From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V7 #326 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Wednesday, November 14 2001 Volume 07 : Number 326 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Today's your birthday, friend... [Mike Matthews ] Lindi [Jessweiser24@aol.com] crazy christmas CD cheap with Pipa and Cyoakha and more than you can imagine [Cyoakha ] Re: Jewel's This Way [RocketsTail@aol.com] Mary Margaret O'Hara does a soundtrack [Neile Graham ] Re: Mary Margaret O'Hara does a soundtrack [Neal Copperman ] Fwd: JOHNNY & SUSAN ON TOUR -- REMINDER [Michael Curry ] was that ... [meredith ] Lotsa concerts (ludicrously long) [Neal Copperman ] christmas album [jesse hernandez liwag ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 03:00:04 -0500 (EST) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friend... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ****************** Marla Tiara (marlantigone@yahoo.com) ******************* *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Marla Tiara Tue November 13 1973 Scorpio Dave Cook Mon November 15 1971 Scorpio Jeff Pearce November 16 Orpheus Naama Avramzon Mon November 18 1974 Scorpio Jeff Smith Mon November 19 1962 Crash Kevin Bartlett Fri November 21 1952 Scorpio Claudia Spix Wed November 23 1960 Schuetze Anja Baldo Tue November 23 1965 Garbanzo Tommy Persson Wed November 25 1964 Sagittarius Pat Tessitore November 26 Sagittarius Valerie Kraemer November 26 Sagittarius Justin Bur Fri November 27 1964 Sagittarius Sue Trowbridge Sun November 27 1966 Skytten Ward Kadel Tue November 29 1977 Sagittarius Jesse Hernandez Liwag Wed November 29 1972 Water Rat Mirko Bulaja Sat November 30 1974 Block Juha Sorva Thu December 02 1976 Sagittarius Chip Lueck Thu December 05 1968 Sagittarius Michele Wellck December 08 Sagittarius Jeremy J. Corry Fri December 11 1970 Sagittarius Renee Canada Tue December 13 1977 Sagittarius - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 08:14:04 EST From: Jessweiser24@aol.com Subject: Lindi My friend Lindi has a new site design and some new mp3s on her website. She has an album coming out soon and I think the songs are very Ecto-ish and you guys might really like them... I think they're amazing and her voice is gorgeous! www.lindi.org She's from Toronto and plays out quite frequently! And she is definitely destined for big things, I think! :-) Jess www.jessicaweiser.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 22:06:35 -0800 From: Cyoakha Subject: crazy christmas CD cheap with Pipa and Cyoakha and more than you can imagine I think I told you all about this album when my friend Rhan Wilson of THOTH produced it two years ago. For all of you tired of the same old boring christmas albums or bad pop cds with Mariah singing "God rest ye tired old rich Gentlemen" etc...this is a perfect antidote. I am afraid of course, I make a giant ass out of myself many times on the album. Rhan plays excellently, so does SK Thoth (violin), AND there is a beautiful beautiful version of Silent Night by Pipa Pinon, who I introduced you all to at EctofestWest and you all loved. The whole cd would be worth that song alone. As for me, I do a drunken Valley Girl trying to get out of the sleigh ride with mad russians on Jingle Bells, the last tune (one of those drunken Baba Yagas is Pipa) by the end of which I have turned into a mad monkey (hard to explain, have to hear, Pipa goes mad also) Rhan and I also did a pretty middle easterny sounding Little Drummer Boy that is really nice. Semi-ashamed but naughty me, did a Valley Girl version of Away in the Manger, that actually offended folks but cracked many up (I meant it to be funny, not un-religious). The entire album was a concept by Rhan who had always wanted to do all the Classic Christmas songs in minor keys and spread out from there. Some songs are beautiful, some funny, some insane. The reviews on his site will tell you more. Anyway, he is offering it up again and with a free version of 4 tracks from the next Altered Christmas. It is truly unique, a great gift. Pipa fans will salivate with joy, Cyoakha Grace fans will blackmail/tease me forever after hearing this. Plus, he's selling it cheap on his site if you don't do CD Baby. Love, cyoakha > From: Rhan Wilson > To: > > Hello everyone, > Here are a couple of news items I wish to share with you: > I have been working on a follow-up CD to my "Altared Christmas - An > offering by Rhan Wilson" that I produced a couple of years ago. Though > the complete CD will not be ready this year, I have produced a 4 song > CD to give you all a sample of what is to come next year. Featuring > accordion by the famous Santa Cruz accordionist, Julio Morgani, > clarinets by Mark Sowlakis, saxophone by Gary Regina, vocals by David > A. Wallis, and of course, lots of guitar and mandolin by Bob Burnett, > (as well as bass, percussion, and vocals by yours truly) this CD > continues the style of taking major-key familiar songs and seeing what > happens when they start off in a minor key. I am very happy with the > results so far and hope that you will, too! > > The website has been revamped a bit as well, > including my first attempt at creating an animated logo in Flash. I > hope to add sound to it as well (anyone out there experienced in > Flash/sound file creation?).Ordering "An Altared Christmas" couldn't > be easier on-line. A great music site called "CD Baby" sells them > (links from my site) and there is even an 800 number to call if you > don't want to do credit card ordering in line. There is a discount > for purchases of multiple CD's, and I will send everyone who buys one > a copy of this year's sampler (see above). Additionally, I will be > sending all my proceeds this year directly to P.A.W.S. (Pets Are > Wonderful Support), an AIDS service provider for people with pets in > San Francisco. > > Here's hoping that you all have a peacefull, productive holiday > season. > > Sincerely, > > Rhan Wilson > > > > > "Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even > though > checkered by failure than to take rank with those poor spirits who > neither enjoy > much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows > neither > victory nor defeat" > - Theodore Roosevelt > O'Manion Music PO Box 198 Mill Valley, CA 94941 cyo@landoftheblind.com http://www.landoftheblind.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 12:50:48 -0500 (EST) From: breinheimer@webtv.net (bill) Subject: Re: Artist Shop and NEARfest FYI- NEARfest is one of a few progrock festivals held annually. It's not always in Trenton but is always in the greater(as opposed to lesser?) Philadelphia area. Artist Shop is a great site and while progrock is their main focus it is not their sole subject matter. There are some ecto artists covered there although those would represent only a small percentage. As a matter of fact the latest artist shop newsletter just came in while I was typing this and releases by Bjork , Marianne Faithfull and Renaissance are mentioned therein. For anyone interested in good , independant music in a variety of genres I would highly recommend subscribing to Gary's newsletter. Speaking of recommendations I had the pleasure of seeing Jane Siberry at The Accoustic Cafe the other night and she continues to put on one of the most intimate and moving performances I have ever attended. I was a little nervous over her performing solo as I've been disap- pointed by this kind of thing in the past(even Robyn Hitchcock couldn't pull it off when I saw him). But it was no problem for Jane. The opening act-Ashley Cox- was pretty good too but I haven't gotten around to playing her cd yet as I've been listening to all things Siberry. remember those quiet evenings np: The Speckless Sky - Jane Siberry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 20:44:18 +0000 From: jjhanson@att.net Subject: Jewel's This Way Well, the new Jewel album is out--had to run out at lunch and buy it-a tradition I've managed to uphold so far for all her full album releases. It got a pretty rave review in Rolling Stone surprisingly, and there's been lots of talk about how varied the album is. Well, it's not revolutionary--it's still definitely Jewel, but it is a really solid album and is more varied than Spirit. Plus there's a few surprises for fans of the Inner Change Days tapes. Spoilers follow: A few lines from other songs appear in new ones--and a whole verse of Spivy Leeks--a song I never thought would make it to album, but the verse works pretty well in Everybody Needs Someone Sometime. And its driving me crazy, but what song is the line "Are you only half alive or have you always been this inarticulate" from--because that appears in a new song as well. It seems to me that its one she actually released already. So far my favorites are I Won't Walk Away, Break Me, and Serve the Ego, and the rocker, Love Me Or Just Leave Me Alone. And a live version of SOmetimes it Be That Way made the album--a classic that I'm glad to see widely released (it does seem a version appeared on one of the import singles but I gave up tracking those down a while back). One of Jewel's favorites (according to the liner notes) is Jesus Loves You, which isn't nearly as preachy as the title might make you think. Overall a solid effort--and probably the best representation of Jewel to date, but still missing the Nicotine Love side of her. Still, it's good to hear her voice again on some new material. Jeff Hanson n.p. Jewel - This Way ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 14:08:20 -0800 From: "Shelly DeForte" Subject: Rhodeways for sale, free music magazines Hello all, I am getting rid of a bunch of old magazines and stuff (including back issues of Rhodeways), and just wanted to see if anybody on the list wants anything. I have issues 1-9 and 12 of Rhodeways, they are in good but not perfect condition. I'm not trying to make money on these, but I want to give a chance to anyone who may really want them (instead of giving them away and rewarding whoever gets the e-mail first). So, I'll ship all the issues for the best offer (e-mail shelly@cybermagician.com). I also have a box full of Electronic Musician Magazines -- a smattering of dates from 1995 on, but mostly a subscription from the last 3 years or so. I'd be happy to ship these to whoever wants to pay the shipping costs. There are also some EQs, Mixs, Audio Media, Tape Op, Keyboard etc. in the box. I guess I just can't stand recycling them. Thanks all :) - - Shelly - ---------------------------------------------- Shelly DeForte Web Design shelly@cybermagician.com Web Tools http://www.cybermagician.com Programming ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 23:41:24 -0000 From: "neal copperman" Subject: Re: Jewel's This Way jjhanson@att.net said: > A few lines from other songs appear in new ones--and > a whole verse of Spivy Leeks--a song I never thought > would make it to album, but the verse works pretty > well in Everybody Needs Someone Sometime. That is really hard to believe. I'll be eager to hear that. (Spively Leeks was a half formed ditty that seemed like a John Prine throwaway. It's hard to imagine it working, but maybe it just didn't work all pieced together like it was. It did have some amusing moments.) > And its driving me crazy, but what song is the line > "Are you only half alive or have you always been > this inarticulate" from--because that appears in > a new song as well. It seems to me that its one > she actually released already. His Pleasure is my Pain (One of my absolute favorites from the Inner Change time) My bones have grown tired of his hunger, of his gray eyes, and I feel if I were to stay one more night here I'd die or explode or worse yet just fade away. There have been days so dark that I felt like august and that I soon too would turn to fall. he always said I was too sensitive that if I cared so much the world could kill me that way. I wonder if he's only half alive or if he's simply always been this inarticulate, cause i say at least I never meant to make him cry. At least I never meant to make him hurt that way Nooo I never meant to make him cry Never meant to make him hurt that way neal ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 19:29:02 EST From: RocketsTail@aol.com Subject: Re: Jewel's This Way I agree it's definatly her best studio album...I love Jewel and her music but I just can't listen to "POY" or "Spirit", they are not reflections of what her music is. THIS WAY I love and even though I was hoping for a more "Nicotine Love" era album (plus I wish "Love me just leave me alone" would've kept the electric guitar intro instead of the twangy slow intro--oh well)...it's a very solid cd with great songs like "Do You Want to Play". I'm hoping this is a step forward for Jewel and things just keep getting better! ~eric MP3.COM- The Bubblegum Complex "The music with that fresh squeezed lemon taste" Support Indie Rock!!!!!! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 16:57:42 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Mary Margaret O'Hara does a soundtrack Hey, if anyone ever runs across this, please please let me know! Torontonians, check your used disc shops please! (Damn, I was just there.) - --Neile >Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 00:57:21 -0500 (EST) >Reply-to: "David Bravos" >From: "David Bravos" >To: ectoguide@smoe.org >Subject: Ectophiles' Guide - Correction > >Name: David Bravos >Email: idlebark@aol.com >Topic: Correction > >You're site has an excellent section on Mary Margaret O'hara, so I thought >you might appreciate learning that she has recently recorded her first >album in ten years. She composed the original soundtrack to the romantic >comedy "Apartment Hunting" which was released in August 2001. >Unfortunately the soundtrack is not commercially available, but 1000 cd's >were printed as promotional give-aways at the film's opening. The website >for the film is www.apartmenthunting.com > >The album is fantastic. It's not so much a follow up to Miss America, as >it is a very well done soundtrack. Given that the film is a romantic >comedy, Mary's songs are either moody meditations on romance, or humorous >rants. > >Highlights include: > >"Dream I had" one of the romance tracks; the album includes two versions >of the song with completely different melodies. > >"Scary Latin Love Song" one of the funny tracks, in which Mary >hyperactively chatters fake Spanish in contrast to some breezy guitar work. > >"Rain" an incredible, almost unbelievable, improvisational vocal led by >Mary. > >~David > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Found the guide thus: not specified > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >SERVER: www.smoe.org:80 - 2001-11-12 00:57:20 >REMOTE HOST: unknown (172.170.104.109) >BROWSER: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.5; Windows 98; Win 9x 4.90) > - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ...... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ....... neile@sff.net Les Semaines: A Weekly Journal . http://www.sff.net/people/neile/semaines The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music ............ http://www.ectoguide.org ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 18:25:38 -0700 From: Neal Copperman Subject: Re: Mary Margaret O'Hara does a soundtrack At 4:57 PM -0800 11/13/01, Neile Graham wrote: >Hey, if anyone ever runs across this, please please let me know! >Torontonians, check your used disc shops please! (Damn, I was just there.) Re: Apartment Hunting soundtrack with MMOH I suspect there would be no problem unloading this disc on ecto. If anyone sees copies, you should nab as many as possible, or at least two :) neal np: Chinese Traditional & Contemporary Music - Wu Man & Ensemble ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 18:15:28 -0800 From: Bill Mazur Subject: Welcome new Ectophiles and Catching up Hello Everyone, Again, it's been awhile... First off, I would like to welcome the new Ectophiles that posted over the past week or so. Welcome to you Julia and Betcey! This is a special community. I hope that you enjoy your stay here. I have been listening repeatedly to two CDs over the past two weeks. This is very rare for me. I have over 1000+ CDs that I try to make rounds through. However, these two are just too compelling to file away for now. Here they are: 1) Louisa John-Krol - Ariel - I had been trying to find a vendor in the US that carried this CD and finally found Middle Pillar out of New York. It took five weeks for the CD to get to me (I'm sure due to the post office problems). I can not praise this recording enough. It is an exquisite masterpiece. It will definitely be the #1 CD on my Best of 2001. It may even break into my Top 100 of all time. I really liked Alexandria, Louisa's previous release. Ariel is even more engaging. All of her work has an overall spiritual quality to it. The mood of Ariel ranges from uplifting to haunting and ethereal. The arrangements are all so beautiful and well thought out. They are very clever without being the least bit pretentious. The production is also superb. I highly recommend this CD to those Ectophiles who like Loreena McKennitt and Clannad. The arrangements also have elements of the early, classic Moody Blues (mellotron or similar sounding synth strings, flute, cello) and the acoustic, softer side of Led Zeppelin. The latter impression is because of the fact that Louisa plays the mandolin and sings in a similar style to Sandy Denny (who dueted with Robert Plant on "The Battle of Evermore") at times. 2) Happy Rhodes - Left Hand Demos - I can not believe that these are Happy's throw aways (I believe that is how Happy described these songs). This CD contains some of the best work Happy has ever done. My favorites are "Miss You", "Now You Know Me", and "Rest in Pieces". Every piece is wonderful. I particularly love "Now You Know Me". It is such a beautiful and melancholy song. Happy sings in a different tonality that really hooks me on this song. Something about her singing on this song really reminds me of Annie Lennox at her best. I know that others have made that connection before. This song really solidifies that comparison for me. Thanks to Phil, Vickie, Fog and all others who worked on putting this together. Of course, thank you Happy!!! I hope that the donations and proceeds from this special CD have helped to really make a dent in the medical expenses incurred. On another LHD note, my longtime and dear friend, Chuck Gray, had his photo of Happy used for the inner sleeve. That was really cool! :-) Adam, your countryman Phil Hudson and I are two of the unabashed progheads here on Ecto. I know that there are a number of others as well. I am very seriously considering making the trek back to the East Coast