Today's Quote

"A good band is like a team. You want to have the right balance. It's not always the best people you need, but the right ones for the job." ~Ronnie Hawkins

Today's Quote

"If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else". ~Marvin Gaye

Today's Quote

"Music will always find its way to us, with or without business, politics, religion, or any other bullshit attached. Music survives everything, and like God, it is always present". ~Eric Clapton

Jay Bennett Dies At 45

Another artist passes. R.I.P Jay

Jay Bennett, Ex-Wilco Member, Dies At 45
May 25, 2009 10:57 AM ET
From Billboard.com
Michael D. Ayers, N.Y.
Jay Bennett, the former Wilco multi-instrumentalist, passed away in his sleep on early Sunday morning (May 24) due to unknown causes. He was 45. Bennett was best known for his work with Wilco, the group for which he wrote and recorded on 1996's "Being There," 1999's "Summerteeth" and 2002's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," as well as the band's Woody Guthrie themed albums with Billy Bragg, "Mermaid Avenue" and "Mermaid Avenue, Volume 2."

The Chicago Sun-Times spoke with Bennett's friend and frequent collaborator, Edward Burch, who simply stated "Jay died in his sleep and an autopsy is being performed. The family is in mourning and is unavailable for comment at this time."

Wilco is currently touring in Spain and lead vocalist/guitarist Jeff Tweedy expressed his condolences in a statement released today. "We are all deeply saddened by this tragedy. We will miss Jay as we remember him -- as a truly unique and gifted human being and one who made welcome and significant contributions to the band's songs and evolution. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends in this very difficult time."

Bennett also released four albums of his own this decade, most recently 2008's "Whatever Happened I Apologized" as a free download under a Creative Commons license via rockproper.com. He was currently living in Urbana, Illinois and working on his fifth album, "Kicking at the Perfumed Air."

Bennett's contentious departure from Wilco was a well-documented situation that played out in the public eye. Earlier this month, Bennett filed suit against Tweedy for "breach of contract" for alleged non-compensation for his appearance in the 2002 Wilco documentary, "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart," as well as "unpaid royalties" for work throughout his tenure with the band. The suit was said to be for at least $50,000.

As seen in the film, Bennett and Tweedy's disagreed over Wilco's creative direction. After leaving the band, Bennett certainly had a tough time finding the levels of success he saw with Wilco. A recent post to his Myspace blog indicated that he was set to have hip replacement surgery but was currently uninsured and going to pay for it out of pocket.

"I began the arduous, or more accurately, extremely time consuming and endlessly frustrating, process of finding a surgeon and hospital that would perhaps 'cut me a deal,' be willing to bargain/barter a bit, or at least allow me to make installment payments," he wrote on his Myspace blog in April 2009. "As it turns out, this /is/ possible, but also difficult to arrange, if you can not come up with a sizable down payment as a show good faith, etc. I have been saving as much money as possible ever since I made this new commitment to my health, my future, and my quality of life."

Wilco publicist Deb Bernardini released the following statement:

"We are all deeply saddened by this tragedy. We will miss Jay as we remember him -- as a truly unique and gifted human being and one who made welcome and significant contributions to the band's songs and evolution. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends in this very difficult time."

The Search Has Ended

After almost two months of searching for the right (affordable) SUV, I brought home the '04 Chevy Trailbalzer today. I'm so glad this chore is over. More later.

It looks like the journey has come to an end.

The decision has been made after a long and grinding search for a vehicle. The next vehicle to have a place in our driveway is going to be the 2004 Chevy Trailblazer that I posted about yesterday. I believe we'll be very happy with this choice. Time will tell.

I'll update on our ownership as time goes by so please stay tune.

Marcus Miller's Tribute To Wayman Tisdale

Today's Quote

"Music is the shorthand of emotion". ~Leo Tolstoy

The Journey Maybe Coming To An End

I have been searching for a replacement for our Jeep Grand Cherokee that was totaled after the accident my wife had a few months ago. I have looked at so many vehicles that they all just seem to blur together. This is the vehicle that is at the top of the list. It's a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS Extended. The dealer was asking originally asking $14,900 but at the last round of negotiations we're down to $10,500. Here's some pictures.

The Hunt Part II

I took the day off from the hunt for the perfect vehicle but I'll be hitting it bright and early tomorrow morning. Tomorrow may be the day I find that deal I can't refuse. I know what make and model SUV I'm looking for I just need to find it at the right price. To be continued....

