael. I'm learning the art of choosing triangle beaters for the music and the other instruments being played in a piece. The art of my part of The William Tell Overture played on a coffee can. Back to the future...playing for a night this coming Friday in a percussion ensemble -- the way that Echo Beach began. A unique pleasure.

Friday, August 15, 2003 2:00:54 PM
My rehearsal focus for the next three days is "Stinkin' Garbage" (a title, not a description), to be played at the 8/22 Pacific Sticks concert. No, really, that's the name of a percussion music composition by Ed Argenziano.

Wednesday, August 13, 2003 8:16:34 AM
Intense work today on percussion pieces for 8/22 concert.

Tuesday, August 05, 2003 12:57:41 PM and Wednesday, August 06, 2003 1:03:06 PM
Rehearsing percussion pieces to prepare for the August 22nd concert at Clarion Music Center where I'm sitting in with the Pacific Sticks percussion ensemble. This is the most intensive work that I've ever done on syncopated 16th note playing. Ken Crawford is coaching me on these pieces. This work is very good for my musicianship. Also preparing for Echo Beach rehearsals -- the band has four concerts coming up, from San Jose to Clear Lake, in the next couple of months. I'm very eager to get out and play these gigs and to do the work to have us sound the best we've ever sounded.

Blog-typing & laptop-accessed music I'm hearing today

Thursday, August 28, 2003 8:14:08 AM
Terje Rypdal - Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away, Side One on vinyl. Released in 1974 so I'm guessing it was one of the very earliest ECM records. The band on Side One (the songs are "Silver Bird Is Heading For The Sun" and "The Hunt") comprises Rypdal on guitar, 4- and 6-string basses, mellotron, electric piano, french horn and percussion -- A use of seldom-mixed instruments as in the Bela Fleck concert I saw last night on TV. This album was a find at Village Music in Mill Valley. A full review here and sound clips here.

Tuesday, August 26, 2003 12:05:27 PM
Love and Arthur Lee - "The Daily Planet", "The Red Telephone", "Live And Let Live" (played Loud), "Bummer In The Summer", from the forever changes concert

Thursday, August 21, 2003 2:11:13 PM
 Over the air from KCSM 91.1 FM - Melanie Berzon's Jazz in the Afternoon show, this being the afternoon of Steve Smith's and Count Basie's birthdays:

  • Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - "Learning The Blues"
  • John Coltrane Quintet - "Sweet Sapphire Blues"
  • Steve Smith - "How Long Has This Been Going On?"

Tuesday, August 19, 2003 4:47:05 PM
 Paul Simon - "She Moves On" from Rhythm of the Saints on CD

Monday, August 18, 2003 4:54:32 PM
 Tears for Fears (Roland Orzabal) - "Break It Down Again" CD single including two versions of the title song with "Bloodletting Go" and "Schrodinger's Cat". Committed artistry, provocative results. The title song is especially good. It was made into a fantastic music video too. According to the TFF website Roland and Curt are working on a new album. I remember the autumn night in 1993 I cranked the volume on this CD in the Oracle office in Arlington, VA on Glebe Road where I was working late nights with colleagues. That was a season of new releases including Mellencamp's "Human Wheels" and the Evelyn Glennie recording of "Veni, Veni Emmanuel". All music I enjoy ten years later.

Friday, August 15, 2003 2:03:04 PM
 Frank Zappa - "Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel" from the CD Broadway The Hard Way

Wednesday, August 13, 2003 8:18:01 AM
 Rockpile throughout this week, on a mix CD made for me by Donna M., thanks Donna!

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 5:51:51 PM
 Loudon Wainwright III interviewed yesterday in New York on WFMU on the Jonesville Station show.

Saturday, August 09, 2003 6:43:30 PM
 Just found a video clip of The Bangles rehearsing last Wednesday, linked at their message board, Return Post. I like the sound of the song. I don't know what song it is. I'm looking forward to their show at Golden Gate Park August 30th.

