Stories: Not Too Far From The Ocean
The End of Polio? • I Was a Long-boarder • The Draft: What's Your Problem? • Timothy Leary? • To Ski or Not to Ski • Butch and Sundance • Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! • Arrivals • It's Just a Car • Fish On! • Music Musings • Walter Mitty Redux • Clamming and Crabbing • Grandpop: Can We Talk?
Music Friends:
Michael • Mark Perlman • Mark Jurey
Music Musings: Michael
From my early childhood, music was always close to my heart. I remember listening to Les Paul and Mary Ford on the radio and being astounded by Les Paul's guitar virtuosity and the electronics he employed. As many know, Les Paul went on to create one of the most sought-after electric guitars in the rock genre.
At the time, I believed music would be my career path, as my parents had considered giving me electric guitar lessons—really! Unfortunately, my experience with polio had left me with a somewhat weakened left hand and some muscle weakness on my left side. As a result, guitar lessons were not meant to be.
Over the years, I have listened to and loved all genres of music. The selections on this page represent just a small portion of the music I have enjoyed. In addition to exploring my musical sensibilities, my goal was to include tunes by musicians that others might not have heard of or fully appreciated.
Les Paul and Mary Ford:
Below are Les Paul and Mary Ford performing "How High The Moon" from a 1951 recording. Les Paul's innovations and guitars helped shape the rock and roll movement.
Bill Haley and The Comets:
Here are the opening titles from the 1955 movie Blackboard Jungle, featuring Bill Haley and The Comets playing "Rock Around The Clock" in the background. After the titles, Richard Dadier (played by Glenn Ford) is introduced as a new teacher at North Manual Trades High School, a diverse inner-city school.
At the time, I was 14 years old and attending what was then known as junior high school. After seeing the movie, I found myself wondering what high school life would be like. Fortunately Samohi (Santa Monica High School) was more about beach life.
Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps:
Elvis appeared on the scene in the mid-50s and was initially interesting. But before Elvis, I discovered an early rock-a-billy tune by Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps. Rock and roll was coming into being.
Below is a video of Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps performing "Be-Bop_A_Lula" from the 1956 film "The Girl Can't Help It." The late Tom Ewell and Jayne Mansfield are featured in this clip.
By the way, the beach scenes in this clip are from Zuma Beach, and were one of my haunts in those days.
Johnny Otis:
About the same time there was Johnny Otis. Here is a video of Otis performing"HandJive" from a 1958 video I found—Love it!
Martin Denny:
Then there was lounge music (yikes!), which was always playing on our Hi-Fi at home since my mom and dad loved Martin Denny, particularly his 1959 hit "Quiet Village." Denny combined lounge jazz with Hawaiian overtones with amusing and hilarious bird sounds that reminded me of early Tarzan movies.
I actually saw Denny perform in 1962 while on a surfing excursion to Oahu. I loved the performance as much as I loved the waves. I found this video from the Hawaii Calls radio broadcast live from Waikiki Beach—totally innocuous and absolutely hilarious!
George Shearing:
In the 1960s, listening to KBCA in Los Angeles, the only consummate jazz station in L.A. weaned me on the jazz idiom. About that time, George Shearing, Cal Tjader, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk came into my life as my musical taste transitioned into the world of Jazz and beyond.
One standout track from the George Shearing Quintet is "September in The Rain," performed in 1958 at Claremont College. This classic concert featured Emil Richards on vibes, Al McKibbon on bass, John Tillman on guitar, and Percy Brice on drums. I still cherish the vinyl recording I bought back then.
Cal Tjader:
My friend Tommy and I loved latin jazz. We made conga drums in our junior high wood shop class. We found deer skins that we stretched and dried over our wood-laminated drums and spent countless hours learning to play, deep into the night while listening to latin jazz.
Below, is a memorable performance by The Cal Tjader Quintet, featuring Luis Miranda on congas, Bayardo Velarde on timbales, Carlos Duran on bass, and Manuel Duran on piano, playing "Tropicana" from the 1956 album Latin Kick.
As I was interested in art and graphic design, I particularly loved the album cover for Latin Kick, created by illustrator Arnold Roth.
Miles Davis and Beyond:
When I discovered Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and Thelonious Monk, everything clicked for me. I realized that many music genres inspired my appreciation for music, a realization I am especially grateful for today.
Miles and company from that era were absolutely inspiring. One beautiful track from the 1959 album Kind of Blue features John "Cannonball" Adderley on alto sax, John Coltrane on tenor sax, Bill Evans on piano (my personal favorite), Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums playing, "So What."
Coltrane: I Get it Now!
Then there was John Coltrane. While I didn't initially get into his music back in the day, he definitely made me think. One standout track I enjoyed is "Equinox", written by Miles Davis and just a beautiful piece from the 1964 album Coltrane's Sound, featuring Elvin Jones on drums, McCoy Tyner on piano (his solo is incredible, elusive and subtle!), and Steve Davis on bass. I also loved Marvin Israel's abstract cover design for that album.