Today's Quote

"There's a basic rule which runs through all kinds of music, kind of an unwritten rule. I don't know what it is. But I've got it". ~Ron Wood

Wreckage Of My Past

From ozzy.com

WRECKAGE OF MY PAST
MAY 20, 2009, 3:36 pm

WRECKAGE OF MY PAST is an intimate documentary that delves deep into the life of music icon Ozzy Osbourne. A sober Ozzy has reached a point of clarity as he looks back on a lifetime of unparalleled success, misdiagnosed disease, unrelenting fear and a recurring dependency on drugs and alcohol. This is a film about reconciling the past and looking toward the future.

In Theatres 2010

Wreckage

The Hunt

I have been on the hunt for a new or slightly used SUV for the last two weeks and haven't had any luck at all. You would think that with the current shape of the US auto industry that dealers would want to deal and move vehicles off their lots. I have not found that to be the case. Most dealers want to push you in the direction of high end luxury vehicles with the claim of knocking $12,000 off the sticker price. Knocking off 12k on a $55,000 SUV still leaves $43,000 to pay. Someone else may call that a deal but not me. Now if I could find a deal where I could get 12k knocked off a $30,000 vehicle than we might have something.

I don't know, maybe I've become a tight old codger in my old age but that being said, I'm just not going to have a $600+ a month car payment hanging over my head for 5 or 6 years. It ain't going to happen.

There's a deal out there somewhere and I'll find sooner or later. The search continues.

Today's Quote

"Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were left to itself". ~Henry Ward Beecher

The Wayman Tisdale Foundation

Before his tragic death on May 15, 2009, former NBA player and jazz artist Wayman Tisdale created a foundation committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals with cancer as well as amputees. Donations can be made to: The Wayman Tisdale Foundation, c/o Paul Samuels, Morgan Stanley, 2200 S. Utica Place, Suite 500, Tulsa, OK 74114

More information can be found at WaymanTisdale.org.

Today's Quote

"When griping grief the heart doth wound,
and doleful dumps the mind opresses,
then music, with her silver sound,
with speedy help doth lend redress". ~William Shakespeare

Today's Quote

"...regardless of what you play, the biggest thing is keeping the feel going ..." ~Wes Montgomery

R.I.P. Wayman Tisdale June 9, 1964 – May 15, 2009

Former MBA player and bassist Wayman Tisdale passed away today in a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital after a two year battle with cancer. He was 44 years old.

Wayman played in the NBA for twelve seasons playing for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. After retiring from the NBA Tisdale went on to a successful career as a jazz musician, releasing eight albums between 1985 and 2008.

He will truly be missed on both courts.

You can read more at CNN.

Video Footage of Attack on Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament

Video Footage of Attack on Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament
Gabriel J. Hernandez | 05.15.2009 - Gibson.com

Atlanta’s WAGA-TV Fox channel 5 obtained the surveillance video of Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament getting attacked and robbed outside Southern Tracks Recording studio three weeks ago. Pearl Jam is using the studio – which is producer Brendan O’Brien’s home studio – to record its ninth album.

The footage was broadcast on the station’s early evening news program yesterday, and clearly shows three men approach the white Jeep from behind shortly after it entered the parking lot. Ament is in the passenger side of the vehicle and tries to make a run for it with what appears to be a backpack. But after only taking a few steps, he is tackled to the ground by one of the assailants who takes the backpack and runs off with the other two attackers in the same direction they first emerged from.

According to the police report, Ament and a Pearl Jam employee had just pulled up to the back of the studio when the three men approached the Jeep. All of them were wearing black masks and holding knives. Ament was robbed of over $7,000 in cash and merchandise, and received treatment for a head laceration from EMS on the scene.

The attackers apparently escaped in a waiting black Nissan Maxima, and no arrests have yet been made.

Click here for video.

Today's Quote

"It is interesting to try to spot what is going on in society at large by looking at what musicians are creating". ~Kirk Hammett

Jeff Ament Assaulted and Robbed

Pearl Jam Bassist Jeff Ament Assaulted and Robbed at Knifepoint
Russell Hall | 05.14.2009 - Gibson.com

Police in Atlanta’s DeKalb County have confirmed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament was assaulted and robbed last month in the parking lot of a local recording studio. The newspaper did not obtain a police report, but Rolling Stone reports that the incident occurred at Southern Tracks Recording, the home-base studio of producer Brendan O’Brien. Pearl Jam has been working with O’Brien on the band’s forthcoming studio album.