Saturday, August 09, 2003 11:44:46 AM
 Heard on radio@netscape music.netscape.com

  • Robert Plant - "In the Mood"
  • Thin Lizzy - "The Boys Are Back in Town"
  • Jimi Hendrix - "Crosstown Traffic"

Friday, August 08, 2003 9:02:50 AM

  • Blue Man Group - "Klein Mandelbrot" and "Endless Column" from the CD Audio. Good wakeup music.
  • Custom Built Empire - "80" from the CD Hitwall Studios Compilation Volume 1.. Hitwall in South San Francisco is the rehearsal space for Echo Beach. We also recorded our current CD there. Brothers Will and Matt Strickland who own and operate Hitwall assembled this compilation of Hitwall-based bands in late 2002. Will and Matt also comprise the band DuDS. Echo Beach plans to appear with a track on the next compilation.

Friday, August 08, 2003 10:16:33 AM

  • Antonio Carlos Jobim - "Tereza My Love" from the CD Stone Flower. With Jobim on piano and guitar; Eumir Deodato, guitar; Ron Carter, bass; Joao Palma, drums; Airto Moreira and Everaldo Ferreira, percussion; Urbie Green, trombone. This was the track that first turned me on to Jobim in the '80s. I'd heard "Girl From Ipanema" of course, but this tune really hit me hard.
  • A.C. Jobim - "Children's Games", same as above. Another standout track on this album.
  • Anton Fig - "Home" through "Jan/Feb/March" from the album Figments on CD, released last year. A frequent listen this Spring and Summer. Blondie Chaplin (who sang backup on the Stones tour last year), Ivan Neville, Richie Havens, Brian Wilson among the vocalists Fig chose to showcase on this "homebrewed" collection (largely recorded at his NYC apartment). Among the players: Al Kooper, Will Lee, Chris Spedding (now touring with Roxy Music), Duck Dunn, and many more. Songs with heart, great arrangements. Fig's love for this project is evident. Also his drumming is stellar in supporting the songs. He describes the album's process here.

drummer/songwriter Anton Fig

Wednesday, August 06, 2003 9:30:26 AM
heard on radio@netscape

  • James Newton Howard - "Guilty by Suspicion"
  • Woody Herman - "Northwest Passage"
  • John Scofield - "Big Top"
  • Barbara Morrison - "I'm Beginning to See the Light"
  • Tubby Hayes Quintet - "Down in the Village"

Tuesday, August 05, 2003 8:32:02 PM
heard on radio@netscape (music.netscape.com)

  • Flim and the BBs - "Innocent Bystander"
  • David Sanborn - "Duck Ankles"
  • Pat Metheny - "Capricorn"

Friday, August 01, 2003 10:03:16 AM
CrossTalk - Alias on CD. This extremely talented electronic percussion ensemble performed in May '02 at the Santa Cruz Day of Percussion. The group is directed by my friends Norm Weinberg and Robin Horn. Real-Time MIDI to the Max! Videos of CrossTalk performing some of the tunes from this CD are available at Alternate Mode's website (click "Crosstalk" in the left-hand frame). My current favorite cuts: King Crimson's "Discipline", Norm's "NLYEHB", Lance Saxerud's "Freedom".

Erick Saoud, Carlos Vega and Lance Saxerud of CrossTalk

Friday, August 01, 2003 9:48:16 AM
Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins - Rejoicing on CD

Friday, August 01, 2003 08:31:00 AM
Pat Metheny - "Electric Counterpoint" from the Steve Reich album Different Trains / Electric Counterpoint on CD.

Cover of Steve Reich Different Trains album

Music heard away from the computer today

Sunday, August 31, 2003 10:24:02 AM
Yesterday in Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park: Luce (an SF band) and The Bangles. Knowing Luce only from hearing "Good Day" on KFOG I had the pleasure of hearing more by them and I'll buy their CD. The Bangles played a great set, despite cold damp air blowing at them the whole time (the fog came in between bands).

Friday, August 29, 2003 11:25:38 AM
Bangles family/fave mini-music-fest:

  • The dB's - "Amplifier", "Ask for Jill", "Big Brown Eyes" on 45 (dB Peter Holsapple who wrote "Amplifier" and "Big Brown Eyes" is a bandmate with Vicki Peterson in the Continental Drifters and plays on The Bangles' new album Doll Revolution)
  • Marshall Crenshaw - "Little Wild One (No. 5)" on 45 (The Bangles list Crenshaw as a fave)
  • Simon and Garfunkel - "America" on 45 (The Bangles covered their "Hazy Shade of Winter")
  • Jules Shear - "Steady" (He wrote "If She Knew What She Wants" and he's written a ton of other great songs. Iain Matthews made a great album of Shear songs, entitled Walking A Changing Line. I digress.)
  • Buffalo Springfield - "Mr. Soul" off Retrospective on vinyl. (This band is a frequently-mentioned favorite of The Bangles). This song - what a killer riff, guitar sound, and guitar bridge! This album continues to capture new listeners. It was playing and sung-along-to by a 20-something female cashier at SF Tower Records a couple of months ago when I bought Aimee Mann's Lost In Space. I digress.
  • Elvis Costello and The Attractions - "Busy Bodies" off Armed Forces on vinyl. The way that Steve Nieve and Bruce Thomas end this song is such a treat. Elvis wrote the title song of the new Bangles album.

Tomorrow The Bangles play Golden Gate Park. A great band which released its greatest album to date, this year. All right!

Debbi and Vicki Peterson of The Bangles performing at Cal Expo August 2002

Susanna Hoffs and Michael Steele of The Bangles performing at Cal Expo August 2002

Tuesday, August 26, 2003 10:42:20 AM and 12:12:37 PM

  • Paul Humphrey, Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo, Louis Bellson - the DRUM SESSION Side One on vinyl. Subsequent use of this album by New York remixers Louie Vega and Kenny Gonzales (interesting reading) is described here
  • This morning on KUSF-FM in the car: "There She Goes Again" performed by R.E.M. and the "String Quartet"
  • yesterday on a car trip to Point Reyes with Sharon, Dennis, Lisa, Daniel and Laura: Vintage Lenny White and Billy Cobham on cassette. and
  • At home Disc One of the forever changes concert by Love and Arthur Lee.

Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:07:15 PM
 Music to make dinner by: Fairport Convention (the first album) Side One on vinyl.

Thursday, August 21, 2003 1:19:02 PM
 Van Morrison - It's Too Late To Stop Now, Record 2 Side 2 on vinyl ("Here Comes The Night", "Gloria", "Caravan", "Cypress Avenue"). I was in the audience for the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium part of this record. With 30 years' perspective and a lot of concerts since, this remains one of the best concerts I've experienced. I know that the musicianship, showmanship, and diversity of musical influences brought together at this point in Morrison's career had an effect on me as a listener that lasts to this day. Springsteen has had huge success with many of the arrangement ideas on this record (more power to him). James Brown did a lot of it first (more power to him). Those R&B / rock elements with Morrison's poetry and vocal style, and the Caledonia Soul Orchestra behind it, makes a unique treat. The version of "Cypress Avenue" here is 180 degrees away (in style) from the Astral Weeks version -- it's more rave-up than meditation and it's loads of fun. It was recorded at the Troubadour but they played it the same way at the Santa Monica Civic.

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 3:02:54 PM
 Birthday of Phil Lynott, James Pankow, Robert Plant and John Hiatt so a spin at high volume of:

  • Thin Lizzy - "Wild One"
  • Chicago - "Feelin' Stronger Every Day"
  • Led Zeppelin - "That's The Way"
  • John Hiatt - "Thank You Girl"

Monday, August 18, 2003 6:25:03 AM
 On the car stereo this past weekend on a trip from SF to the Chico area and back:

  • Spotlight program on KUSF-FM about Arthur Lee and Love, 2 to 4 PM yesterday. Music from all phases of Arthur's career including the 2003 Forever Changes Concert CD. Very well done. The KUSF website seems to have no details on the show, the DJ's comments to the contrary.
  • Everything but the girl - like the deserts miss the rain CD
  • Rebecca Kite - Prism CD; fine solo marimba
  • Aimee Mann - Lost in Space CD

Friday, August 15, 2003 6:03:30 PM
 Songs from MTV's Top 100 Video Countdown of 1986 dubbed on cassette played in the car driving this afternoon between North Beach and The Haight:

  • Fabulous Thunderbirds - "Wrap It Up" produced by Dave Edmunds
  • Simple Minds - "Sanctify Yourself". No one else makes music like this. Except U2. But I like the way Simple Minds puts this song across.
  • Wham - "I'm Your Man" too stupid, too obvious even for bubblegum
  • Phil Collins - "Take Me Home" think about hitting FF button
  • Van Halen - "Dreams" hit FF button
  • Billy Ocean - "When The Going Gets Tough" my kind of synth-driven pop
  • Simple Minds - "All The Things She Said"
  • Dream Academy - "Life In A Northern Town" Inspiration sources including Nick Drake and Hal David with great percussion and other musical elements -- it's all good
  • ELO - "Calling America" calling any radio programmer
  • Janet Jackson - "When I Think Of You" my kind of synth-driven pop
and Played Loud from the B Side of the tape:
  • Art Blakey - "Alamode" (studio version) so much a jazz Desert Island Track for me it's not even funny. Killer hi-hat and ride cymbal, killer horns.
  • Max Roach - "Mama" other Max Roach tracks would be on the desert island but this one has killer snare drum. Gotta hear it Loud!
  • Kenny Clarke - "No Smokin'"
  • Philly Joe Jones / Freddie Hubbard - "Thermo"

Thursday, August 14, 2003 9:23:44 AM
 Played Loud:

  • Chuck Berry - "Roll Over Beethoven" from Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits on vinyl
  • Led Zeppelin - "What Is And What Should Never Be" from Led Zeppelin II on vinyl
  • Klark Kent / Stewart Copeland - "My Old School", "Excess" and "Theme for Kinetic Ritual" from Klark Kent on vinyl

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 3:54:03 PM

  • Videos on the Bonus DVD in Cheap Trick's Special One CD. Videos: "Say Goodbye" and "Hard to Tell" (two great tracks from their 1997 self-titled album); "He's A Whore"; "Woke Up With A Monster" and "Hot Love".
  • Captain Beefheart - Safe As Milk, Side One with an almost-musical skip in "Call On Me", Side One on vinyl

Monday, August 11, 2003 11:17:47 AM
 Yesterday:

  • The last hour of KFOG-FM's Acoustic Sunrise. Since KFOG posts the setlists for this show I can easily post here exactly what I heard in that hour which was:
    • Unknown Legend – Neil Young – Harvest Moon
    • Sundays – Wild Horses – Blind
    • Noe Venable – Tower - The World is Bound By Secret Knots (new) (local)
    • Little Wing – Ottmar Liebert – Little Wing
    • Something Else – Gary Jules – Trading Snakeoil for Worlftickets (new)
    • Smoothie Song – Nickel Creek - KFOG Archives
    • Green & Gray – Nickel Creek - KFOG Archives
    • The One I Love – REM - KFOG Archives
    • Nouwe O N/Mazei – Boy on a Dolphin – Words Inside
    • Volcano – Damien Rice – O (new)
    • Hit the Ground Running – Bartron-Tyler Group – Leap Day
    • Hummingbird – Tim Easton – Break Your Mother's Heart
  • Aimee Mann - Lost in Space, CD
  • Neil Young - Zuma, Side One on vinyl
  • Traffic - "Walking in the Wind" on vinyl single
  • 10cc - "Art for Art's Sake" on vinyl single
  • The Tom Tom Club - "The Man with the 4-Way Hips" on vinyl single
  • Television - "Little Johnny Jewel Part One" on vinyl single
  • Roxy Music - "Over You" on vinyl single

