Joel Fass
esiegel
nice jazz guitar. I saw a cat sitting on the sidewalk with a guitar
research big hollowbody and a little roland battery powered cube. He
played beautifully and had is case open with a few buck in it.
It was bittersweet to see him there playing beautiful, self assured,
knowledgeable swinging solo guitar. H wasn't getting much attention,
and I had a short chat with him. Nice cat, but it sounds like things
are slow. I checked out his soundclick page...
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=645953
Eric
pmfan57
pmfan57
And here are some of Joel's posts on this newsgroup:
Joe Finn
news:54b7a0d9-0f33-4f4a...@g20g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
Joel has contributed to this news group now and again. The last I heard he
was overseas. It's good to know he is back in New York. Joel is an inspired
player. ...joe
--
Visit me on the web www.JoeFinn.net
d...@danadler.com
I never heard him before, but the sound clips sound great - really
meaty sound!
It's scary how many great players that I DON'T know about are in NYC
besides all the amazing ones I do know...
Five Sharp
#####
esiegel
> He was busking? How tragic ...
>
> #####
Yeah, like I said, things are slow. While I loved hearing him play on
a beautiful day in the village, its crazy that an artist like him is
playing for spare change.
E
markkl...@hotmail.com
Five Sharp
a beautiful day in the village, its crazy that an artist like him is
playing for spare change.
I remember corresponding with Joel a few years ago. At the time he was
moving to the Netherlands to start teaching guitar and he actually got a
room there with some Dutch players I believe. We were planning for him to
come to the Crow but it somehow never happened. I think he was in the Hague
(?) at the time. Anyway we lost contact and this is the first of him I heard
again. So he's back in the States now ... or has been for a while.
#####
fass...@yahoo.com
Guilty as charged. My name is Joel Fass.
I'm playing Smalls May 29th, early (7:30 and 9) if you want more
punishment. Tim Givens on bass and cello (he plays the latter very
well, and I want to show him off), Vanderlai Pereira, drums (another
great talent, originally from Rio), and guest horns and singers. But
don't expect a guitar trio playing boring solos all night. I'll do
SOME boring solos (no emoticons in this cut-rate joint) but really
want to feature the material besides these guys. I like presenting
things, so call me a presenter---but call me. Also have been involved
with songwriting, words and music, and will be unveiling some new
songs for vocalists and instrumentals.
I appreciate what you wrote. It verifies my belief that you achieve
nothing staying home and it's better to play on a street corner than
stay home and bitch. All kinds of people need live music in their
lives, and when you're doing it right all music is musical therapy.
I found out about this post BTW from a guitarist from Flagstaff who
wrote me just now.
fass...@yahoo.com
I tried to get in touch with you there. I think the Crow was too far
w/o wheels, or I would've loved to make it. Couldn't emigrate anyway,
things tightened up like crazy. I guess you guys are finally
smartening up after years of every loser in the Western world parking
in Holland to live off the fat of the land. Too bad I had to pay for
the sins of others, but that's retribution, I guess. I stayed not 2
months and split. The scene in the Hague was better when I first went
in '01 anyway. One of my roommates, a Flamenco singer and good
guitarist, said try Spain---where he's from. Instead I came back here.
I'm doing my best but getting wanderlust again.
Rick Stone
news:a4a477ae-9496-4939...@q14g2000vbn.googlegroups.com...
> He was busking? How tragic ...
I remember playing the streets with Joel back in the 80s. We all had those
Mouse amps back then.
And I don't know how tragic it is to be "busking" in NYC. I've seen MANY
great players in streets over the years. I'm sure that for some, it was
actually a pretty smart career move (more people here you on the street than
playing a crappy restaurant gig, and if you're smart about it, you can make
about the same bread). Stanley Jordan played on 48th street regularly in
the 80s. He used to have a friend who would work the crowd and sell his
self-produced album while he was playing. Vincent Herring used to play with
his group over by Rockefellar Center almost every day. He logged a lot of
playing time that way.
But it is sad there aren't more gigs. NYC is the BEST place to be to hear
great music. But this is the SLOWEST I've seen it in the 27 years I've
lived here.
Musically Yours,
Rick Stone
email: rick...@rickstone.com
website: http://www.rickstone.com
Visit me on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/rickstonemusic
Check out my Electronic Press-Kit online at:
http://www.sonicbids.com/rickstone
Check out my recordings at http://www.cdbaby.com/all/jazzand
Watch my videos on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/jazzand
fass...@yahoo.com
>
> #####
It's NOT tragic. I appreciate where you're coming from. But to me it's
entrepeneurial. Better to take your case to the people and when they
come up to you it's from the heart. There are plenty of restaurants,
etc., that will let you play for tips. Screw that. No one wants to pay
musicians. Better to set up on a street corner, play for all kinds of
people who need and want music in their lives, and not feel exploited.
