10.18.16

Up 4:30-6, slept again until 9. Weight 214.3

Finally sent an 10" order I've had packed for a week to Australia. Left from p.o. for Oracle about 10:30. Listened to 4-track compilation from Dan in Iowa - generally quite strong.  The tracks he sent before release doesn't have artists, but I recognize Mike Watt and Tim Midgett by their voices, not sure my sloppy acoustic contribution ("Granges-Sur-Salvan") stands up. Spent an hr+ on email responses, then worked on "Goo-Goo Eyes" 2-4:30.

Came home, napped, helped Bree download some medical records, headed downtown to rehearse. Read a bit of Keynes, listened to a few songs from EC's Spike, thinking of rhythm arrangements as possible models for "Shovel-Ready," and an early Ike Turner comp. Rehearse 8-10 at Rivington, working mainly on that song, "Illusions," "Untimely Beggar," and running through "Old Currencies," "Our Films, Their Films" + "Enemies." Got an idea of some guitar parts I should decide on/practice. Finally got back to Sterling Brown's poems on the way home - some of the later work is incredibly bitter; tendency to move from race to class (not the only African-American writer to do so). The moments of musical critique are powerful, and not un-Adornian. 

Cleaned up stray emails at home. Too tired for daybook, Gates today. Accomplished a fair bit though. Lights out at 1 am.

10.17.16

Up 7. Wt. 214.5

Didn't leave the neighborhood or try to write; bree was out of the apt., so I spent the day on mundane tasks and organizing. Only of interest insofar as an example of the tiny steps toward a given outcome: e.g., wrote emails related to the next album,  a Shrimper cassette release, a possible release of Human Hearts singles/comp tracks, and my liner notes for a Game Theory reissue,  Cleaned out one messy drawer full of adapters, etc. (why do I have this many MIDI connectors when I have no idea how to use them?); some relief, though the office is full of similar chaos. Cleaned out my email in the evening, finally wrote in daybook and read 10 p. of Keynes, on the Treaty of Versailles. A little hard for me to follow -- it turns out I know very little about international trade balances. Lights out around 11.

It looks like I won't be traveling to Boise in November. 

Theme song for a Japanese civic mascot. I find this very comforting. 

Andrew Cyrille profile, w/ Spotify links to five excellent albums from his past.

10.16.18

Up 6. Wt. 214.3

Coffee, caught up w/ daybook. Tried to read a few Ashbery poems. Short nap at home, then some small tasks. Wrote Dan Selzer about paper remnants for another project, to use for cassette cover.

Pete Galub came over about 11:30, originally to work on gtr parts, but given the uncertainty about recording, we just talked. Walked over to David Heatley's for his "bring-a-song" birthday party. Some professionals and experienced musicians (Lee Feldman, Jeff Lewis, Pete), Amy Kohn some relatives, everyone had to sing or play something, inc. their kids. I played, sang "Rubber Duckie" from their Sesame St. songbook and "Boring Postcards." There 1-5, caught up to people.

Came home, turned around and went downtown for David Nagler's Carl Sandburg record release party at Joe's Pub. Both ambitious and good - he's a terrific arranger (string 1/4tet inc. Jean Cook and Dana Lynn, reed, trumpet, keys, double bass, drums, accordion, and sometimes guitar) and a smart setter of text. Nice mix of musical seriousness and accessibility, at least by my standards. (And I like the choice of Sandburg b/c it doesn't feel trendy.) Gave congrats afterwards.

Wrote several emails about the recording/memorial logistics. Listened to another disc of Lester Young (it includes a lot of Holliday and Basie work). Long email to my dad.

10.15.16

Up 9. 214.4

Rehearsed w/ Bree. 11-1 coffee, mostly online. Will almost certainly postpone our Nov. recording session to go to a memorial out of state. 

Spent hr+ organizing office, trying to update to-do lists, get some control. Had to go back to Cafe Benne for wallet. Rehearsed more. Bree left before me, met her at Slipper Room for Trav + Carolyn's vaudeville wedding. Played "Wedding of the Painted Doll" - Bree sounded good. Good Groucho imitator, Trav sang "Froggie Went a-Courtin." Ran into Chris from Purple Ivy Shadows, an indiepop-era band from Providence, met his wife. Stopped by e77 on the way home, heard a kid from Atlanta covering "Stray Cat Strut," George Jones, this and that. Nothing wrong w/ his voice, solid guitarist. Talked to Macgregor. Home, decompressed 11-1. 

Too much of the day (last few, in fact) centered around that performance. No prose or serious reading, skipped daybook.

10.14.16

Up 9. 216.6

Wrote a chart for "Wedding of the Painted Doll." Oracle 12-3: Started a Dylan piece for LARB, thought better of it. Picked at "Goo-Goo Eyes." Stopped at library to confirm my address (system wasn't let me request books online). Rehearsed at / Bree. Train to midtown, finished 10:04, daybook. Met Drew at Community Church for 2nd show in AACM series -- Leo Smith trio (w/ Bobby Naughton on vibes; some intervals hurt my teeth); Thurman Barker Heritage Ensemble (3 horn front line inc. Bill Lowe on trombone). Ate after. 

Listened to 2 CDs of a Lester Young box over the course of the day. "Shoe Shine Boy" (1936; exemplary rhythm changes head, sev. yrs before "Lester Leaps In"). Prose? Barely. Stalled on serious reading.