Here's some info on a documentary on jazz pianist Fred Hersch that's been released on DVD.
Hersch was one of the first musicians in the jazz world to "come out" about the fact that he is Gay and about his battles with HIV and the documentary looks at both his significance in the jazz world and his interesting personal life.
article at All About Jazz
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Well, if it worked for Springer...
The Royal Opera has announced they're working on a new production based on the life of Anna Nicole Smith. The libretto will be by the co-creator of "Jerry Springer: The Opera", Richard Thomas.
article at SF Gate
article at SF Gate
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Noooo!!!! Not satellite radio!!!! Nooooo!!!!
Sigh.
I've been a subscriber to satellite radio for some time. I'm rather sad to hear that Sirius-XM will soon be filing for bankruptcy.
Sat radio's a great service, so there's a possibility that somehow the company or some variation of it will survive. However, I can't see anyone going out of their way to buy a radio and subscribe with Sirius-XM in bankruptcy, which will likely erode the audience and income base of the company further.
Both Sirius and XM weren't able to make a go of it as individual companies and merged a few months ago. With such a great idea - a selection of commercial free and limited commercial stations in a broad range of genres, a great alternative to bland commercial and public broadcasters - it's hard to believe that someone could screw it up.
In my thinking, the companies focused in the wrong areas - too much on the automobile market and not enough on flexible, portable devices (like the Inno); too much on flash in the pan "stars" and expensive sports packages and not enough on strengthening the diversity of the shows.
If Sirius-XM does go the way of so many failed tech companies, I'd petition the FCC to require all AM and FM stations with a certain power level to upgrade to HD Radio and to limit the number of ad time per hour on existing stations.
article at NY Times
However, there is a bright side to all this bad economic news for technology and entertainment companies. Muzak, that purveyor of bad elevator music and annoying shopping ear drivel is in bankruptcy as well.
article at The Street
I've been a subscriber to satellite radio for some time. I'm rather sad to hear that Sirius-XM will soon be filing for bankruptcy.
Sat radio's a great service, so there's a possibility that somehow the company or some variation of it will survive. However, I can't see anyone going out of their way to buy a radio and subscribe with Sirius-XM in bankruptcy, which will likely erode the audience and income base of the company further.
Both Sirius and XM weren't able to make a go of it as individual companies and merged a few months ago. With such a great idea - a selection of commercial free and limited commercial stations in a broad range of genres, a great alternative to bland commercial and public broadcasters - it's hard to believe that someone could screw it up.
In my thinking, the companies focused in the wrong areas - too much on the automobile market and not enough on flexible, portable devices (like the Inno); too much on flash in the pan "stars" and expensive sports packages and not enough on strengthening the diversity of the shows.
If Sirius-XM does go the way of so many failed tech companies, I'd petition the FCC to require all AM and FM stations with a certain power level to upgrade to HD Radio and to limit the number of ad time per hour on existing stations.
article at NY Times
However, there is a bright side to all this bad economic news for technology and entertainment companies. Muzak, that purveyor of bad elevator music and annoying shopping ear drivel is in bankruptcy as well.
article at The Street
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Classical music is cheap
A writer for the New Yorker sets about trying to find inexpensive and free live classical music around the city - an interesting "idea starter" for someone living in or visiting the city and on a budget.
article at New Yorker
article at New Yorker
Monday, January 26, 2009
The resurgence of vinyl
There's been some articles in the past couple of years about the resurgence of interest in vinyl and how sales of lps and demands at pressing plants are actually increasing as the sales of cds fall.
Recently, while digging around at SoundStage Direct for a reissue of an lp for a friend, I was a bit overwhelmed by how many current and classic lps are in print or are being released, often in heavy 120, 180, 150 or even 200 gram vinyl editions.
The range of materials is curious, from punk albums of the seventies to New Wave albums of the 80s, to the usual audiophile reissues of classic jazz or rock lps, including reissues of esoteric and hard to find collectables such as "The Devil's Anvil: Hard Rock Music of the Middle East" from the late 60s or one-shot garage and bubble gum bands.
Most interesting are reissues of some classical lps as multi-disc sets running at 45 rpm by conductors like Fritz Reiner.
The market for vinyl must be pretty healthy if someone can sell "Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall", a common lp you can find in great shape, as a box set of 200 gram 45 rpm 12" lps for over $100.
Recently, while digging around at SoundStage Direct for a reissue of an lp for a friend, I was a bit overwhelmed by how many current and classic lps are in print or are being released, often in heavy 120, 180, 150 or even 200 gram vinyl editions.
