ONOFFON

[onoffon]

Here's another very cool story -I found a west coast jazz newsgroup and posted about the documentary and the NYFA sponsorship. A gentleman from Houston, Texas, emailed me almost immediately -"I went to NTU in 1945 and graduated in 1948. I was in the first One O'Clock Lab Band that closely followed your father, Jimmy Giuffre, and Herb Ellis at NTU. They were legends to all of us at that time (and they still are) and all of us tried to come close to their expertise and jazz playing ability.I also had classes in the school of music with your aunt (Harrys' sister) Jeannette. She played the viola, I believe. She and I were close acquaintances. In addition, I married a girl from Vernon, TX. My wife knew your grandfather Dr. Babasin, who was a dentist in Vernon and she knew Jeannette as well.In two days, we will leave Houston to go to Vernon on our way to Santa Fe, NM. We go past the old Babasin house many times while we are in Vernon.None of this will help you with your documentary, but I thought it may be of interest to you. I will follow your progress very carefully and I would like copies of everything you do.Best regards and the best of luck to you in your endeavor."What a great email to receive. Being the son of a jazz musician, we didn't have a lot of money. We didn't take vacations or travel very much so I have never even seen the 'old Babasin house'. This gentleman took pictures of the house on his trip and mailed them to me. I now can see where my dad grew up. How gracious it was for him to do this for me.Once I receive funding, I intend to travel to the old Babasin house and film it for the movie...

[onoffon]

Hey - yes, that's ONOFFON on the cover of the July/August, 2006, issue of Outcry Magazine - a fully downloadable magazine published in high resolution PDF files -You can click on the link below to view or download the issue, of course, you need Adobe Acrobat to do this -http://www.outcryproductions.com/outcry ... .pdfThanks to Outcry Magazine for featuring ONOFFON...

[onoffon]

Just a brief film update -I'm now up to 357 foundations that have received one of my letters of inquiry. I've got about 100 negative responses so far.I am, however, at the second level with six different foundations. It seems that the last quarter of the year is when many board of directors meetings take place, when the foundations must make their decisions before the end of the year, for income tax purposes. I am also getting serious about my submission for the Guggenheim Fellowship, whose deadline is October 1st. After that is the National Endowment for the Humanities, whose deadline is November 1st.This is where the going gets tough and the tough get going...Time to get tough... Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, I found the contact info for the Britney Spears Foundation. I had to send a proposal... I just had to...

[drew]

Quote:I found the contact info for the Britney Spears Foundation. I had to send a proposal... I just had to...

[onoffon]

Quote:Quote:I found the contact info for the Britney Spears Foundation. I had to send a proposal... I just had to... Here's a paragraph from the proposal I sent them -"Today's youth are bombarded by media images that shape impressionable minds. Consequently, the ones that they look up to are the people who receive the most media attention. We involved in the arts, especially in music, need to honor those great innovators who displayed quality, integrity, and instrumental virtuosity in an attempt to inspire new generations to strive to do great things. They need to see those who put in hours and weeks and months and years to become excellent at what they did - who shaped the future with genius, inspiration and creativity - are truly worthy of recognition for their amazing accomplishments."Of course, Britney probably doesn't read these proposals herself. I sent it to the foundation's Executive Director.Maybe she will see the vision...

[onoffon]

Quote:I have a nice little quarter page feature coming out in the August issue of a local magazine, Studio City Lifestyle. It's in a column they call Media Zone.When the publisher of Studio City Lifestyle magazine, Barry Wise, first approached me about the August feature they ran, I sent him a copy of our latest CD as a thank you. He came back with this response -"Hi Von, the August issue is out and you are in. Do you want me to drop off copies? And I received your CD and I love it!!! Do you have a photo of ONOFFON as I would like to do a Media Zone for you in the Sept issue about ONOFFON and the CD....Bridge to Presage.........interested??? Barry"Interested??? Hahaha... I think anyone who reads this thread knows the answer to that one. Consequently, the September issue has just released and ONOFFON is in. Here's the content -"ONOFFON, comprised of Don Lake, guitars; Von Babasin, bass; and Dave Goode, drums and percussion; is totally diverse jazz rock fusion from Studio City. Reviews have compared them to bands like Weather Report, King Crimson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Zappa, and Pat Metheny... not so much 'sounds like', more in 'musical approach'. Their most recent release, Bridge to Presage, has been awarded the 2006 Best Album by the International Online Music Awards. Adding the world class virtuosity of Glen Garrett on saxes and Marcus Duke on piano, they display a totally unique sound which can best be described as classical jazz. Although ONOFFON is entirely self produced and promoted, they have consistently won awards and features on the more than 3,000 websites around the world they appear on, including such respected sites as the All Music Guide, iTunes, and RollingStone.com. To learn more about ONOFFON, visit their website at: http://www.onoffon.com , or email them at: onoffon@onoffon.com."Our extreme gratitude goes out to Barry Wise to do this for us. You all know how hard it is to get any press when you are an independent band. Cheers!!!

[onoffon]

I have just received permission from my third personal reference for my Guggenheim application -Tom Cherones, director/producer, winner of an Emmy (four-time nominee), a DGA Award (three-time nominee), and a Peabody, director of 81 episodes of Seinfeld, 56 episodes of News Radio, also recent work on Desperate Housewives, has given me permission to list him as a reference in support of my father's documentary. This is extremely gracious of him to help support this project. I need one more reference to complete the application. I have a couple of people in mind. Since I never went to film school or earned any kind of degree in production, I feel my references are key to validating my ability to bring this project to fruition. Although, I've certainly earned a degree in the School of Hard Knocks...

[onoffon]

Well, I just received permission from my fourth and final personal reference to complete my Guggenheim application -Holly Foster-Wells, President of Peggy Lee Associates, LLC, has given her consent to add her name to my list. I have an article from a 1958 Downbeat Magazine where Peggy Lee states that her two favorite bass players were Harry Babasin and Joe Mondragon. Plus, I found a re-released compilation CD of Benny Goodman tracks that has my dad and Peggy together with Benny's orchestra... pretty cool, eh?Anyway, Holly is also Peggy's granddaughter and has been on many PBS specials about Peggy's life and career.Another piece of the puzzle falls into place. I hope they like what I have to offer...The support that I'm receiving is truly overwhelming. There are so many others I could add to this list - I feel everything falling into place...Thanks for all of your support as well...

[onoffon]

I officially mailed my application to the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation today to be considered for a 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship.It's out of my hands now (as if it ever was) - I can use all the positive vibes and support you can send my way.Thanks as always...

[onoffon]

And, in the meantime.... an actual ONOFFON SSP of the Day!Steve Gilmore Reviews 'Bridge to Presage'http://board.soundclick.com/viewtopic.p ... 74dbArtist: OnOffOn Title: Bridge To Presage CD----------------------------------------- "Here's a familiar refrain, and one I'm sure you are heartily sick of. 'Come on', someone says in a heated online debate, 'TRUE stars can't come from the internet you guys are just jerking with yourself'. Welp, despite the joys, and hairy palms that onanism gives you, I dispute this statement adamantly. See, this is a VERY large scene and lots of areas stray into the very real world of music, musicians and it's attendant business sharks. To my mind, one of the undoubted stars of this new age, happens to be also one of the most talented, individualistic and thrilling groups on the internet: OnOffOn As a recognized reviewer, I get lots of CDs, but I review very, very few and even less do I actually ASK an artist for a CD. Not to review mind, but because I truly meant every word I have just written above, and I WANTED the damn thing. I bumped into Von Babasin a while ago on Mike-K's Saturday Night Rocks on Songplanet and twisted his arm to send me a copy of their new 'Bridge To Presage' work. Honest, I never intended to review this, but after spending almost a week living with the work of art that is so lovingly captured in it's 9 jazzily sublime tracks. Now normally this is where I would break down and do a track by track mini review but funnily enough, there is NO way I could commit that kind of sacrilege. Bridge To Presage is of a piece, one piece that encompasses the excellent standard of work I have to expect from these most accomplished musicians. Dave Goode, Von Babasin and Don Lake are OnOffOn and are joined on this CD by Marcus Duke (piano), the sublimely fluid Glen Garrett (saxes/flute), Ron King(trumpet/flugelhorn) and Bob McChesney (trombone) and if this isn't - in every way - THE most commercial jazz grouping I've heard in a long time, then I don't know what I am talking about. Long time readers will already be aware of my liking for OnOffOn's music, The Gift Must Always Move lives permanently on my playlist and shows no sign whatsoever of departing anytime soon. Truthfully, I am BLOWN AWAY by the sheer style, verve, musical dexterity and innovation shown on this remarkable CD, and I am certain even non jazz fans will find much to love about it. Oh, and stars? God knows how many recognized awards these guys have scooped up so far (do a search on the bandname, you'll see what I mean) not to mention this very CD being chosen as Jazz Album of the Year from International Online Music Awards (IOMA) which will go nicely with their Artist Of The Year award in 2005. Personally, I really run out of superlatives for this work, and ask you to go have a listen and buy, buy, buy... MY Jazz Album of the Decade even Awesome, breathtaking musical vision. Steve Gilmore"Now, THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!!!Our sincere thanks to Mr. Steve Gilmore for writing such wonderful words about this creation of ours....