tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-317691742024-03-13T01:19:46.405-04:00Raney Day ThoughtsIf you're looking for info about Jimmy Raney, Doug Raney or me, you've come to the right place... but not quite... This blog is no longer active and I have in fact moved my own site, blog and forums and merged it with a new Jimmy Raney website to http://www.jonraney.com. In it you will find tons of info, music, videos, blogs and more! Click on the Raney Legacy link to the right and just below my photo.Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-67949535121914510192012-04-19T22:00:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:08.543-05:00USA Scholarship... the scam continues into collegeAs a follow up to a 2009 post <a href="http://otherraneyday.blogspot.com/2009/05/national-youth-leadership-forum.html">The National Youth Leadership Forum marketing scam</a>, my daughter was recently the recipient of a mailing scam from <i>USA Scholarship Program for Engineering Students</i> offering the possibility of a scholarship up to $7,500. Ofcourse, there is a $29 processing fee. They probably bought the mailing list from an unscrupulous college bound student list seller, maybe the same one that NYLF used - which allows student names to be bought off of SAT applications. Stay away from these people- 39 complaints with BBB in last 3 years. And this scam has been going for longer than that. Simply google the Scholarship director, Ike Onwo and you will find numerous references, dating as far back as 2006.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-2280033404859380352011-11-08T14:48:00.005-05:002011-11-08T15:07:01.849-05:00Mariah Carey: Closet Jazz Singer? Pop singers go jazzy on us and do a damn good job!Mariah sings beautiful on this very short duet with Tony Bennett. I also love the sections where she rounds out Tony's tone in the upper register when they sing together. Yes there is the R&B flavoring but so what. Good singing is good singing! <br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EYx3nVT0eQo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EYx3nVT0eQo?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object><br />Mariah surprised me as well as a few other pop vocalists on Duets II album. The real standout on the album was Amy Winehouse's <em>Body and Soul</em> though. She was channeling Dinah and Billie on this. Given it was her very last recording, very poignant as well.<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_OFMkCeP6ok?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_OFMkCeP6ok?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object><div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-59858841235868725942011-11-04T15:30:00.007-04:002011-11-04T15:52:16.538-04:00Listen to this not that...In the spirit of the famous dietary advice with that tagline, I propose this installment for musicians<br /><em><strong>Listen to this...not that</strong></em><br /><br />Listen to this:<br /><br /><br /><em>A Song for You</em><br />Donny Hathaway<br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HeHiio1sTTI?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HeHiio1sTTI?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object><br /><br />NOT That:<br /><br /><br /><em>A Song for You</em><br />Christina Aguilera with Herbie Hancock<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LMUMPs-xH98?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LMUMPs-xH98?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object><br /><br />Sorry Herbie not into it. You're a genius but this ain't happening for me.<br /><br />Obviously Christina used Donny's version as the basis for her own interpretation but somewhere in the middle it just became overwrought and tiresome. IMHO Herbie's sophisticated dense jazz chords and jazz fills just sound colorless in this context. In terms of singing, for me generally, the current generation of soul based artists really need to take a lesson in restraint and taste in regards to R&B embellishment. Donny shows how to do it. Listen to it with headphones. It will go right through you.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-10054246919704587152011-10-30T15:10:00.005-04:002011-10-30T16:11:51.171-04:00The computer and book battle rages onMy old <span style="font-style:italic;">Dell</span> laptop was pretty much on last legs by the end of August. With one available usb port and basically a non-working mousepad it was becoming impossible to work, not to mention a few close calls with crashes and reviving my computer from the dead putting my book project at risk. Having enough I got a new <span style="font-style:italic;">Mac Quickbook</span>. (I hate the <span style="font-style:italic;">vista, windows 7 </span>family of products). In order to continue my book work I basically needed to upgrade to Sibelius 7. I figured I'd start cooking pretty good after that. A bit of new mac user learning curve but a good one and trading in a lot of processing sludge for new speed.<br /><br />Not quite. My battles over the problematic Sibelius 7 for Mac are now public knowledge (see Sibelius forums. You can actually find me easily at top of a search by googling on "unhappy with Sibelius and my name" ). A replacement CD set later, I'm still struggling with things but basically the very necessary things- being able to save my work seems to be solved by downgrading my sound set while writing and saving. I respect Sibelius in many ways and wouldn't go back to Finale but Sib7 is a work in progress unfortunately.<br /><br />Other things are Mac related. I'm really discovering what a PC dominated world it is in terms of finding Mac equivalent software. Video upload and creation software like I used with my PC (despite Mac users extolling the virtues of equivalent products like <span style="font-style:italic;">Handbrake</span> and some others) just don't work right. I use my wife's PC for that. For the most part you have to pay for stuff - that's the bottom line. Something I'm not used to with the frequent freebee and open source available for PCs.<br /><br />I managed to figure out how to use my prized MS Word 2007 (that I created my book in) in Mac via programs called <span style="font-style:italic;">X11</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Wine Bottler</span>. Sun Microsystems product, <span style="font-style:italic;">Open Office</span> just makes a mess of my work when I import it- especially images and none of the equivalent out of the box font theme styles are available. Figuring out the Mac directory system is a job and a half but I've managed to bookmark my last saved locations so I don't have to think about it. X11 gives you a virtual MS view but file directory locations are a bit virtual as well - where "my desktop" is not <span style="font-style:italic;">really </span>"my desktop".