ONOFFON

[onoffon]

May 11, 2009, 3:35pm, davewalton wrote:What's the chances in just a "random coincidence" situation? Surely it was meant to be that you found that new clip. Good luck with the continued venture/adventure... it's been wonderful following all this. Well, thanks so much, Dave. I do indeed believe there is some 'divine intervention' taking place, leading me to many of the pieces I've come across in my journey through all of this.I have now found the company who owns that particular clip - since the Louis Prima film only used about five seconds, with no sound, I'm really interested to find out how long the original source film is. Plus, the gentleman at the company invited me to send him a list of all the "name" bands my father played with, and the years he played with them, just in case they may have some other historic film clips in their archives. From the Gene Krupa Orchestra to the Charlie Barnet Orchestra to Woody Herman's Second Herd to the Frank DeVol Orchestra - there could be some amazing pieces out there.It just keeps getting better all the time...

[onoffon]

I just picked up a few more recordings with Harry on them.It's funny how, I can say my father played with Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker, and people will say that's nice and not really give it another thought - until it hits a little closer to home. For instance, my father-in-law recently bought a CD of one of his boyhood favorites, June Christy. She was a jazz pop singer who gained notoriety singing with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the late 40's and Capitol Records gave her a shot at a contract in 1953. She then recorded with the Pete Rugolo Orchestra. Well, when my father-in-law was listening to the CD, he was scanning through the liner notes and was blown away to see Harry's name on a couple of his favorite tracks. Well, he was SO impressed by this, he called me immediately to tell me and he insisted on buying a copy of the CD for me. Very nice of him, really... Then, I got another couple of ebay items - the first ever career recording by Chet Baker with my father in 1952 - and a recording of a concert in 1975, live at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, of a tribute to Charlie Parker featuring Art Pepper and Sahib Shihab, on alto and bari saxes, respectively; Joe Albany on piano; Roy Porter on drums; and Harry on bass.All great stuff - I can't possibly use every recording my father played on in the film but it's fun to have as much of his discography as possible...

[onoffon]

There's been so much talk about ReverbNation around here that I thought I might as well invest the time and build a page over there -http://www.reverbnation.com/onoffonWell, we haven't set the world on fire or anything, but in a week, we have already climbed to #33 on the 'local' jazz charts. That doesn't sound all that great but 'local' for us is California, and being at #33 puts us in some pretty cool clientele.For instance, at #35 is Marcus Miller, at #44 is Ronnie Laws, and #45 is Gerald Albright. I have to say, that's a pretty flattering group of musicians to be on the same chart with... IMHO...

[onoffon]

Apr 16, 2009, 9:36pm, onoffon wrote:My father used to host a jam session at a club called the Tradewinds and I have two live recordings in the 'series' already - one is Chet Baker's first ever recording in his career and the second is with Charlie Parker.Well, will wonders never cease... yet another live recording just surfaced on eBay in the series of my father's jam sessions. I've already won the auction and I'm waiting to get it in the mail. This one features Chet Baker, Jack Sheldon, and Al Haig with Harry in another 'Inglewood Jam 1952' recording.This will be the third recording I'll have in the series and all three have Chet Baker on them. My dad used to tell me that 'Chety' used to hang out at the club in hopes that Harry would let him sit in. He was a local Inglewood boy. These recordings verify that story...Now, I have a press release in a 1952 Downbeat announcing my father leading those jam sessions, pictures from the nightclub they took place at, and recordings of the actual jam sessions. Not only definitive west coast jazz history but chronicling one of only two visits Charlie Parker made to the west coast in his life and the birth of Chet Baker's career - all centered around Harry...I don't know - it all sounds pretty significant to me...

