MechWarrior 5: Clans - The Mech Game We've Been Waiting For

This game reminds me of the time The ExoSquad TV series production staff would play Battletech in a VR game center.  The game graphic are generations beyond the blocky vector-graphics of the 90's. This updated game maybe way beyond my current video game playing skills, but, it might be fun to assemble a ExoSquad team, to play again in this game.

Sunday Music Muse Day - James Blood Ulmer, Jamaaladeen Tacuma

As September draws to a close, let's go out on a positive note.  These two performers are outside mainstream jazz, and definitely not smooth jazz, so hold on to your hats, and listen with open minds and ears.  First up, James Blood Ulmer In and Out. I think of him as alternate universe Delta Blues filtered through the avent garde/free jazz prism.  His music is down to earth, rough, but also sophisticated.  You may not get it in the first listening, but keep trying. I remember when Ulmer was sighed to Columbia for three releasing, some wrong mind record PR execs tried to promote him as the next "Jimi Hendrix".  That didn't fly at all. Ulmer music maybe hurt to label, but it will always be better than Smooth Jazz.

Next up, bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma, The Best of.... This CD is a collection of his late 70's and early 80s recordings.  Tacuma is also part of alternate Jazz fusion/avent-garde/"Black Rock" scene in New York City.  He rose to prominence when the legendary Ornette Coleman choice him to join his harmolodic Prime Time group.  Tacuma also played with on James Blood Ulmer's pre- Columbia recording Tales of Captain Black.  This is adventurous and exciting music, not for the small-minded.  Give it a try.

So, as September ends, I'm gearing up for Inktober, the daily prompt drawing event.  I'm looking forward to it, and know I'll be listening to a lot music for inspiration.  Enjoy.

RIP Mike Swanigan - Animation veteran

I'm joining my fellow friends and coworkers, in responding to the sad news of the passing of one of our own. Mike Swanigan, animation veteran. As Tom Sito, said, "Mike was a character." But, beside his long work resume, one of his lasting legacies will be as publisher of animation books, and espeically Toon Magazine, one of the best animation mags, ever. His vision and focus was more on the artists and creative staff, than the companies' execs. Toon Magazine is full of animation art that's a treasure trove for animation fans. I hope someone archives and reprints all the issues. This is a picture of my stash. I first thought of just posting this one pic, but after browsing through them again, I have to post more in his honor. I even got a mention for working on Men in Black with Frank Paur. RIP Mike and thanks, for the memories.

ImagiCon at the Monroe Community College library.

I had a great time at the ImagiCon comic book event, at MCC. The small but comfortable open space made it easy to talk to students, fellow creative guests, and outside visitors. I definitely have to get out more. I'll give more details later, but the two items that received the most interest, were my Thundercats and Galaxy Ranger original animation production cels. Looking at the cel layers, made me feel like a museum archivist revealing a mummy's wrappings. The other item was my 6 foot Journeyman Artist table banner, it's the same art from by Youtube video intro. Many times I was able to make reference to it when I was talking about my work.

I planning to do other comic book event in the near future.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Rich Thompson, Rale Micic

Sorry, I missed last week's Sunday Music Muse Day post, the family celebration of September birthdays, fulled up the time.  Let's continue this week with The Trio United, RichThompson, Bill Grimes, and Bill Dobbins - One More Time. This s wonderful live record of three jazz musicians who are also jazz educators.  My friend drummer, Rich Thompson, and pianist Bill Dobbins, are both highly respected jazz instructors at the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, while bassist, Bill Grimes was an instructor at the LSU School of Music. This talented trio dispels that disparaging quote by  “Those who can, do; those who can't, teach” from George Bernard's Shaw's 1903 play Man and Superman  implying that teaching is a role for people who failed to achieve their desired vocational goals.  These gentlemen obviously fill both roles very well. A plus, is that with the exception two of the 12 cuts, all the tunes are originals from trio members. I like hearing original compositions from group members.  This is well worth a listen.