<br /><br />Anyway... currently focusing on the bolded areas. Other areas of the book are continually augmented with new extra examples that occur to me (and old ones haves to be revised because of fig X.X numbering.) Another solo transcription is in the list as well<br /><br /><li><em>Chapter 8: The Essential Elements of Jimmy Raney's phrases</em></li><br />- II-V "go-to" licks<br />- Inverted chord lines<br />- auxilliary tones (PT, NT, and turns)<br />- Exercises 8A-C (based on above 3 sections)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">- Major Chord concepts<br />- Minor chord concepts<br />- Dominant chord concepts</span><br />- Exercises 8D-F (based on above 3 sections)<br />(Status: 80-90% done. Needed: minor, dominant concepts sections, Exercises 8D-F<br /><br /><br /><br /><li><em>Chapter 12: Transcribed Solos</em></li><br />- Jim's Tune<br />- Cross Your Heart<br />- Isn't It Romantic<br />- Motion<br />- Signal<br />- Just One of Those Things (Norvo)<br />- No Male for Me<br />- Pennies from Heaven<br />- The Flag is Up<br />- Stella By Starlight (3) ...Tokyo, w/ Phil Woods, Strings & Swings<br />- Anthropology<br />- The Song is You (Birdland '52)<br />- Anthropology<br />- <span style="font-weight:bold;">Strike Up the Band</span><br /><br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Jon<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-35422097767941325202011-10-28T10:07:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:08.700-05:00Aphorism of the Day"Nothing good ever came out of ripping a drinking hole in the lid of your coffee"<br /><br /><blockquote>-JR</blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-73436650571967724402011-09-06T23:20:00.007-04:002011-09-06T23:39:18.610-04:00Doug Raney on Jazz Guitar part 1I had originally scheduled this for Doug's Birthday, Aug 29th. Unfortunately limitations of video conversion via my new Mac computer made it - well impossible(via Imovie and Handbrake - they're crap IMO). So I reverted back to my limping PC and <span style="font-style:italic;">Windows Moviemaker</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Any-Video-Converter</span> (best free one around) and it came out fine as always. Anyway here it is! Enjoy. It's a European documentary from 1985 that Doug did when touring with Thorgeir Stubo<br /><br />Happy (belated) birthday Doug!<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gy7Ucg99wD8?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gy7Ucg99wD8?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object><br /><br />You can also watch it on youtube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy7Ucg99wD8">here</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-12409129440421665402011-08-21T12:36:00.006-04:002011-08-21T15:54:25.467-04:00New Jimmy Raney videoAs promised, a new video segment from Jimmy Raney/Cal Collins videotape on the tune, Autumn Leaves. Although Jimmy looks slightly uncomfortable in spots (shifting his seat, flexing his arm, etc) he's still one of the most fluid jazz guitarists who ever walked the planet. Tyrone and Bruce are getting a good groove here and Jimmy is just flying over the top<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />
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<br />Or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWpfN9PP2Uw&feature=player_embedded">click here to watch the video on youtube</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-91496205597156305672011-08-20T00:37:00.007-04:002011-08-20T02:54:16.476-04:00Now on to the other (book) stuff..For those of you who know me, corresponded with me or read my blog or my forum, Dad's birthday this year was my projected target date for the release of Jimmy Raney's unfinished book. Alas it's still not done. It's painful to have to say that. Project management on self-produced work is a bitch. I can tell you it's getting close though and I've been putting in late nights to 2am after my day job and even teaching myself guitar. Sometimes, the reality is that the only time you can get work done is when you think you are going to run out of time.
<br />
<br />So at least 2 weeks ago, I knew I would never make it, given the project scope I set out. So I just decided to approach it as if I had 2 months more. What could I do? I actually took the time away from feverish mania to finish the book(without hope) to write this post ahead of time. One of the pitfalls Internet and blogging is getting an inflated sense of self-importance. Perhaps few will notice. But this post is really for those who <em>do</em> notice. And given this project's announcment years ago, it's frankly a source of embarrassment for me. The book is not a fiction. It's reality. 10 Chapters long and 94 solid MS Word pages(projected to be 13 with final conclusion) And (At least I think) phenomenal in its fundamental premise. The issue is that the original work by Dad is only about 10% and the rest is by me. And my part needs to be at his requisite level. I've had several years to contemplate what people would want out of a book by and about Jimmy. That alone is the issue and the problem. I am the son of Jimmy Raney. I cannot put out common crap. It would be insult to Dad. It is NOT another book of transcriptions although there would be quite a few within it. It has chapters devoted to the principles of his style in detail with exercises.
<br />
<br />Recently however, I have gained a realization that I was ignoring his primary audience, guitar players. Now in his "Scales?..." Youtube video, Jimmy states that "...he is a musician first and that being a guitar player is an accident". But this ignores the fact that guitar players are the ones that want to emulate him! So I started really examining his videos. Unfortunately there are very few videos and even fewer that show his picking hand clearly as well.This was in preparation to make a full tab and score chart with picking and fingering. I had to learn the neck of the guitar. But it's really catching a tiger by the tail and videos are not quite in sync if you slow them down. I now have an even greater appreciation for his art. He had PHENEMONAL technique and made it seem easy.
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<br /><strong>"Blah, blah, blah. So where is it at man??"</strong>
<br />
<br />In the interest of full disclosure, let's just put the cards on the table. Instead of offering you new project dates let's take this approach. The original definition of "blog" was "weblog diary". Let me use this medium to tell you exactly what the book is, how much is there, and what needs to be finished "as it is happening". Below is the full outline plan. You should be able to see the progress as it happens on subsequen posts.
<br />
<br /><ul><li>Introduction: He wrote one. Will use it (Status: finished, untyped)</li>
<br /><li>My Introduction: Saving that for last once he whole thing (Status: not done)</li>
<br /><li> Table of Contents: Saving that for last once he whole thing (Status: not done)</li>
<br /><li>SECTION I:</li>
<br />Jimmy Raney's Improvised Line, Edited & Updated<br />Background/History<br />Concepts in Recording<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 1: Consructing and Editing Jazz Lines</em></li> (Status: done)
<br /><li><em>Chapter 2: Refining/Enhancing Lines with Rhythmic Devices</em></li> (Status: done)
<br />The first 2 chapters are essentially Dad's original work with some section titling an organizing added and "Things to Think About" (referred to later as TTTA) to end them (aft
<br /><li><em>Chapter 3: Sequnce & Development of Line</em> (Status: done except for TTTA)
<br />This is the first chapter that starts to integrate his original work with some of my adds.
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 4: Intervallic and Direction Variety in Line</em></li> (Status: done except TTTA)<li><em>Chapter 5: Jimmy Raney's Polyrhythmic Devices in Recordings</em></li>
<br />-background/history
<br />-polyrhythmic scale patterns
<br />-polyrhythmic arpeggio patterns
<br />-polyrhythmic phrase patterns
<br />-polythythmic blues lick patterns
<br />(Status: Mostly done. Needed: 4 needed music examples with accompanying verbiage, TTTA other small adds always possible but not crucial)
<br />
<br />This is the first complete addition on my part. His original section on "Wrong and Right" changes was unfinished and therefore omitted. His other parts with exercises and sample solos will be integrated into later sections near end.
