Sunday Music Muse day - Gretsch Corvette back in action.

I'm forgoing my usual Sunday Music Muse Day post, and instead spending my time getting re-acquainted with my1963 Gretsch Corvette 6132 guitar, which I just got repaired at Bernunzio Uptown Music.

The Corvette is my first guitar I brought from co-worker back in the early 1970's for $60, when I was decided to learn guitar. In it's original state it only had the single Gretsch bridge pickup, and a wooden bridge. About a year after having it, I slapped a old Fender telecaster pickup on it and a three-way toggle switch. I have to confess I did hackneyed job adding the second picked, but it worked. The wooden bridge broke, so it was replaced with a cheap metal bridge. Eventually, the Corvette was replaced as my main axe by the Gibson 175T, and moved to third fiddle, briefly, by a Fender Stratocaster I owned for awhile, until I realized I'll never sound or play like Hendrix. When I move to Rochester, the Corvette was showing it age. The pick guard had warped, buckled, and partially melted.

 A co-worker at my public library job told me a relative could repair it for me, free. Okay. But a year later, I had to ask for it back because nothing was done except disassembling it. So, after two more years of debating getting it repaired, or buying another sold body guitar, I finally sprung for getting it repair. It was more a sentimental choice. It was my first guitar, and it deserved a better fate than being in pieces, and unplayable. The Bernunzio tech did a great job replacing the pick guard, re-wiring the electronics, and suggesting and mounting a better Gibson tuning bridge. 

 Now, even if i don't play it much it has it's dignity back.

Thundercats Tuesday - Rankin/Bass Comic Strip - Karate Kat

Continuing with the promotional package for The Comic Strip syndicated series that features TigerSharks ( the Thundercat clones in water) and bunch of comedies, Street Frogs (don't ask), Karate Kat (my favorite) and Mini-Monster (do I have to tell you the premise). I didn't design any of these characters.  Designs were done by Bob Camp and Pepe Moreno. My main role was to call animation re-takes (animation mistakes in the rough cuts) in the post-production process.

This week's, last and final show, Karate Kat.  I admit this was my favorite of the Comic Strip shows.  Like the goofy, bumbling, main character, and the punny names of the supporting characters, like Meow Baby.  In the end, Comic Strip only ran one season, and a lot had to do with the confusing way it broadcast, with Part 1 of  TigerSharks on one day and the part 2 on the following day.  I think that drove the TV networks crazy.  You can find episodes of Karate Kat. and the other shows, on youtube, if you want to judge them for yourself.

  

That's it for the Comic Strip art.  I'll try to find more Thundercats, and Rankin/Bass, odds and ends to post.  Until then, enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Mother's Day - Santana VI, Herb Ellis

Welcome to another Sunday Music Muse Day, on this Mother's Day.  I hope everyone took a moment to thank their dear love ones, or remember the ones who have passed on.

This week's first selection is Santana VI, the re-union CD of the original members the Carlos Santana band from the 1970s. According to the official website, "the wildly anticipated studio album that reunites the revered early ‘70s lineup of guitar icon Carlos Santana (guitar, vocals), Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals), Neal Schon (guitar, vocals), Michael Carabello (percussion) and Michael Shrieve (drums). The album signifies the first time in 45 years – since 1971’s multi-platinum classic Santana III – that the quintet has recorded together."  I have to say after one listen, the band still has the fire.  I saw Santana in concert last summer, and it's nice to hear the distinctive guitar sound again.  Even the cover art hints at the original album art.

My second selection is a nice compilation CD, Herb Ellis - The Concord Jazz Heritage Series.  According to the allmusic.com, "...the music on this 1998 retrospective CD is from the early days of the Concord label".  Again, for my part, I have very little Herb Ellis music except on various jazz guitar anthologies, including duets with fellow guitarists, Joe Pass and Barney Kessel,  but I know he is a guitarist who has influenced a generation of players.  That alone is reason enough to buy this CD.

So, these are two CDs to savior and enjoy.  Again, Happy Mother's day.

Repairing my Gretsch Corvette

Finally broke down and took my 1960's era Gretsch Corvette guitar to the shop for repair. It was my first guitar I brought from a co-worker for $60, back in the 70s, plus he threw in a nice Gretsch Tube amp, I no longer have.

 Lately the Corvette was dismantled due to a "free" repair job the never got finished. After holding it a year, I had to ask the would-be guitar repair guy to give it back to me, and it sadly sat in pieces, as I debated if it was worth repairing or just buying a new solid body guitar. Finally I decided I need to get it fix, leaving as is was no way to treat an "old friend". Even if it ends up only hanging on a wall. I admit I butchered it by hacking out a space for a second pickup, a 1970 era Fender Telecaster pickup, and a 3-way toggle switch, with no knowledge how to do electrical wiring properly. The tech at Bernuzio Uptown Music give me a good estimate and I'll have it back in two week. I'll be sure to post an after photo.

Thundercats Tuesday - Rankin/Bass Comic Strip - Mini-Monsters

Continuing with the promotional package for The Comic Strip syndicated series that features TigerSharks ( the Thundercat clones in water) and bunch of comedies, Street Frogs (don't ask), Karate Kat (my favorite) and Mini-Monster (do I have to tell you the premise). Here's the cover and some TigerSharks art to start. I didn't design any of these characters.  Designs were done by Bob Camp and Pepe Moreno. My main role was to call animation re-takes (animation mistakes in the rough cuts) in the post-production process.

This week, Mini-Monsters.  I think we've seen this concept repeated many times, kids of famous movie monsters in a new settings, and interacting  with human kids.  That said, Mini-Monsters had its charm.

Next week, Karate Kat.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Stan Getz, Rusell Malone, again.

This week's Sunday Music Muse Day turns out to be a follow up, or extension, to two selections from last week.  Stan Getz Moments in Time is the companion CD to the Getz / Gilberto '76 released by Resonance Records. Moments is the live set of the Getz quartet without Joao Gilberto.  Together the two CDs comprise the complete historic live set at the famous iconic San Francisco jazz club,  Keystone Korner, in 1976.

The other selection is two CDs of guitarist Russell Malone Live at the Jazz Standard Volume 1 & 2.  These are nice sets recorded at the NYC club with a quartet with Jonathan Blake on drums, Martin Bejerano on piano, Tassili Bond on bass, and Malone on guitar. Seeing the CDs together I couldn't pass up getting both.  Jann Nyffeler, Jazz 90.1 DJ,said she was glad I kept the set intact.  Thanks, Jann.

 To add the today's Music Muse, I went to see the  Miles Ahead movie.  I enjoyed it.  I'm sorry I miss a special event co-hosted by Derrick Lucas at the Little Theater, for International Jazz Day, yesterday.  I'm sure I'll catch up with Derrick at one the upcoming jazz event to spring and summer.