ONOFFON

[davewalton]

Jun 24, 2008, 8:16am, onoffon wrote:I can't reveal the specifics quite yet, but I've received this message in an email from the investors I've been working with -"As you can imagine there is bounds of paperwork and crossing of "T's" and dotting of " i's"... know that the fund is real, happening and in the throws of being finalized."You've all been there with me every step of the way...I can't think of a better group of friends to share this with... CHEERS!!!!! So things are getting close? Might be a good reason for celebration at the Taxi Rally (like we actually NEED a reason) !

[sgs4u]

A BIG DREAM is coming true. I just love it!

[kg]

That's wonderful news, Von. I'm so happy for you. It's all paying off!

[anne]

Great news Von!

[drew]

That's GREAT!Is it too early to celebrate? I have a bottle of champagne waiting.

[onoffon]

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone!!!!Is it too early to celebrate? Yes... as Kelly can tell you re: her recording contract -"Nothing happens until it happens."I really feel that our lives are made up of defining moments. This is truly one of those times for me. We'll have to wait and see what the eventual outcome is - this week is essential for the success of this project in so very many ways.Keep that champagne on ice, Drew...

[onoffon]

I recently found a three and a half page, handwritten memoir, in Harry's own words, describing his career, that starts at leaving college for the road, and ends with him leaving the Woody Herman Four Brothers band in 1948 and settling in Los Angeles for good. While it doesn't talk about some of his most significant contributions to jazz, it does mention him playing with everyone from Benny Goodman to Charlie Parker, Oscar Pettiford to Zoot Sims, Jimmy Giuffre, Stan Getz, and Shorty Rogers.I just wanted to share the synopsis from this memoir. Remember, this is being written by a 27 year old who has, in his short life, played and recorded with the biggest and best of jazz stars of the time, reflecting on his accomplishments so far -"I have now reached the age that I can find little reason to do anything other than [what] I like to do, so I do little studio work, but rather spend my time in instigating and playing jazz, for saloons, for parties, for records, or merely in rehearsals, anywhere the quality of the effort makes for gratifying results - fun with good music."And this was at the creative peak of his career, before the Bossa Nova and Nocturne Records and The Jazzpickers...I love that "instigating" jazz...

[sgs4u]

Jul 5, 2008, 9:54pm, onoffon wrote: Harry's own words, "instigating and playing jazz," I love that "instigating" jazz... Beautiful Bumper StickerInstigate Jazz

[onoffon]

It was brought to my attention in an email sent to a jazz newsgroup I belong to, that another member had recently spoken with an individual with interesting ties to my father. So, after a little detective work, I was able to track this person down and make contact with him.I had a great conversation yesterday with a journalist who was a staff writer for Down Beat magazine back in the 50's and 60's. His name is John Tynan and he covered the west coast scene from an office in the Drum City building, the very building Harry and Roy ran all of their musical pursuits. He wrote the article called, The Real Story of the Bossa Nova, in 1962 that credits Harry as the "brainchild of the idea", and I have a review from 1956 of Mr. Tynan writing about a live performance of Harry Babasin and the Jazzpickers playing an engagement at the Purple Onion in Hollywood.He lives in Palm Desert and I think an interview with him would be a great addition to the film. The original email I mentioned, credited Mr. Tynan with bringing much needed attention to the activities of the west coast in jazz and there are direct references to him in some of my father's personal memoirs, thanking him for his contributions to the documented history of the movement.We talked for 45 minutes - like we were old friends... I will be meeting with him in the very near future...

[onoffon]

I'm very excited - Today, the movie, "The Band's Visit", releases in video stores. It's an award-winning, independent Israeli film that mentions my father's name in the dialogue in reference to Chet Baker's discography. A character in the film says that Baker's first recording was with the "Harry Babasin Octet".I'm not sure if it's something I will use in my film, but certainly in the 'making of'.I've had at least ten people tell me about this film after recognizing my father's name mentioned - I can hardly wait.I'll also be seeing an HBO movie called, "Bernard and Doris". It's a movie about the relationship between tobacco heiress, Doris Duke, and her gay butler, Bernard Lafferty. I've heard that there is reference made to the jam sessions held up at the Duke estate, Falcon's Lair, of which my father was a frequent participant. I'm still trying to find a photo or recording that places him in those sessions...Very cool stuff....