for NEARfest this year. I normally attend one of the West Coast prog events such as Progfest. Things have been quiet over the past few years out here in the West. In the meantime NEARfest has developed into one of the premier prog festivals in the world. Nektar is one of my favorite classic prog bands. "Remember the Future" is a classic concept album. All of their early releases were wonderful. The 2002 NEARfest line up is very strong with Nektar headlining one night and Le Orme on the other. Another very good SF Bay Area neo-prog band, Enchant, is on the bill. All the best to you all! Bill M. n.p. Happy Rhodes _Left Hand Demos_ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 21:43:04 -0500 From: Michael Curry Subject: Fwd: JOHNNY & SUSAN ON TOUR -- REMINDER >Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 14:54:05 -0500 >From: Sheila-na-Gig Music >Subject: JOHNNY & SUSAN ON TOUR -- REMINDER > >JOHNNY CUNNINGHAM & SUSAN McKEOWN US TOUR & ALBUM > > >Johnny Cunningham & Susan McKeown are on the road again with Aidan >Brennan and coming to a live music venue near you. We hope you can >join us for an evening of fine songs, tunes and funny stories of >winter in Ireland and Scotland. > >Also, we have a new album 'A Winter Talisman'. Read more about it at >our new website: www.johnnyandsusan.com > > >********************************* > >MA/RI/NH/VT/DC/NY etc.etc. >Mo 3 Museum of American Folk Art, New York NY 212-581-7762 >We 5 Regent Theater Arlington, MA 781-643-1198 >Th 6 Wilde Auditorium Hartford, CT 860-768-4228 >Fr 7 Chandler Music Hall Randolph, VT 802-728-9878 >Sa 8 Maguire's Falmouth, MA (508) 548-0285 >Su 9 Cohoes Music Hall Cohoes, NY 518-434-1703 >Tu 11 The Muse at the Gray Goose II Londonderry, NH 603-437-6085 >We 12 Joe's Pub NYC 212-539-8512 >Th 13 Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center Washington, DC 202-416-8000 >Sa 15 The Prism Charlottesville, VA 804-97-PRISM > >Kind regards! > >************************ >Sheila-na-Gig Music, LLC >http://www.sheilanagig.com >Tel: 212-260-2302 >Fax: 212-260-9645 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 00:38:18 -0500 From: meredith Subject: was that ... Hi, Just saw Natalie Merchant on Letterman (apparently she was also on Letterman last night, but it wasn't advertised in advance -- argh). Was that Alison Miller playing the drums? She currently plays drums for the full-band version of the Chanting House, and I've seen her play with Mila Drumke in the past as well. It looked like her, but the camera didn't exactly focus on the drummer during the performance so it was really hard to tell. Haven't heard Natalie's new album yet (I'll bring it to work tomorrow), but the song she played tonight sounded very intriguing. ======================================= Meredith Tarr New Haven, CT USA mailto:meth@smoe.org http://www.smoe.org/meth "an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind" -- mahatma gandhi ======================================= Live At The House O'Muzak House Concert Series http://www.smoe.org/meth/muzak.html ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 23:16:35 -0700 From: Neal Copperman Subject: Lotsa concerts (ludicrously long) In the last three weeks or so, I've seen so many concerts that were worthy of noting. I keep putting it off, figuring that the most noteworthy deserve more complete reviews. They keep piling up, and the chance of my remembering enough for a detailed review continues to diminish, so I may as well do lots of quick capsules and be done with it. (Looking at this now that I'm finished, I'm not sure it was so good an idea. It's an ecto digest all by itself. Well, that's what delete keys are for, I guess.) Lessee, I'll just start from the day after the drunk driver drove through my neighbors yard, 60 feet of picket fence, 2 street signs and a cable tv box before crashing into my car parked in the driveway. I've managed to see all this stuff in the time it takes to repair the damage (to the car... no sign of yard repairs yet). Though the car is still in the shop, so who knows how long it'll really take. Annie Gallup: This was a house concert Jeff and I put on. Annie is really stunning. I'm surprised I haven't seen her name mentioned more. Each of her songs are like short stories, which she accompanies with excellent finger-picking guitar. I hear a healthy dose of early Suzanne Vega in her voice, though I can buy that Joni Mitchell/Lou Reed lovechild thing I kept reading about. Her stories often have a magical/fantastical twist to them, but still often have a chorus that'll leave you humming too. Trina Hamlin: The next night we hosted a surprise party with Trina Hamlin. The house concert that almost wasn't - as Trina hadn't been in touch for days and didn't show up at the expected time (4 to 5). In fact, when she didn't show up by 7, we asked local Anna Wolfe (who had already RSVP'ed for the show) to bring her guitar. At 7:30, Anna started in on an excellent set. No one would have been unhappy if that was all they got, but Trina called at 8:30, nearby and lost. We finally got her to the house and performing by 9. it was definitely worth the wait. Trina had impressed with her passionate songs and incredible harmonica playing at Ectofest. What I wasn't prepared for was Trina on the piano. Jeff's got a digital piano, and we hadn't had a performer interested in playing it. I didn't realize Trina's first instrument was piano, and music just flowed out of her hands when she touched it. She treated us to a number of piano songs, as well as a lot of the favorites I learned at ectofest. Laurianne Fiorentino One of my favorite local performers did her usual bang-up job at the coffeehouse down the street from me. She's in the northeast now for the regional folk alliance. If anyone back there gets a chance to see her, I highly recommend her. (http://www.lauriannef.com) Brian Joseph A house concert that wasn't ours. Much smaller and more disorganized than what we do, but a lot of fun anyway. In some ways more fun, as we didn't have much to do, and could sit back with about 8 other people in a tiny living room. Brian's a funny, charming guy with a warm voice and lots of good folk songs. There were a few that reminded me of Steve Poltz, but mostly he was more traditional then steve. We were charmed enough that we've invited him to perform at one of our house concerts next year. (http://www.brianjosephmusic.com) Nicolas Collins and Peter Cusack The latest avant garde improvisational show, featuring a trombone and a mandolin modified to trigger electronic samples and to sample each other. A night of strange noises and weird musical interplay. Ileana, dolly ranchers NM Best Band showcase. These guys were both losers, but Ileana's a friend (http://www.realitychickrecords.com), and the dolly ranchers just kick butt. They've got that old kd lang, Maria McKee country punk thing going, with strong vocals, catchy songs and solid musicianship. Their CD is a definite keeper, and they have a lot of songs that leap into my head unbidden. Sample lyrics "I'm too drunk to go home, too sober to stay, I'd like to be here, if you'd go away." Crush: Myra Melford Odd jazz with annoying bass and stunning piano Jane Siberry Jeff and I flew to Tucson to see one of Jane's solo City shows. It's always a treat to see Jane. If this show were done by anyone else, it probably would have been a disappointment, and it's definitely the least of Jane's shows I've seen. I think she really shines in orchestrating interesting interplay between musicians, and solo she's left with too much to carry. This is the first Jane concert I've seen that didn't have any transcendant moments, though it had plenty of sublime Jane conversation, and a really surprising set list. I was most surprised to hear You Don't Need from No Borders Here. That was one of the songs that worked best with a solo guitar arrangement. We also had a mangled version of Everything Reminds Me Of My Dog, and stuff from Hush and When I Was A Boy. And lots of songs from her newly released odds and ends album City. There were a few songs that she did with backing tracks, which seemed way too restrictive for Jane's usual freewheeling nature, and may as well have been album tracks. Jane played piano, electric guitar and keyboard. I'd seen her play as a duo where Tim Ray handled the keys, and while Jane is a fine piano player, Tim is exceptional. She could really have used his musicianship to lift this show up. So I was a bit disappointed, but was still happy to get whatever sampling of live Jane I could. Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem Rani was one of our real finds this year. It was a treat to see her and the band back in New Mexico, livening up one of our favorite little coffeeshops with their brand of cocktail jazz, western swing, old standards, bluegrass and folk. Another group I highly recommend seeing if you get the chance. We're having them back for another house concert in February. Lucy Kaplansky The last time I saw Lucy solo was in 1996, in support of her first album. I was distinctly unimpressed then, but I've always liked her as a back-up singer, and liked her leads with Cry Cry Cry too. I liked her a lot better this time. I'm not sure what it is that leaves me wanting in her music. Maybe it's just lack of familiarity. The show was pretty solid, but had a bit of a sameness to it. I picked up her latest album, so