From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2006 #101 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/onlyjoni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe onlyJMDL Digest Thursday, April 6 2006 Volume 2006 : Number 101 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Don Alias' Obituary in New York Times [RoseMJoy@aol.com] sacred earth ["Marianne Rizzo" ] RE: 9/11 ["Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" ] Joni Photo ["Cassy" ] Re: sacred earth ["Lori Fye" ] Re: sacred earth ["Lori Fye" ] Re: 9/11 ["Lori Fye" ] getting out Joni's wonderful words ["Patti Parlette" ] RE: Conspiracy theories/Heads in sand [Allmanfan54@aol.com] Page describes Joni, metaphorically ["Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" ] Re: sacred earth ["Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" ] Re: Page describes Joni, metaphorically [Doug ] Joni photo ["Patti Parlette" ] Re: Page describes Joni, metaphorically ["Michael Flaherty" ] Re: Joni Photo ["Mark Scott" ] sacred earth ["Kate Bennett" ] Re: sacred earth ["Mark Scott" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 08:59:41 EDT From: RoseMJoy@aol.com Subject: Don Alias' Obituary in New York Times _http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/arts/music/05alias.html?_r=1&oref=slogin_ (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/arts/music/05alias.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) Don Alias, 66, Percussionist and Sideman, Is Dead By NATE CHINEN Published: April 5, 2006 Don Alias, a percussionist who had a long career as a sought-after sideman, working with an illustrious array of artists in jazz and pop including Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell, died on March 28 at his home in Manhattan. He was 66. His death was announced by Melanie Futorian, his companion, who said the cause was under investigation. Born Charles Donald Alias to Caribbean parents in New York, Mr. Alias liked to say that he learned percussion on the streets, picking up the techniques of Cuban and Puerto Rican hand drummers. While in high school, he enlisted as a conga player with the Eartha Kitt Dance Foundation, which offered classes at a Y.M.C.A. Ms. Kitt herself took him along to the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival, where he performed with the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, his first professional experience. At the urging of his family, Mr. Alias (pronounced uh-LIE-ess) studied biology at Gannon College in Erie, Pa., and the Carnegie Institute for Biochemistry in Boston. Playing in Boston clubs by night, he met students from the Berklee School of Music, most notably the bassist Gene Perla. It was Mr. Perla who got Mr. Alias a job as a drummer with Ms. Simone, even though he had no experience with a full drum kit. He handled the challenge and eventually became Ms. Simone's musical director. In 1969, his work in her ensemble caught the attention of Miles Davis, who was then developing the hazy jazz-rock that would suffuse his album "Bitches Brew." Hired as an auxiliary percussionist for the album, Mr. Alias ended up playing a trap-set part, along with Jack DeJohnette, on the track "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down." His lean and loosely syncopated beat, inspired by New Orleans parade music, is one of the album's most distinctive rhythms. Mr. Alias played the role of trap drummer again on a 1979 concert tour with Joni Mitchell, in a band that included the saxophonist Michael Brecker, the guitarist Pat Metheny and the bassist Jaco Pastorius. A live recording from the tour, "Shadows and Light," is often cited as a favorite among musicians. Mr. Alias was the first-call percussionist for a host of other artists as well, including the singer Roberta Flack, the alto saxophonist David Sanborn (with whom he toured as recently as February) and the pianist Herbie Hancock. As a conga player, Mr. Alias could augment a rhythm section in a way that was urgent but never intrusive. He also had a hand in forming two bands: Stone Alliance, an electric fusion project with Mr. Perla and the saxophonist Steve Grossman, and Kebekwa, a percussion ensemble based in Montreal. Kebekwa was short-lived, but several years ago Stone Alliance reunited after a two-decade hiatus. The group has three recent live albums on the Mambo Maniacs label. In addition to Ms. Futorian, Mr. Alias is survived by his mother, Violet Richardson Alias; his son, Charles Donald Alias Jr.; his daughter, Kimberlee Marisa Alias; and four grandchildren. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 10:39:42 -0400 From: "Marianne Rizzo" Subject: sacred earth which leads me to think: What are some of the many Joni references to the earth and such? I love thinking about these. . . Joni was one of my influences that lead me to move to the county 11 years ago. In my blood like holy wine. . . . . Marianne _________________________________________________________________ Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfee. Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 12:37:26 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" Subject: RE: 9/11 Lori, I watched all 1h 20 minutes. I can't say I enjoyed it but I'm glad I spent that time. The filmmaker presents one inconsistency after another during that time. For me, the most perplexing question was about the plane that (we thought?) went down in Pennsylvania. By the time that plane went down, I think we already had huge messes on the ground in Manhattan and DC. It's hard to believe that there were lots of federal forces sitting around in rural Pennsylvania, and that they responded faster than the own county's own coroner. I can't think of a legitimate reason for the feds to keep a coroner from doing his job. The coroner expected to see pieces of a jumbo jet that was relatively intact. After all, it wasn't exploded in air (like the Lockerbee, Scotland attack). The story was that it plowed into the ground, so he expected a tail section, pieces of wings, twisted chunks of fuselage, and bodies. He (and several other locals) saw a scrape in the ground measuring about 10 feet by 20 feet. (about 3.5 meters by 7 meters). He said he never saw a body. His quote was "I never saw one drop of blood." The coroner had nothing to do, so he drove home. I can imagine his puzzlement when he heard how it was "playing" on national TV. Even if the feds wanted to keep the crash site secret, (really, really secret) I just can't imagine that they would have had *enough resources* to do it in rural Pennsylvania when everyone was already focusing on Manhattan and the Pentagon. So, like others, I too wonder where is the jumbo jet? Where are the 200 corpses? The film doesn't presume to know what the heck happened but there's an lot that doesn't add up. An awful, awful lot. Since the present political environment has a level of secrecy that is unprecedented in my lifetime, I don't hold out much hope for more info. I think it's time to lift the freaking Patriot Act, sign the Geneva Convention AGAIN, and start acting like responsible neighbors in the community of nations. All the best, Jim L'Hommedieu -----Original Message----- From: Lori Fye [mailto:lrfye58@gmail.com] Will you please watch the video we're discussing? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8260059923762628848 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 14:29:40 -0400 From: "Cassy" Subject: Joni Photo The latest thread on Joni's "older more mature" voice got me thinking. I don't know if anyone has seen the photograph Annie Leibevitz took of Joni for her book "Women" but it's so moving to me I had to share the knowledge of it's existence. The book contains photographs of only women; some are of famous people and some of everyday women. The accompanying text is written by Susan Sontag and the entire book is well worth a look even if it didn't have the most beautiful photo I've ever seen of a more recent Joni. I took a photograph of the page with Joni's picture on it and am willing to share it with anyone who might like to see it but it honestly doesn't do justice to the lines in her face and the character she wears so well. Unfortunately it's too large and too copyrighted to scan and share. Warmly, Cassy NP: Pablo Picasso - David Bowie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 11:37:32 -0700 From: "Lori Fye" Subject: Re: sacred earth > which leads me to think: > > What are some of the many Joni references to the earth and such? > > > I love thinking about these. . . "Javex bottles on the tide" is the first one that comes to mind > Joni was one of my influences that lead me to move to the county 11 years ago. > In my blood like holy wine. . . . . Tell us about that, Marianne! Lori ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 11:38:12 -0700 From: "Lori Fye" Subject: Re: sacred earth Let me amend that. Should be: "Paper plates and Javex bottles on the tide." Lori ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 11:40:34 -0700 From: "Lori Fye" Subject: Re: 9/11 > I think it's time to lift the freaking Patriot Act, sign the Geneva Convention AGAIN, > and start acting like responsible neighbors in the community of nations. Jim, you never cease to surprise me. Thank you. Lori ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:05:07 +0000 From: "Patti Parlette" Subject: getting out Joni's wonderful words - --Smurf, le pomme de terre bleu, wrote: "I only get a chip on my shoulder when it seems that, of all Joni's wonderful words, "don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone" gets all the attention in the culture at large. C'est domage!" A chip on your shoulder? That's no good, that's no good, that's no good, baby that's no good! So what are you going to do about it You can't live life and you can't leave it Advice and religion you can't take it You can't seem to believe it Are you a peacock afraid to parade your Joni love around Morgantown? Hey, I do my best and I do good business, so don't blame ME! Are you doing YOUR part, huh huh huh? Do you wear a Joni button everywhere you go? Do you have a Joni magnet (WWJD) on your desk at work? When you pick up your take-out pizza and Counting Crows' BYT is playing, do you ask the high school kid if she knows who wrote that song? And when she doesn't, do you take the time to explain SIQUOMB? If you're in a crowded waiting room, do you strike up a conversation and gently ease Joni into it? Do you go around humming or even