Last night The Pack played an event at the Seattle Aquarium and Troy pulled out his iPod, clicked on an MJ number and started singing along with it. At first I thought he was nuts – because we’re a swing band – but I was the nutty one. The place absolutely bounced wild. It was crazy… people started moving toward the band, snapping pictures, capturing video, dancing, singing and smiling. Mainly it was the smiles that I noticed the most. I moonwalked, did the funky little leg-snap thing, sang the backup parts to “PYT” in a falsetto voice and felt fantastic. The Pack’s homage to a legend.

Look at Madonna, Brittney, Christina Aguilera and just about any large-venue pop idol today and the shows they do are clearly influenced in visual content by Michael’s pioneering genius. That cat wasn’t just an entertaining genius either – far more than that – he believed in achieving greatness. He wrote on his bathroom mirror that Thriller would be the greatest album success in history while he was creating it. He read it every day and then he WORKED HARD to make it so. Not just on the music, but on the entire concept. And not just for Thriller, but on everything he did. Countless hours in front of the dance studio cameras, perfecting every body movement. He set the bar for not only artistic creation but in technical execution. Flawless, seamless… to the point that it became as automatic for him as breathing. It’s astounding, really. How many balls has Tiger hit at the driving range? How many free throws did Larry Bird shoot alone in the gym? The concept of the 10,000-hour rule…? Which is that if you do something for 10,000 hours, you have achieved mastery… MJ probably had surpassed that benchmark in about two years – and there are only 8,640 hours in a calendar year. His dedication, his intensity, his vision and his focus, will and tenacity are what took his art to a level that made jaws drop open wide.

In all of this there is a price to pay. A lost childhood and what there was of his youth, not all – or many – of the memories were happy. He is universally touted by those who knew him at his organic, true, self as a warm, sensitive, caring individual full of love. The stuff about the kids at the ranch has received more speculative opinion than any celebrity topic in the past 30 years. As for myself, I’m in the camp that believes he was emotionally challenged in his interpretation of being one who nurtures and shares the love that he felt deprived of as a young boy. The Peter Pan thing. Did he, in his muddled interpretation cross lines that society condemns? Was there an element of extortion involved in the civil lawsuits? Would you accept $40million to settle a case if there was certainty that some 40-year old man diddled your pre-adolescent son? Or would you be after justice to the end and not be about the money. I wouldn’t want the dude’s money, I’d want him put away – the sick bastard… if indeed this happened to my son. Which to me begs the question of the validity of the claim. If it looks to be about the money, sounds to be about the money and in the end involved money… My bet is that it was always about the money.

This is not to say he wasn’t freaky in his own way. When a pendulum swings to an extreme in one direction (genius) it’s only logical that it swings just as far the other way too. But really it was from that freaky mind that the world was treated to a genius that will last the test of time. He did shatter boundaries. He did take chances and failed from time to time. He was a brave artist, an intelligent businessman, a man who felt every emotion in himself to about the third power in comparison to “average” folks and surely that energy was key to the fuel that drove his art. When I think about individuals in history that “rocked the world they lived in” – regardless of industry or medium, many of them were so far outside the box you could define that a box existed. Cole Porter was a coke-addicted predatory homosexual. Edgar Allen Poe spent most of his creative years in an opiated state of stupor. Mozart was a self-indulgent lunatic. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Howard Hughes… Hell, I’ve read some crazy stuff about Benjamin Franklin!

In closing, yes a volume has closed, but in the creation of that story, its touch was great enough to inspire the genesis of many new stories. And I know it’s crazy, but I can’t get it out of my mind… So what now happens to the Beatles Catalog? (MJ had a conversation with Paul McCartney when they were recording together long ago. Michael respected Sir Paul as a savvy businessman and asked Paul what he should be investing in. Paul supposedly told Michael to invest in what you know. Michael took him to heart and almost immediately purchased the publishing and licensing rights to the entire Beatles catalog. Who’s the savvy businessman in that epithet?)

Fri, 26 Jun 2009

MORE details have emerged as to the death of singer, songwriter and music icon Michael Jackson.