Friday, August 08, 2003 3:18:38 PM

  • X - Under The Big Black Sun, Side Two on vinyl. I'll probably never hear everything recorded by this band and its members but if I do it'll be hard to find a set of tunes by them to enjoy more than I do these. Not long after this album was recorded (in 1982) I played drums in a band in which the vocalist had a voice reminiscent of John Doe's. While in that band I sometimes liked to imagine I was drumming for X. Because who wouldn't? Bonebrake, Doe and Zoom drive like a freight train. They also play it sweet ("Dancing With Tears In My Eyes") when it fits. It's no wonder Ray Manzarek worked with them for so long. Cause this music is so cool to listen to.
  • New York Philharmonic (Leonard Bernstein conducting) - Symphony No. 5 by Jean Sibelius, Side One (Molto moderato, Allegro moderato - Presto, Andante mosso, quasi allegretto), on vinyl. Recorded in 1961 at Carnegie Hall. The elements that hooked me (and still do) about Sibelius are
    1. The lengths he will go to in sustaining tension in his music. Many of his pieces make me think "is he never going to let up and resolve this?". Well he does, but he takes his time.
    2. The turnarounds of meter and style. Once he does release the tension, he takes the piece in a completely different direction yet it still fits with what came before. It never feels forced or showy.
    3. In his crescendos, the music is not bombastic; it's not pounding at you yet the intensity is very high and these sections combine sounds that are otherworldly and very emotional. It sounds louder than it is, just by the voicings used. Neither nostalgic nor sweet, the crescendos are intense and strong and contain considerable tension also. I find this in other works by Sibelius too.
    Sibelius wrote and rewrote this Symphony during World War I. It premiered in November, 1919 in Helsinki. Its muted tensions and amazing resolutions would perhaps seem to reflect the time of war and its ending. Sibelius however claimed this symphony was in no way meant to be programmatic. This record was purchased at Flat Plastic Sound, a vinyl shop formerly at the east end of Clement Street which went out of business. I know there must be many other SF residents who miss it too.

Wednesday, August 06, 2003 5:04:54 PM
 Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs and Ricky Skaggs live (pre-recorded) on NPR's All Things Considered today -- Beautiful

Wednesday, August 06, 2003 2:46:07 PM
 Andy Narell - Behind the Bridge, tracks 1 - 5 on CD

Wednesday, August 06, 2003 1:55:37 PM
 Music while "driving the 5" in LA and Orange Counties last weekend:

  • on KCRW-FM: Burning Spear - "Marcus Garvey" (the vocal not the dub version); Fountains of Wayne - "Hackensack" and more music from around the world during the "Weekend Becomes Eclectic" show.
  • Los Hombres Calientes - Vol. 4 Vodou Dance on CD
  • The Bangles - Doll Revolution on CD. I'm now convinced that this album was mixed for car stereos. I've listened to it on home stereo, good computer speakers, and headphones -- in the car was the best it's ever sounded. To be released in the U.S. next month. It's my favorite Bangles record.
  • Cheap Trick - Special One on CD. "Hummer" sounds great on the freeway.
  • Red Norvo - Featuring Mildred Bailey on CD
  • Pat Metheny - A Map of the World soundtrack and extra tracks on CD

Wednesday, August 06, 2003 1:01:00 PM

  • Nick Drake - Bryter Layter, Side Two on vinyl, twice yesterday
  • More about the other night's Roxy Music / El Rayo-X concert: "Rock 'n' roll is jazz", Roger Daltrey was quoted in the L.A. Times last Saturday and that related to The Who's getting on stage and going for it, with a density of ideas and a tendency to invent and improvise in the moment. The quote came back to me watching and listening to Roxy Music -- the "jazz" aspect is there, but different. On display as the band played an extended selection of their best songs was their ability to combine musical, stylistic and poetic ideas into such a high-density confection that your mind is (very pleasantly) whipsawed between the 1920s and the 21st century and many points in between. The music is highly prepared, not so much improvised, for your pleasure. The band's invention, boldness, humor and clarity have made their music timeless and their performance of it is a joy to behold. Dada rock to radio-friendly hits such as "Avalon" -- all performed with strength and all reached the audience. Once again must mention Paul Thompson on the drums. He's not on the tour poster but his performance role in the band remains equal to Manzanera, Mackay and Ferry and his distinctive style delivered as always. The rest of the current touring band is: Guitar - Chris Spedding; Piano - Colin Good; Bass - Mark Smith; Violin/Keyboards - Louise Peacock; Percussion - Juila Thornton; Backing vocals - Sha White and Michelle John-Douglas. And the staging is *great*. Opening this show, returning to the tour scene after many years away, was El Rayo-X. Walfredo Reyes, Jr. on drums, Wally Ingram on percussion, Jorge Calderon on bass, Ray Woodburry on guitar, Ian McLagen on keyboards, Darryl Lintfree (the Lindley man) on slide, guitar and saz. How well (very well!) these guys mine a groove! Their 45-minute set was far too short for my taste and I anticipate a tasty show at the Fillmore next month where I hope to hear them stretch out on some tunes ("Don't Look Back" and "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" among them) which they didn't get to at this show.