I've sold CDs, gotten gigs through the years---plus like getting up
and playing, especially in front of people. Never been a heavy
practicer, but music is a priceless form of human interaction. I'm
much happier and nicer if I can play. Anyway, the point is please
don't feel sorry for me. I'm just doing what I have to---and enjoying
the hell out of it most days.
fass...@yahoo.com
> "Five Sharp" <hjgonst...@onsbrabantnet.nl> wrote in message
>
> news:a4a477ae-9496-4939...@q14g2000vbn.googlegroups.com...
>
> > He was busking? How tragic ...
>
> I remember playing the streets with Joel back in the 80s. We all had those
> Mouse amps back then.
>
> And I don't know how tragic it is to be "busking" in NYC. I've seen MANY
> great players in streets over the years. I'm sure that for some, it was
> actually a pretty smart career move (more people here you on the street than
> playing a crappy restaurant gig, and if you're smart about it, you can make
> about the same bread). Stanley Jordan played on 48th street regularly in
> the 80s. He used to have a friend who would work the crowd and sell his
> self-produced album while he was playing. Vincent Herring used to play with
> his group over by Rockefellar Center almost every day. He logged a lot of
> playing time that way.
>
> But it is sad there aren't more gigs. NYC is the BEST place to be to hear
> great music. But this is the SLOWEST I've seen it in the 27 years I've
> lived here.
>
> Musically Yours,
> Rick Stone
> website:http://www.rickstone.com
> Visit me on MySpace at:http://www.myspace.com/rickstonemusic
> Check out my Electronic Press-Kit online at:http://www.sonicbids.com/rickstone
> Watch my videos on YouTube at:http://www.youtube.com/user/jazzand
Hey, Rick. Thanks. I've been talking to Eckoff lately---speaking of
underappreciated musicians (he way more than me---been out there since
the 60s and worked with a lot of bad MFs). I remember playing with you
when I was living at the Jazz Cultural Theater. What did we do, play
on Broadway in midtown? The bread was much better then. Everyone is so
tuned out now, just playing with gadgets, blathering into cell phones,
or with earbuds in. A real drag. Tghat's why i do it, to show an
alternative......
I heard Yaged recently. Still a legendary pain in the ass, and still
one of the most melodic, swinging clarinet players alive. At around 85
I figure he learned to play from the original ten commandment
tablets..... Britta is supposed to play a few with us at Smalls.
esiegel
presenting songs. But I'll be outta town. I have heard vanderlei a
bunch, even had a chance to play with him at a session, if I recall
correctly, at Mark Morganelli's.
E
Joe Finn
"Rick Stone" <rick...@rickstone.com> wrote >
> And I don't know how tragic it is to be "busking" in NYC. I've seen MANY
> great players in streets over the years. I'm sure that for some, it was
> actually a pretty smart career move (more people here you on the street
> than playing a crappy restaurant gig, and if you're smart about it, you
> can make about the same bread). Stanley Jordan played on 48th street
> regularly in the 80s. He used to have a friend who would work the crowd
> and sell his self-produced album while he was playing. Vincent Herring
> used to play with his group over by Rockefellar Center almost every day.
> He logged a lot of playing time that way.
Joe Locke played on the street for years. That's how he paid his rent at the
time. ...joe
Paul Sanwald
cool. lots of musicians play in the subway and other places for tips,
some make a very good living at it and others just do it when they
don't have another gig.
--paul
tomw...@gmail.com
Ditto. If you can find a good spot, it's just as good as playing
anywhere else.
Rick Stone
>Rick. Thanks. I've been talking to Eckoff lately---speaking of
>underappreciated musicians (he way more than me---been out there since
>the 60s and worked with a lot of bad MFs). I remember playing with you
>when I was living at the Jazz Cultural Theater. What did we do, play
>on Broadway in midtown? The bread was much better then. Everyone is so
>tuned out now, just playing with gadgets, blathering into cell phones,
>or with earbuds in. A real drag. Tghat's why i do it, to show an
>alternative......
>
>I heard Yaged recently. Still a legendary pain in the ass, and still
>one of the most melodic, swinging clarinet players alive. At around 85
>I figure he learned to play from the original ten commandment
>tablets..... Britta is supposed to play a few with us at Smalls.
Thanks for reminding me. I haven't seen Burt much lately. He came by the
house one night about a month ago with my friend Carol Leven. They were on
their way to a rehearsal in Brooklyn.
