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Post by jack1982 on Apr 2, 2023 6:40:57 GMT -6
I had an okay week, still working on "Into the Arena." Here's the 90% tempo version: That part where I say I only hit 5% of the notes is really the only thing that's preventing me from moving the tempo up farther. I came up with a different fingering for the whole lick, leaving out most of the slides and once it gets up to the 12th fret, instead of moving my hand around I just reach up with my pinky. I don't have my new way of playing it worked up to even 80% tempo yet, but I'm hoping that once I do I'll be able continue increasing the speed. Hope you guys are all doing well  |
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 2, 2023 7:46:54 GMT -6
Jack, that is sounding good. I'm sure you'll have it up to speed in no time! Not much to report on my end - missed several days this week on guitar. Packing and living among boxes... Got out and hit golf balls a few times this week, saw a local jazz/funk/classical pianist in concert. Have tickets to see Mimi Fox Friday night. I may become a regular at this local jazz club if they keep up this caliber of shows!
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Post by Phil on Apr 3, 2023 7:26:47 GMT -6
Yesterday I recorded my tiny contribution (8 bar solo) to the current Jazz collaboration I'm participating in. The other big piece of news for me this week is that I changed my strings on Friday. The last time I changed strings I wrote the date on the package label and saved it - the date was March 18, 2021! Yeah, you read that correctly. I haven't changed strings in 2 years. I must say that the tone of my guitar has improved drastically since Friday. 
Jack - I'm not familiar with that song, but it's sounding good to me.
Bruce - I wish there was a Jazz club like that in my area. I'm assuming this is a small club. I'm curious about how much it costs (cover charge, drink minimum).
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 3, 2023 19:34:37 GMT -6
Bruce - I wish there was a Jazz club like that in my area. I'm assuming this is a small club. I'm curious about how much it costs (cover charge, drink minimum).
Phil, first off, congratulations on the string change! I'm always astounded how good my guitars sound when I put on new strings (I think I'm on about the same string-changing schedule that you're on  ). The jazz club is called Low Down (it's in the basement), here's the website if you're interested: www.lowdowntulsa.com Bill Frissell tickets were $30 each, Mimi Fox tickets were $25 each. Full bar and some food service available, but no minimum order. Club holds 100, with cabaret style seating. It's a very intimate venue, and there's not a bad seat in the house. Most shows are general admission. We got there about 45 minutes early for Bill Frissell, and got a table on the second or third row. It's assigned seating for Mimi Fox, and I got a front row table! When we move, I'll live about 3 or 4 blocks from this place! Very cool! |
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Post by Phil on Apr 3, 2023 23:10:14 GMT -6
Phil, first off, congratulations on the string change! I'm always astounded how good my guitars sound when I put on new strings (I think I'm on about the same string-changing schedule that you're on ). The jazz club is called Low Down (it's in the basement), here's the website if you're interested: www.lowdowntulsa.com Bill Frissell tickets were $30 each, Mimi Fox tickets were $25 each. Full bar and some food service available, but no minimum order. Club holds 100, with cabaret style seating. It's a very intimate venue, and there's not a bad seat in the house. Most shows are general admission. We got there about 45 minutes early for Bill Frissell, and got a table on the second or third row. It's assigned seating for Mimi Fox, and I got a front row table! When we move, I'll live about 3 or 4 blocks from this place! Very cool! Thanks for the info, Bruce. I asked about the cost because I was wondering how much artists like Mimi Fox could possibly make. Crunch the numbers and it can't be very much. 100 people (if they sell out) times $25 is $2,500 plus whatever they spend on food and drinks which might be another $3,000 - $4,000. The Mimi Fox Trio has to travel, stay in a hotel, and eat in restaurants. The venue itself needs to turn a profit after its considerable overhead. Bottom line is that nobody is making a killing from this venture. However, you don't have to make mega bucks to live comfortably and be happy. Watching Frank Vignola play at Birdland (on YT) got me wondering about this. There are usually 5 or 6 musician's that need to be paid. Just something I was thinking about. |
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Post by bluesbruce on Apr 4, 2023 6:09:31 GMT -6
Yeah, Phil, sadly I think your assessment of the finances of this are spot on. The big meta-stars that fill 15,000 seat arenas (at much higher ticket prices) are probably doing pretty well, but acts playing these smaller venues...well. I note from her bio that Mimi Fox has held various university teaching positions over the years, which probably provided a "steady paycheck" type job. Hopefully, she's also making something from her instructional courses and books. The other members of her trio are probably faring even worse financially than she does. I also share concern about the viability of venues like this. I think this club is usually only opened 3 or 4 days a week, and a lot of their shows are local musicians (who I'm sure are paid even less, though admission prices are also lower). I'm pretty sure the space is rented to the club at sub-market values by a wealthy local philanthropist, who owns or controls the space. Our local market for smaller concert venues has largely been taken over by tribal casinos, who obviously use these spaces as a loss leader to bring people in the doors hoping they'll stay around and gamble (plus, they've already got full bar and food services). Birdland at least has the advantage of being in a city that has over twice the population of the entire state of Oklahoma. I think it's a pretty tough business for everyone involved.
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). The jazz club is called Low Down (it's in the basement), here's the website if you're interested: