Passing of a Legend

Earlier this year I had written a post about Dr. James West and how his invention of the cardioid microphone had influenced the recording industry and the media industry in general.

Les with Gibson

On August 13, 2009 Les Paul passed away and his invention of the electric guitar and multitrack recording has had an effect on the recording industry that can’t be measured. It goes a little like this:
1. Invented the electric guitar
2. Innovated the multitrack recording technique
3. Innovated “close miking” technique
4. Had a hand in the multitrack recorders built by Ampex
5. Ampex in turn also built invented video recorders used by the TV/video industry. Also Les did not have a direct involved with the video machines, the impetus of their design was based off the multitrack audio record recording decks he helped designed.

For more reading on Wikpedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul#Guitar_builder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul#Multitrack_recording_innovations

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/les-paul
R.I.P.
Les Paul: June 9, 1915-August 13, 2009

The Michael Jackson Memorial

Watch The Michael Jackson Memorial Live on Hulu

Before and After the Memorial check out these podcast tributes from EJ Flavors.com both are excellent.
Michael Joseph Jackson – A Tribute.

Michael Joseph Jackson – A Tribute, Volume 2.

Annual Spring Jazz Vespers – Atlatna

Should be a great show!!! I’m trying my best to be there. If you go let me know what you think. Best of all it’s FREE Admission although donations welcome.

First Congregational Church proudly presents:
Annual Spring Jazz Vespers
Celebrating its 142nd Anniversary
Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 – 7:00pm
Featuring: Dwight Andrews, Kathleen Bertrand, Che Marshall, Moffett Morris, Gary Motley, Emmett Goods, Melvin Jones, Dave Frackenpohl & The Atlanta Jazz Chorus.

First Church Commons – 125 Ellis Street, Atlanta, GA
For more information: 404-659-6255

Another Really Good Documentary – Buena Vista Social Club (Cuban Music)

The Buena Vista Social Club is a really good documentary celebrating some of the forgotten heroes of Cuban Music of the time that have since passed, such as Compay Segundo, Rubén González, and Ibrahim Ferrer. If you enjoy music from Cuba or Latin music that documentary is for you. Again another nod to Hulu.com.

Watch the documentary about the Buena Vista Social Club
Learn more about the Buena Vista Social Club from Wikipedia
and from PBS.

Jazz In The Diamond District – The Film

Although the term “Jazz” is used in the title. This is a picture set about the funk Go-Go scene of D.C.
Should be a good movie. If you get a chance to see it tell me what you think. I like the artwork already.

Jazz In The Diamond District

April is Jazz Appreciation Month – The Hot 6 ver. 8 April ‘09

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. There are many ways to celebrate this original American music. The Smithsonian Institution offers a guide “How to Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, Learn how to take part in JAM (PDF).” You can also order for free the official JAM poster for 2009 or download here.
The Chill Vibe Experience offers up some straight-ahead jazz in this version of The Hot 6 as part of Jazz Appreciation Month, enjoy and as always take is easy and support local music wherever you are.

CW

The Hot 6 – ver.8 April 09

Playlist:
1. Unknown Artist – mrager2005.
2. Randy Simon Jazz Project – Reach_For_It.
3. Kevin_Robinson_Ensemble_Featuring_Vocalist_Kim_Walker-Afro-Blue__(Live).
4. Jaleel Shaw – Flipside.
5. Organics – Give Up The Cake.
6. THE BYARD LANCASTER UNIT – WAR WORLD.

A Really Good Documentary Look at the State of Music – Before the Music Dies

I love Hulu.com for many reasons but the other day I viewed a documentary about the modern music industry, none of which was a surprise to me. I generally think of the large record labels as slow, lethargic, non-innovative and not really caring about the music or artists, and mainstream radio as boring waste of time after the 1st hour of listening to it. After all the the DJ/Radio Personality or whatever doesn’t get to choose there own music, in most cases, the same playlist of 20 songs in handed down to them from high above. All they provide is the nice voice, “the personality” to go with it.

Finding music from the internet has been a refuge for me. It been a why to find new music from artists I’ve never heard of. New styles, new types, I actually feel like I’m in the know way above anyone who just listens to commercial radio. I think people like myself both consume and produce music in some form simply for the love of music, hence my particular podcast. Through podcasting and the internet in general, you can find many different forms and combination of music that would never get put on radio that way it is done in the internet universe.

Take a view and tell me what you think.
Before-The-Music-Dies – Full Documentary

Segment about the new media, podcasting, and alternative outlets for music.

107.5 WJZZ Smooth Jazz in Atlanta no more

This just discovered , and as I said before, support local music in your area, and jazz music. 107.5 WJZZ is scheduled to switch formats before the end of January. As most of us jazz fans know, finding  a good outlet to hear jazz music, be it radio or live can sometimes be challenging. In Atlanta that’s not so much the case but if you live in a smaller city, I know it’s problematic.

Given commercial radio is all about the advertising dollar and not about the art of music, commercial jazz radio is usually not even considered when starting a new radio station. Existing stations are always on the bubble. There will be a bit of a void with this station gone, as I know many people who enjoyed the station.  Here in Atlanta we’re lucky. We have jazz 91.9 WCLK- Clark Atlanta still here to listen too, but only because they are a non-commercial station. Thank God for the Internet!!! As always be easy.

CW

Here are some articles about the closing.
http://radioinsight.com/index.php?s=wjzz

http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/NewsStoryPage.aspx?ContentID=J6×2ECjltf8%3D&

http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/headline_id=n18840

http://www.radio-info.com/sections/2-breaking-news/news_items/4383-another-smooth-jazz-station-bites-the-dust-wjzz-atlanta

My Meeting with a Legend

I know this posting has little to do about music, but I felt it necessary to show my excitement for meeting what is to me an audio legend. Someone who is in my personal pantheon of audio gods who changed the face of music. I had the opportunity to meet Dr. James West. A name not familiar to most but if you work in the media you are affected by his contribution daily. Dr James West is the patent holder and inventor of what known as the electret microphone. This microphone type is used 90% of all microphones built today, and if you work in the music industry, audio engineering, video production, acoustics, etc you know this type of microphone is indispensable. So in effect this posting is reverent because all that is heard on the site, is in part due to his work. And I am extra proud that Dr. West is an African American inventor. Thank you Dr. West.

http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/150.html

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blwest.htm

http://www.black-inventor.com/James-E-West.asp

Me and Dr. James West

Back is Stride Again

It’s been awhile since a made a post. The summer has kept me on the go. As  I’ve gone from Savannah to Columbus to New Orleans and all points between I’ve been able to enjoy the music, culture and makeup of different cities. It’s good to get away from home, it’s also good to be back, and now I’m back to share good music with you.