Dime-A-Dozen #5 - Odds & Ends - Miscellaneous Characters

[Dime-A-Dozen Projects is so named from a conversation with creative friends of mine as we lamented that when we were working full-time for someone else, we get these (in our minds) original million dollar ideas, that would, somehow, turn into "dime-a-dozen" ideas when we were out of work and on our own.]

Next up, is Odds & Ends, a group of miscellaneous characters that I drew in my teenage sketch books (1962 - 1969)

Cheetah.
The Cheetah was a speedster character based on my favorite big cat.  I don't have clue how he acquired the super speed.

 

 

It's obvious The Cheetah was inspired by the comic book speedster, The Flash, especially as drawn my artist Carmine Infantino.

Here's Cheetah in a revised costume confronting the Solar-Naut.

Samurai. 

Samurai is of course a katana (japanese sword) swinging costumed hero or villain. 

I'm not sure if Samurai was inspired by Charlton's Comic Judomaster  published in 1966, when I was 16 yrs old, so it is a possible source.

I did one revision of Samurai's costume on this page.

 Dragonfly

Dragonfly is just a guy with dragonfly wings.  I'm not sure if you was a Spider-man rip off, of an Ant-man rip off.

 Dr. Heat.

The Lancer.

NO-Name.  Really I don't remember giving this guy a name, only that the costume was inspired by a fashion outfit in a magazine.

Torgo,the Mechanical Man (?)

Staggor - The Warlord seems to be an ally of Marvel's Thor, and a opponent to my Marauder, of Sabre Squad.

The Gladiator.  I think he was inspired my Hercules in the Marvel Thor comics.

Exo-Man is the character with the servos on his joints.  Considering this was drawn in the mid-1960s, it now far from the advances in exoskeleton engineering happening today.

(The other character, Maximus Kreel, the Intergalactic Bounty Hunter will be part of a future post)

Sunday Music Muse Day - Alan Holdsworth, a Tribute

Today's Sunday Music Muse day is in tribute to guitarist Allan Holdsworth who passed away unexpectedly this past Saturday , April 15, 2017.  He was one of my favorite Jazz Fusion guitarist, with a style and sound all his own.  This NPR radio post had a wonderful write up on him. http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/04/17/524332013/allan-holdsworth-revered-fusion-guitarist-dies-at-70

As I was visiting my local record shops for the 10th annual Record Store Day, Allan Holdsworth latest released Eidolon: The Allan Holdsworth Collection was a must have.  
 Eidolon is 2-Disc best of collection with the tracks chosen by Holdsworth himself form his solo group recording. It is curious to compare his best selection to your own favorites for his albums picks.

In sharing memories of him and his music with my friend, Rodney, I felt compelled to pullout all my Holdsworth LPs, CDs, with him as a leader and sideman.  I think I'm only missing three of his solo albums.  Seeing his name on other artists records lead me to pick them up.  Holdsworth also played with two of my favorite drummers, Tony Williams and Bill Bruford.

When I review my collection, I know I spend many hours of enjoyment listening to his music, and will continue to do so.  I guess that is the best legacy of any artist.  RIP, Allen Holdsworth, and thanks for the music.

Easter Sunday Music Muse Day - Eastman Jazz Trio, Wayne Shorter.

On this quiet Easter Day, I have just two Sunday Music Muse Day selections.  First is the Eastman Jazz Trio "the question is...". For non-locals, "This recording presents performances by the Eastman Jazz trio, the in-house faculty rhythm section of the Eastman School of Music" , Harold Danko on piano, Rich Thompson on drums, and Jeff Campbell on bass, with guest Clay Jenkins on trumpet, a new member of the jazz faculty at the time, leading to the formation of the Eastman Jazz Quartet.  Besides being well-respected teachers, they each have a impressive resume of music experience in the jazz world. I'm continually amazed at quality and quantity the Eastman School of Music contribution to Rochester's musical culture.  I've had the pleasure of meeting several Eastman faculty members, like Rich Thompson, Bob Sneider, and Mike Melito, attending many of their live gigs.  Picking up another one of their CDs is always treat.

Next is jazz legend (and that's no overstatement) Wayne Shorter Alegria, a 4/5 star rated CD the one reviewer called, "-- at least to many critics who welcomed his return to highly cerebral acoustic post-bop".  This is very adventurous outing that will leave you excited at the twist and turn Shorter still presents in his music that begs for repeated listening. 

 So, if no one has said it, have a wonderful, peaceful, Happy Easter and Passover.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Modern Jazz Quartet, Charlie Mingus, Steps Ahead, and Mocean Worker

After a snowy start to the week, the temperature is now in the 70s for this week's Sunday Music Muse Day featuring a range of music from Jazz classics to Dance Club remixes.  First up is a Rudy Van Gelder remastered CD of The Modern Jazz Quartet Django, the album that put the group on the international musical map.   The music of the MJQ is classic and very classy, just a joy to listen to at any time.

Next Is the legendary jazz bassist Charles Mingus, Mingus at Antibes, a live set recorded July 13, 1960 at the Antibes Jazz Festival, Juan-les-Pins, France.  This pure fiery Mingus at his best.

For my next selection, I have to admit sometimes nostalgia bites you in the ass. I picked up Steps Ahead NYC, since I have other records and CDs by them, but this 1989 session smack of Smooth Jazz from the very first cut.  I can only assume my taste have changed over the years to where I can't take this sound.  This may end up a Spring Cleaning item or donation to the library.

My final selection is Mocean Wonker Cinco de Mowo! as described on the All Music website "...veers happily back and forth between funky reappropriations of old big band music (check out the archaic but hard-edged "Shake Ya Boogie") and gleeful Latin jazz (check out the fun, if slightly repetitious, "Olé Baby" and the more subtle and jazzy "Pretty")."  I have several Mocean Worker releases and enjoy how he uses samples of old jazz tunes. It's even music I can share with my college age sons.  I like to call out the original tunes for them.  I'm sure they appreciate it that fully now, but maybe later.

That's it for this week.  Hopefully, spring is here to stay.  I'm looking getting out and listening to more music, also our Rochester International Jazz Festival is coming up in June.