Saturday, February 29, 2020

Jazz Gumbo Fresh Pot

I got back to Jazz Gumbo a couple of weeks ago, after a few months away from it. The studio has been upgraded, with a couple of new pieces of equipment replacing what was nearly unusable. And the main console and chairs have been replaced too. It felt good coming into the space and finding everything working. I’d thought my first set back would be a disaster, because of all the little steps and switches I’d have forgotten. But it went very smoothly, and even the level was consistent throughout.

              No question but that doing the show lifts me. I go through my albums at home and pick out twenty or so, each with something I get a little excited about sharing. But when I’m in the studio, and a cut is playing, and I slide that next piece from its sleeve and place it on the turntable to spin, the sense of anticipation is always a little different. Because now I’m fitting these disparate pieces together, and there’s the question of the shifting mood and tempo of the show as a whole.




              As the music plays, it always comes to my ears richer and more revealing than at almost any other listening, and it can only be because I’m listening with more ears than my own. I’m listening with imagined ears that are hearing it for the first time, so with that special sensitivity that elevates every first time. And I’m also listening a bit with the ears of a critic, who doesn’t want too much predictability in a set, but who will also tune out if stretched too far and unable to get into the flow of the set.

              That’s my aim always: flow. By which I mean transitions and juxtapositions in the music that bring out what’s truly dynamic and alive in the work, so that it brings me alive, as I hope it will you. Because it’s always there, that spark, that life, in every creative act. It's just that there are so many ways we habitually and unthinkingly tune out the great music that surrounds us constantly (just as we do the great experiences we live!)

               I’ve discovered that there’s lots of music that’s brittle, scratchy or sour on the surface, but which can free up a knot in the head or a kink in the emotions like little else when offered up to a spirit that’s been a little bit prepared…by other music.

              I’ve been doing Jazz Gumbo for almost eight years, and I hope to keep at it a good while longer. It nourishes me, for certain. And there seem to be quite a few listeners around the world who look forward to new sets as I post them. Now, with retirement, I’m coming at it with a whole new openness, which brings a different level of attentiveness. It’s a lot of fun.

              The time of the live stream has moved from Monday evening to Wednesday afternoon, which is way easier for me. And it keeps me out of the traffic congestion that was inevitable when I invariably left the Hammer for TO two hours later than expected. There’s a lot that comes of just being more relaxed.

              I welcome new listeners, of course. The two sites that support Jazz Gumbo are jazzgumbo.podomatic.com for the podcast itself, and jazzgumbo.blogspot.ca which is a more complete archive of playlists and album covers.

              Bring your hungry ears!

Kirby



Friday, February 28, 2020

A Pandemic in the Political System

The recent debate among Democratic Presidential candidates was depressing and concerning. On a few levels.

It was chaotic. The candidates constantly spoke over each other, prevented one another from completing answers, and made it impossible to take any exchange deeper than the slogans.

It was rude and disrespectful. Some went out of their way to throw brutal barbs at one another, to discredit, mock or chastise. How will they pretend to support and respect one another in November?

As the current face of the democratic process, it made a really ugly appearance.

Is this any way to chose a leader?

This reminds me that Trump emerged out of a process. Sadly, he was no accident. Nor was his bullying, disrespect, and intentional distortion of realities. All of this is now accepted in US politics,  largely because its chief practitioner simply refuses to  acknowledge anything wrong with this behavior, let alone stop doing it. He keeps lowering the level of dialogue, mocking the rational and reasonable, sneering at standards of professionalism, diplomacy, management and science.

So among the democrats, it's come to more outrage, boasting and trading one-liners, . I like to think that I have good reasons for supporting Sanders, but media discussions of the substance of candidates' platforms remains overshadowed by focus on tactical campaign maneuvers and stage delivery, and to the odds-making and handicapping.

I'd like to see a debate in which the moderators had mutes for the candidates' mikes, and the willingness to use them. Though they too seemed at times more interested in poking at vulnerabilities than clarifying positions.

We're at a time in species history when it's so crucial that we manage information, yet in so many ways, we're promoting the arts of deception and manipulation. There is so much hypocrisy and pettiness obscuring  the bloodless morality lessons about duty and sacrifice that, unless they reject our example, the next generations will devote themselves to holding onto power, in whatever form, at whatever sacrifice.

We must find better ways to do politics!

Friday, February 14, 2020

The Killer That Stalked New York

A Timely Film from 1950.

I stumbled onto this 1950 Hollywood film about the threat of a smallpox epidemic. It’s part police procedural and part melodrama, with a sub theme following the aftermath of a jewel heist. But the main thread tracks the carrier who brings the virus to New York City, and the effort to find her. 



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y3c9mXhvyY&list=PL18A29186EDC1F1BB&index=9he amp;t=0s


The panic is spreading. It's beginning to look like the people we were going to visit don't want us to visit. Will hotels be available? Will we want them?

We didn't buy any flight insurance. Never have, and never missed it til now.
So maybe Air France will cancel the flight before we do!?
Or maybe we extend that layover in Paris until it's time to come home?
Hmmm?