ONOFFON

[onoffon]

I recently received this message over at my FaceBook page -"I am an Egyptian journalist who writes for one of the largest entertainment magazines in the Middle East - El Kawakeb Magazine. I would like to do an interview with you for the magazine. Would that be okay? Let me know. Thanks - Mai"Well, you can imagine my answer - I said I'd be honored. I'm in the process of finishing the interview now.I'd like to thank Mai for the opportunity to receive some much needed international press for this culturally important film...Oh... BTW - I forgot to mention the benefit. It was fantastic! Unfortunately, no real celebs showed (not surprised). The silent auction raised some significant dollars for Heal the Bay and the food was great! Then, we got to play - the place was packed and we sounded better than we ever have. The first set was a little rocky... a lot of "wannabes" and "photo-opp" people who didn't really care to see a cover band in a setting like that weeded out. No surprise there either. But, by the second set, the place re-packed with people who wanted to party and rock out and we kicked *ss!!! Had the dance floor rockin' - people were hootin' and hollerin' and hangin' from the rafters... well, you get the idea.The host who booked us called the next day and said everyone raved and they're still buzzed about how good we were...

[onoffon]

A high school buddy of mine, Michael O'Neill, has played rhythm guitar for George Benson for more than twenty years now. A truly gifted guitarist...George Benson is headlining a concert tonight at the Hollywood Bowl and Michael has graciously invited my wife and I to the concert with backstage passes. It's very kind of him.Also on the bill will be SMV - a group featuring Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten, three of the most talented, contemporary jazz bassists in the world.Interestingly enough, back in 1952, my father was in a group with bassists Oscar Pettiford and Joe Comfort and recorded a four song EP released on Imperial Records. Of course, my dad and Oscar were playing cellos while Mr. Comfort backed them on bass. The cellos, though, were both tuned in fourths so today they would be referred to as 'piccolo' basses.56 years after my father formed a group with three bassists, I'll be seeing another following in their footsteps...Amazing...

[onoffon]

Wow...I can't tell you how wonderful the concert was. And to go backstage and meet these great musicians was overwhelming.Here's a pick of Stanley Clarke and I -I don't look too happy, do I? We talked at length about my father's documentary and he seemed to be truly respectful of my mission to honor this great bassist from jazz history...BTW - we met 20 years ago when I opened the first Long Beach Jazz Festival in 1988. He was the first day headliner and I got this pic backstage -I think I was pretty happy back then too...

[onoffon]

Oh yeah...I also had the distinct honor of meeting Victor Wooten...He, too, seemed genuinely fascinated by the story of three bassists in a group 56 years ago...Dad was way ahead of his time...

[onoffon]

It's been a while so I thought I'd write a quick update. Nothing of any real consequence but I'm still moving forward.While I have three different private investors considering the film, I have been continuing to send proposals to more foundations. I have been informed that I am being reviewed by the boards of directors of both the Ford Foundation and the Annenberg Foundation. These foundations have a long history of support in the arts and I'm hoping for the best from either or both.I'm trying to be even more concise about who I send to and I know that the project itself and the support I've received make this film more and more compelling...Onward...

[liamkelly]

Keep on keeping on, Von

[onoffon]

Thanks for your support, as always, Liam... I have yet another investment firm interested. One of these days, I'll get a call that says, "Okay, let's do this."On another interesting note, one of my dearest friends on these boards suggested I try to contact Denny Tedesco, the son of guitarist Tommy Tedesco, who just produced, directed, and released a documentary called, "The Wrecking Crew", a story about a group of studio musicians that backed everyone from the Beach Boys to Wayne Newton to The Monkees (and hundreds more) back in the 60's. He and his brother are receiving international acclaim for this wonderful documentary.Trying to do something like this is only possible if there is a path available. I've tried to contact people like Clint Eastwood and Jeff Goldblum, both known for their love of jazz, only to hit road blocks along the way. Interestingly enough, Denny's brother, Damon, happens to be in the same Musician's Union local I am a member of and it was easy to give him a call. He was amazed at my father's story, much like his father's story only a couple of decades earlier, and immediately gave me Denny's number. I had a great conversation with Denny and we're due to talk more next week. He was blown away by the whole idea.Just to share his experiences with me will be invaluable in my quest to make Harry's film...

[onoffon]

I have to say, it doesn't happen very often these days, but there's nothing better than having someone buy one of our CDs.A few days ago, a gentleman in Great Britain decided to buy our latest CD, Bridge to Presage, from our CD Baby page. He just found it on the site and bought it. How very cool...Then, today, I get another email from CD Baby. Apparently, this gentleman enjoyed it so much that he returned to buy copies of our first two CDs also, Surrender Now and Your Mind.How cool is that?!?!??!!!??Success is measured in many different ways. In our own little way, today was a wonderful success...

[onoffon]

Thanks Kelly! While I was going to announce that ONOFFON's song, "Mardi Gras", was number 1 over on the new music site, Audio Village, it seems as though Dave Kershaw has already kicked us to second. Que sera sera...What do you expect from an instrumental jazz tune? Even at the heighth of Mp3.com, we only managed to get to #15 on their overall charts, next to Madonna and Faith Hill and Linkin Park. Though we did hold the #1 Jazz tune for a week and the #1 Latin Jazz tune for an accumulated total of 73 days...But, Mp3.com has gone away and all those impressive totals and chart numbers have long disappeared...That's what happens when you've been online with music for eleven and a half years...

[onoffon]

I'm not sure how this came about but I stumbled on a website that has a review of our first CD, Surrender Now. Judging by the copyright at the bottom of the page I'd say it's been posted for a few years but I've never seen it until now. It's cool enough to post here -Recordmaster.comhttp://recordmaster.com/thereview.cfm?id=844"California based trio ONOFFON debut cd seams to offer something for all. Describing there self as a 'Progressive Jazz' group, in the sense the music is a progressive sound, and there are a lot of jazz influence. Mixing instrumental and vocal tracks, The first track, and title track is a more bluesy number, with a strong jazz back line running though it. Please Baby Please, is a very upbeat downtown bluesy/jazz number. The contrasts in musical styles, work well, keeping you on your feet. Taking in the, almost free jazz instrumental tune of Weekend in Montreal with some excellent sax soloing, to the powerhouse tune of Your Reality the tracks move from one to the next giving the listener a musical treat. The cd finishes of with two 11 mins+ tracks, and are the more constructed of the "progressive" tracks , with If a Thief Were I, an excellent acoustic number, and Remember Only the last track, for me been the best track on the cd, a harder edged tune with long instrumental passages. All vocal tracks are extremely strong with the vocals of Don Lake, along with Dave Goode on drums, and Von Babasin pumping bass and keys, the other two band members. If you are prepared to try something that might test your musical taste, then give this one ago, due to the changing styles of the tracks, there is plenty here to keep you listening for a long time."Interestingly, he doesn't actually mention the title of the album, Surrender Now. He makes reference to the "first track, and title track" but doesn't mention its name either.Other than that, it's very cool - thanks Recordmaster for your kind words...