singing Joni songs in the workplace, in the subway, in the grocery store, dans la piscine privee? Do you have a Joni screensaver on your office computer to ensnare people into conversations about Joni being not just a singer/songwriter/musician but a painter, as well? Do you risk repelling friends and kin and campers in the kitchen by spouting Joni lyrics every freakin' chance you get? You've got to wake up every morning with a Joni smile on your face and show the world all the Joni love in your heart....then people gonna treat her better, you're gonna find, yes you will.......... Love, Patti P., just being silly as the snow that gathered like bolts of lace this morning melts to reveal just a little green of spring ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 18:36:24 -0400 From: "Cassy" Subject: Re: sacred earth From: "Marianne Rizzo" <<< What are some of the many Joni references to the earth and such? >>> These are the lyrics that come to mind regarding environmental references of one kind or another: Woodstock I have come here to lose the smog Big Yellow Taxi "Hey Farmer Farmer Put away that D.D.T. now Give me spots on my apples But leave me the birds and the bees Please" Lakota (One of my favorites) I am Lakota! Lakota! Looking at money man Diggin' the deadly quotas Out of balance Out of hand We want the land! Lay down the reeking ore Don't you hear the shrieking in the trees? Everywhere you touch the earth she's sore Every time you skin her all things weep Your money mocks us Restitution what good can it do? Kennelled in metered boxes Red dogs in debt to you I am Lakota! Lakota! Fighting among ourselves All we can say with one whole heart Is we won't sell No we'll never sell We want the land! The lonely coyote calls In the woodlands footprints of the deer In the barrooms poor drunk bastard falls In the courtrooms deaf ears sixty years You think we're sleeping but Quietly like rattlesnakes and stars We have seen the trampled rainbows In the smoke of cars I am Lakota Brave Sun pity me I am Lakota Broken Moon pity me I am Lakota Grave Shadows stretching Lakota Oh pity me I am Lakota Weak Grass pity me I am Lakota Faithful Rocks pity me I am Lakota Meek Standing water Lakota Oh pity me I am Lakota! Lakota! Standing on sacred land We never sold these Black Hills To the missile heads To the power plants We want the land! The bullet and the fence broke Lakota The black coats and the booze broke Lakota Courts that circumvent choke Lakota Nothing left to lose Tell me grandfather You spoke the fur and feather tongues Do you hear the whimpering waters When the tractors come? Sun pity me Mother earth Mother Moon pity me Father sky Father Shadows Stretching on the forest floor Mother earth Oh pity me Father sky Father Grass pity me Mother earth Mother Rocks pity me Father sky Father Water Standing in a wakan manner Mother earth Oh pity me Sex Kills The ulcerated ozone These tumors of the skin This hostile sun beating down on This massive mess we're in! And the gas leaks And the oil spills And sex sells everything And sex kills No Apologies As druglords buy up the banks And warlords radiate the oceans Ecosystems fail Furry Sings The Blues Diamond boys and satin dolls Bourbon laughter ghosts history falls To parking lots and shopping malls As they tear down old Beale Street The Three Great Stimulants Last night I dreamed I saw the planet flicker Great forests fell like buffalo Everything got sicker And to the bitter end Big business bickered ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 18:46:28 EDT From: Allmanfan54@aol.com Subject: RE: Conspiracy theories/Heads in sand ......................Lemmings......................... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 21:38:48 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" Subject: Page describes Joni, metaphorically In the October 15th 1992 issue, Cameron Crowe wrote about trying to convince Jimmy Page to grant an interview to the hated Rolling Stone. Page kept saying 'no'. Crowe picks up the story: >I told him his fans deserved to read about the band in the magazine (didn't work). Then I told him that I used to work at a record store, and our behind-the-counter joke was that if you bought only the records ROLLING STONE gave good reviews to, you'd have the worst collection of anyone you knew. This worked. "All right," he said finally, "I'll do the interview. But I won't pose for the cover." We completed the interview two nights later at the Plaza Hotel, in New York City, where he alternately discussed his life with Led Zeppelin and listened with rapture to a rare Joni Mitchell radio interview I'd borrowed from a friend ("Her voice . . . her voice . . . just listen to her voice"). Sitting on the floor of his presidential-sized suite, suitcases half-unpacked all around him, Page ended the interview on an oddly enigmatic note. He was still searching, he said, for an "angel with a broken wing." He asked to keep the Joni Mitchell tape, I said all right, and somewhere about three hours into sunrise he agreed to pose for the cover, too.> It was news to me. Jim L'Hommedieu http://www.cameroncrowe.com/eyes_ears/crowe_eyesandears_story.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 21:58:42 -0400 (EDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: sacred earth - --- Cassy wrote: > From: "Marianne Rizzo" > > <<< What are some of the many Joni references to > the earth and such? >>> > > These are the lyrics that come to mind regarding > environmental references of > one kind or another: > > Woodstock > > I have come here to lose the smog > > Big Yellow Taxi > > "Hey Farmer Farmer > Put away that D.D.T. now > Give me spots on my apples > But leave me the birds and the bees > Please" > > Lakota (One of my favorites) > etc.... And the entire song, "Ethiopia". Catherine Toronto - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 22:08:17 -0400 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" Subject: Re: sacred earth In a highway service station, over the month of June, was a photograph of the earth taken coming back from the moon. You couldn't see a city on that marbled bowling ball, or a forest or a highway, or me here least of all. You couldn't see these cold water restrooms, or this baggage overload. Westbound and rolling taking refuge in the roads. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:52:33 -0400 From: Doug Subject: Re: Page describes Joni, metaphorically Coincidentally, I was watching a Led Zeppelin Bootleg DVD (Earls Court May 1975) I got in the mail today, and in the middle of Dazed And Confused They break into a verse from Woodstock in a way only Led Zeppelin could. Plus, of course Going To California which is at least partly about Joni. Doug Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama wrote: > In the October 15th 1992 issue, Cameron Crowe wrote about trying to convince > Jimmy Page to grant an interview to the hated Rolling Stone. Page kept > saying 'no'. Crowe picks up the story: > > > >> I told him his fans deserved to read about the band in the magazine (didn't >> > work). Then I told him that I used to work at a record store, and our > behind-the-counter joke was that if you bought only the records ROLLING > STONE gave good reviews to, you'd have the worst collection of anyone you > knew. This worked. "All right," he said finally, "I'll do the interview. But > I won't pose for the cover." We completed the interview two nights later at > the Plaza Hotel, in New York City, where he alternately discussed his life > with Led Zeppelin and listened with rapture to a rare Joni Mitchell radio > interview I'd borrowed from a friend ("Her voice . . . her voice . . . just > listen to her voice"). Sitting on the floor of his presidential-sized suite, > suitcases half-unpacked all around him, Page ended the interview on an oddly > enigmatic note. > > He was still searching, he said, for an "angel with a broken wing." He asked > to keep the Joni Mitchell tape, I said all right, and somewhere about three > hours into sunrise he agreed to pose for the cover, too.> > > > It was news to me. > > Jim L'Hommedieu > > http://www.cameroncrowe.com/eyes_ears/crowe_eyesandears_story.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:53:26 +0000 From: "Patti Parlette" Subject: Joni photo Our Cassy wrote: "I don't know if anyone has seen the photograph Annie Leibevitz took of Joni for her book "Women" but it's so moving to me I had to share the knowledge of it's existence. The book contains photographs of only women; some are of famous people and some of everyday women. The accompanying text is written by Susan Sontag and the entire book is well worth a look even if it didn't have the most beautiful photo I've ever seen of a more recent Joni." Yes, I've seen it, because Cassy sent me the whole beautiful book! I regret not having shared this with you sooner. Forgive me...I'm always running behind the times! Here is part of the thank you I wrote her on March 17th, the day I received it. I'm pasting it here to show my first reaction: "My dearest Cassy: I got home from work and saw a package on my doorstep. I was very tired. I came in, opened it, flipped through it, thought "hmmm...great joni picture...great other pictures....i love cassy..." and then went on to feed the dogs and myself and answer phone messages and emails and open bills and all the other stuff we do when we single over-stressed moms get home. i've been exhausted, staying up too late, etc.....you know the drill. And then there's the grief over my dad, and Marianne's dad, and you know.... Finally, I got to sit on my bed in my nightgown and REALLY look at that Joni picture. I just stared and stared and stared and saw the essence of Joni. That is the most beautiful photo I have ever seen of her. God, I cannot express to you how beautiful it is....the hope and the hopelessness we've witnessed all these years. The strength of us women folk. The love. I can't wait to stare and stare and stare at these pictures some more......" Well, since then, I have looked at this book often,carefully and thoughtfully. It's filled with really moving and realistic portraits of everyday women and working women and famous women. From the music world there is: Yoko and all her experiences etched on her face, Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Courtney Love, Melissa Etheridge and her partner and their kids. Then there is Natalie Portman (didn't you just see her in that "V is for..." movie, Cassy, that you enjoyed so