July 18, 2008

Well I can finally get around my little town. The tires are small so it really rides rough. Buy it is electric so there is no gas. Which by the way cost as much here as in the US.



July 1, 2008

Gene "Cip" Cipriano Quiet Legend

There are legends and there are legends that only a select few have had the privilege to know.... Gene "Cip" Cipriano is one of those quiet legends.
I have had the pleasure of meeting one of the great musicians and people of all times know to his friends as just "Cip". "Cip" has been on more movies, records (and yes they were called records when he started) and live TV than any other still working woodwind artist in history. At the young age of one hundred and eleven "Cip" can still be found doing recording sessions, CD's and the Oscars...
Knowing "Cip" has been one of the great pleasures of my life.



Pictured here with Gary Foster at the recording of his new CD.
www.genecipriano.com

June 27,2008
It has been a while...... It's coming up on July 4th.... Independence Day....
We should try to keep that independence.
It's is not all this time I have something interesting to say or at lease what I think is interesting. I would like to voice my opinion on "Gun Control". It is not gun control we need but a justice system that punishes the bad guy using the gun. The average time served by a minor in California for using a gun to kill some one is 2 years. The words "Gun Control" will only take guns from the good guys as they are the only ones that will obey the laws. The "BAD GUY" is always disobeying the law. That is what a "BAD GUY" does. Creating the term "BAD GUY". What makes anyone think a new law that says no guns will work? Again the only ones that will give up their guns are the "Good Guys". One of the great things about our country is the right to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We are losing our rights as American Citizens every day. "911" the great tragedy it was has focused the government on selling us fear of terrorism... We now have Homeland Security.
The number one way governments control people by fear. Hell we kill more people by drunk drivers every month than 911 and I do not see a "Drunkland Security" a "Gangland Security" or even many people up in arms over these things...... The Police can no longer protect us.... not really sure if they ever could...... just look at the Los Angeles news any day of the week. The taking away of guns from the "Good Guys" would make us no longer a free country. Again I am really in favor of putting the "BAD GUYS" away. Use a gun for the wrong reasons go to jail. Make the punishment fit the crime. Give me a break...... they should never see the light of day on the outside again. Many of the people that commit murder or out of jail form a convection for committing murder.
Just a thought.
I will try to talk about better things in the future.

*In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

May 12, 2008

It is not often that we have relatives we can be proud of but I happen to have one.
Now granted he is only related to me by marriage but I am going to count that. My brother-in -law Ed "Peter" Drum is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met and was the inspiration for me starting to play music. (Not sure how I really feel about that) Ed spent many years as an engineer developing many process to electro coat products... your car etc. Now in his retirement and early 70's he has pursued his dream of playing JAZZ. Pete is both a fine woodwind player and plays excellent string bass. If you live in Indiana you can check him out.




April 9, 2008

Well.... here I am alone in my room when I put in a DVD.... Demi Moore and Michael Caine... the movie is barely getting started when as Demi Moore walks down the street and I hear Paul Desmond and take five.... they play the entire melody and his entire solo.... It has been a long time since I have heard that great sound...


3.27.2008 I have questions?.....

What is “buck naked”?
I have no idea what that means. When you hear someone say the baby is buck naked. Where is the buck? What part of the human body is the buck? The term is “Butt Naked” when you see someone naked you can see a butt.

3.7.2008
Now as anyone that knows me I am not really an emotional kind of guy. But .... this morning I was watching Eddie Harris on youtube .. and I really started to miss him. Not only was he a great player but he was one funny son-of-a- bitch.
I always looked forward to seeing and talking to him.

"Compared to What" just as good today as in 1969
"Cold Duck Time"

I am not sure if you have heard the story about how I met Eddie. I was setting at my bench one day working on something and Eddie walks in.... now mind you we have never met. He looks me right in the eyes and says "I am having trouble playing my high notes and I need your help" .... now this is Eddie Harris and I recognize form the many albums (and yes I called them Albums) .... what am I going to say to a great saxophonist like this about playing high notes. He turns his back to me so I can not see what he is doing.... I can tell he is putting his saxophone together... then he starts to play it.... it really sounds bad.... my mind is going wild with things like... what am I going to say.... how am I getting out of this..... then he turns around and says "I don't know what the problem is".... and starts to laugh. The neck on his saxophone has been closed in a car door and has a nice 90 degree angle to it... it is as flat in the middle as possible.... an Eddie can not stop laughing. He was screwing with me before we ever were introduced.... he was my kind of guy.