Tuesday, August 05, 2003 11:35:52 AM
Concert three nights ago, Roxy Music and David Lindley with El Rayo-X at Pacific Amphitheatre at the Orange County Fair. I'll post more about this concert later. It was great.

Phil Manzanera, Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay August 2nd, 2003 at Pacific Amphitheatre. Photo by Mike Schwartz, Orange County Register, ocregister.com

News about Echo Beach

Wednesday, August 20, 2003 4:24:19 PM
 I submitted our CD to the producers of a film that's being made about craigslist. They're seeking work by SF musicians for the soundtrack. I hope it works out. In our band, John LoGiudici, Justin Hellman, Brian Andres and Phil Williams were all found via my postings on craigslist in the musicians section.

Friday, August 15, 2003 2:08:25 PM
 Band rehearsal last night was pretty solid, shows us what we'll work on at next week's rehearsal prior to performing at Borders Stonestown on 8/24. Drummer Darrell Green is sitting in with us for a few gigs. Good to have him on board. Also, percussionist Frank Ellis re-joins us for one gig (on 9/21). Frank sat in with us at Borders Fremont two years ago and did a fine job. Last night I gave a cassette to John of King Crimson's "Frame by Frame" with the intent that we'll arrange it and work it into the band songlist. And in two weeks I'm going to start work on a new tune based on guaguanco rhythm as taught to the band last year by Louis Romero.

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 4:21:36 PM
 We've just been asked to play Borders Fremont on October 10th and Borders San Ramon on October 17th (8 to 10 p.m. both nights). We had some of our best concerts in the band's history at Borders Fremont in 2001. I can state that with authority 'cause I'm the only person who's played in every EB concert :-) . These gigs will be a great chance to work some new songs into the setlist.

Music at large

Monday, August 11, 2003 3:58:02 PM
 Gregory Hines, someone whose artistry I will miss:

Gregory Hines. Photo from Reuters

Saturday, August 09, 2003 11:48:48 AM
 Rereading Findings by Leonard Bernstein.

As Seen On TV

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 9:25:01 PM

  • Bela Fleck and The Flecktones on KRCB with guest steel drummer Andy Narell (such a warm person and great musician who I had the pleasure to meet at the Santa Cruz Day of Percussion last year).
    Bela and Futureman picture from the website of the Flecktones booking agent, http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/bela-fleck.htm
  • Debussy's "Clair de Lune" used in excerpts in tonight's episode of The Simpsons, which was entitled "A Star is Born Again" (Ned Flanders marries a movie star voiced by Marisa Tomei). One of my favorite pieces of music on one of my favorite shows.

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 9:02:49 AM
 Roy Orbison - A Black and White Night last night on KRCB

Wednesday, August 06, 2003 12:58:52 PM
 The Dave Matthews Band profiled (first aired 2/2001) on The Charlie Rose Show. Interviews with the whole band and live footage from the period when Everyday was being recorded.

this blog is a link from sfbaybloggers.com -- interesting reading from 'round here

Thursday, August 21, 2003 1:09:56 PM
I'm testing blogger.com for potential use as the publishing / page format platform for this blog starting in September. I'll link to the test blog later this month.

bandleader's blog archives
July '03 archived blog
June '03 archived blog
May '03 archived blog
April '03 archived blog


to the Echo Beach Band website .. echobeachband.com

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