The 50-year-old singer was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital in Los Angeles in a deep coma, city and law enforcement officials said.

Paramedics called to his home in LA found Jackson was not breathing. He was given CPR as the ambulance raced to hospital, a fire department captain told reporters.

Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2226 British time after arriving at UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles in full cardiac arrest.

Fred Corral, of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, said the cause of death was not known and a post-mortem was likely to take place later today.

People are gathering outside the hospital to pay their respects.

People descended on the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York and flowers were being placed on Jackson’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

Known as the King of Pop for hit albums that included songs like Thriller and Billie Jean, Jackson’s dramatic stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.

But Jackson’s belief that “I am Peter Pan in my heart”, his preference for the company of children, his friendship with a chimp, his high-pitched voice and numerous plastic surgeries also earned him critics and the nickname Wacko Jacko.

Jackson, who had lived as a virtual recluse since being cleared in 2005 of charges of child molestation, had been scheduled to launch a comeback tour at London’s O2 Arena next month.

The concerts were due to start on July 13 and Jackson had been rehearsing in LA for the shows, which sold out within hours of going on sale in March.

Celebrities and stars around the globe were overwhelmed by sorrow and shock Thursday as they sought to absorb the news

Music producer Quincy Jones said: “I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news.”

He said Jackson “had it all – talent, grace, professionalism and dedication.

“I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”

The Rev Al Sharpton told reporters Jackson was a “trailblazer” and a “historic figure”.

“Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of colour way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama.

“Michael did with music what they did in sports, in politics, and in television. No controversy will erase the historic impact.”

Former PR representative and friend of Jackson, Jonathan Morrish, said: “I worked with him for over 25 years. It was a complete privilege and I just can’t believe what has happened.

“I last saw him when he was last in London, which was for the World Music Awards, and he was his usual, lovely gentlemanly self.

“He was fine, health-wise. You don’t get to the top of the tree like he did without being incredibly strong – mentally and physically. He survived over many generations of music lovers, which is why I think the world of music is in such a deep state of shock.”

Sky’s entertainment correspondent, Steve Hargrave said: “We can’t underestimate the effect this will have on Michael Jackson fans who have loved his music and career.

“They would have been assuming that in about three weeks time their idol would have been back on the stage performing his greatest hits. To suddenly find out this news will be devastating.”

Michael Jackson collapsed at his home in west Los Angeles Thursday morning as a call from his staff was made to 911 at around 12:21 p.m. Michael Jackson was found not breathing when the L.A. Fire Department paramedics arrived. Michael Jackson was immediately rushed to the UCLA Medical Center with no pulse as multiple attempts were made by paramedics who administered CPR to resuscitate him.
Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mom, and Latoya Jackson, Michael’s sister, were reported to have arrived at the UCLA hospital and the rest of the family are expected to be joining them soon, if not already.
The greatly shocking news has slammed the nation and the rest of the world, as the King of Pop was world reknown and this will surely stricken the world as the news circulates.
Michael Jackson was 50 years old at the time of his death and leaves behind 3 children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.
Michael Jackson was loved worldwide and was known worldwide as one of the greatest if not the greatest performers of all time with signature dances like his infamous moonwalk which, according to Michael Jackson himself earlier this month, he can still do.
“Why wouldn’t I be able to?,” Michael Jackson asks celebrity gossip site TMZ whose photog caught up with Jackson in Beverly Hills back on June 9th and asked him the question on video, ‘Michael can you still moon walk?’
Michael Jackson is also highly credited one of the greatest hit makers of all times for his numerous hit songs “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Thriller” from his 1982 album “Thriller” recognized as the world biggest selling album with over 100 million copies sold. Michael Jackson is also known for the popular hit singles “Smooth Criminal,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Dirty Diana” and “Man in the Mirror” from off Michael Jackson’s 1987 album “Bad.”
Michael Joseph Jackson was born to Joseph Walter “Joe” Jackson and Katherine Esther Jackson, the seventh child born in a family of musicians, originally from Gary, Indiana who would later relocate to Encino, California.
A member of the Jackson 5, along with brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon, Michael launched his solo career in 1971 and soon became to be the one we still and will probably always know as the “King of Pop.”