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 6: Jimmy Raney's Displacement Concepts in Recordings</em></li>
<br />-harmonic dislocation
<br />-add/subtract concepts
<br />-free/unresolved displacement
<br />(Status: done. needs TTTA)
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 7: Jimmy Raney's Advanced Asymmetry and Polymetrics in Recordings</em></li>
<br />-concepts in practice
<br />-Parker's influence
<br />-more advanced exmaples
<br />(Statis: done. needs TTTA)
<br />I'm particularly proud of this one showing a crucial link between Parker and Jimmy
<br />
<br /><li>SECTION II:</li>
<br />the Jimmy Raney Workbook:
<br />Primer and Practice Tips on the Elements of Jimmy Raney's Language
<br />
<br />This was sort of my "rebirth section" after writer's block hit from 2009-2010
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 8: The Essential Elements of Jimmy Raney's phrases</em></li>
<br />- II-V "go-to" licks
<br />- Inverted chord lines
<br />- auxilliary tones (PT, NT, and turns)
<br />- Exercises 8A-C (based on above 3 sections)
<br />- Major Chord concepts
<br />- Minor chord concepts
<br />- Dominant chord concepts
<br />- Exercises 8D-F (based on above 3 sections)
<br />(Status: 80-90% done. Needed: minor, dominant concepts sections, Exercises 8D-F
<br />
<br />I stopped here and skipped to later chapters to prevent writer's block again. Pretty clear what I want to do. Some creative work is necessary though
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 9: Compositional, Development and Phrasing Concepts</em></li>
<br />- diminution
<br />- set-up phrases
<br />- asymmetrical joins
<br />- Exercises 9A-C
<br />- sequence linked expansion
<br />- thematic contrasts & repetition
<br />- the undercurrent of "three"
<br />- Exercises 9D-F
<br />- question and answer
<br />- "drawing the harmony"
<br />- weakbeat emphasis
<br />- Exercises 9G-I
<br />(Status: ~85% done. Needed: weakbeat emphasis incomplete. Exs 9D-F, 9G-I
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 10: The Raney Approach - Creating a Complete solo</em></li>
<br />- Ex 10-1 "Lady is a Tramp" Raney style solo
<br />- Ex 10-2 "Star Eyes" Raney "influenced" contemporary solo
<br />- Jimmy Raney's original book solos
<br />
<br />(Status: -90% done. Needed: transcribe Jimmy's orig. solos to music writer software
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 11: Technical Stuff</em></li>
<br />- Transcribed solo(s?) with tabs, fingering, picking (where available)
<br />- Jimmy's original technical exercises
<br />
<br />(Status: `30-40% done(?). Needed: finish solo transcription #1, other vid solos ?(2,3?). Transcribe Jimmy's exercises to software. basic verbiage
<br />
<br /><li><em>Chapter 12: Transcribed Solos</em></li>
<br />- Jim's Tune
<br />- Cross Your Heart
<br />- Isn't It Romantic
<br />- Motion
<br />- Signal
<br />- Just One of Those Things (Norvo)
<br />- No Male for Me
<br />- Pennies from Heaven
<br />- The Flag is Up
<br />- Stella By Starlight (3) ...Tokyo, w/ Phil Woods, Strings & Swings
<br />- Anthropology
<br />- The Song is You (Birdland '52)
<br />- Anthropology
<br />
<br />95-98% done. I have other snippets of solos for book that I could turn into full transcriptions. probably will start offering online for donations though.
<br />
<br /><li><em>Final Thoughts</em>
<br />(Status: 0%. concepts open)
<br />
<br />Beyond this.
<br />
<br />There are really important production issues that are uncharted waters for me.
<br />
<br />E-Book vs. printed copy. Both? One or other? not even dealt with yet
<br />Very complicated and some of has to do with time and money. Cd Baby's "Book Baby" program is an interesting option. Ironically the more sophisticated product might be the easiest and most secure way to produce. But regardless I will probably have to create (re-create) normalize for e-book:
<br />t-ext files,
<br />-music snippet graphics
<br />-music sound samples
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<br />Then decide what is the best way to secure and produce print only copy. Separate production? Or have users click print on their e-book?
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<br />Security. copyright issues (including my rights to use certain music?)
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<br />Editorial review. I will be entrusting close friends to review work. This is standard for any book review process when you were previously the only editor. I'm hoping for the best here :)
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<br />And maybe a slightly crucial point - WTF do I charge?
<br />
<br />As compensation for all of you dedicated followers begging me for the book and leaving empty handed, I am contemplating the following. I will probably offer teasers of some sort on certain chapters in the coming month (depending on progress). The likely offering will be e-book link style which would be an added enhancement of music samples. But if I outsource production I may let loose simple pdfs of partial chapters. TBD
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<br />As an ongoing process, I will be offering transcriptions and later asking for donations to the Jimmy Raney via Paypal. The main hub will be Jimmyraney.com. It's in beta stage, but there are 2 solos there already (they are referenced above as well)
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<br />So I hope his sits well with everyone. This weekend I will be adding a new Jimmy Raney video from Cal Collins gig that has never been seen.
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<br />Cheers
<br />
<br />Jon<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-13745988246865615262011-08-19T18:47:00.011-04:002011-08-20T02:53:46.274-04:00Happy Birthday Jimmy Raney and ... other stuffToday, August 20th is Jimmy Raney's birthday. Dad would've been 84. Let us celebrate the legacy of his genius once again by listening as much as possible to this underappreciated genius - and anyone else for that matter - deserving of attention that the general listening public doesn't seem to give enough to. Maybe even WBGO will play a cut or two, who knows (hopefully before Brian Delp's 3am slot)...
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<br />Yesterday, I took a stoll through the park with my dog, BJ while tuned in to the local jazz station WKCR (89.9 FM) listening to serial music without knowing who or what it was. And I thought, wow, is that some experimental jazz or something? It was just wonderful. I had no preconceptions or expectations. I had the sense it was pushing the limits yet I could still follow it. The goal was to not be grounded to the prior tonality while still being musical. Why don't all experimental jazzers follow this approach? Why must they unrelentingly bury their hands in tons of notes with their fists? Does pushing the limits mean this intolerable density? The sparse #9 and other dark chords. Then I listened more and realized it not improvised and that it must be Anton Webern (Although half a me expected to hear it was some cutting edge jazz artist that escaped my attention).
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<br />My thoughts then turned to Dad. I recalled the record collection he left behind. In addition to all the original scratched jazz classics, Parker, Konitz, Getz and his own records as a leader and a sideman, he also had a great classical collection with Webern, Bartok, Bach, Ravel, Mozart and Beethoven with some of the finest performers like Robert Casadesus, János Starker, Walter Gieseking, Frederic Goulda and the Julliard Quartet just to name a few. I thought about his own Bartokian <em>Suite for Guitar Quintet</em>. I also recalled the months I spent with him in 1985 in Louisville. He rarely listened to jazz. He mostly listened to classical, in particular Beethoven. And he had a book of scores that he would look at while listening. He had a retiring life style but he was still tuned in to things that mattered. We often discussed music during that time. And one of the topics was the universality of Beethoven's music. How it didn't seem confined to the period of music it was in. It didn't seem like when we listened to Beethoven we were listening to the "past" or a "style" (i.e. classical period composers, as defined by Haydn, C.P.E. Bach, Clementi et al).