The range of materials is curious, from punk albums of the seventies to New Wave albums of the 80s, to the usual audiophile reissues of classic jazz or rock lps, including reissues of esoteric and hard to find collectables such as "The Devil's Anvil: Hard Rock Music of the Middle East" from the late 60s or one-shot garage and bubble gum bands.
Most interesting are reissues of some classical lps as multi-disc sets running at 45 rpm by conductors like Fritz Reiner.
The market for vinyl must be pretty healthy if someone can sell "Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall", a common lp you can find in great shape, as a box set of 200 gram 45 rpm 12" lps for over $100.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Verdi for dessert
A cute little animated video where desserts act out part of Verdi's "La Traviatta".
video at dailymotion.com
video at dailymotion.com
And speaking of music ...
... has anyone else noticed how unreliable and irritating allmusic.com is as a website?
The content is great and I'm constantly referring to it when I'm researching records I find on ebay, new vinyl reissues, or personnel in old time radio shows in my collection.
However, when I try to access the site, the connection will be reset or it just won't respond when you're in the middle of a search.
I've actually starting typing searches into Google for specific albums I'm interested in and getting Google's cache of the allmusic.com page.
It's been like this for months, no matter whether I access it at home or work.
What's the deal?
The content is great and I'm constantly referring to it when I'm researching records I find on ebay, new vinyl reissues, or personnel in old time radio shows in my collection.
However, when I try to access the site, the connection will be reset or it just won't respond when you're in the middle of a search.
I've actually starting typing searches into Google for specific albums I'm interested in and getting Google's cache of the allmusic.com page.
It's been like this for months, no matter whether I access it at home or work.
What's the deal?
Microsoft Songsmith - now anyone can create an atrocious song
The New York Times has an article today about a software package and set of YouTube videos that have taken on "Internet meme" status in recent weeks.
Microsoft Songsmith is a program developed by a couple of scientists that allows anyone to be a songwriter - you just sing the lyrics into the program and it creates a backing track for you.
The commercial for Songsmith, done by the scientists who invented the software, has become an instant classic on YouTube and demonstrates how it works. The program is available from Microsoft for $29.95.
So, here's a YouTube user that shows how an average person might use the software:
Livin' On a Prayer (Bon Jovi) sung by GEvoluton
As you can imagine, the results are often, shall we say, a little less than musical and, more often than not, rather inappropriate.
Some folks have been taking the vocal tracks from classic rock tunes and running them through Songsmith. The results:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyYfTips5yc
Sgt Pepper by the Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BZk6aZp9xE
Just What I Needed by the Cars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRcFcNSTZLw
Roxanne by the Police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypycpKQxXR0
Long Train Running by the Doobie Brothers (which is intriquing, I'll admit)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOLjQhe7QqE
What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbtlEPIlyfU
Hotel California by the Eagles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itsT9zgWRoM
And, finally, how Songsmith interprets Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kxqMpGAL3I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFZvLprEIpw
Microsoft Songsmith is a program developed by a couple of scientists that allows anyone to be a songwriter - you just sing the lyrics into the program and it creates a backing track for you.
The commercial for Songsmith, done by the scientists who invented the software, has become an instant classic on YouTube and demonstrates how it works. The program is available from Microsoft for $29.95.
So, here's a YouTube user that shows how an average person might use the software:
Livin' On a Prayer (Bon Jovi) sung by GEvoluton
As you can imagine, the results are often, shall we say, a little less than musical and, more often than not, rather inappropriate.
Some folks have been taking the vocal tracks from classic rock tunes and running them through Songsmith. The results:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyYfTips5yc
Sgt Pepper by the Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BZk6aZp9xE
Just What I Needed by the Cars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRcFcNSTZLw
Roxanne by the Police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypycpKQxXR0
Long Train Running by the Doobie Brothers (which is intriquing, I'll admit)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOLjQhe7QqE
What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbtlEPIlyfU
Hotel California by the Eagles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itsT9zgWRoM
And, finally, how Songsmith interprets Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kxqMpGAL3I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFZvLprEIpw
Monday, January 5, 2009
End of a long run
The QRS company, which made piano rolls for the past 108 years, is ceasing production of the paper, hole-punched musical things.
post at Slashdot
post at Slashdot
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Do they know it's Christmas?
Remember those big celeb charity songs of the 80s? "We Are the World"? "Do They Know It's Christmas?"?
Meet the modern version....
video at Nymag.com
Meet the modern version....
video at Nymag.com
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tractors, spitting, cloggers ... and rap
Zach Galifianaki's music video of Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothin'".