According to Rolling Stone, on April 27, Ament and a band employee were confronted by three assailants who emerged from a wooded area at the rear of the studio. Wearing black masks and gloves and brandishing knives, the robbers smashed the windows of a rented Jeep and demanded money. Ament was robbed of $3,000 in cash and the assailants stole equipment valued at $4,320.

Ament attempted to flee but was chased and knocked to the ground. In the altercation, the bassist sustained a head laceration that was treated by a local EMS unit. The attackers also stole Ament’s passport before driving off in a black Nissan Maxima.

The incident was caught on a surveillance camera, but to date no arrests have been made.

Todays Quote

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence". ~Leopold Stokowski

Today's Quote

"Without music, life is a journey through a desert". ~Pat Conroy

Two Hours With The Bass

I just managed to get in a good two hours of practicing. One hour on the Fender and the other with the Rickenbacker. Sometimes you have to forget about other things and just grab the guitar(s).

Today's Quote

"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." ~Billy Joel

The Nice: The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack (1967)

The Nice was an English rock band known for their ability to blend classical, jazz and rock music into a unique new art form. The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in late 1967 and soon afterward began receiving very high reviews. Emerlist Davjack is considered by some as the beginning of the Progressive Rock genre.

The unusual title, Emerlist Davjack is a pseudonym created by combining the last names of the four members of the group: Keith Emerson (organ, piano, harpsichord, vocals), David O'List (guitar, trumpet, flute, vocals), Brian Davison (drums, tubular bells, timpani) and Lee Jackson (bass, guitar, vocals, timpani).

The Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack is one of rock's more underrated and overlooked efforts which makes it more the reason this album should be on the shelf of any Prog music collector.

Track listing

1. Flower King of Flies (Keith Emerson, Lee Jackson[5]) – 3:19
2. Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack (Emerson, David O'List) – 2:49
3. Bonnie (Jackson, O'List) – 3:24
4. Rondo [Instrumental] (Dave Brubeck, Emerson, O'List, Brian Davison, Jackson) – 8:22
5. War And Peace [instrumental] (Emerson, O'List Davison, Jackson) – 5:13
6. Tantalising Maggie (Emerson, Jackson) – 4:35
7. Dawn (Davison, Emerson, Jackson) – 5:17
8. The Cry of Eugene (Emerson, Jackson, O'List) – 4:36

Tracks included on the 1992 re-release

1. Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack [Single Version] (Emerson, O'List) – 2:48
2. Azrael (Angel of Death) (Emerson, Jackson) – 3:44
3. Diamond Hard Blue Apples of the Moon (Davison, Jackson) – 2:47
4. America [instrumental] (Leonard Bernstein, Davison, Jackson, Stephen Sondheim) – 6:18
5. America (Bernstein, Davison, Jackson, Sondheim) – 3:55

Personnel

* Keith Emerson - organ, piano, harpsichord, vocals
* Lee Jackson - bass, guitar, vocals, timpani
* David O'List - guitar, trumpet, flute, vocals
* Brian Davison - drums, tubular bells, timpani
* Billy Nicholls - uncredited harmony vocals on "Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack"
* Producer Emerlist Davjack

Today's Quote

"I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music." ~George Eliot

Today's Quote

Music is a moral law. It gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness and a gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and leads to all that is good, true and beautiful, of which it is the invisible but nevertheless dazzling, passionate and eternal form. ~Plato

RIP Ean Evans Lynyrd Skynyrd Bassist

Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist 'Ean' Evans dead at 48

From the AP
Thu May 7, 5:56 pm ET

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Bassist Donald "Ean" Evans of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has died after a battle with cancer.

Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said Evans died Wednesday at his home in eastern Mississippi. He was 48.

In a statement posted on lynyrdskynyrd.com the band said, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans. Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans."

Evans was born in Atlanta, but moved to Columbus after marrying his wife, Eva. He joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2001 and had been touring regularly with the band until being diagnosed with cancer in 2008, when he cut back on performances with the band.

Survivors include his wife and two daughters.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

"He was just one of those guys who was always a dreamer and always seeing ahead. And he was the most positive person I've ever met," Mike Chain, a guitarist who was close friends with Evans, told The Commercial Dispatch in Columbus, Miss.