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<br />I then thought about how this universality relates to Dad's legacy, thinking about my recent viewing of the video from 1987 with Cal Collins. They were playing on "Billie's Bounce" tranposed (by Cal Collins request) to the key of G. Dad had the first solo. There was some blues phrases and stylings. But it was through his unique prism and them there was these chromatic phrases, the harmonic sidesteps and his general staunch commitment to pushing the harmonic and rhytbmic limits of the style. Starting a phrase on the "and" of two when you think it should be the "and" of four, or his characteristic polyrhythms and long lines. I recalled recent board conversations I had where I had to defend my father's style. Some dumbass posters had the audacity to condemn Jimmy's approach as not being bluesy enough or having bad time or put other players at or above his level. Dad didn't play clichés. If you wanted your requisite blues licks you needed to listen to someone else. He didn't see the need to play blues licks that everyone else was playing or do idiomatic tricks to satisfy the musical Nazis that required certain ideas as "required" to be playing the song. The dumb thing is that people view the omission of these ideas as inability to hear or play such things. C'mon. Get real. Nothing could be easier than to imitate common ideas at Jimmy's technical level. Dad used the forms of the music as a vehicle to define it in his own way. This is the mark of any great artist. They create a system around themselves and make it seem like "that" is the way to play. And makes anybody else near them question their own fundamental understanding of what it is to play on the tune they're playing (at least if they were honest with themselves). He heard himself over the vehicle. Many good 'ol boy artists do what's required or what will get a "yeah" out of those easily pleased. The "yeahs" he would get were of a different order. He used the commonality with existing players to keep with the listeners but he built his own system. There are many good players out there. But Jimmy was something of a completely different order. And I fear that very few people understand the vast difference between him and other guitarists deemed to sound similar to him. I run into the same type of arguments about Bill Evans. People just don't get when they are listening to a poet. They get the surface but not the substance.
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<br />and now <a href="http://jonraneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/now-on-to-other-book-stuff.html">on to the other stuff...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-49429413148016301532011-08-10T15:13:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:47:28.831-05:00Women's RazorsI try to get the best mid-level razors I can buy and not re-use them more than let's say 7-10x (although I don't count frankly. I just stop when it stops removing hairs and hurting more). The shaves I get are ok not great and obviously get worse on re-use. The premium razors, <em>Mach III</em>, and other blade cartridge replacement types (you know the ones on TV commercials - aerodynamically designed and spawned from the sweat and toil of our greatest, sternest engineering minds under the hottest lamps) are much better, but just a bit too expensive on a continuing basis to warrant the cost. On the other hand, buying <em>Good News </em>razors or worse <em>BIC</em> disposable razors on the cheap...well you might as well take a butter knife to your face.<br /><br /><br /><br />I sometimes run out of razors and am stuck with few options in the morning. So recently I crossed over the gender dividing line in the bathroom (you know- the one with the loofah, pumice rock and more expensive shampoos and conditioners?)and tried a pink and white deal on my rather tough beard. As it turned out, it was one of the best shaves I ever got. It was a <em>Venus</em> razor. I suddenly felt a communion and common bond of intimacy with Jennifer Lopez. Her legs to my face. Generally, the way the razor drags against the face just feels tighter and more effective. I don't have to retread over the same spot.<br /><br /><br /><br />I suddenly mused, what exactly constitutes a woman's razor? The angle? Blade sharpness? Or do they just fashion George's razor in girly colors and call it a Jane? Maybe a product specialist could tell me. But given that the shave is seemingly superior and cheaper - if there is a difference - why bother? Or is this simply marketing, where cheaper men's razors are intentionally designed like crap so men feel the need to save themselves by buying these expensive razors that require scientific video commercials zooming in on the single beard hair?<br /><br /><br /><br />Makes you go hmmm... <br /><br />Not exactly the stuff of conspiracy theory novels but interesting nonetheless. What do you think?<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-76849417545914204602011-05-27T10:36:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:09.014-05:00Follow up: DH gate resolvedWell I guess there are some decent people out there. The DHGate rep, Blunyi wrote me back apologized and they refunded my money. Was expecting more of a fight<br /><br />I suppose now I have to deal with the real crooks, HP who sold me a motherboard that crapped out in 13months and want 3x the money I almost lost at DHgate.<br /><br />Onward and upward and all that stuff...<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-86713725417834948252011-05-20T12:25:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:09.112-05:00DHGate: Worst Online sellerI made the mistake of buying on the cheap (a motherboard for HP Slimline) from this online buying site from China. Avoid them like the plague.<br /><br />These people have no customer service standards, irresponsible sellers, and zero oversight. Their CEO, Diane Wang must be asleep at the wheel because the Internet is just littered with complaints on forums and entries of the company into fraud complaint sites. My fault for not seeing that though. Oh well. I was too willing to take a risk and got scammed.<br /><br />I bought a defective item, the seller reluctantly promised to replace. When I returned via a method that wasn't the standard courier with tracking (i.e. UPS, Fedex, etc)he had an out because I couldn't prove without a signature. Even though I showed USPS delivery to China plus customs stamp. He stopped responding to emails completely after doing so regularly and also chats (where originally I had snagged his attention to give me a return address). <br /><br />Other stuff. Their system disables complaint recourse after a certain period. Which is ridiculous being the international seller they are - knowing full well that many sellers use the cheapest slowest methods available. <br /><br />Customer service has no 48 hr standard. They took a week to respond and it was a boilerplate response at that. They claimed they would follow up. They didn't after several requests and week-late continued boilerplate responses. There was some dispute dept that I sent my evidence to. They responded after 3 weeks about being so sorry about my experience and saying they would investigate. They intitiated I believe after I threatened to write to the president. Then did no follow up with me. That was a month ago. It's just astounding. What can you say when you've been had. Shame on them, but shame on me for ignoring the red flags. And my case is minor compared to others.<br /><br />Anybody having a direct contact email or address for CEO Wang let me know. May work up the energy for one of my "letters to the president". I have had some success in the past with some major corporate entities. Shaming them into paying attention. We'll see.