An article about why is here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x0TumWdlhk
An article about why is here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x0TumWdlhk
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Solenoid concert
A video where someone uses a computer music sequencing program to control solenoids tapping on various objects.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Chris Thrash's Rock-A-Fire Explosion
Back in the 1980s, there was a pizza chain called Showbiz Pizza that eventually went bankrupt and merged with Chuck E. Cheese.
The centerpiece of the restaurants was an animatronic band, the Rock-A-Fire Explosion, designed by a company in Florida. The display, which would take up one whole side of the restaurant, was similar to the animatronic robot displays that Disney used in their theme parks.
As these displays have been removed from installations in recent years, a small group of enthusiasts have tried to preserve them. Chris Thrash owns one and does something a little more interesting with it.
Originally, the displays would put on shows of pop songs for kids; Thrash and other enthusiasts reprogram them to play current popular songs.
The videos are funny, but also admirable for the technical skill of the original designers of the Rock-A-Fire and for the new programmers. The Rock-A-Fire, by the way, was originally controlled by a four track reel to reel tape machine and later by VCRs or Apple II computers; those preserving and reprogramming the displays now use a modified Tivo.
First up is a video from YouTube showing what one of the original Rock-A-Fire shows looked like:
Here's a couple of reprogramming efforts. The first is Usher's "Love in This Club". Note: This song contains explicit lyrics that may be offensive to some viewers.
The second example I found is the Madonna/Justin Timberlake song, "4 Minutes". It's not quite as creatively programmed as the Usher track and doesn't use all of the characters in the display.
Each week, Chris Thrash takes bids from Internet viewers on what song they should program next. The funds from the auctions go towards upkeep and preservation of the Rock-A-Fire installation.
http://starsof.com/fans/
There's also several videos by Thrash and others located here:
http://www.programblue.com/list.php
I could see Chris Thrash's Rock-A-Fire Explosion being a musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" or as an opening act for The Gorillaz. (In fact, why not get them to perform Gorillaz songs like this?)
The centerpiece of the restaurants was an animatronic band, the Rock-A-Fire Explosion, designed by a company in Florida. The display, which would take up one whole side of the restaurant, was similar to the animatronic robot displays that Disney used in their theme parks.
As these displays have been removed from installations in recent years, a small group of enthusiasts have tried to preserve them. Chris Thrash owns one and does something a little more interesting with it.
Originally, the displays would put on shows of pop songs for kids; Thrash and other enthusiasts reprogram them to play current popular songs.
The videos are funny, but also admirable for the technical skill of the original designers of the Rock-A-Fire and for the new programmers. The Rock-A-Fire, by the way, was originally controlled by a four track reel to reel tape machine and later by VCRs or Apple II computers; those preserving and reprogramming the displays now use a modified Tivo.
First up is a video from YouTube showing what one of the original Rock-A-Fire shows looked like:
Here's a couple of reprogramming efforts. The first is Usher's "Love in This Club". Note: This song contains explicit lyrics that may be offensive to some viewers.
The second example I found is the Madonna/Justin Timberlake song, "4 Minutes". It's not quite as creatively programmed as the Usher track and doesn't use all of the characters in the display.
Each week, Chris Thrash takes bids from Internet viewers on what song they should program next. The funds from the auctions go towards upkeep and preservation of the Rock-A-Fire installation.
http://starsof.com/fans/
There's also several videos by Thrash and others located here:
http://www.programblue.com/list.php
I could see Chris Thrash's Rock-A-Fire Explosion being a musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" or as an opening act for The Gorillaz. (In fact, why not get them to perform Gorillaz songs like this?)
Monday, August 6, 2007
Goodwill hunting - Dora Hall and Just Call Me Old
Stopped by Goodwill today and made two little discoveries.
First off, I found two VHS tapes of Dora Hall tv specials, "Dora's World" and "Secret Sleuth".
If you do any web search on Dora, you can find out more than you ever wanted to know about her. She was born about 1900 and was always fascinated with show business. Her husband, owner of the Solo Cup company, financed recordings of her albums which were given away with proofs of purchase from Solo Cup products. He also paid for some elaborate tv specials starring Dora in the 1970s and these were also available as Solo Cup premiums. (Here's a web version of a great TV Guide article from 1971 about the first tv show she did, "Once Upon a Tour".)
My fellow lp fanatic and musician friend Carman gifted me a couple of Dora's lps, featuring her remarkable song stylings on tunes like "Hang On Sloopy" and the Rolling Stones's "Satisfaction". The tv specials are a very different level of Dora Hall artistry.