The Jacksonville-based band was formed in 1966 by a group of high school students — famously, it took its name from a physical education teacher they disliked, Leonard Skinner.

They released their first album, "Pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd." It became one of the South's most popular rock groups and gained national fame with such hits as "Free Bird," "What's Your Name" and especially "Sweet Home Alabama," which reached the top 10 on the charts in 1974. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

The band suffered a tragic loss on Oct. 20, 1977, when their chartered plane crashed in a swamp near McComb, Miss. The crash claimed the lives of six people, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Keyboard player Billy Powell survived the plane crash that killed three band members. He died in January.

In 2001, bassist Leon Wilkeson died in his sleep in a hotel room near Jacksonville, Fla., and Chain said he was with Evans the night he got hired by the band.

"We were spending New Year's Eve together when this Skynyrd thing was happening," Chain said. "It didn't look like it was going to happen. But he just set his feet in the ground ... and was ready to stand up and fly to the moon. And he did."

How much tragedy and heartache can one band endure? My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fans.

Russ Sargeant

I first came across this artist and his music on Twitter and Facebook a few months ago and was very impressed.

Russ is an electric bass player, double bassist and guitarist living in the United Kingdom. Currently he's an unsigned artist writing and recording amazing music in his home studio. Russ' music is a mixture of Jazz, World and New Age, with influences ranging from Jaco Pastorius, Avishai Cohen, Tony Levin, Eberhard Weber, Percy Jones to Geddy Lee.

In 2008 Russ completed a six-track album entitled The Last And The First. CD's and MP3's of this album can be purchased from CD Baby.

Give Russ a listen, I believe you will be as impressed as I am. You can learn more about Russ Sargeant on MySpace, Twitter and ReverbNation.

Today's Quote

"If you play music with passion and love and honesty, then it will nourish your soul, heal your wounds and make your life worth living. Music is it's own reward." ~Sting

Another Internet Obsession

I started a Facebook page about a month ago so if you're on Facebook drop by and say hello. Profile

Today's Quote

"The man that hath no music in himself Nor is not move'd with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons , strategems, and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted." ~William Shakespeare

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery (1973)

This is the album that solidified my long running admiration for ELP. I had heard bits and pieces of Emerson, Lake & Palmer's music from previous albums at a friend house but Brain Salad was the first ELP album I bought and had a chance to really listened to and listen I did. Over the next few days I must have listened to this album a dozen times. I couldn't get enough ELP and started buying anything I could get my hands on. Today I probably have more ELP music in my collection (including solo projects) than any other single artist.

Brain Salad Surgery is the fourth studio release from the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer released in November 1973 and features a mixture of rock and classical themes. Lyrics were co-written by Greg Lake and fellow ex-King Crimson member (and frequent ELP collaborator) Peter Sinfield. The album features cover art by surreal artist H. R. Giger.

"Jerusalem", an adaptation of Hubert Parry's hymn based on William Blake's poem "And did those feet in ancient time", was the only single, but it was not released in the UK due to objections from the BBC.

The instrumental "Toccata" is based on the Fourth Movement of Alberto Ginastera's 1st Piano Concerto, arranged by Keith Emerson with special synthesized effects; Carl Palmer wrote a percussion accompaniment using newly-developed drum synthesizers. Ginastera's agent apparently did not care for ELP's rendition and wasn't going to grant the publishing rights. Emerson, however, contacted Ginastera himself, who liked it and personally arranged for clearance. "Toccata" also gained fame as the theme to the New England cult TV show Creature Double Feature.

"Still... You Turn Me On" is one of the darkest and haunting songs on the album and one of the best.

"Benny The Bouncer" is my least favorite work on the album. To me it is just a short ragtime type song added to fill in space. Even with that being said, Keith Emerson's piano work on this song is amazing.

The album's longest composition, Karn Evil 9, which is nearly 30 minutes in length, consists of three movements or "impressions", the first and third separated by an extended instrumental passage. The most well-known section is "Karn Evil 9 - 1st Impression, Part 2" (Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends...). "Karn Evil 9" was so long that the first movement originally had to be split between sides 1 and 2 of the album. The original U.S. CD release also divided the piece, but subsequent releases have presented it in an uninterrupted version.[3]

"Karn Evil 9" includes vocal credit for Keith Emerson, and is Emerson's only official vocal credit on an ELP record, despite the fact that the only 'vocals' he contributed to the song were those of the computer voice in the Third Impression.