Thomas Marriott’s new CD, “Flexicon,” just reached #10 on the JazzWeek National Radio Airplay Chart. Flexicon has been on the chart for 10 weeks and this the highest placement yet.

JAZZWEEK NATIONAL AIRPLAY CHART TOP 10 – 6/1/09
1 One For All, Return Of The Lineup (Sharp Nine)
2 Diana Krall, Quiet Nights (Verve)
3 Allen Toussaint, The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch)
4 Stanley Clarke, Jazz In The Garden (Heads Up)
5 Sean Jones, The Search Within (Mack Avenue)
6 Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets, Echoes Of Ethnicity (Owl Studios)
6 Branford Marsalis, Metamorphosen (Marsalis)
8 Wynton Marsalis, He And She (Blue Note)
9 Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker, Work To Do (Mack Avenue)
10 Thomas Marriott, Flexicon (Origin)

If you’d like more info, check this link:
http://gigaom.com/2007/03/14/700mhz-explained/

A reporter asked Gene Simmons of Kiss if Adam had what it took to sing with Kiss. Gene said he didn’t think Adam had a Rock Voice, but was better suited for ballads and such. BUT… he did offer Adam the opportunity to tour with Kiss, presumably as an opening act.

There’s been plenty of Facebook chatter about Gene Simmons saying Adam would be better suited to sing with Queen – and then being labeled as a homophobe for the comment. I haven’t been able to find any verification of not only gene’s supposed comment nor the homophobe tag. But I do believe it is true that Adam would be GREAT with Queen. (By the way, just about everyone on the web has comments on Adam’s orientation, some entertaining stuff from Perez Hilton…

Look at the dynamics: Paul Rodgers has announced that he’s parting ways with Queen, which leaves Brian May with a void at lead singer. Adam is very Freddy Mercury-esque: he’s theatrical, he’s flamboyant, he’s probably either gay or the “soft” rocker that the rest of the band won’t go out for a smoke with on breaks (is there such a thing as a vegan-rocker?) Regardless what he is or isn’t, I think the possibility of Adam as Queen’s new front-man opens a mega opportunity for the brand.

I think Queen would announce a US tour and sell out every arena they book and in some cities would do 2-3 shows. HUGE MONEY.

I think you get a “Queen; Best Of..” album in the can with Adam singing the vocals. You could even just have him lay down replacement tracks over the original recordings and get that baby on the market fast! It would probably go double platinum in a month. This, of course, would introduce an entirely fresh new demographic to the Queen library and existing release sales would increase from that: the new album would sell to not only the new demo but also to those of us who listened to Queen when they were current.

The next thing would be to record a new album of new Queen material. No doubt Brian May has some new stuff he would love to record with a voice like Adam’s and surely Adam has some ideas of his own, that when touched by Brian would probably be brilliant.

I hope someone is trying to broker that deal right now. But here’s the sticking point….

Every contestant on American Idol signs a release before they audition that basically gives up their artistic souls to Simon Fuller for a minimum of three years, with a perpetual first-right-of-refusal for ongoing contract renewals held squarely in the hands of Simon, not the artist. EVERY American Idol artist that now has a national singing/recording career is still under management contract by Simon. Do you think Simon has made any money on that deal? So how would Adam structure a contract with Queen? Would he forfeit a percentage of his income relevant to his cut from the Queen proceeds? Where would the royalties reside? Would Simon have legal input to song selection to preserve his financial interests? I can’t see anything like that happening. It all is a very mucky mess.

Bottom line is this: I think that because of the Idol contracts and clauses, Adam cannot join anyone that is an existing brand. He’ll be relegated to doing his own solo act, with heavy input from the Idol brass- at least on the first release – and maybe he does a Queen number in his show. Oh well. It is called the music business after all…

That’s probably why Gene Simmons limited his offer. Gene knows the business. He’s a business man, after all and a brilliant one. I’ve met him in person – actually sat next to him and Shannon Tweed at a taping of The Sinbad Show, when that was on the air. He’s an impressive guy and no question he knows a mess when he sees one.