Burt and I played together a lot in the 90s (when I was actually getting
some gigs). Now I've cut back to a trio for the few gigs I get. The money's
been so short on most gigs that going in with a quartet just doesn't make
sense anymore, and I've really come to love playing with just bass and drums
anyway.
I recorded Burt's CD "Ecology" here in my little basement studio.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/burteckoff (for those interested). And he also
recorded a CD with a singer Kelly Bedwell here http://cdbaby.com/cd/bedwell.
As far as Sol goes, still the same. Amazing that he's still doing it at 85
(his birthday was back in November). He called me for a gig last Friday,
but it was way up in Tuckahoe early on a Friday night and the bread was
short (no suprise there). I turned it down though (I think he was pissed).
By the time you get done with the traffic and everything else, coming from
Brooklyn that becomes an 8-9 hour gig. I always enjoyed playing with Sol
though, as long is it stayed about the music (and you know with Sol there
could be a lot of other factors).
Tell Britta I said hello.
BTW: We played together on Broadway (or was it 7th Avenue) over by Penn
Station or Madison Square Garden (must have been about 1983 or 84?)
Musically Yours,
Rick Stone
email: rick...@rickstone.com
website: http://www.rickstone.com
Visit me on MySpace at: http://www.myspace.com/rickstonemusic
Check out my Electronic Press-Kit online at:
http://www.sonicbids.com/rickstone
Check out my recordings at http://www.cdbaby.com/all/jazzand
markkl...@hotmail.com
> nothing staying home and it's better to play on a street corner than
> stay home and bitch. All kinds of people need live music in their
> lives, and when you're doing it right all music is musical therapy.
>
couldn't be here now".
Regards,
Gerry
I agree. It could be a nice way to simply work on your repertoire. If
you're going to be running through your tunes in your home, you might
as well take it out on the street. At a few points in my life I could
walk out of my apartment building and find myself standing in a
high-volume pedestrian traffic. That sure makes it easy.
--
Dogmatism kills jazz. Iconoclasm kills rock. Rock dulls scissors.
fass...@yahoo.com
> <fasstr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:79e4bada-56c3-46b6-809f-Hey,
> >Rick. Thanks. I've been talking to Eckoff lately---speaking of
> >underappreciated musicians (he way more than me---been out there since
> >the 60s and worked with a lot of bad MFs). I remember playing with you
> >when I was living at the Jazz Cultural Theater. What did we do, play
> >on Broadway in midtown? The bread was much better then. Everyone is so
> >tuned out now, just playing with gadgets, blathering into cell phones,
> >or with earbuds in. A real drag. Tghat's why i do it, to show an
> >alternative......
>
> >I heard Yaged recently. Still a legendary pain in the ass, and still
> >one of the most melodic, swinging clarinet players alive. At around 85
> >I figure he learned to play from the original ten commandment
> >tablets..... Britta is supposed to play a few with us at Smalls.
>
> Thanks for reminding me. I haven't seen Burt much lately. He came by the
> house one night about a month ago with my friend Carol Leven. They were on
> their way to a rehearsal in Brooklyn.
>
> Burt and I played together a lot in the 90s (when I was actually getting
> some gigs). Now I've cut back to a trio for the few gigs I get. The money's
> been so short on most gigs that going in with a quartet just doesn't make
> sense anymore, and I've really come to love playing with just bass and drums
> anyway.
>
> recorded a CD with a singer Kelly Bedwell herehttp://cdbaby.com/cd/bedwell.
>
> As far as Sol goes, still the same. Amazing that he's still doing it at 85
> (his birthday was back in November). He called me for a gig last Friday,
> but it was way up in Tuckahoe early on a Friday night and the bread was
> short (no suprise there). I turned it down though (I think he was pissed).
> By the time you get done with the traffic and everything else, coming from
> Brooklyn that becomes an 8-9 hour gig. I always enjoyed playing with Sol
> though, as long is it stayed about the music (and you know with Sol there
> could be a lot of other factors).
>
> Tell Britta I said hello.
>
> BTW: We played together on Broadway (or was it 7th Avenue) over by Penn
> Station or Madison Square Garden (must have been about 1983 or 84?)
>
> Musically Yours,
> Rick Stone
> website:http://www.rickstone.com
> Visit me on MySpace at:http://www.myspace.com/rickstonemusic
> Check out my Electronic Press-Kit online at:http://www.sonicbids.com/rickstone
> Watch my videos on YouTube at:http://www.youtube.com/user/jazzand
What a pain in the ass he is. He pays $50 and made me wait til the end
of the week to get it, AND he keeps the tips for himself, the prick.
But, sad to say, he's the last of the Mohecans for that style of
clarinet. Of the swing era, period. Just like Buddy de Franco is like
one of the few first-generation bebop guys left. And, fortunately, a
lot of guys are playing into their 80s, and very well. It's a long
list, actually: Immediately coming to mind are Benny Golson, Dr. Billy
Taylor, Teddy Charles, Terry Gibbs----not to mention 'youngsters'
Barry Harris and Phil Woods, both 78. Amazing......
van
> >Rick. Thanks. I've been talking to Eckoff lately---speaking of
> >underappreciated musicians (he way more than me---been out there since
> >the 60s and worked with a lot of bad MFs). I remember playing with you
> >when I was living at the Jazz Cultural Theater. What did we do, play
> >on Broadway in midtown? The bread was much better then. Everyone is so
> >tuned out now, just playing with gadgets, blathering into cell phones,
> >or with earbuds in. A real drag. Tghat's why i do it, to show an
> >alternative......
>
> >I heard Yaged recently. Still a legendary pain in the ass, and still
> >one of the most melodic, swinging clarinet players alive. At around 85
> >I figure he learned to play from the original ten commandment
> >tablets..... Britta is supposed to play a few with us at Smalls.
>
> Thanks for reminding me. I haven't seen Burt much lately. He came by the
> house one night about a month ago with my friend Carol Leven. They were on
> their way to a rehearsal in Brooklyn.
>
> Burt and I played together a lot in the 90s (when I was actually getting
> some gigs). Now I've cut back to a trio for the few gigs I get. The money's
> been so short on most gigs that going in with a quartet just doesn't make
> sense anymore, and I've really come to love playing with just bass and drums
> anyway.
>
> recorded a CD with a singer Kelly Bedwell herehttp://cdbaby.com/cd/bedwell.
>
> As far as Sol goes, still the same. Amazing that he's still doing it at 85
> (his birthday was back in November). He called me for a gig last Friday,
> but it was way up in Tuckahoe early on a Friday night and the bread was
> short (no suprise there). I turned it down though (I think he was pissed).
> By the time you get done with the traffic and everything else, coming from
> Brooklyn that becomes an 8-9 hour gig. I always enjoyed playing with Sol
> though, as long is it stayed about the music (and you know with Sol there
> could be a lot of other factors).
>
> Tell Britta I said hello.
>
> BTW: We played together on Broadway (or was it 7th Avenue) over by Penn
> Station or Madison Square Garden (must have been about 1983 or 84?)
>
> Musically Yours,
> Rick Stone
> website:http://www.rickstone.com
> Visit me on MySpace at:http://www.myspace.com/rickstonemusic
> Check out my Electronic Press-Kit online at:http://www.sonicbids.com/rickstone
> Watch my videos on YouTube at:http://www.youtube.com/user/jazzand
I just did a gig last night with a pianist who told me a story about
Sol booking a gig in Chicago at a club, and getting two guys from NY
as sidemen, and telling them it paid $500.
They agreed to do it, but didn't realize that they had to pay their
own way to Chicago, and pay for hotel accommodations!
They took Greyhounds all the way from NY, and when they played the
gig, the owner gave them the check for the gig, because Sol wasn't
around at the time.
The check was for $10,000!
They confronted Sol, and got him pay for their bus fare and hotel room.
fass...@yahoo.com
> On May 15, 9:00 am, "Rick Stone" <rickst...@rickstone.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > <fasstr...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:79e4bada-56c3-46b6-809f-Hey,
> > >Rick. Thanks. I've been talking to Eckoff lately---speaking of
> > >underappreciated musicians (he way more than me---been out there since
> > >the 60s and worked with a lot of bad MFs). I remember playing with you
> > >when I was living at the Jazz Cultural Theater. What did we do, play
> > >on Broadway in midtown? The bread was much better then. Everyone is so
> > >tuned out now, just playing with gadgets, blathering into cell phones,
> > >or with earbuds in. A real drag. Tghat's why i do it, to show an
> > >alternative......
>
> > >I heard Yaged recently. Still a legendary pain in the ass, and still
> > >one of the most melodic, swinging clarinet players alive. At around 85
> > >I figure he learned to play from the original ten commandment
> > >tablets..... Britta is supposed to play a few with us at Smalls.
>
> > Thanks for reminding me. I haven't seen Burt much lately. He came by the
> > house one night about a month ago with my friend Carol Leven. They were on
> > their way to a rehearsal in Brooklyn.
>
> > Burt and I played together a lot in the 90s (when I was actually getting
> > some gigs). Now I've cut back to a trio for the few gigs I get. The money's
> > been so short on most gigs that going in with a quartet just doesn't make
> > sense anymore, and I've really come to love playing with just bass and drums
> > anyway.
>
good for the bastard (; Nice guys finish first sometimes----when the
leader doesn't show up