The album cover is considered one of the most memorable (and often disturbing) of its time. It features distinctive Giger monochromatic biomechanical artwork, integrating an industrial mechanism with a human skull and the new ELP logo (created by Giger). The lower part of the skull's face is covered by a circular "screen", which shows the mouth and lower face in its flesh-covered state. In the original LP release, the front cover was split in half down the center, except for the circular screen section (which was attached to the right half). Opening the halves revealed a painting of the complete face: a human female (modelled after Giger's wife[4]), with "alien" hair and multiple scars, including the infinity symbol and a scar from a frontal lobotomy. The two images of the woman are very similar, but the outer image (in the circle) contains what appears to be the top of a phallus below her chin, arising from the "ELP" column below (the second painting originally had the complete phallus, but this was removed at the insistence of the record company. The back cover was solid black with the album title in plain white lettering.

Track Listings

1. Jerusalem (2:44)
2. Toccata (7:23)
3. Still... You Turn Me On (2:53)
4. Benny The Bouncer (2:21)
5. Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression - Part 1) (8:44)
6. Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression - Part 2) (4:47)
7. Karn Evil 9 (2nd Impression) (7:07)
8. Karn Evil 9 (3rd Impression) (9:03)

Line-up/Musicians

- Keith Emerson / organ, piano, Harpsichord, accordion, Custom-built Moog synths, Moog polyphonic ensemble, vocals on "Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression - Part 1)"
- Greg Lake / vocals, bass, Zemaitis electric 6-string and 12-string guitars
- Carl Palmer / drums, percussion, percussion synthesizers
- Produced By Greg Lake

Today's Quote

"Your art kind of changes as you get older, by nature of the fact that you’re hopefully gaining wisdom and you’re starting to watch things with a better overview." ~Sheryl Crow

Old Glory

 
On a cold and drizzly morning, it sure makes the heart feel warm seeing Old Glory flying proudly.

Two worker from my department, including myself just finished installing this new flagpole this morning at one of our educational buildings. There was absolutely no wind until we raised the flag and just as we walked away a gust of wind came up and you can see the result. God Bless America.

Today's Quote

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." ~Kurt Cobain

Today's Quote

"All a musician can do is to get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws". ~John Coltrane

Gary Thain 1948 - 1975

This is the fifth installment in a series of profiles on some of Rock And Roll's most influential bass players.

Gary Thain was born in Christchurch, New Zealand on May 15, 1948. He started performing at the very early age of 13 when he entered a high school talent contest and won singing the Pete Seeger folk song Where Have All The Flowers Gone. The official start to Gary's career was with the New Zealand band "The Strangers". The group released three singles in their short time together. One of the singles was a Gary Thain penned song titled I'll Never Be Blue. He was 16.

At age 17 Gary moved to Australia and joined the band The Secrets. They released one single in 1966. Soon after this release The Secrets broke up. After this break up Gary played for a number of other small bands touring the UK and Europe until 1968 when he joined the Keef Hartley Band. He recorded six albums with the band.

In 1972 Gary was contacted by Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep and asked if he would be interested in taking over bass duties due the departing of bassist Mark Clarke. He agreed. Up until this time most of Gary's musical background had been in jazz and blues which ended up complimenting Heep's progressive/space genre very well.

The first album that Gary recorded with Uriah Heep was the 1972 release Demons and Wizards, just 4 months after joining Heep. The Magician's Birthday followed the same year which included two songs co-written by Gary (Spider Woman and Sweet Lorraine). 1972 was a very successful year for Heep and Gary alike. Throughout the remaining of '72 and '73 Heep toured almost nonstop resulting in the release of the double album Uriah Heep Live 1973. The success of Uriah Heep continued with the 1973 studio album Sweet Freedom which included the song Circus, another Thain co-written piece.

1974 brought an end to Gary's recording with Uriah Heep with the release of Wonderworld which he was credited with co-writing half the songs on the album. On stage in Dallas, Texas on September 15, 1974 Gary received an electrical shock while playing the song July Morning. His health never really recovered and he had to leave Uriah Heep in January 1975.

On December 8, 1975 Gary passed away from continuing heath problems partially due to the shock he received in Dallas and years of drug use. He was 27 years old.

Today's Quote

"Song writing is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let you. So you have to get up and make it into something, and then you're allowed to sleep". ~John Lennon