Anodyne: 04/01/2009 - 05/01/2009

"Recently I had the opportunity for an exclusive interview with my great friend, mentor, and former employer, Donald Fagen of Steely Dan. . . ."

"DF: I know for a fact that some jazz people still hate us. And that’s okay. My jazz purist self still hates us. As I mentioned on the phone, I met Gary Giddins the other day and I said I really liked his work. Gary said, 'You know Robert Christgau’s a really big fan of yours!'"
- posted by cjb @ 7:33 PM

A request to the readership: please send a cellphone or digital photograph of a magnolia in your neighborhood to pulpbook@telus.net. No "art" please, just point-'n-shoot. Thanks!
- posted by cjb @ 6:00 PM

Up "Iago Ridge" near Coquihalla Pass on snowshoes with Mad Owl Woman and the cats, sunlight coming and going through cloud over crisp styrofoam snow. Grey mountain hemlocks. Amber water on granite. Glacial erratic capped by eleven different layers of snow, like an Eric Cameron lobster. Fifteen high school kids on snowshoes plus "Outdoor Recreation" support staff. The two-person convertible igloo they built on the ridge. Mountains I've climbed many times, mountains I've climbed only once, mountains I still hope to climb. Sunburn. And Young Turks' bass line, in my head all day.
- posted by cjb @ 9:28 PM

Yet more Free, 2008-
- posted by cjb @ 7:23 PM

"Steely Dan's Rent Party '09 Tour To Include Special Setlist Shows In Four Metropolitan Markets

Breaking news! Steely Dan's Rent Party '09 Tour will include multi-night stands of special setlist shows in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

All evenings of these special engagements will offer one of the following programs:

• Classic Album (Plus) Night: Setlist is one of three classic Steely Dan albums in its entirety — plus selected additional favorites

• 'Takin' It To The Seats' Internet Request Night: Setlist is determined by the internet votes of ticket-holders for that show

Before you buy a ticket, you'll know which of the setlists above will be played on that night.

Dates and details — including news about promotions, packages, and other sundry goodies — are coming soon."
- posted by cjb @ 9:24 PM

Recent latenight question: What if no one wants what you've made?

Answers:

From JW Veldhoen, NYC: Make another.

From Lisa Fedorak, YVR: Was the item made with the 'purpose' of needing to be wanted by someone else, or was it born of a desire/need to make things and now even the creator doesn't want it?

First scenario, reevaluate your market and product. Either you don't know your intended as well as you think and need to take on some market research, or you have a poor grasp of how your abilities and output are being received by others. In the case of the second scenario, well, um, hang onto it. Your hands might be ahead of your brain. Or, it could be truly as nasty as you think confirming everything you have ever thought about anything you have ever done.
- posted by cjb @ 9:46 PM

Donato Mancini, Wheatabixy, 2009
Collection CJB
- posted by cjb @ 5:43 PM

The artist, resting.
- posted by cjb @ 1:24 PM

Scatter Piece, 2009. Paper, kitteh. Dimensions variable.

(Performance photodocumentation: L.)
- posted by cjb @ 11:45 AM

Louis Cat Orze and a somewhat quieter friend. Courtesy L.'s Blackberry.
- posted by cjb @ 9:59 PM

Q: What if no one wants what you've made?
- posted by cjb @ 7:01 PM

Back from "conducting research" or "stalking" (take your pick) at the New Westminster Land Title Office. Business-school field project plus genuine curiosity. Sundown. Sun just below the roof of Architectural Antiques across Main, illuminating the pink-white petals and tiny green leaves of the cherry tree outside the (open) shop door. iTunes gibbled. CBC 2 playing light "tasteful" jazz: one of the only FM stations the stereo reliably picks up. Drinking Granville Island Brewing Co. Limited Release Porter. "Suggested serving temperature is 4C - 8C." Grey light now on the carpet, sun just a diffuse glow along the green lintel opposite. Cars passing. L.'s intelligent eyes. Louis' switching tail. His visible delight in pouncing on helpless cloth mice. Washing "gravy" off the cat food lid, dribbling yellow liquid detergent across it. Foam trickling down the porter bottle's long brown neck. I'm writing these things down so I remember.
- posted by cjb @ 6:49 PM

Anonymous Japanese jazz trio nails perennial Anodyne favorite The Nightwatch in somebody's living room. An amazing performance, full of great respect and invention.
- posted by cjb @ 9:22 PM

Ian Wallace installation, CSA Space. CJB employs a level under "Stretch" Harrison's expert direction. Cellphone photograph courtesy "Flash" Foster.
- posted by cjb @ 11:55 AM

Offline for a few days.
- posted by cjb @ 3:56 PM

Today's soundtrack: Dan Bejar, Students Carve Hearts out of Coal
- posted by cjb @ 2:38 PM

CJB: Hi! Can I help you?

LOST FRENCH GIRL: I'm looking for the Tarzan.

CJB: Sure. Right down here. [Leads way to "Burroughs"]. Were there any titles in particular you were looking for?

LFG: The environmental ones.

EQUALLY LOST CJB: The environmental ones?

LFG: Yes. The Alberta tarzan...
- posted by cjb @ 6:24 PM

Morning walk along 16th Avenue in changeable spring light. Magnolias, cherrybuds. Workmen carrying drywall into a leaky condo complex, the whole building draped in a spiderweb of tarps and gauze. Keyed-up Lululemon gal and her little poky wirehaired terrier. "C'mon! Hurry up!" Dog wanders from tree to fencepost to curb, snuffling great draughts of spring air. My anxiety. Not off but ramped down, so that standing, say, at the credit union's ATM to examine the shop's balance inspires thoughts other than suicide.

Weird handmade signboards with excessive "quotation marks":

Grilled Cheese Sandwich With "Cup of Soup."

I "know" what that means, but some of its neighbors made me wonder:

"Tuna Salad."

"Massage."
- posted by cjb @ 11:06 AM

Headline spotted on the way back from lunch: POLICE SHOOT WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY SHOT MAN
- posted by cjb @ 1:32 PM