The specials are the absolute cheesiest of 70's musical variety shows, compressed into a swift half-hour. In "Secret Sleuth", Dora owns a newstand and the plot has something to do with a mysterious man and a briefcase; it's just an excuse for Dora to perform songs like "Secret Agent Man" and "King of the Road". "Dora's World" has Dora playing a show-biz vet grandmother that annoys her daughter in law by performing numbers for the kids all the time. She does "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" sitting on a motorcyle surrounded by gyrating dancers dressed in bell bottoms and 70's glitter and guys in kung fu outfits (don't ask). Oh, and she serves them milk and cookies. (Again, don't ask.)
My second discovery at Goodwill?
At the checkout, the clerk, after ringing up my tapes asked, "Senior citizens discount?"
Since I'm only 43 and the clerk looked to be well over sixty, I'm not sure why she thought I knew the secret AARP handshake that gets me discount coffee at McDonald's.
Was it the way I look?
Or was it because I bought two Dora Hall videotapes?
First off, I found two VHS tapes of Dora Hall tv specials, "Dora's World" and "Secret Sleuth".
If you do any web search on Dora, you can find out more than you ever wanted to know about her. She was born about 1900 and was always fascinated with show business. Her husband, owner of the Solo Cup company, financed recordings of her albums which were given away with proofs of purchase from Solo Cup products. He also paid for some elaborate tv specials starring Dora in the 1970s and these were also available as Solo Cup premiums. (Here's a web version of a great TV Guide article from 1971 about the first tv show she did, "Once Upon a Tour".)
My fellow lp fanatic and musician friend Carman gifted me a couple of Dora's lps, featuring her remarkable song stylings on tunes like "Hang On Sloopy" and the Rolling Stones's "Satisfaction". The tv specials are a very different level of Dora Hall artistry.
The specials are the absolute cheesiest of 70's musical variety shows, compressed into a swift half-hour. In "Secret Sleuth", Dora owns a newstand and the plot has something to do with a mysterious man and a briefcase; it's just an excuse for Dora to perform songs like "Secret Agent Man" and "King of the Road". "Dora's World" has Dora playing a show-biz vet grandmother that annoys her daughter in law by performing numbers for the kids all the time. She does "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" sitting on a motorcyle surrounded by gyrating dancers dressed in bell bottoms and 70's glitter and guys in kung fu outfits (don't ask). Oh, and she serves them milk and cookies. (Again, don't ask.)
My second discovery at Goodwill?
At the checkout, the clerk, after ringing up my tapes asked, "Senior citizens discount?"
Since I'm only 43 and the clerk looked to be well over sixty, I'm not sure why she thought I knew the secret AARP handshake that gets me discount coffee at McDonald's.
Was it the way I look?
Or was it because I bought two Dora Hall videotapes?
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Gaynsta rap?
Well, I'm not a big fan of rap in the first place, so it should be no surprise that I hadn't heard of any gay rap artists that were well known enough to get national press coverage.
I suppose it had to happen - the masculine swagger of the whole rap scene does remind me of the kind of vibe one gets from visiting some leather sites or watching pro wrestling ...
buzzfeed list of links
I suppose it had to happen - the masculine swagger of the whole rap scene does remind me of the kind of vibe one gets from visiting some leather sites or watching pro wrestling ...
buzzfeed list of links
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
What the heck is a mellophonium?
Well, I had never heard of a "mellophonium" until I chanced upon this interesting article about the Stan Kenton Orchestra's "Melloponium Period".
http://www.middlehornleader.com/Kenton%20Mellophoniums.htm
http://www.middlehornleader.com/Kenton%20Mellophoniums.htm
Monday, March 26, 2007
Canned music on Broadway
The New York Times has an article today about the use of virtual orchestra software in live theater productions; the piece mentions Notion, a software package produced by a small start-up in Greensboro. (I have a good friend who works for the company.)
article at NY Times
article at NY Times
Friday, March 2, 2007
Jerry Springer opera premieres in US
A Vegas group is doing the US premiere of "Jerry Spring, The Opera"; there will be two performances, staged as a benefit for charity.
article at Broadway World
article at Broadway World
Friday, February 23, 2007
The ultimate Moog LP?
Well, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it on ebay.
Someone actually did one of those Moog concept LP's in the late 60's or early 70's featuring the music of ... Buck Owens. Now, with "Switched on Buck", you can hear what "Tiger by the Tail" sounds like played on a Moog.
If it weren't fifty bucks, I'd get it....
auction at ebay
Someone actually did one of those Moog concept LP's in the late 60's or early 70's featuring the music of ... Buck Owens. Now, with "Switched on Buck", you can hear what "Tiger by the Tail" sounds like played on a Moog.
If it weren't fifty bucks, I'd get it....
auction at ebay
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