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-75641450721479972152011-05-20T11:14:00.016-04:002011-05-20T12:27:57.520-04:00Buyer BewareI made the mistake of buying on the cheap (a motherboard for HP Slimline) from this online buying site from China. Avoid them like the plague. <a href="http://otherraneyday.blogspot.com/2011/05/dhgate-worst-online-seller.html">read more...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-24155890763400915022011-05-18T15:30:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:09.205-05:00Loss of Innocence (Inner Sense?)when in a man's life <br /><br />is innocence lost<br /><br />expecting everything <br /><br />and fearing nothing<br /><br />the touch of a hand<br /><br />making him drunk <br /><br />making him blind <br /><br />to all else<br /><br />but the woman<br /><br />who is the sole planet<br /><br />in his universe<br /><br /><br /><br />Copyright © Jon Raney, 2011<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-78360390196656944032011-05-18T14:23:00.010-04:002011-05-18T14:50:08.320-04:00Robert Casadesus' RavelThis will be a short one.<br /><br />I was exposed to the Robert Casadesus <em>Complete Ravel Piano Works </em>originally by my father, who had the record collection on vinyl. The record is magical and I'm happy to say is available on Rhapsody.<br /><br />IMO there is no one to this day that can capture the feeling of his rendition of <em>Pavane pour une infante défunte </em>NO ONE. The piece ofcourse is one of Ravel's most famous (making it that much harder). It carries the unique and difficult task of a pulsating background in regimented time but still the feeling and romance in melody typical of (lets say) Chopin. And ofcourse that marvelous 20th century harmony typical of later jazz. The achievement is stunning. Like the exquisite ticking of a beautiful clock or the beating of the waves. But you only realize that when you hear stiff unfeeling or schmalzy versions. The music spoke thru him! Every take captured on this record is the gold standard for the performance of these wonderful compositions.<br /><br />Definitely a "Desert Island" record. Look it up and Enjoy!<br /><br />cheers<br /><br />jon<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-8115013050539349262011-05-18T09:28:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:09.280-05:00Dr. Ron Daulton's Heal Your Bulging Disc: (A Reader Response)I've sort of been waiting for this, given (as I have stated previously) to not having used the program ultimately. <br /><br />I received a comment from a user with her own issue who was pointed to this:<br /><br /><em>My dentist told me he wasin agony day and night. He was in 24/7 pain, and he was scheduled for surgery. Some one directed him to the book below. He religiously followed the exercises in this book, which many in the medical profession do, and cured himself in three months...<br /><br />The book is called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743424646/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0936197390&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0MSPWF0DA1AY3FJYXZC1">Healing Back Pain Naturally by DR. ART BROWNSTEIN </a></em><br /><br />She will get back on whether the program worked for her.<br /><br />Her doctors are not on the "ice" bandwagon either. (Don't Use Ice!!) Not sure if there are dangers but for them shouldn't do it. I have used ice because I had swelling of the arm due to my nerve issue. Ice was the only way to reduce the swelling. Now whether this doesn't apply to discs at all is matter for science and study. I suppose you can only use this rule of thumb: In his book, Daulton makes a disclaimer for the treatments. Doctors really cannot. They cannot afford to be wrong.<br /><br />But here is another viewpoint that <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/30406-heal-bulging-disk/">doesn't discount ice</a><br /><br />I suppose there is a fine line between open scientific research" and quackery<br /><br />PS: Please review my posts carefully before commenting. I can't "pre-screen" Daulton's product for you for reasons I have mentioned.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-87882939946758777552011-05-11T13:06:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:09.348-05:00Herniated Disc Follow-Up and Dr. Ron Daulton, Jr.I thought perhaps I should say a few things since over the year I have gotten several emails asking about the Ron Daulton, Jr. experience. Some actually wishing me to give them some type of preview about the program's contents and whether it was worth it etc. Given this creates issues over disclosure and copyright here's a couple of facts stated outright:<br /><br />1- I don't know for certain if it's effective because I didn't end up following the program. I have not received any follow-up emails from anyone indicating they did and it worked or didn't work. So you have to make your own judgement about what that means.<br /><br />2- The program has since increased in money to $100 (according to what I've heard)<br /><br />3- Some people have had some negative customer service experiences. A few have comments here.<br /><br />4- The charge for this type of program may be a tad high. But considering some of the aggressive alternatives $100 for non-surgical seems to me a risk you should be willing to burden. How often have you bought a product that didn't work? Non surgical options via the Internet -- via some book or program always cost something. I wish there was some resource to review all of them but unfortunately there isn't. Money back guarantees for products that can be copied redistributed and potentially resold are inherently difficult. <br /><br />5- My cure was most likely the epidural and maybe cooling it with stressing activities (all types). It could've been also that this was a specific injury that got out of hand. <br /><br />6- There is not a direct absolute causal relationship between arm pain, swelling and herniated disc in my opinion. There is only a likely association with them based on the physics and probably other factors. I was diagnosed with cervical herniated disc way prior to pain. How can that be. The physical process of the pain mechanism is very subtle. People that have herniation but no pain are not likely to get an MRI- they don't know they have it. There is also the possibility of trigger points and not disc or both. There are also theories that triggers and herniation are linked in some way.<br /><br />7- Consider the Daulton book a resource. It lists as many of the available treatments within as possible. It doesn't say that any one thing does the trick. Only that you should throw as much at the problem as possible.<br /><br />8- There are a few (to my knowledge)unique suggestions within the book that have to do with certain supplements/medicines, specific use of ice (not heat), a trampoline and a medicine ball. Again whether this is worth the price is entirely up to you. Please also note that some of these exercises may carry more risk depending on where you have herniation (cervical vs. lumbar)<br /><br />9- There is cross-selling in the purchase process. I for one don't care for it<br /><br />10- The failure rate for surgical options quoted by Daulton is not entirely based on medical documents that I have seen available. I asked Daulton about this and didn't get what I felt was a satisfactory answer (based on some journals that he's read that I don't have access to. date unknown). However it should be acknowledged that even with available evidence "success" is not clearly defined - (e.g. how long the benefit lasted, whether follow-ups surgeries happened). Based on anecdotal evidence from people that have written me, there does appear to be long term benefits from surgery for some. <br /><br />11- The cervical disc removal surgical process is life changing and frightening. This involves losing flexibility and putting a bone graft in your neck and potential further complications. Only consider this when there is no alternative after unsuccessful treatment over at least a year. In my view the body can heal miraculously provided you have the luxury of keeping an income and taking an extended leave where you can stop causing injury to yourself.