Happy News Year

2008 will be the newsiest year in the history of the world, how to possibly keep track of it all? Check out our sister blog, The Shit For Brains Award, with commentary from some of the finest unemployed writers around, presidential election coverage, and links to the best free music and video on the web.

The Chestnut Hill Local this week printed a decent article and photo on Slife Productions, trying to keep growing the video biography. Everybody is talking about Story Corps, so that buzz should help.

And thoughts on the two boys:

Harry was so wired on Christmas Eve he literally could not sleep from 11pm until 5am. Seems he ingested a conglomeration of dark chocolate and candied peanuts, hundreds of blueberries and umpteen candy canes, which caused an acute ringing in the ears and state of absolute delerium. Needless to say, he was completely fried on Christmas day, wavering between wandering and blabbering, screaming and crying, and staring blankly into space. Little Gus slept most of the way through, looking sharp in his oversized xmas stocking. Baba was up to visit and made us a wonderful stuffed fish dinner, looked after the kids, and generally provided us with much needed relief after 7 weeks of infanthood, but sadly had to head back to NC xmas morn. After the mayhem Rum, Daph and I had a few drinks and watched the Simpson's movie, truly a great cap on a decent xmas day. Now that Harry is acquainted with the great Santa, there will be no way around the gift giving in the coming years (like that was ever really an option). Lest we forget the real meaning of the season, we did get to Church on xmas eve and sang some songs; Harry being a true angel and Gus sleeping in semi-heavenly peace.

Fife 3.0

Since the last post, have:
worked the booth for 30,000 pp at the Fall for the Arts fest, so far no dice\
painted the interior of the house and moved Harry to his new room
played a wedding reception party with Rev. Chris and jammed with Tony Williams and Byron Landham at La Rose (success), also with Sam Reed at the Clef Club (disaster).
made a DVD for artist Charles Earley in DC with Byard
did a recording with Deniz Davis, back in PA from CO
made a DVD of a multimedia jazz/video improv project for Phila University
met with financier MG and have begun work on an online booking agency
finishing up work on NiD video, looking pretty good and finally getting paid
fathered another child, Charles Augustus reached earth on Nov 9, and the whirlwind of life just became a vortex.

Life is good, loving dadness, as hectic as it is. It seems like it should get easier, but I have a feeling it will only get harder as these two individuals learn how to really communicate and push the buttons.

Business is not great, but things are happening. Just not getting real paid.

Dylan made an offer on Palmyra, and we have about 11 years remaining to pay the mortgage, so it is hard to to say yes, but also, with 4 mouths around here, hard to say no. We are entertaining our options, but it seems that it would be foolish to let it go. We're not that desperate yet...

Filmed Pat Martino at Chris', amazing, and am working on a DVD to send to China with a trade delegation from the PA state dept., trying to lay the groundwork for this online booking agency. MG is a card!

Also subbed on bass with the Blues Messengers the day we got home from the hospital with Gus, and had a great time, did a little duet with Byard to open the show.

My chops are in the trash, but I'm still having fun. Maybe when the boys are a little older I'll be able to practice again, get a little Fife trio going in the garage...

where to begin...

gigs with Learnard and Reverend Chris at Hill Tavern and private party this weekend. Starting a bunch of new projects, for NiD, Orrin, and others. Big event at Fall for the Arts this weekend - hoping to push myself into the public consciousness a little bit more. Jazz Doc is coming along - so much more to do yet. Completing a DVD by 08 seems a bit unrealistic, may need some help. Met with Sam Reed a couple times, and hung out with Pat Martino yesterday - amazing people! Will be shooting Pat at Chris' in Nov., so things are looking up. Still need some bread, so doing random work for people like BD and just did a Nissan event last night. Gotta diversify until things star really rolling. Maybe my Local ad will generate some interest.

Harry's new room and mega bunk bed are set up, he is taking to the "big boy bed" well, surprisingly easy transition so far. Hell will be breaking loose in about month when his little bro arrives on the scene. Seems my work schedule will be getting insane right about that time...

Stopped by to meet a future bio. subject, or at least her daughter would have me believe. M. was very sweet but is "too busy" to worry about a bio right now. I asked if I could stop back in a month and she said "maybe 6 weeks." Her daughter thought this was a great success and is going to keep on her, so time will tell.