much?) and a really interesting photograph of the imperial and imperious Barbara Bush (I notice that she has two beady beads in each eye...creepy to me....I wonder how Annie captured THAT!). Susan Sontag writes: "Each of these pictures must stand on its own. But the ensemble says, So this is what women are now -- as different, as varied, as heroic, as forlorn, as conventional, as unconventional as *this*." But of course it is the photograph of Joni that steals the show pour moi! How can I do it justice? You have to see it for yourselves, of course, if you haven't yet. Next time you're in a bookstore, check it out. "Women" by Annie Liebowitz, with a great essay by Susan Sontag. If you want to experience it first on your own, stop reading now. Joni's photo takes up two pages (pp. 216 and 217). To me, it conjures up the photo on the cover of the novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (duality!). It is a rather dark photograph. Joni is sitting on a round stone fountain, surrounded by lush but dark greenery. She is wearing and is draped in dark clothing. Only her face and her impossibly gentle hands are illuminated, and of course one of her hands holds a cigarette, although there is not much left to it. Her face shows the wisdom of the ages -- the hope and hopelessness she's witnessed nearly 60 years (the book came out in 1999, I believe). The look on her face says to me: "There's comfort in melancholy." Thank you again, Cassy. I treasure this gift -- and you. And you know.... Love, Patti P., feeling grateful ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:54:49 -0500 From: "Michael Flaherty" Subject: Re: Page describes Joni, metaphorically > It was news to me. > > Jim L'Hommedieu Well, I don't know if this is news to anyone: When Robert Plant sang "Going to California" in the 1972 concert that was recently (well, a few years ago) issued as "How the West Was One", after the line "Someone told me there's a girl out there with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair", he added "Joni". To describe it a bit better, he sings the above line, and then in the pause before the next line sings "Joni". Michael Flaherty ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:03:14 -0400 From: "Cassy" Subject: Re: sacred earth From: "Jim L'Hommedieu, Lama" <<< In a highway service station, over the month of June, was a photograph of the earth taken coming back from the moon. You couldn't see a city on that marbled bowling ball, or a forest or a highway, or me here least of all. You couldn't see these cold water restrooms, or this baggage overload. Westbound and rolling taking refuge in the roads. >>> Interestingly, I never took that to mean we couldn't see those things because of environmental issues. I took it to mean that we, the cities, forests and highways are just specks relative to the universe. That in the grand scheme of things we go unnoticed especially in terms of being travellers, we pass each other by and that there is "refuge in the roads" because we are somewhat anonymous. Then again I could be full of s**t! Warmly, Cassy Lama... when are you coming to Detroit again? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:15:40 -0700 From: "Mark Scott" Subject: Re: Joni Photo - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cassy" > I don't know if anyone has seen the photograph Annie Leibevitz took of > Joni > for her book "Women" but it's so moving to me I had to share the knowledge > of > it's existence. The book contains photographs of only women; some are of > famous people and some of everyday women. The accompanying text is > written by > Susan Sontag and the entire book is well worth a look even if it didn't > have > the most beautiful photo I've ever seen of a more recent Joni. Cassy, I saw an exhibition of these photos at the Seattle Art Museum a few years ago. The photo of Joni is breath-taking. Travis was watching me when I first caught sight of it and he said my jaw dropped. It is a beautiful image. Mark E. in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 21:01:46 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: sacred earth The most obvious- we've got to get ourselves back to the garden ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:45:48 -0700 From: "Mark Scott" Subject: Re: sacred earth - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Catherine McKay" > And the entire song, "Ethiopia". > That was my first thought, especially the lines: 'Little garden planet Oasis in space Some hearts hurt They can hardly stand The waste' also 'The spirit talks in spectrums He talks Mother Earth to Father Sky' and then there's 'Hoping and hoping As if by my weak faith The spirit of this world Would heal and rise' and one of my personal favorites: 'Give me some time I feel like I'm losing mine Out here on this horizon line With the earth spinning and the sky forever rushing' Then there's that whole middle section of Paprika Plains that isn't sung about the earth being a beach ball that she floats towards out of a helicopter and takes her sharpest finger nail.... Mark E. in Seattle ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2006 #101 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she? (http://www.siquomb.com/siquomb.cfm)