<br /><br />12- An epidural apparently has disc resorption possibilities for some patients. This is not widely quoted. This essentially means that the herniation can draw back in somewhat and thereby not cause the "button pressing" on the nerve. I cannot prove that this happened because I didn't immediately have benefit, just eventually. Plus I stopped playing piano and made some ergonomic adjustments at work.<br /><br />13- An epidural (according to the physician performing) does carry a risk of mental side effects. I had some but was taking <em>Ambien</em> as well which has known adverse psychological reactions for some. So I can't know for sure.<br /><br />14- Similar to point 1. The lack of corroborating evidence outside of Daulton, Jr's site testimonials after all this time should cast a certain degree of doubt - just logically. Anybody who gets something out of a product- these days - can always be found quoting somewhere on message boards free of charge. My page is still consistently ranked high on Google search results and the original posting was some time ago. I haven't seen too many others outside of Daulton's own links. <br /><br />15- Some people dismiss Daulton's authority on this subject due to his being a chiropractor not a physician or surgeon. Aside from the Alan/Charlie Harper "crock" hilarity of the condemnation, I think doctors have a diffucult road to hoe claiming complete authority on this issue as well. There is NO definitive medically sanctioned cure, only treatment plans that have some measure of success - or not- depending on the circumstance. Also keep in mind that some of the advice mentioned - for free on his page and in more detail in the books are part of many doctors' regimen of recommendations. Many doctors typically prescribe physical therapy and many don't discount chiropractic or accupuncture as a supplement to pre-surgical measures. Surgery is considered last resort because of the "no turning back aspect" of disc removal or replacement.<br /><br />16- Dr. Daulton's book does not describe any "magic bullet" cure. This is a reiteration of point 7<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-11524179661306035302011-03-22T10:01:00.002-04:002011-03-22T10:02:59.216-04:00Defeating Computer VirusesFor those of you that have an interest in the subject, click <a href="http://otherraneyday.blogspot.com/2011/03/battle-continues-defeating-viruses.html">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-89302601733990945372011-03-21T16:35:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:09.422-05:00The Battle Continues (Defeating Viruses)Well, apparently I spoke too soon. :) I was joking with a co-worker whether I'd be targeted by a hacker as a result of my previous post. I can't prove it however it's some coincidence that over the weekend I was attacked by a more virulent Trojan that seemed to trump all of the steps I outlined in the previous post. This is the ysh.exe hack virus. I may upgrade my firewall to something that monitors my ports. I used to have <em>Zone Alarm </em>but it was pain in the ass. Now I may need that pain in the ass:) I almost feel like this is like fighting "the Borg" which learns a little more with each battle and makes it harder to defeat. The ysh.exe plant is designed to do these things in addition to what I described previously:<br /><br />1. To transplant itself at the top of the list in terms of processes. So it's running when your computer boots up windows. You can't beat it to the punch with ctl alt del early.<br />2. It can run in safe mode. So you still can't run your anti-virus software<br />3. Looks for any type of antivirus launch or install and runs its malicious fake antivirus programs instead. <br />4. Effectively trumps Malwarebytes because it cannot be run<br />5. Renaming Malwarebytes exe or install file DOESN"T work. That is often a recommended procedure<br />6. The malicious programs are NOT located in convenient places with C:Windows or C:Temp as I mentioned in previous post. <br />7. Some malicious asshole.dll files referenced in start-up process (run: asshole.dll)cannot be deleted without a special tool.<br /><br />The only way to find it is to be able to know all the registry keys and delete them. If you don't know what you're looking for it's pretty hard. There is only one reasonable solution that I found. It's a dos kill process designed by a programmer that kills the virus exe load. I'm not even going to list it here for fear that the hackers might design a workaround. After that kill process Malwarebytes was able to get the rest of it.<br /><br />In terms of not paying for a monitoring program. I've changed my tune. It's too difficult to prevent the virus from working once it gets in. You need a realtime virus monitoring program (or real firewall) that prevents the drop of the trojan. Avira free version is not up to that task. I'm now using Malwarebytes real-time monitoring. At $25 it was well worth it. Apparently either I had a hacker on my tail or was not fully rid of the virus. I was treading out on the Internet and all of the sudden noticed my search page was redirected from <em>Google</em> to <em>MonsterBargains</em> which is the sign of the hack, then the java6 launch started happening. Malwarebytes caught the trojan drop attempt and killed it. <em>whew.</em> This was after I killed all the trojans with Malwarebytes previously. After this I researched my registry thoroughly and deleted every rogue key I could find. This is not a process for the faint of heart. I think I am effectively virus free.<br /><br />Round 3 I guess.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-51372290334192825092011-03-15T22:47:00.000-04:002019-02-03T22:41:09.492-05:00Fighting Computer Viruses and Getting the Last LaughOver the years I've gained some experince in how to defeat some nasty computer viruses. Some virtually prevent you from using your run command and your antivirus software. The most recent ones I've seen transplant themselves on your system tray as antivirus programs. And they often can't be shut off with the task manager. They keep running and telling you your computer has a virus. <br /><br />Here are some of the most useful programs I have found. I don't use the paid for antivirus programs (they're overpriced and often ineffective):<br /><br /><strong>1. Hijack This</strong> - This basically is for detecting browswer hijack but it can also tell you about registry entries designed to run at startup (autoload programs), browser helpers, toolbars, and other things. Using the "fix this" process should be done with care. Look for (unknown) entries. Don't delete programs you are unsure of. I have been somewhat fearless with my hunches about suspicious programs and have not been burned. But I don't recommend this. There are also some free log analyzers out there that can make recommendations. Be aware though that in the case of browser hijack, they can often prevent you from navigating to the known hijackthis pages. You'll need to save the log to your thumb drive and try it on an uninfected computer at hijackthis log analyzer page.<br /><br /><strong>2. Killbox</strong> - This has a very specific purpose. It deletes files that seem to keep growing back because the rogue program manages to exploit Windows to regenerate it. You have to know exactly what the file is and the path. It gives you some options for killing- delete on reboot, rename, standard kill etc.<br /><br /><strong>3. Avira </strong>- IMO, the best free antivirus program available. Better than<em> AVG </em>and<em> Avast! </em>it generally detects viruses the others cannot. I've run tests with several programs present. Sometimes Avira cannot get rid of the virus and keeps redetecting it. But it at least gives you a clue about what and where it is.<br /><br /><strong>4. Malwarebytes </strong>- This can find and delete many viruses that others cannot including (sometimes) Avira. Generally it can get rid of anything it finds. Full scan takes a long time so be patient, because it sometimes finds viruses way towards the end. But sometimes it can't find viruses and trojans. No program is perfect.<br /><br />There are some 1 time applications and programs I have used called <em>CC Cleaner </em>and <em>Spybot</em> but generally the programs above in concert are generally enough to defeat the problem.<br /><br />Some horse sense methods:<br /><br />Sometimes you can beat the virus before it starts up. If you invoke the task manager early (ctl alt del) you sometimes can catch the program loading and stop it by looking at the PC activity. This can buy you time and ability to defeat the program before it defeats you. However be aware that it may not be listed there. This step can be helpful if the rogue program is designed to defeat the run: program: msconfig.<br /><br />Make sure to disable your Internet connection. You don't want your computer connecting to the Internet if you have a real hijack happening that is communicating with your computer. Check your Tools/Internet Options Homepage. In particularly nasty cases it can be redirected to a specific IP. In extreme cases (after you have defeated the rogue processes), you may have to use "reset" on your browser to get it to navigate properly again. <br /><br />Presuming the rogue program hasn't disabled it. The run commands, msconfig and regedit. msconfig can show you what programs are designed to run at startup. You can uncheck any suspicious entries in the startup panel. Look for wierd names that are unsigned. Regedit is direct registry edit. Most people would advise extreme caution with monkeying around with this. If possible back up the registry before changing anything there. You can find and delete an entry that was found by Antivirus programs or from your hijack this log.<br /><br />Explorer/Search. As Windows O/S systems upgrade it seems like they let you see and find files less and less (don't get me started on Vista). If you're trying to find files in Temp or Windows (often places were rogue programs are hidden) but somehow the path doesn't show them after you navigate to my documents/all users etc then make sure your that your view/folders options is set to show hidden folders and files. Look for files that were created within the last week or few days. Or look for *.exe. If you know your activity you can often find programs that you didn't have a hand in downloading and delete them.<br /><br />Be careful with deep searches on lesser known webpages. I often have found I get a quick virus attack just by navigating to a search result or someone's blog page that turns out to be fake(sometimes in a foreign language page that is translated). These places can be hornet's nests. A recent problem seems to be a Java 6 pop up exploit that transplants itsef in the registry processes immediately. This is often a prelude to the phony Antivirus transplant on your system tray. Deletion of this entry via Hijack this/fix this (look for the java6 entry) is usually enough to start the process of getting control of your computer back. It's not everything. you have to find the program it's referencing as well (usually somewhere in your .tmp internet or mydocuments/`/temp directory).<br /><br />Make sure to get a good thumb drive. Sometimes you need to find programs on the Internet on another computer and load them on the infected computer with the Internet connection disabled. In worse case you have to use all of your available options and work quickly before the trojans take hold of your processes. I've literally restarted dozens of times and used each time as a learning process to figure out which programs to invoke. I ran into a trojan that disables some popular antivirus programs and hijack this. If you run in safe mode sometimes this can prevent the rogue program from running which may require full blown Windows to do it's dirty work.<br /><br />Good luck! (you're gonna need it)<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-5496085744692604262011-03-05T14:42:00.007-05:002012-04-08T12:00:02.122-04:00Jimmy Raney's Ideal Rhythm SectionWill all due respect to some of the players on my father's albums <br /><br />I've just given a re-listen to one of his most overtly swinging lesser known albums on which he was a sideman: Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of "Oliver"<br /><br />The rhythm section consists of:<br /><br />Walter Perkins on drums (yeah baby!)<br />George Tucker on bass (double yeah)<br />Tommy Flanagan on piano!<br /><br />That one just sets your foot tapping and Dad gets positively groovy (for him - he was pretty laid back) on the all too short solo "Who Will Buy" with a Charlie Christian chord lick to finish. Dave Pike no slouch either. Milt Jackson's got nothing on this fella. Excellent bebop lines.<br /><br />If only he could've used these guys all the time on his records! Just try to imagine Jimmy Raney on a 50s Cannonball record. That's what this feels like to me. <br /><br />Below are the only 3 tracks I possess. The album is long out of print. Now bear in mind. Jimmy is a sideman, so his contributions are relatively short but great solos all around Dad, Tommy and Dave. But's it the pocket underneath that I really like and hearing that in the spaces where Jimmy takes a breath, it sounds like he's really having a good time. Little melody quotes in there and stuff. It's not radically different the way he plays, he's still doing his choice phrases. But hearing in this new context just makes me hear it differently. Plus I'm pretty sure that's the 60's engineering work of Rudy Van Gelder so you hear that distinctive sound. That makes it sound different than some other albums where frankly listen my father's solo then kind of tune out due to the missing groove that I like to hear from a rhythm section. <br /> <a href="http://www.jonraney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Id-Do-Anything.mp3">I'll Do Anything</a><br /><a href="http://www.jonraney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Who-Will-Buy.mp3">Who Will Buy</a><br /><a href="http://www.jonraney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Its-a-Fine-Life.mp3">It's A Fine Life</a>
For anybody not able to access the above links prior, my apologies. I needed to migrate my site to another server.
Above links should be fine now<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-20957663878183261412011-01-13T14:54:00.000-05:002019-02-03T22:41:09.562-05:00Good 'ol Snail Mail IssuesIn the wake of all the telemarketing and Internet spam complaints we hear about lately, I think we've lost sight of one good old fashioned pain in the ass: junk mail. Lately I've been drowning in it.<br /><br />Recently, <em>Asurion</em> (the phone insurance partner of <em>T-Mobile</em>) has ass-uredly crossed into the realm of the ultimate boneheaded company. Aside from the T-Mobile rep signing my daughter's phone up without her permission, Asurion has been stuffing our mailbox with a steady torrent of welcome letter packages. Not just 1 but 6-10 DAILY for over a month. I contacted them after the Thanksgiving holiday about this problem. After 3 transfers and redial to the ultimate responsible dept, I complained to a representative who assured me the problem would be fixed. It wasn't. With the holiday mailing season, Asurion's collective brainfart, our mail carrier's devil-may care delivery schedule (she's like Newman, she doesn't believe in creeds) and the recent snow problem, all my mail has been backed up. I'm now fortunate to receive all the backed up mail from December a day at a time. A few days ago I called and gave them an earful and they obviously knew about the problem and said the "glitch" was fixed just last week (that would be the first week of January). Given that I have received 6-10 pieces daily up until Dec 22. I may have as much as 6-10x6x2=72-120 pieces of mail coming before the paperworks shuts off. Fun.<br /><br />Mailing lists. Remember them? They are much harder to prevent and get off of. Plus getting your post office not to deliver is a bit more involved then a click on your spam filter. By some inexplicable means, my wife has gotten on an expectant mother mailing list. (FYI - we are both about 50 with a college student daughter). It started with <em>Babies-R-Us</em> discount postcards. Then various mail with the baby-centric theme. Then <em>Baby-Talk</em> magazine. After the second came, I sent them an email to stop the unwanted magazines. I think the effort just initiated a form of junkmail virus cell division as we then started receiving <em>American Baby </em>magazine - 2 at a time. The next day, a UPS package of <em>Similac</em> formula. 2 16 oz jugs.<br /><br />With all the fighting I have done over the years to fight & right dumbassed wrongs over customer service issues, I'm really losing my oomph for engaging in new mindless battles. I have enough to worry about.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />*update Thu, 1/13/11 6pm. <br /><br />8 Assurion letters received today. All dated Dec 13th<br /><br />The letters<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl4rGtotWPAb1DfU1v775trndOh_mXZbYIdR_9xeAScsGHxvpnwpzxFMHeFeZ_4tro2WlvZ7bUupqFUyDmi0Dr6ESNjN-sjHwYiGg1iCrLnDOXdBnPL52wbU8iypUse1FXUVx/s1600/asurion_238x178.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl4rGtotWPAb1DfU1v775trndOh_mXZbYIdR_9xeAScsGHxvpnwpzxFMHeFeZ_4tro2WlvZ7bUupqFUyDmi0Dr6ESNjN-sjHwYiGg1iCrLnDOXdBnPL52wbU8iypUse1FXUVx/s320/asurion_238x178.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561854168328189778" /></a><br /><br />The pamphlets<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04YfISI-zlwQ5F1Y8ekYGLBsI-fZGj2vY8GkZIzNkT8SNiDuqas8rjBucwBxgI7f3ZIqSCYQ8wIznii3bywQD9o6rpAhJuIPOyWQwRz24mVySambvnG6vn74Wh8ZJRyujVSWU/s1600/asurion_pamphlet_276x207.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04YfISI-zlwQ5F1Y8ekYGLBsI-fZGj2vY8GkZIzNkT8SNiDuqas8rjBucwBxgI7f3ZIqSCYQ8wIznii3bywQD9o6rpAhJuIPOyWQwRz24mVySambvnG6vn74Wh8ZJRyujVSWU/s320/asurion_pamphlet_276x207.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561854653305834754" /></a><br /><br />So perty. Can't wait til tomorrow...<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-8687451668854221322011-01-10T14:42:00.008-05:002011-01-10T14:48:37.295-05:00More on Ronnie SingerFelix Lemerle (son of the late Jimmy Gourley's bassist, Dominique Lemerle) has referred me to a new blog page about Ronnie that incorporates some of the prior archive website data along with some never before seen photos. I'm hoping the amount of info will increase over time as more facts become known about this lost legendary bebop guitarist.<br /><br /><a href="http://ronniesinger.blogspot.com/">Ronnie Singer page</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-61696780123760627252011-01-07T17:49:00.009-05:002011-01-07T21:44:06.914-05:00The "Real Jimmy Raney" circa 1952Hold on to your hats folks.<br /><br />This is the Song Is You 2 Chorus Jimmy Raney Solo referred to in previous post.<br /><br />Time to rethink what you knew about Jimmy Raney Getz period playing. There was (or since??)no other player on earth besides Jimmy that could create a bebop solo with this amount of chops, articulation and clarity at this tempo in 1952.<br /><br /><a href="http://wp.jonraney.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Raney_solo_Song_Is_You.mp3">Jimmy Raney- The Song Is You</a><br /><br />BTW the key is Ab not the usual C. <br /><br />Also note the tempo stays absolutely locked to the metronome for 1 chorus and 8 bars. Pretty astonishing. It moves slightly during a particular bar but the tempo is still pretty locked to the speed 314 bpm. Interestingly enough the tune starts around 296 and gradually speeds up thru Stan's chorus (not featured here). It locks during Dad's solo.<br /><br />As a point of reference, Parker's speed anthem, Koko starts about 312 or so, and slows down immediately on the 1st chorus then hovers between 298 and 304. Max completely jacks the tempo up at least 20 points during a short drum solo and then comes back to about the start tempo on the outchorus.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31769174.post-40097230742867840262011-01-06T15:10:00.014-05:002011-01-07T17:03:43.152-05:00Jimmy Raney, Ronnie Singer and the Birth of Bebop GuitarThere's one guy that (if he had lived) might've given Jimmy Raney a run for his money as top 50's bebop guitarist. His name was Ronnie Singer and my father would often talk about him. Ronnie Songer's death was an apparent double suicide. What a horrible thing. My father got wind of these recordings (shown below) when I was staying with him around 1985. A friend had them and asked Dad about them (thinking Dad was the guitarist) and Dad exclaimed, "No that's Ronnie Singer!!" We both listened to them. They were not officially released until after Jimmy Gourley (the original possessor of the tapes) died according to available information. <br /><br />The offical story is that the two Jims and Ronnie met each other in the 40's inChicago. According to Gourley the two looked to Ronnie as the most developed. Dad did mention seeing Sonny Stitt in Chicago and that Ronnie had played with them. So if Ronnie was playing with Stitt that means he was the most advanced of the 3 at this point because my Dad was still not playing with the top bebop artists at that point. My father's comment was that Ronnie sounded a lot like Sonny Stitt in his approach. This site posts 3 cuts. They are quite amazing considering the date of them which looks like it should be 1950 or 1951 if the date of death is correct.<br /><a href="http://www.archive.org/details/RonnieSingerLiveInNewYorkEarly1950s">Ronnie Singer</a><br /><br />There is a lot of similarity sound and time feel in Jimmy's first recordings in 1948 with Al Haig but I would definitely say Ronnie is more developed here. The Storyville records also sound similar but Dad was already starting to play more legato with a lighter touch and with less boppy Bud Powell and Charlie Parker quotes and feel by that point.<br /><br />The truest document of Dad's capabilities with the Stan Getz Quintet are not Live at Storyville but rather <em>Birdland Sessions 1952 Featuring Jimmy Raney</em>. I think Dad is given more solo space on it too. The audio quality, given the nature of the recording method is poor. It's my recollection (from Doug) that John Scofield was first to mention the release of the Birdland bootlegs in 1989. In fact my copy may be one that John gave to my Dad although I'm not completely sure. Someday I will ask him...<br /><br />IMO The most astonishing cut from Dad on that is the Song Is You. Dad plays an unbelievable solo. They take it at a much faster pace than at Storyville. Dad was also exploring a lot darker notes on this one.<br /><br />So I wonder what the landscape and the language development among guitarists would've been like had Ronnie lived and also the Live at Birdland Getz music was available.<br /><br />**Note. I just corresponded with John Scofield. Apparently I've created a fish story. Please don't repeat it lol. The copy I have was rescued from his house in 1994 but it was NEVER owned by John Scofield. He doesn't remember the recording.<br /><br />The youngest Raney is getting old. What can I tell you...<br />**Note #2. In some subsequnet quick notes to John he said, it's possible he had a copy of the recording or at very least heard about them through a guitar aficianado in France. So maybe I'm not quite ready for brain transplant yet.<div class="blogger-post-footer">feed://www.jonraney.com/feed/</div>Jon Raneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984137368572230194noreply@blogger.com2