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]

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.

[onoffon]

Thanks Dave!!! Slowly but surely....On another note, did you see you made the "666th" post on this thread?oooooooooo, scaaaaarrrrrryyyyyy....

[davewalton]

Quote:On another note, did you see you made the "666th" post on this thread?oooooooooo, scaaaaarrrrrryyyyyy.... I was wondering why my head was spinning around in a circle while I spewed projectile green vomit all over the room. I thought it was something I ate...

[onoffon]

Hey Dave - I used to work in special effects - I can set that up for you if you'd like... And, uh... Steve... have a great day yourself... Alright Johnny - I find it's not always good to act on impulse. I found another interesting news item this morning - NEW YORK: "Clint Eastwood is combining two of his passions, jazz and film, by taking a lead role in producing a new documentary about US jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. Eastwood also will chair a new honorary board set up to preserve and continue the legacy of Brubeck, 86, according to the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Other members on the board include trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, film director George Lucas, recording artist Al Jarreau, record producer Quincy Jones, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma."It must be good to know people...

[onoffon]

Woah....A jazz historian from Washington just sent me a video tape with a lot of TV footage of my father. First, there's an episode of a show called 'The Swingin' Singin' Years' hosted by Ronald Reagan. My father plays bass with the Charlie Barnet Orchestra, Woody Herman's Herd, vocalist Jo Stafford, and others. Then, it's followed by an episode of the 'Stars of Jazz' series hosted by Bobby Troup. This time, he plays with the Charlie Barnet Orchestra for four tunes and two more with vocalist Mel Torme. I already have a copy of another 'Stars of Jazz' show that features Harry Babasin and the Jazzpickers.I seem to be finding more and more video footage of my father - which will add to the content of the documentary... This is all so cool...

[onoffon]

Here's a cool photo I'd like to share - it's on the Jazz In Hollywood website so many of you have probably already seen it -This is a pic from a club called the Tradewinds in 1952 - the players are, left to right, Harry Babasin, w/cello, Shorty Rogers on trumpet, Shelly Manne on drums, and on piano, Marty Paich. These guys are all definers of west coast jazz but you may be more familiar with Marty Paich's son, David Paich from the supergroup, Toto.The picture has been credited to William Claxton, one of jazz's greatest photographers, though I don't have definitive verification of that.Either way, it's a cool shot...

[onoffon]

Today's ONOFFON SSP of the Day comes from yet another in a seemingly endless number of OMD's that continue to sprout up in cyberspace. This one is called Music Forte and boasts being 'The World's foremost community in Music, Education, and Business!' - at least that's what it says on their website. I put together a page over there with three songs - Anyway, it's roughly following the MySpace trend in having friends join your page and leave comments if they are so inspired. It's always nice when someone actually leaves a comment about your music and not just some spam...Here's our page over there -http://www.musicforte.com/member/ONOFFONThe latest comment was left today by a gentleman named Mark aka Galaxyrise -"To me, Fusion is the most purest form of Music!Your Structring and Flow is Esquisite!How do you compose such pieces?~Your Borne to it! It's in the Blood, Bones, Soul!Great stuff Von!Lovin it!Thanx for the add on...All the Success!Your friend,Mark aka Galaxyrise"It's always nice when a review from someone you don't know comes at you out of the blue... our thanks to Mark for stopping by and having a listen...