2.13.2008

Kenny and I talk about some design changes on his new E-Series tenor saxophone at NAMM 2008

Here's the deal.... Shit happens.... hair changes.......

2.1.2008


Mr. Fan one of China's most well know saxophonist is in his mid 70's and has more energy than I had in my 20's...
that is not saying a lot as I have never had any energy.
He still loves playing and is out doing it a lot.... I don't care about the energy I just hope I live to my mid 70's... God I just had another birthday .... that would be today as a matter of fact..... and they are starting to mount up. I think I am going to they to find a way not to have anymore.


12.31.2007
Well it is the end of yet another year. I have made a serious life style change and things are looking up.
I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and may all the things you want come to you.
And I have found out that might happen if you don't want to much!


11.19.07
youtube
I am usually behind in doing things and have just started looking at youtube.... this is great... Cannonball, Whitney Houston, anyone you can think of.... but I did hear something I have never heard before. A giant clam on live TV by a musician. Studio & live TV musicians for many years have been the best players and the best at not making mistakes or so the world would know it anyway. I just happened to go by the Dancing with the Stars and see Marie Osmond.... then the most awful clam I have ever heard on live TV. A clarinet sound I have never heard before. Worse than a dead duck as we use to say. Worse than the death of a chicken having it' neck rung. I just do not know what to call it.....

I've always got questions?
There are no logical answers.... but I have questions.
Who is in charge?
Now this question is good for a lot of different fields. As I am driving down the street on my way to work I couldn't help notice a new bunch of flowers and trees between the two lanes. Nice to look at... but you can no longer see the cars trying to make a left turn in front of you. Smooth.. It is the only way they can get on the freeway jet..... they must pull out in front of you before you can see them or they can see you. Who thought of that and how much does he or she get paid?

Cannonball, Cannonball, Cannonball......
The other day I was listening to Cannonball and a question popped up: Why didn't I get that talent? .........
I am still waiting for the answer!

I say we make Mexico a State!
Then all the illegals will have the same rights as Americans.
No free medical care! Must have car insurance! Pay taxes until we can not feed our children!
Have a government of the corporations, by the corporations & for the corporations!
Just think of all the tax money we will save when they start paying their own way.
Or must do without like the rest of us.

Now add to that stopping the war...... my God we could be out of debt.


I just got back from a trip to China and thought I would show a
taxi in Beijing. As you can see in the background there are car taxi cabs..... But they just did not have the same appeal. What do you think are the chances of a 280 pound mangetting in this taxi?
I thought they were very slim.

We are running out of gas.....
Now everyone on the news is talking about not enough gas for the planet.
SIMPLE fix..... get rid of SUV's...... or have two gas pumps....... one for cars with bad mileage...... $10.00 per gallon....... one cars with great mileage....... $2.50 per gallon.

Tommy Newson
Tommy was the only man that ever came into my shop and made me smile when he walked in the door. He was a great saxophonist and writer ..... but mostly he was a naturally funny man. It is not often that a repairman looks forward to having someone come in...... Tommy Newsom was that exception. Along with anyone that ever had the pleasure of meeting him I will miss him.

Well I went back to Charlie O's to see Pete again and I have got to say he is still one of my all time favorite tenor sax players.
The service was not good, the place was full for a Thursday night and the band great. As always I would recommend that you see and hear Pete play anytime you have the opportunity.

Well I went out to see Pete Christlieb and his new small big band at
Charlie O's

1 set cost me a smooth $60.00...... $20,00 cover (not a problem), $10.00 Ice tea, $9 onion rings,
$10 chicken strips, 20% added to the bill for the waitress (and I just hate that). She got $ 5.75 not much and I would have left more except of the automatically adding to my bill. Did I mention..... I just hate that. TIPSI think it goes something like this. To Insure Proper Service. It is not automatic and should not be automatic. *Now I would like to say the waitress was great.
Pete played a couple solos that were worth the $60. I feel that forcing people to have a two drink minimum, forcing the TIP even if the service is bad. Treating you like you are making it hard on them by being there ...... really hurts the music. Makes it hard for people to want to come out and see music. Just my personal opinion as is all on this page.
I would go again to hear Pete and the band. The idle of all woodwind players in Los Angeles "Cip" was playing baritone sax and sounded great. I think he is around 100 years old and still doing what all woodwind palyers wish they could.
Cip you are the best!
I highly recommend hearing this group no matter the cost!

