Joe Zawinul

Joe Zawinul



Has died. Today, I think.

He always boggled me. Nobody else could craft melodies like that,
especially in the context of the rhythm beds he also helped create.
Other-worldly is the wrong word - they were very much of this world, but
--- older or something. Aboriginal. Like he heard them emanating from
the hulls of nurse trees, or floating in a cavern's dankness. He took
the beeps and blips of early portable synthesizers, like Arp 2600's and
Prohet-5's, and made them into organic extensions of himself. There
has never been a sonic feast quite like a Weather Report recording, and
none of them were ever quite the same either.

I was just thinking about him this morning - listening to movie scores
on XM, thinking JZ could do this, he'd be awesome - and there's still
time. And now, of course, I find there isn't.

Band practice tonight, maybe I can talk them into a quick run through
Mercy Mercy Mercy or Birdland before we get down to business.

I'm near tears. Damn.

Meet my new piano

Meet my new piano.



Okay, it's just a module. But way cool, nonetheless.

I actually bought my RP-X a couple months ago, but didn't put it through its paces until last night, auditioning for a blues band. It wasn't the best of circumstances - was sitting at a bad angle for playing, and an even worse angle for listening. But still, the RP-X really shone.

It appears I have the job, so will probably try to get a lightweight controller to replace the QS8, and a B3 clone. My CME UF-5 works nicely with B3 clones, so a box would be okay. BEST would be Creamware's as-yet-unissued card for the UF controllers, which is supposed to turn them into a killer little B3 manual for an absurdly cheap price. I can only wait so long, though. I suppose I could use my laptop and NI's B4 soft synth while I was waiting...

The lightweight controller to replace the QS8 will probably be Yamaha's new NP-30. Killer price point - $300ish street - only 12 lbs, light but sturdy action, and decent built in sounds. I doubt I'll like the Yam sounds as much as the RP-X, but if they're good, that could make my life even easier.

Stay tuned.

Still alive

Still alive

Not much to say, lately.

Joined a 60's soul band, but it broke up right away. Great potential shot down once again by personality clashes.

Had another Voxfest gathering, reasonably successful. I suppose I should post pics. Again, almost nothing got recorded.

My kid finally cleaned his truckload of crap (bought out an old auto parts warehouse) out of the basement this weekend, so I'm going to move the studio down there: not enough room in the bedroom, plus we really need a guest room. Watch for pics of the new space once it's ready.

I probably haven't mentioned the Alesis Fusion 6HD that I bought a while back, or the Cascade Fat Head II ribbon mic. Consider them mentioned. Love the Fusion, and the Fat Head is a great mic for the right voice. I'm not the right voice. But you knew that...

-j-