Michael Brecker "Pilgrimage"

Posted by Daniel Tue, 29 May 2007 13:34:00 GMT

Michael Brecker "Pilgrimage": “Michael has gone up yet another notch with his writing and playing,” said Hancock, who has recorded and performed with Brecker since the ‘80s and appeared on one of Brecker’s biggest selling albums, Nearness of You (2001). “There’s always good news that comes with bad news, and that’s the good news – in spite of his condition, or maybe even because of it, he continues to climb mountains and move forward. That’s the best way to take a poison and turn it into medicine. He’s taken something that’s destructive and turned it into something extremely constructive.” [Astonishing energy in the playing. The writing is amazing.]

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The XM/Sirius merger

Posted by Daniel Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:00:00 GMT

Disclosure: I own a tiny amount of Sirius stock.

Doc writes: "There are a number of problems with this merger; but they're also problems with satellite radio in general..." and lists a number of problems. Two of them can be addressed.

The monoculture issue can be addressed by making space for "public satellite radio" similar to local cable access. No I admit that I never watch what seems to be an endless stream of worthless shows, in almost direct opposition to the podcast phenomena where I listen to many different 'casts... but it could mitigate the homogeneity of radio programming to some degree, if it were truly embraced (and it should be from what I've heard on XM).

I agree that files seem to have advantages, so I wonder why neither XM nor Sirius to my knowledge release their shows via iTunes. They already deal wih the rights issues, so it shouldn't be a big leap, and it would probably improvve their programming, since they competition is stiffer. I also think they should store the programming locally (say in my car's radio) so that it could be loaded on my iPod if I wish. There are shows that are on when I'm not in the car that I'd love to listen to...

I should add that I've only listened to XM during the free trial period, it's not in the budget at the moment. I do enjoy the quality of the sound, and the seemingly endless streams of music I don't own or haven't heard.

In short, I think that open up some space for the public, and realizing that their competition is the public at the same time is the salvation. Mel, send me check when you implement these ideas please? Thanks.

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Michael Brecker Dies at 57; Prolific Jazz Saxophonist

Posted by Daniel Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:39:00 GMT

Michael Brecker

NYT: Michael Brecker, a saxophonist who won 11 Grammy Awards and was among the most influential musicians in jazz since the 1960s, died yesterday at a hospital in New York City. He was 57 and lived in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

The cause of death was leukemia, said Darryl Pitt, his manager.

Having taken a deep understanding of John Coltrane’s saxophone vocabulary and applied it to music that merged with mainstream culture — particularly jazz fusion and singer-songwriter pop of the 1970s and 80s — Mr. Brecker spread his sound all over the world.

For a time, Mr. Brecker seemed nearly ubiquitous. His discography — it contains more than 900 albums — started in 1969, playing on the record “Score,” with a band led by his brother, the trumpeter Randy Brecker. It continued in 1970 with an album by Dreams, the jazz-rock band he led with his brother and the drummer Billy Cobham.

[For anyone growing up in music along with me, Michael Brecker was as powerful influence as there could be. There's no way to describe the feeling of losing such a musical giant, especially since I believe his best work was ahead of him. To his family and friends, my deepest sympathy. Find comfort.]

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Canon on Guitar

Posted by Daniel Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:03:00 GMT

I watched for signs of a fake. There are a couple of moments that seem off, but it could be the result of junky camera, or digitization, or something else. He certainly seems to have all the right motions in both hands. I have some extremely musical friends around here… what do you think? Speak up! [I saw this a few weeks ago… It seems legit to me, but then I never assumed it’s a fake. Without knowing how old the kid is… it’s hard to determine if he’s advanced. Suffice it so say that he’s (at least it look like a guy to me) got the basics of the post Van Halen, Satriani, Gambale, Vai guitar stuff in hand, but his time was sloppy in places and he made a few mistakes (and a couple of bad choices, sniff). Now that’s mostly technique we’re talkin’ about, the shiny chrome of the faucet and not the water. Musically he sounds like a kid, and should continue to work on his own sound, conception, ideas and personality. As a complete aside… where are those ride reports? I need the motivation of getting dropped by you a couple of times a week. ;~)]
Source: Truer Words

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Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project

Posted by Daniel Tue, 28 Mar 2006 21:46:58 GMT

Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project: [If you’ve never indulged, you should. Discover the deep roots of Podcasting.]

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Free Music, No Really, Gobs of Free Music

Posted by Daniel Mon, 13 Feb 2006 13:14:00 GMT

Free Music, No Really, Gobs of Free Music: A lot of people think that free music means stealing from a record label. Now I hate the stupid record labels and the Sony root-kits as much as the next guy, but if you really want to stick it to the man, why are you listening to their music anyway? Nowadays the cool kids listen to music released in the public domain or under a free license like Creative Commons. [Have at it folks…]
Source: alwaysBETA

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