[onoffon]

Apr 16, 2009, 9:36pm, onoffon wrote:My father used to host a jam session at a club called the Tradewinds and I have two live recordings in the 'series' already - one is Chet Baker's first ever recording in his career and the second is with Charlie Parker.After winning the auction on the last Live at the Tradewinds 1952 recording I purchased, I decided to ask the history behind them.It seems a drummer named Bob Andrews used to visit nightclubs in the 50's and record the performances. He went to the Tradewinds, the Haig, the Lighthouse... all places my father regularly played at. Of course, the Tradewinds was the only club Harry hosted his own jam, so those recordings are especially significant to me.I verified that the other recordings I have, including the Charlie Parker night, were done by Bob Andrews. My father must have bought that tape outright.I just won another ebay auction - Live at the Tradewinds with Art Pepper and Jack Sheldon, with Harry, that is now my fourth in the series. To complete the story, Mr. Andrews sold his collection before he passed away to a Japanese gentleman who is now ill himself. I would certainly like to buy the collection for our jazz museum...Either way, another wonderful piece of my father's recorded legacy...

[onoffon]

I have to say, I'm slightly disappointed with my last ebay purchase. As it turns out, the last live CD I won at auction actually turned out to be more of the same night as the last one I bought, August 18, 1952. They're different tracks and, in true jam session form, feature different personnel. One CD has my dad playing with Art Pepper and Jack Sheldon, and the other has Harry with Al Haig and Chet Baker. So, that only leaves me with three different recordings in the series instead of four...As I said, I'm only 'slightly' disappointed...

[philbrown]

Very Cool, I respect different genres and this is very technical yet melodic the only thing missing...and the thing in all the other bands that you were compared to is vocals that are on par with this level of genre-busting music.Your self-promotion is awesome and your music is awesome, finda Singer/Songwriter who can hang and no doubt you will rule the Future JazzRock world.Please check mine on Taxi & IAC

[onoffon]

Well... Phil... thanks for taking the time to listen.While I would agree that our vocals are the weakest part of our equation, I would strongly disagree that all the groups we're compared to have better vocals. I constantly hear vocals on the radio recorded by people that have no business singing. There are many very popular groups whose singers are more 'character' type voices than true vocalists, but that's neither here nor there.Our last album was all instrumental and it earned the 2006 Best Album honors from the International Online Music Awards, but that's neither here nor there also.We do what we do - we're not looking to rule any world, only to have a good time doing what we're doing... if people enjoy what we're doing, then that's icing on the cake. It's the honesty of what we do that either interprets to our audience or it doesn't. Thanks again...

[onoffon]

Here are a couple of messages I've received over the last couple of days from individuals following my journeys in the arts. The first is a lady in California who loves my father's music and requested to purchase a copy of ONOFFON's latest CD - "Von, what evocative, amazing and lovely music!!! Thank you so much for this fascinating cd!!! No wonder you have won many awards for your music!!! Went to the website and so enjoyed the article in the Studio City newspaper about your wonderful Dad!!! You have followed in his footsteps and how proud he must be, knowing that you have carried on his exquisite gift and that you are preserving the history of that most beautiful of all jazz types, the glorious West Coast sound!!! Warmest wishes, Lucille" This next one is from half way around the world and makes reference to the 2007 award winning Israeli film that mentions my dad's name in the dialogue. "Hi Von, You may remember me, a bit of Armenian and a lot of jazz enthusiasm from New Zealand. In case the information is new to you, last evening we watched a movie called "The Band's Visit", an Israeli/Egyptian film. A couple of the musicians were Chet Baker enthusiasts (a struggle for me, the more so since I am ploughing my way through a biography), and one says that he has a good collection of his records, right from the early days with Harry Babasin's Octet. Best Wishes, Tom" As you can understand, both of these emails are extremely rewarding for me and indeed humbling... thanks to Lucille and Tom for their support...

[onoffon]

I've recently had the honor of being the featured interview in a publication from the New York Foundation for the Arts called "Meet A NYFA Artist - Von Babasin".First, it was sent out as a newsletter to all of their clientele. Today, it has been posted on their website - New York Foundation for the Arts Meet A NYFA Artist - Von Babasin http://www.nyfa.org/level3.asp?id=694&fid=5&sid=156 You might have to sign up with their site to read this but I assure you, this is one organization worth connecting with. It's free - and they are literally one of the most prestigious arts organizations in the world. My sincere thanks to Esther Neff, Mary Six Rupert, and the entire NYFA staff. Harry on bass with Benny Carter on sax and Barney Kessel on guitar at the Club Morocco in April, 1947.