Comments for Jazz Beyond Jazz

Comment on Goin’ on about “free jazz” and “the avant-garde”, w/playlists by Donald Ahern

Donald Ahern — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:44:09 +0000

Jazz improvisation is a state of mind that can be cultivated. Just what level of sophistication a student reaches is determined by the amount of salient material studied. Miaim is to create a level playing field where anybody who desires so, can reach their full potential as an innovator in improvisation

Comment on American novels: as fun to write as they are to read? by Howard Mandel

Howard Mandel — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:17:36 +0000

Thanks Kevin. Yeah, 32 yr old Herman writing Moby Dick — way beyond anything I could imagine at that age OR now. As for my crime novel, I hope it won’t be too long . . .

Comment on American novels: as fun to write as they are to read? by kevin-l@att.net

kevin-l@att.net — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:54:24 +0000

Howard,
Very nice reflection on the grand art of the novel. I guess I never really imagined myself writing any of the great books you referred to, so kudos to your intellectual dreaming (a la Teachout), which must help strengthen some muscles in the brain’s creative resources and will, at least as a challenge to do your best.
I must try to track down a copy of Sweet Adversity, which sounds great, from your description elsewhere.
As I’ve come a bit of a self-styled Melvillian, I might imagine myself writing some of Melville’s lesser, somewhat flawed poems. Of course, imagining him at age 32 writing Moby-Dick in about 16 months always boggles my mind. What would I have done with Hawthorne’s challenge to turn my whaling yarn into something that dove for dark and vast truths and finally rose “with bloodshot eyes,” as M wrote, breaching high into eternity, like the white whale itself?
I look forward to the day when a crime novel by Howard Mandel hits the bookstores.

Comment on American novels: as fun to write as they are to read? by Howard Mandel

Howard Mandel — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:32:00 +0000

Thanks Stewart, I’m a big fan of Newlove’s fiction (and also his non-fiction, Those Drinking Days and three very fine books on writing) and I think his being out-of-print is a misdemeanor if not felony against contemporary American literature and readers. A dozen new titles! Besides Starlight Photoplays? Zounds. Good luck and keep at it and let me know of progress.

Comment on American novels: as fun to write as they are to read? by Stuart Anderson

Stuart Anderson — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:15:41 +0000

Thank you for your kind words about the works of Donald Newlove. Although many of his books are long out of print, he has not been idle. He is currently offering, through Otego Publishing, a dozen new titles for Kindle, and as soon as we get caught up with his backlog, we’ll be scanning in his earlier works.

Thanks again…it’s hard to be noticed under the daily avalanche that the electronic press has unleashed upon us all; it is immensely gratifying to actually be appreciated!

Comment on It ain’t easy playing Mahavishnu, but Weston does it by Howard Mandel

Howard Mandel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:56:37 +0000

Other bands in this mode I’ve enjoyed in the past year include Spectrum Road, Vernon Reid playing the McLaughlin parts of Tony Williams’ Lifetime Emergency! and Turn it Over, with Cindy Blackman (Mrs. Carlos Santana) on drums, John Medeski keyboards (recalling Larry Young), and on bass + vocals, Jack Bruce himself. Vernon’s Masque has been one of the few bands I can think of that has new compositions in that high volume/high density/virtuosic soul/funk vein.

Comment on It ain’t easy playing Mahavishnu, but Weston does it by vincent marino

vincent marino — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:03:00 +0000

I was there Friday night and you have it just about right. Too much feedback or overly loud monitors worked against some of the softer passages, like in “Open Country Joy”. For those of us who were lucky enough to have followed the MO live over their few years togrether, it is hard to find anything today that is so rich with sound, musicianship and …a direct line to the soul! Santana today can still kick it but its not the same. We are lucky to have bands like “Tresures of the Spirt” with players talented enough to make it all work. I would love to hear them try some of their own composions following the MO tradition.

Comment on It ain’t easy playing Mahavishnu, but Weston does it by Howard Mandel

Howard Mandel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:31:10 +0000

Thanks Martin — yep, I saw the MO a couple of times too, was blown away. I’ve also interviewed McLaughlin a couple times — he’s part of a chapter in my book Future Jazz.

Comment on It ain’t easy playing Mahavishnu, but Weston does it by Martin Z Kasdan Jr

Martin Z Kasdan Jr — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:53:32 +0000

Thanks for an interesting read. Saw (original) MO twice back in the day.

Comment on Etta James and Johnny Otis — Jazz Masters? by Howard Mandel

Howard Mandel — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:29:09 +0000

Paul, a Jazz Master is stipulated to have to be living. Andrew Hill was informed of his acceptance just before he died, and I believe Luther Thompson died prior to receiving his Award.

Also, I’m a bit older than you and I had a flute lesson tonight (from the excellent Jamie Baum).