[Otclassof1973] SUNDAY, MARCH 19TH

Wed Mar 22 22:44:39 EST 2006

Russ,

Well, Mr. Peridot, so glad you enjoyed my little aside.  I missed seeing
Stanley Clark at Rutgers, but I did see Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, a
not yet knighted Elton John and others - including Buddy Rich!

SWMBO reminded me that Don, "Mr. Soooooul Traaaaain" Cornelius was also
in attendance at the SF Grammy awards (huh?), and the award I so
callously implied was a mere hunk of glass, was actually cut crystal. 
But I ask you, is there any other kind of crystal.  Does it show that I'm
typing with one pinky fully extended?

Mindy mentioned that she went to the World Baseball Classic in sunny San
D.  That reminds me of my favorite green gem - the baseball diamond.

Marvin

#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9
There are two theories on hitting the knuckleball.  
Unfortunately, neither of them work.  
Charlie Lau

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 20:01:54 -0500 "Russ Malta" <russmalta at msn.com>
writes:
DAVE BRUBECK!!!  I am positively viridian with envy.  Many was the time
in college when I needed to take five from studying that I would unwind
to the bouncy beat of "Take Five."  I still give it a spin every now and
again.  BTW we play Brubeck's Christmas album every year at yuletide. 
Definitely NOT your department store muzak.  

The last time I saw Stanley Clark up close and personal was thirty years
ago.  He was playing at Rutgers, I believe with Chick Corea.  It was a
general admission concert (I think in a gym).  My friends and I managed
to squeeze our way all the way to the front.  Stanley looked even more
gigantic from his vantage point at the center of the temporary stage.  A
couple of my buds managed to sneal backstage, but another classmate and I
were snagged by security.  Oh, well.

You are one fortunate son(-in-law).

Russ

----- Original Message -----
From: neufsaid at juno.com
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 8:10 PM
To: otclassof1973 at devel2.njit.edu
Subject: [Otclassof1973] SUNDAY, MARCH 19TH

Last night SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) and I attended the local San
Francisco chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
(NARAS) AKA the Grammy organization (yuh-huh, THOSE recording arts
people).  This year’s awards dinner was held in a huge ballroom in the
San Francisco Westin hotel, picturesquely located on the cable car line
where it passes Union Square.  Last night’s honorees were three local
individuals and one local group.  

I’ve mentioned that SWMBO’s stepfather, Tom Mazzolini, produces the San
Francisco Blues Festival (SFBF).  Tom was one of last night’s honorees
and the extended nuclear family came along to share the event with him. 
When we arrived at the swank hotel we were directed to a third floor
Hospitality Suite where they said the other honorees were relaxing before
the event.  As they led us down a maze of hallways I wound up walking
with Tom and another honoree, Dave Brubeck.  I wanted to ask Dave (ahem,
Mr. Brubeck) if I could have my picture taken with him, but I didn’t want
to impose, so it didn’t happen and now I’m kicking myself because I’m
sure it would’ve been fine.  

I don’t usually take pictures of the performers and that picture I posted
a while back of me and Stevie “Guitar” Miller at the SFBF was a real
rarity.  The only other picture I have like that is of me and Robert Cray
(long story).

Meanwhile, back to the NARAS event; when we got to the door of the
Hospitality Suite, we nearly tripped over a punk kid lying on the floor,
and text messaging so furiously I thought he was playing a Gameboy. 
Inside the suite of rooms there was a room with a small buffet and bar
and another main room with sofas.  The other honorees were gathered in
the main room and a few more punks were in the buffet room  The punks
were dressed in grunge chic and all of them were text messaging madly
away.  I figured they were “talking” about the rest of us “old farts” in
our semi formal evening wear.

We hung around for a while and left SWMBO’s mother and Tom in the suite
(they had to wait for Tom’s press photo session).  After we left the room
and were going back to the elevator a family friend started complaining,
“What kind of people would bring their kids to this event?”  I let him
vent and then told him, “They’re here, because they’re Green Day, one of
tonight’s other honorees.  They’re from Oakland.”

Oh!

Being with an honoree meant that our table was right in front of the
stage (we’re talking about an event for more than 2,000 people and the
tables filled a room that was easily 50 yards long and about 25-30 yards
wide.  It may have been larger than that, it certainly took a while to
thread our way through the tables coming in and going out).  Tom was
introduced by Taj Mahal (he headlined the SFBF in ‘92) who called Tom up
to the podium to receive his 15 pound hunk of etched glass.  I’d been
wondering if he’d receive one of their bronze gramophone awards, but 15
pounds of glass is pretty impressive, too.  They had a nice video
presentation of Tom with many of the major blues performers he’s had at
the Festival over the years (this coming September will be the 34th
annual SFBF) and if you keep in mind how it feels to look back at our HS
pictures, this was kind of like that.  Then Keb Mo (he headlined the SFBF
in ‘93) took the stage and performed a song that will be released so!
on.  Totally cool!

Dave Brubeck told a story about a recent recording of his “Take Five” hit
from the ‘50s made with some current virtuosos.  Mr. Brubeck said someone
had asked Winton Marsalis at the recording why he was rehearsing his part
just before the recording (Winton is known for coming totally prepared
and not having to rehearse anything in the booth).  Winton had told the
person, “Because this is that hard.”

Later, when Green Day came up for their award, their front man Billie Joe
Armstrong said, “Mr. Brubeck was talking about rehearsing.  My dad was a
jazz musician and when I was little I asked him why he didn’t play rock
and roll and he told me, ‘Because that shit’s too easy!’”  

Green Day was introduced by their producer/agent who had just finished
telling the room that Green Day had currently sold 43 million albums
worldwide.  It made Armstrong’s father’s words that much funnier.

I don’t know if these names mean anything to any of you.  I’m sure most
of you have at least heard of Dave Brubeck and Green Day.  The other
honoree was George Duke, who was introduced by Stanley Clark.  The music
for Dave Brubeck was a performance of “Take Five” which was awesome in
its complexity, and breakneck tempo.  The performers were young guys (not
dressed in grunge) and they were ALL incredible. They were joined by an
alum of Tower of Power.  Our table was next to Dave Brubeck’s and he was
having a ball. 

George Duke’s resume includes teaming with a young Al Jarreau, followed
by teaming with a young Jean Luc-Ponty, as well as a few years with Frank
Zappa and many more.  Michael Narada Walden (a big local musician and
record producer who made a few videos back in the 80s with Clarence “The
Big Man” Clemons and Jackson Brown) lead a quintet and a singer who soon
invited George up to the piano and the place totally rocked.

Green Day didn’t play, but another band called My Chemical Romance did a
medley of Green Day songs.  I enjoyed the whole evening, but My Chemical
Romance made me feel a bit old – and I say that from my vantage next to
an 84 year old Dave Brubeck.

Happy Vernal Equinox everybody

Marvin 

#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9#9
A posse ad esse 
Latin saying that means
>From possibility to actuality

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