At this point we’ll have to wait and see. I’m curious what your comments are….

Dianne Reeves headlines the
2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival

Bellevue Jazz Festival Preview
May 22 – 24
for information: http://bellevuejazz.com

The new, old Bellevue Jazz Festival reconvenes for the second year in a row in its current incarnation, a full-blown, three-tiered, weekend-long, diverse offering of artists, both well-known and novices, all within walking distance (a vigorous one perhaps, but a walk nonetheless) in a maturing, downtown Bellevue.

Originally started in 1978 at Bellevue Community College as a grass-roots, local event, the current festival aims to compete with the likes of the jazz festivals of Portland and San Francisco. That means corporate dollars (Microsoft), grant money (4 Culture), and nationally-recognized musicians like Dianne Reeves, the Mingus Big Band, Kurt Elling, Danilo Perez, Mose Allison and Patricia Barber.

The BJF starts the Friday before Memorial Day and runs through Sunday, competing with one of Seattle’s most popular and longest-running musical events, the Northwest Folklife Festival. The BJF has committed itself to a three-year run. It has yet to make money but is convinced it is on the right track to becoming a viable event.

“We’re fortunate this year to have major sponsors,” said festival director Leslie Lloyd. “We are way ahead of the game compared to last year. Ticket sales are always a challenge…The economy trickles through all aspects of every business. We’re hoping people will choose to stay home over Memorial Day weekend and choose one more rich offering close to home.”

The headline acts, which includes the addition of the hometown Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, will perform in the Meydenbauer Center. Tickets for individual concerts range from $20 to $85. Ticket packages that allow you to see an entire day’s worth of performances or the entire weekend’s lineup range from $99 to $199.

For those on a budget, most of the shows are free. There will be no cover charge to hear most of the local musicians performing at various bars and restaurants: Drummer Jose Gonzales and his trio, bassist John Hamar’s trio, singer Trish Hatley and New Age Flamenco all perform Friday night; Singer Greta Matassa, pianist Bill Anschell and trumpeter Thomas Marriott (coming off the release of his newest CD, “Flexicon”) perform Saturday night; Pianist Primo Kim, guitarist Dave Peterson, and saxophonist Hadley Caliman perform with their respective trios Sunday.

Various musicians will also host late-night, open jam sessions Friday and Saturday night at the Courtyard by Marriott-Downtown Bellevue hotel. And sprinkled throughout the weekend will be performances by student combos from some of the area’s strongest high school jazz programs: Newport, Bellevue, Edmonds-Woodway, Sammamish, Shorewood and Ingraham.

A highlight of the festival is the Rising Stars program, a hand-picked group of 18 of the area’s best high school musicans, including several that performed recently at the prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival in New York: Roosevelt’s Max Holmberg and Mat Muntz, Garfield’s Ellie Lightfoot, Newport’s Eli Meisner, Zach Stoddard and Ariel Pocock. The Rising Stars were nominated and auditioned before a panel of jazz educators. They will perform with the SRJO to close the festival.

Parking at or near the Meydenbauer Center costs $5 to $8 and parking is free at many of the smaller venues. Taxi service is limited and the event will not provide a shuttle. But most of the venues are within a 10-minute walk of one another.

“The truth is that it takes three to five years to establish an event,” Lloyd said. “We’re still in that process.”

ATLANTA — Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament was mugged outside an Atlanta studio where the band is recording, police said.

Three masked men dressed mostly in black came out of the woods behind Southern Tracks recording studio and attacked Ament and employee Mark Anthony Smith as they arrived in a rented Jeep late last month, DeKalb County police said.

Police say the men smashed three of the Jeep’s windows and grabbed a Blackberry and two computers and demanded money. Ament jumped out of the passenger side and tried to run, but one of the men knocked him to the ground and stole his passport.