Bill Evans:
My favorite jazz pianist has to be Bill Evans. His clean, delicate, and harmonic style deeply moved me and lingered in my mind even as my musical preferences shifted toward rock and roll in the '60s.
A video I found showcases The Bill Evans Trio performing in Helsinki in 1970 at the home of Finnish composer Ilkka Kuusisto. They play a tune attributed to Miles Davis called "Nardis," with Eddie Gómez on bass and Marty Morell on drums delivering wonderful solos. The video includes an audio clip I put in at the beginning where Bill introduces the tune—just a beautiful rendition.
All I can say is that if the Bill Evans Trio had come to my house back then, there would have been a slightly more enthusiastic response.
Another selection by Bill Evans I discovered. A great B/W video with Eddie Gómez on bass and Marty Morell on drums playing the Burt Bacharach composition, "Alfie." Bill Evans was absolutly the best—just a beautiful rendition. Sad that he passed so young, as I often wonder what he would be doing now.
The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ):
My interest in jazz was sparked even more when I discovered The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ). The combination of Milt Jackson's expressive vibraphone, John Lewis's intricate piano variations, Connie Kay's subtle drumming, and Percy Heath's lyrical bass was truly inspiring.
One standout performance by the MJQ is Milt Jackson's composition "Monterey Mist," from a great B/W French video I found from the 1960s. John Lewis' piano solo is especially absorbing.
Mose Allison:
My friend Tommy and I loved Jazz, and we would go to The Lighthouse Jazz Club in Hermosa Beach at every opportunity. As we were under 18, we could only enjoy non-alcoholic drinks and indulge in our jazz obsession on Sundays. One memorable Sunday, we saw Mose Allison, a jazz pianist and singer/songwriter. Here's a clip of Mose performing "Your Mind Is on Vacation."
His satirical, innovative and amusing lyrics sort of remind me of my life these days—love it.
The Rolling Stones:
I never stopped listening to Jazz and blues as my first love, but rock and roll also impacted me.
I remember going to a concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1964 and seeing The Rolling Stones perform "It's All Over Now" for the first time—an engaging experience to say the least. Here is the classic from that day.
I just couldn't help messing with the image I found of screaming people.
Jimi Hendrix:
Then, of course, there was Jimi Hendrix, arguably one of the most influential guitarists of all time. I vividly recall seeing The Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Hollywood Bowl in 1967. The concert took an unexpected turn when they played new tunes during the first half. When they finally performed "Purple Haze" and "Are You Experienced," the audience erupted and rushed the stage, with many ending up in the pool in front of the stage.
One of my favorite performances is "Hear My Train A Comin" from 1973, featuring Jimi on a 12-string guitar. I read that in this video, he is completely improvising with a new 12-string acoustic guitar.
Jimi passed away far too young.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young:
Another you might not have heard is from the classic Woodstock concert in 1969 by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, performing Paul McCartney's "Blackbird."—great harmonies from those guys back then.
One of my favorites and I almost like this rendition better than the Beatles version.
Neil Young:
Neil Young's, "Old Man" was inspired by Louis Avila, the elderly caretaker of the Broken Arrow Ranch in California that Young purchased in 1970—a classic solo performance.
Jeff Beck:
I was never into Jeff Beck back in the day but when I found this vidieo from the 2007 Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival, I became a fan.
The late Jeff Beck on guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums,Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, and Jason Rebello on keyboards playing, "Cause We Ended As Lovers."
Great performance and Tal Wilkenfeld's bass solo is truely moving.
Led Zeppelin:
Finally, one of the most iconic rock bands, Led Zeppelin, formed in London in the '70s with Robert Plant, John Bonham, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones.
Here are Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart performing "Stairway to Heaven" at the Led Zeppelin tribute concert at The Kennedy Center in 2012. Jason Bonham, the late John Bonham's son, is on drums, accompanied by the Joyce Garrett Youth Choir as backup singers.
It was a stirring concert and a moving performance by Heart. I loved watching the reactions from Robert, Jimmy, and John Paul—especially Jimmy Page.
Flamenco: Paco Peña
I discovered Flamenco music in the late 1960s after listening to a rendition of a traditional gypsy Bulerías by Sabicas. I was captivated not only by the beautiful guitar work but also by the fast-paced, almost rock-and-roll nature of the Bulerías, which means "to mock" or "to shout."
Here is a beautiful video I found: a "Cante" (Flamenco singing) performed by composer and guitarist Paco Peña and his Flamenco Dance Company in New Zealand in 1978. The singing of the "Cante", roughly translated as "I feel pain, I feel pain in my soul," is quite moving, as is the cajón percussion at the end of the performance.
Flamenco: Moraito Chico
In contrast, here is an intense and joyful "Bulerías" by Moraíto Chico, who was recognized as one of the best Flamenco guitarists of his time—passionate and inspiring.
