ONOFFON

[onoffon]

Hey BMP -You might have better luck asking for reviews in a new thread - maybe on the 'Review' BB?Just a thought....

[onoffon]

Well... this is rather cool...I have just confirmed an appearance on a television show - it's a cable access show in the Los Angeles area hosted by a jazz historian/professor named Chet Hanley called, "Jazz in the Modern Age". He produces the show on the campus of Cal State, Dominguez Hills, and it's a live show, broadcasting every Tuesday night from 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm. I will be the guest on February 27th and it airs on Time-Warner Cable, channel 36. At least, in the East San Fernando Valley. I'll try to get more details as to where it might appear on other cable providers.When I spoke to Mr. Hanley, he was quite gracious and very complimentary about my father's career and legacy, stating that making a documentary about his life was "about time" and that "he only played with everybody".I'll keep you updated about more details as I know them...

[onoffon]

I spoke earlier this week with Chet Hanley - I'll be meeting with him next week to do a little pre-production in preparation for the show on the 27th. He wants to follow the history of the jazz cello in relation to my dad. Cool subject - such a unique sound and something rarely heard even today. Some bassists, like Stanley Clarke, play what they call the 'piccolo bass' but it's not really the same. The timbre of the instrument is totally different.Wait until he hears the duet cello session with Harry and Oscar Pettiford.... That'll knock his socks off!Oh - and BTW -If anyone happens to be in the Orange County area this weekend, I'm playing with my cover band on Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, at -Chaser's Lounge 2765 N Orange Olive Rd Orange, CA 92865 714-637-6530We'll be on from 9:00 pm to 1:30 am.Come on down - we'll have a blast!!!!!!

[onoffon]

I had a wonderful meeting with Chet Hanley this morning, the producer of "Jazz in the Modern Age", the show I will guest on next week. The stuff I had literally BLEW HIM AWAY!!!!! It's so cool when that happens...You don't know how cool it is when I talk to someone who KNOWS!!!!! Not to a million people who politely shake their head and raise an eyebrow - it's nice that they show respect - but when I talk to someone who really KNOWS, we're in a whole different world. He knows EVERYONE who played and recorded with my father. He names dates and studios I barely remember. And he talks about how important my father's contributions to jazz really are... it's truly humbling. I know my dad is looking down at me and smiling - I know he's gently guiding me in the directions I need to be going. I gave Mr. Hanley a handful of pics and recordings and a breakdown sheet of what I gave him in chronological order - he said he appreciated the time and care I put into my preparation and that he will probably just follow my timeline with a little embellishment of his own.He also mentioned he went through the ONOFFON website and was blown away by what we've accomplished as well. He even suggested I bring my bass but I insisted that this time the focus is on Harry and the west coast jazz community that started it all. He told me he'd like me to consider doing additional shows in the future which I would be more than happy to do.So, onward to Tuesday night - btw, I will get a VHS copy that night, a DVD copy delivered about a week later, and full permission by Mr. Hanley to do with anyway I see fit.Plus, I got a great breakfast courtesy of California State University, Dominguez Hills. Can't ask for much more than that...

[onoffon]

Last night was the show - it went very well. As promised, I walked out with a VHS copy and Mr. Hanley said he would drive up to my place to give me my DVD copy sometime next week. Very cool...My family told me, though, that the broadcast was delayed in starting, as a technical glitch didn't start the show until about fifteen minutes into it. Wouldn't you know. It must have been a production problem or something on the cable carrier's end, either way, once it started, everyone was happy. My sons were especially proud.... The VHS copy I have had the entire show.Once I get the DVD, I'm considering editing excerpts out to upload on YouTube, maybe... I'm not sure yet.Mr. Hanley said he would definitely like to have me back for a Part 2 show of Jazz In Hollywood and maybe even an episode featuring ONOFFON...

[onoffon]

I posted this on the General Board but I thought it was worth repeating -It's a rather interesting story of my Alembic bass - I bought this bass, new off the rack, from the Hollywood Guitar Center back in early 1983. There were two stereo Alembics there that day, but I was strangely attracted to this one.The funny thing about this bass when I went into Guitar Center and played it - get this - the salesman told me it was a 'factory-second'. It made me leary so he gave me the phone number to Alembic so I could ask a few questions. I couldn't see any problem at all with it and it played and sounded like a dream. So, when I called Alembic and asked why it was a factory second they told me, "because the mahogany was too grey." Because the mahogany was too grey?!?!!?!?!??!??! Hahahahahahahaha..... I went back the next day and bought it - immediately. I actually liked the contrast of the colors in the woods - it was what originally attracted me to it in the first place. One man's ceiling is another man's floor...Recently, I visited the Alembic website and joined up on their bulletin boards over there. I was discussing my bass with some members and relayed this story. One member told me I must be mistaken because Alembic doesn't release factory seconds. He said they cut them up before allowing an 'inferior' instrument on the market. But, clearly, I am not mistaken. The letters in the serial number, "FS", verify that indeed this is a factory second. A representative of Alembic confirmed the designation and said that Alembic stopped listing instruments as factory seconds because of wood color over 20 years ago. My bass is 25 years old.So, on further investigation, I've discovered that there are only about "a dozen or so" Alembics in the world that have a serial number like mine, making my bass one of the rarest Alembics in the history of the company... Kind of like owning an "Inverted Jenny"...

[onoffon]

It looks like I don't have to edit excerpts of the episode of "Jazz in the Modern Age" after all (although I probably still will). The entire show is archived and available for viewing on the Cal State Dominguez Hills website. Here are the links -California State University, Dominguez Hills Homepage - http://dominguezonline.csudh.edu/ Online-TV Archive, for those who may want to view other shows in the series - http://dominguezonline.csudh.edu/archives.php Direct link to the actual show I was guest on - http://dhtv2.csudh.edu/Jazz07/IDS336_7HB.wmvIt is a 90-minute show so it may be better for me to edit excerpts. Until then, there is a GREAT clip from the movie, "A Song Is Born", that has a couple of wonderful close-ups of my dad playing, next to Virginia Mayo... This is just the tip of the iceberg...

[onoffon]

Well... well... well....I have just been turned down by the Guggenheim. I don't know why - I can't explain it... they had 189 Fellowships from almost 2800 applicants...I will say that I appreciate the opportunity to even be considered for such a prestigious award and even though I did not receive it, it will simply further my resolve to continue my quest...Onward...

[onoffon]

A small success -I just placed a song in a Travel Channel show, and two Food Network programs. That gives me six cable shows, six independent features, and two art films I've been able to place our music in.Baby steps...

[davewalton]

Quote:A small success -I just placed a song in a Travel Channel show, and two Food Network programs. That gives me six cable shows, six independent features, and two art films I've been able to place our music in.Baby steps... Those are some pretty good "baby steps" there Von.