Dan and I finished the 2nd coat and now need to finish the windows, but are moving on to the basement floor - marmoleum over the old asbestos tile so the boys will have a safer play space. Daph and I will both have "office" space down there as well, so the expense will be worth it for our long term health.

Spoke with legal video bigwig D. and she is ready to have me "sit in" in mid-Sept, which should lead to some steady work, a proposition which I desperately need right now. Also met with the director of the Hist. Society and she feels like there may some opportunities for me there as well, have to make her a sample disc.

Weekend recap

Hung out in the WRTI studio with Mandrill on Friday night, and Lou Wilson and his son the One Sun Lion Ra performed with DJ Tiny Tim - caught the epic on videotape, but there were at least three other cameras rolling as well, so you'll probably see it on youtube before you see it on Philly Jazz...Some great moments and history of Mandrill, all around amazing human beings and hyper-positive vibes.

They hooked me with a ticket and backstage pass to the Mann show Saturday...

Sat. the fam hit Cece's b-day party in Franklin Square Park, rode the carousel and swings, had pizza and cake, then went for a dip with Aine and John, along with Vino and the Drakes, great cool off after such a swelterer, and Harry was loving life as a fish.

Headed to the Mann around 9, no traffic and a great parking spot, but missed openers WAR. Got my seat about 20 rows back in the center, then hung with J. Mike backstage and met some other WRTI types as well as a couple dudes from Reel Black who were filming the show. Mandrill was killing it live - House of Wood and all their funk-bomb hits, plus a guest appearance from the young Ra with a couple of conscious rap tunes. Powerful show, honored to be invited and feeling a little special at being included in the circle.

Sunday AM was family time, and then Sherry Wilson Butler came over for an interview - she was on point and spoke at length and ease about her experience as a woman and singer in the jazz scene - quite a bit different from being a man and instrumentalist. She spontaneously sang a line from Afro Blue and I nearly fell over! Nothing like a private one-on-one concert.

Dan and I finally painted the west side of the house today and will finish up tomorrow. Have to check in with a possible bio. subject in the AM - her daughter and family are hiring me but Great Grandma is not having it. I need to finesse my way into her heart I guess...

Mandrill

Funk icons Mandrill are in town to perform at the Mann Center on Saturday and the cameras will be rolling when they meet up on "The Bridge" at WRTI with J Michael Harrison on Friday at 10:30 PM. Mandrill is known worldwide, having performed alongside everyone from George Clinton and War to Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. Mandrill has been heavily sampled in the hip-hop canon, forming the basis of hits by Public Enemy, Cypress Hill, Kanye West, Black Eyed Peas and the Jungle Brothers. A rush episode of Philly Jazz will interrupt your regularly scheduled programming, featuring a chat with Mandrill vocalist, saxophonist, and heart surgeon Dr. Ric Wilson when he was last at WRTI in May, plus clips from the new Mandrill DVD.

Click To Play

orrin evans

Interview with Orrin Evans at his North Philly pad today. He is still very much part of the New York jazz scene and was up there the previous evening checking out shows. He loves Philly and is glad to be here, but had some well-versed gripes: The Philly audiences like what they like, and he continues to challenge the status quo. Support the talent in this town so they don't have to go elsewhere.

Interview clips will be featured in an upcoming episode of Philly Jazz, but you can hear him play here and here.

Next week on Philly Jazz:

Byard Lancaster and Reverend Joe testify at West Oak Lane with the Philadelphia Blues Messengers.

let the log roll

back from a brief vaca in Bridge, settled back into the homestead after getting Harry to play group and fielded some emails and client calls. Sept. is starting to look quite busy with bio videos and a commercial for Cam's "Arm's Reach Tool Belt."

Orrin Evans had to resched an interview til tues, and just as well, I was able to get my Hi-8 camera back from the shop in Lansdale to view interview footage from him, conducted by Mike Boone, circa 1998. Going to dig a little deeper today when we meet up for the jazz doc interview...

Also heard from J Mike Harrison who wants me to come film Mandrill at WRTI on The Bridge friday night. They will be promoting their Mann show Sat. Hoping for a a little VIP love in exchange for my work....

Plan this pm is to edit some footage for the next philly jazz episode featuring Byard Lancaster, our host, mentor, and co-producer.

Need to touch base with Dr. Ric Wilson of Mandrill and J Mike, as well as Mike from Exact Solar, and Meenal re: the solar hot water heater installation video.