ONOFFON

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My goodness... this last week has just been amazing... after the euphoric events we experienced at the Road Rally, I am now thrust headlong into the cultural society of the Getty. What a wonderful environment! I can't describe what it feels like to be surrounded by those who understand my father's jazz world so completely.Ted Gioia, the author of the book West Coast Jazz, gave a moving dissertation on the birth of the cool. At the lunch break, I got the chance to introduce myself - his response was amazing!!! He was profuse about Harry's pioneering contributions and asked if I would write a history of my father for his upcoming Jazz Encyclopedia. I think you know my response... Another of the speakers, Marcel Fleiss, was an 18-year old photographer when he started taking pictures of jazz musicians in post-war Paris, France. He gave a riveting presentation that detailed the artistic and political reconstruction taking place at that time. Truly fascinating... When I met him at the break, I showed him pictures and albums of my father, to which he asked, "Are you speaking today too?" Perhaps at future events... He gave me his card and requested I keep in touch with him. He also wanted to send me a copy of his book of photographs... I was able to meet the organizer of the event from the Getty Research Institute, Andrew Perchuk, and Serge Guilbaut, Professor of Art History from the University of British Columbia.I'm now preparing for Day 2...

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Yesterday was a real treat...Day 2 at the jazz event at the Getty was truly amazing. I saw, and met, a panel that consisted of Bud Shank, saxophonist that recorded his first album as a leader on my dad's Nocturne Records label; William Claxton, legendary jazz photographer who took the picture used for the cover of Bud's album on my dad's label; and Dennis Hopper... yes, THE Dennis Hopper. He used to hang out with all those guys in the 50's when all this stuff was happening. William Claxton said he'd met Dennis Hopper when he picked him up one day hitchhiking.Their most incredible stories were about the Falcon Lair, the old Rudolph Valentino estate that was bought by millionairess Doris Duke. She was a very rich lady and a lover of jazz and all things "cool". She had a pianist/lover named Joe Castro who lived in a lavish apartment above the garage and they held a series of jam sessions and allnight parties that many jazz musicians would frequent, including my father. I told my mother about the stories and she said she hated that place. "Your father would never tell me he was going there," she said, "and he'd stay out all night and come home stinking drunk."Alright Dad... Not that I condone that kind of lifestyle... As an interesting side note, I wrote a full proposal to the Doris Duke Foundation and was rejected. I don't think they want to be reminded of Doris' wild past.The panel showed a couple of pictures from Falcon Lair and I have to wonder if there might be one with my father in it somewhere in the private archives. I'm going to call the company who licenses Mr. Claxton's photos and see if one exists. Sure would be great for the documentary...

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Thanks Stick -By next year, I hope to either be in post-production or finished with the documentary.But, it won't happen without the funding. Everything else is in place....

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Last week, I received a friend request and a message over on our MySpace page - David 21 year old from Raleigh, North Carolina http://www.myspace.com/pytheus6891 "I'm so proud of you guy.... one day, you've got to hear one of my pieces inspired by you. It's awesome! Thanx for your insight and perspective on today's jazz and may God bless it!" This kind of message from someone who you inspire seems to be the most rewarding... I know you know what I'm talking about. It's one thing to have someone in the 'industry' give you a compliment, but when a young musician is moved by what you do and what you stand for... well... it really doesn't get much better...Not only that, but he imbedded our song, "Opus", to play on his MySpace page. It's so cool to open someone else's page and hear our music play...

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I just received this from a radio station in Gainesville, Georgia who requested our music through our MySpace page... "Thanks for the CDs! Thank you for sending your CDs to Eclectic 89.1 WBCX at Brenau University in Gainesville, GA! Sorry about the lag in response time! I’ve been overwhelmed over the past year with 120 hours of programming and voice tracking each week on top of my other management duties (such as Music Director), as well as teaching at the University! However, I do eventually get to each CD. We are adding Track 7, Please Baby Please, from the "Surrender Now" CD to our Soulful Saturday & Melodic Monday formats. We are adding Track 5, Giulivo (con Giusto), from the "Bridge to Presage" CD to our Funky Friday format. What that means exactly, is that the tracks mentioned will get spins each week within the appropriate formats for the next 6 months or so. We actually have 10 formats, in case you were wondering, a different format for each day of the week (from 5 am until midnight), an overnight format, and 3 different formats every Saturday. Eclectic 89.1 WBCX is a non-commercial college station with various eclectic formats which specialize in presenting creative programming, quality-driven artists, and introducing our audiences to tracks that other stations typically overlook. We are pleased to have the opportunity to present your music to our audience throughout NE Atlanta and greater North Georgia. Sincerely, J. Scott Fugate General Manager, Program & Music Director Eclectic 89.1 WBCX"Well, I can't thank Scott enough for giving us this airplay. How very cool of him...BTW, if anyone reading this is in the NE Atlanta or greater North Georgia areas, give a call over to the station and tell them to play more ONOFFON... I'd do the same for you... I have to say, I know a lot of people are down on MySpace but it's responsible for getting us a placement deal with a company who places on Muzak; airplay in the U.K., California, and Georgia; and inspiring fans and musicians who appreciate what we do, just in course of the last few weeks... not a bad place to be from where I sit...

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Another cool ONOFFON via MySpace connection will begin this 31st page of the ONOFFON SSP... I received this message a few weeks ago on MySpace -".. exposure for your music.. (radio play) I should tell you a hobby of mine is an FM pirate radio station near Los Angeles... this community is "posh" and a home to a lot of "Hollywood types".. so your cds will get "good" exposure (and more airplay than most other radio stations). If you'd like any of your CD's (please no MP3 leads ie, computer links, unless it is mailing me an MP3 ~CD~ (I ~can~ play those)) to be played here on PineKONE Radio 100.1 fm, just send 'em here to the station. Thanks -- and looking forward to giving your works some "good" exposure! (as in frequent with a classy audience!) ––Peter PS> I do play all genres. (Louder during day, softer in the evenings .. and everything in between)." Needless to say, I was obliged to send him all three of our CDs. Since he is 'local' - I waited a week before I followed up to be sure he received them safely in the mail, I then received this response -"YES! Love them and getting LOTS of AIRPLAY! THANK YOU!!!Peter"Well, I took that as a good sign... we then exchanged messages just yesterday and he added this at the end - "By the way, I played one of your albums all the way through today on PineKONE! Excellent music/ vocals/ lyrics/ musicianship!! PG"Darn, if I don't like it when that happens! I'm going to offer to send him a few copies of our CDs to give away on the air. Might generate some more interest among a demographic that our music seems to really appeal to.

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Today, I have good news and bad news...The bad news first - after working with a journalist for Jazziz Magazine for the last two months now, I was eagerly awaiting the release of their December issue that was going to have a nice little article about the documentary. Yesterday, they told me it got cut 'due to space considerations' and I couldn't get the definitive word on whether or not it would make it into the January issue either.On the good side, however, I just received confirmation that all the contracts and paperwork are in order and the entire ONOFFON library has been submitted for use by Muzak in any or all of the clientele they provide music to. This goes way beyond elevators and grocery stores - the list of businesses they service would make your head spin - literally in the hundreds of thousands... in every genre you can imagine...This could be very good...

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Just received this email -"Hi Von -Just wanted to let you know all your music has gone to Muzak. Even though, I listen many times before sending, I always give another listen while working on the One Sheets and the paperwork.I must say again - Very very nice music!(I've already started uploading your music to the music supervisor's server.)More later,Warm regards"What a nice Christmas present...

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Thanks Stick! Yeah - that's a gift that keeps on giving... The coolest thing was upon them originally receiving our CDs, they listened to the first one and thought four of the songs would be immediately placed. And they hadn't even heard the other two. After multiple listens of all, they called and said they had decided to deliver everything. She's the only industry person to ever tell me that our "diversity" would work well for us. Everyone, previously, has told us that we're not 'focused' enough with our sound.I've always felt that, with the popularity of compilation and soundtrack CDs, where each song is completely different sometimes played by different groups, people show an interest in the variety of feels and even genres.Why not accept that diversity in the repertoires of the same group?Don't you hate going to concerts and thinking 'all the songs sound the same'? You can't say that about an evening with ONOFFON... no sirree...Who knows what the future holds...

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A very poignant tale today...When I was growing up going to junior high school, what's now called middle school, I was in an advanced class of math nerds. Yes - I, Von from ONOFFON, was a math nerd. Anyway, there was a group of students that went all the way through six semesters with the same math teacher, Mr. Irving Burch. It created a bond with we students that has lasted for many years.In more recent times, we've actually gotten together over at Mr. Burch's home in the valley and had a couple of informal reunions. Not a school reunion - just that class of maybe thirty of us.One of the students, Abby Polin, was instrumental in organizing these events, contacting people who are scattered all across the country now, coordinating the food, etc. Abby enlisted the help of her mother, Janet, though that wasn't very hard to do. Janet was a room mother all the way back in the sixties. Janet was wonderful to everyone but she took a real fascination to me and my plight to honor my father with the jazz museum and, more recently, the documentary. She held a monumental respect for my dad and what I was trying to do for his memory.Sadly, Janet Polin passed away this year. It's not like all of us have remained terribly close but we have always held a special connection, and we lost a very special part of that connection. The reunions won't quite be the same without her.Today, I received an email from Abby. The family has decided that since Janet had held such a special regard for Harry and the jazz museum/documentary, they want to make a donation to the production of the film from Janet's trust, in her name, honoring her memory. How amazing is that? How great is it that I can help to honor the memory of Janet Polin while honoring the memory of Harry Babasin? It's all so humbling...So, when you finally get the chance to actually see this film, you will know the story behind the dedication to Janet Polin in the thanks during the end credits...