Let's talk about a tuner
Saturday March 17, 2007
Now I know a tuner has a place in the study of an instrument. But....... it is not for use all the time. EXAMPLE: I have guys come in the store to try a new instrument.
The first thing they do is pull out the tuner and start to check the instrument. Now they have not even played a note on the instrument. You must play an instrument for a while before you try to check the intonation. Play it .... get the feel of the instrument...... then check the pitch.

Mike Brecker
Thursday March 8, 2007
I was thinking about Mike today and what a great loss he was to the world in general and to the music world.
I thought would share a couple stories. Anyone who has ever met Mike will have stories and they should be told.

I went to a clinic Mike was giving here in the Los Angeles area. He talked for around 45 minutes, showed how he came up with patterns, what he did when he practiced. All great information. Then he said "Does anyone have any Questions".

#1
Question #1: What do you do to get ready for a hard session?
Mike: I practice.
Question #2: (Same guy by the way)
No... No.. what do you really do?
Mike: I practice!

#2
Question #1: I know you work a lot more than your brother....
Mike: No my brother works a lot.
Question #2: Are you a millionaire?
Mike: That is not a question I feel I would like to answer..... and the clinic is over.
You would think if you had Mike Brecker there who is willing to answer any question...... you would have good questions.

Let us talk saxophone equipment.
Wed. March 7, 2007
I am asked all the time what does Michael Brecker or David Sandborn or Pete Christlieb use for mouthpiece or reeds. Let us be real. It really doesn't matter. the question that should be asked is "How does he do that?" the man or woman behind the saxophone is where the talent lies, where the great sound comes from and where the great music comes from. Now I know that every body feels different about equipment ... but I also know we tend to sound like what we have in or ears and head. I would love to play like any of these guys ... but ... it just is not in my ear and mind. The first saxophonist I listened to was Paul Desmond and the second Lee Konitz. I forever have that sound in my ear. ( I do not want to lead anyone to believe that I was ever able to play like either of the great saxophonist ) I could no more sound like Sandborn than I could run 20 miles without dying. It is important to remember the player.
Everything comes from the artist!

I guess it is not my month with cars!
Wed. March 7, 2007

I come out this morning and some SB has ripped of the mirror on the divers side of my car. Now I know kids need to be kids ... but ...is it so hard to handle you children. We have had a rash of broken windows in the cars on the street. I think they should be made fair game.

I am starting to see a pattern that all my car troubles are on Wed.

Lets talk car mechanics!
Wed. Feb. 28, 2007

I take my car in because it is overheating a little in stop and go traffic. Mr. Allen you need a new water pump and about half a dozen things that work with the water system. I say great please change the oil and fit the things. I get the car back on Friday start to drive it and about half way to work the thing barely runs. I mean barely runs.... I take it back. We will check things out ...... again it is fixed ..... again half way to work it stops running. I go back .... we4 will check things again and call you. Well I call this morning and I hear "the car is ready and runs like a new car." I get the the shop.. by the way that will be another $600 ... now this is without any notice, no phone call etc. I get in the car... start to work ... on the on ramp at Lankershim ....in the stop and go traffic the car temperature gauge go to the red.... never in all the years that I have owned this car has it gotten past the half way..... I make a call. Well Mr. Allen the saturn is know for getting very hot before the fan kicks in..... I explain ..... 5 years in stop and go and it has never gotten this hot. Did I mention it was $475.00 for the first water pump. Now I am in a 10 year old car $1,075.00 ..... the car might not be worth that and it does not work right. And I have guys complain about $695.00 for a saxophone overhaul that thakes me the better part of a week to do well...... So how was your day?

Well it has been a while since I felt the need to talk ...... but here goes.
Sat. Feb. 24, 2007

Yesterday I had the worst $100.00 lunch on the planet.
I have a favorite Thai Restaurant I love to go for lunch and dinner.
Well ...... things do not always go like we like.
I ordered the veggie curry ..... asked for not muck broccoli ... I get it and after I et the broccoli out I have a curry soup .... I asked for fried rice ....."We do not have fried rice on Saturday. OK .... I chose brown rice. Now brown rice is a close cousin to rubber..... even after I put it in the curry soup .... still rubber. OK the only thing about the lunch that was good was I was there with a great looking girl.
We leave.........
As I get closet to the car I noticed a piece of paper on my windshield ..... and you guessed it a $40.00 parking ticket. the meter had expired.