maybe a few listens will break me in better. To connect with past threads, she told a very amusing story about getting to sing back-up on Brian Ferry's latest album and sang a so-so version of More Than This. After seeing mediocre covers of that song by 10K Maniacs and Lucy, I have more respect for the beautiful original. J.M.Coetzee The Lannan Foundation hosts an incredible series of readings and conversations in Santa Fe. The line-up of authors is really amazing. Coetzee read from his newly completed manuscript Youth. This is the second volume of his autobiographical fiction. He read for almost an hour, and i was completely lost in the story of himself as a computer programmer in England in 1965. (There were three computers in the country at the time!) It's a powerful tale of a man struggling between logic, science and livelihood and an artistic life he feels slowly slipping away. I really liked Disgrace, but this reading made me very eager to read more of his work. (Tomorrow's reading is Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours!) Susan McKeown & Johnny Cunningham There's not much to be said about a Susan and Johnny show that hasn't surfaced in these parts at some time. They were funny. They played and sang great songs. Mostly from Lowlands and the new album. They did the Peter & Wendy mini-set, which still brings a tear to my eye, and Susan brought the house down (as usual), with her campy Crocodile Tango. I had a nice chat with her afterwards. Mostly about New Mexico and literature. She's currently reading Ahab's Wife. I had just seen the Coetzee reading, so we talked about Disgrace too. Oh, and the Casey Neill Trio. Johnny produced at least one of their albums, and they have been covering River for the last year or so. Susan said she'd be in Oregon next week, and would probably see Casey. She said she'd heard they were doing River, but had never heard their version. Afterwards, I rushed home (quick 1 mile walk), grabbed a copy of Casey's house concert, and zipped back to the club to surprise her with her very own copy. Wonder what they think of it? She also said they had already finished recording River for the next album, so it really will be surfacing soon. Don Byron: Music for 6 Musicians More jazz that I actually liked. This from the freewheeling clarinetist, sometime Klezmatic (you can hear him on Jane's Shir Amami). Very high energy, with an excellent band. He played for nearly three hours and I didn't get bored, which is something for a jazz show. The Eyeliners Local punk faves. 3 woman power trio format who tore up the stage. Celebrating their new album on Lookout! They seem like a good fit. Haven't listened to the disc yet. Probably not essential listening, but good fun. Anna Wolfe Our last house concert. Anna is probably the only performer who spent a month preparing a special show just for her house concert. It featured at least a dozen new songs, and was the first time she played piano in public. She had some grandiose piano songs that were really stunning, particularly Backbone, which closes off her last album "I Never Was Cool". I've seen her a dozen times this year, and have never seen that song performed. This show was far more somber then her impromptu set before Trina's show, despite including a wonderful childrens song about bunnies stealing socks, the goofy Big Ole Dorky Smile On My Face and the always manic Monkey Song. I guess the piano brings out the seriousness in her. Anna is hands down my favorite Albuquerque musician, and I hope more people will have the chance to see her sometime. Her albums are good too, though not as fun as seeing her live. (http://www.annawolfe.com) Quincy Troupe and Zimbabwe Nkenya Jazz-infused poetry that seemed more exciting when I last saw it, 10 years ago. I think I've been slammed to death since then (and I hardly go to slams as it is). Zimbabwe is a local bass player, and seeing him improvise along to Quincy's reading was the definite treat of the evening. Our next house concert is SONiA in a few weeks. Whew, now I feel adequately caught up, and you guys must be pretty worn out (if you got here at all). neal np: Fire - Magdalen Hsu-Li ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 22:29:48 -0800 (PST) From: jesse hernandez liwag Subject: christmas album Hello, I would appreciate it if any of you could provide me a list of your ideal ecto-sh Christmas compilation. I need ideas for one to give out to a few friends for--what else?--Christmas. About 10-15 songs would be great. Thanks, Jesse Hernandez Liwag~ Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals http://personals.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V7 #326 **************************