The men got away with $3,000 cash, along with computers and other equipment worth more than $4,000. Paramedics treated Ament for head injuries.

Surveillance cameras recorded the incident but no one has been arrested.

Pearl Jam management had no comment Thursday.

Southern Tracks is a studio in north Atlanta that’s worked with artists including Aerosmith, Stone Temple Pilots and Bob Dylan.

Rolling Stone reports Pearl Jam is working on an album they plan to release themselves in the United States.

BY BERRY TRAMEL
Published: May 16, 2009

Wayman Tisdale sat in the OU sports information office one night after study hall, practicing a speech.

Olympic Basketball Gold Medalist Wayman Tisdale flashes a smile as he works his way through a crowd of about 500 people at the State Capitol Thursday during ceremonies honoring Oklahoma’s Olympic athletes. Oklahoman Archives

Aug 28 The Oklahoman’s sports team talks about Wayman Tisdale, little league and the opening games for OU and OSU.

All these years later, Cindy Cloutier, then an Oklahoma student worker and still a Wayman fan, recalls the details.

Tisdale’s speech was about basketball expenses. He referred, in his best polished voice, to money for the “rentation” of Lloyd Noble Center. Wayman’s brother, William, bubbled in laughter, saying there was no such a word. Never fear, Wayman said. “It’s all in the delivery.”

Isn’t it the truth?

Wayman Tisdale’s delivery never faltered. Always with a smile.

Playing hoops or the bass guitar, winning games or friends, losing his leg or dying with grace, Tisdale delivered the rarest of charm, a genuine charisma that started with that world-class smile.

Tisdale died Friday in Tulsa at the age of 44, an Oklahoma icon not just because of turnaround jump shots and Jazz melodies, but that magnificent smile that is everyone’s favorite memory of Tisdale.

“He reminded me of Magic Johnson,” said another OU basketball legend, Alvan Adams, after learning of Tisdale’s death.

“That smile. Most of us when we played were serious, were combative, were competitive.

“Wayman and Magic were all those things, but they smiled while they kicked your butt.”

Who else in sport is remembered for their smile? Who else played at the highest level, with maximum intensity but such unrestrained joy? Wayman Tisdale lit up a room, even if that room was a coliseum.

Basketball is the most personal of games. Fans and cameras get close, unencumbered by helmet or hat. We feel like we get to know basketball players, really know them, and when someone as entrancing and delightful as Wayman comes along, the connection is strong.

Strong, and in this case pure.

“Truly that smile was just him,” said Jan Warner, president of the OU Tip-In Club during Tisdale’s days. “An unusually bright, loving guy all the time.”

The memories flooded Warner on Friday. She was with Tisdale during all those delightful days, first meeting him before OU’s 1982 NIT game at Oral Roberts, when Tisdale was a Tulsa Washington senior, and the fun was infectious even to strangers.

At OU, Wayman and William and teammate Chucky Barnett would come over to her house, the Warners supplying hamburgers and the players supplying the hijinks. “It was a three-ring circus,” she said. “Make you laugh till you doubled over.”

A few years ago, the Warners went to see Tisdale in concert, after he became a best-selling jazz guitarist, and he charmed music audiences with his talent and smile, same on the stage as he was on the hardwood.

“It was so precious to be with him,” Warner said. “I’ll miss him a lot. But he sure did give a lot of people excitement and joy.”

The excitement came from baskets made. The joy from smiles delivered.

The smile never wavered, even in despair. Wayman sat courtside at the Ford Center 38 days before his death, being honored by the NBA Thunder, and while his body was betraying him, the smile never did.

While the San Antonio Spurs interrupted their halftime warmup to shake hands and encourage a comrade, Tisdale talked about basketball and music and how he was doing fine, even though he wasn’t.

“Nicest man in the world with the biggest heart and an even bigger smile,” said former NBA star Reggie Miller, an Indiana Pacer teammate of Tisdale’s. “I thank him for befriending me and showing me there is more to life than just basketball.”

In the end, maybe that’s what Wayman Tisdale and his smile delivered.

Berry Tramel: 405-760-8080; Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.