My second selection is a guitarist I just discovered by chance last month, Rale Micic Only Love Will Stay.  Again, this how I build my music collection, with one chance listening leads to me buying more of a musician's work.   This session is just as enjoyable as his last.  I'll keep looking for more.

The weather has been wonderful and we got to attend some event of the annual Fringe Festival, here Rochester, NY, but I still have to catch up on my live music. Hope you do the same.

HumpDay Odds & Ends - Gargoyles Steel Clan Robot & Celestical Game Mat.

Here's a Hump Day: Odds and Ends item, a self-birthday gift of a Gargoyles' Steel Clan Robot figure. The box art is great.The little one is from the original toy releases in the 90's. It roared, but the sound chip stopped working years ago. The cool game pad was bought at a liquidation store for $2. I think it's really nice

I saw more Gargoyles figures on the store shelf.  I don't have the money or space for them, yet.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Pat Martino, Keith Jarrett & Charlie Haden

This Sunday Music Muse Day, finds the weather feeling more like fall, cooler, than end of summer. My two selections are from musicians who need no introduction from me that could do them proper justice. First, is Pat Martino with Jim Ridi Nexus.  Jim Ridi is new to me, but the liner notes state he was "a longtime member of the guitarist's quartet and valued duet partner for ten years." So, now I learned something.   I admit, I first became aware of Pat from my friend Rodney Means, who, I think, saw him play in Philadelphia.  I was more aware of him from his first guitar synthesizer albums.  I'm delighted to still find Pat Martino recordings I don't have.  This one's keeper.

Next, is Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden Jasmine. Again, I'm not a completest when it comes to collecting any musician's music, but I enjoy finding recordings I don't have, by great musicians like this duo. This a wonderfully intimate piano/bass duet session. Well worth seeking out.

So, this weekend also is the start of the pro football season, let's hope your favorite team wins.  I don't really follow football much, since my son, Devin's, football career end when he graduated U of R. I'll watch an occasional game, and the playoffs, and of course, the Super Bowl.  I have other ways to waste my time, like listen into music. Enjoy.

More browsing than shopping.

I did some toy browsing Tuesday and found these, The ThunderTank Hot Wheels was a "must buy". I won't unpack this until I find another one. The Hex Bots reminded me of the WipeOut video game racers. I'll have to figure a track for them. I didn’t buy any of other stuff. I don't like the paint on the Captain America figure, and the Gargoyles' Goliath/Demona pack is too expensive. Maybe if it goes on sale, I'll reconsider. The Darth Vader is cute, but I just don't have room for it. I'm saving the Nerf gun pics for a video project I'm planning on GunPlay: Childhood to Adult (working title).

Browsing Archimage Novelty Store, Rochester, NY

Several days ago, during lunch, I grabbed a Chicago Dog from Dogtown and I got stop into Archimage, the novelty gift shop across the Monroe Ave, and spotted some items to keep in mind for holiday shopping. The Android Jones jigsaw puzzles are a definite, even if they're 2x our 500 piece comfort zone. The poetry kits might be fun to turn into a drawing game. One team picks out a theme or scene, and the other has to draw it.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Pat Metheny, Gene Bertoncini

This Sunday Music Muse Day find me presenting two jazz guitarists who need not introductions, Pat Metheny and Gene Bertoncini, sharing a common theme, exploring their solo guitar playing in a different setting. First up, Pat Metheny MoonDial, his latest release and second solo session to follow last year's Dream Box release. Metheny state these solo outing give him a chance to revisit his work in a new way. They do offer a more intimate setting than a full band. (It may allow make more financial sense to go solo for a while)  This is worth giving it a listen. 

Next is Gene Bertoncini Concerti where we find playing his solo guitar arrangement with a full  string quartet and bass.  Bartoncini state the string arrangements were done by colleagues from The Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, NY.  The arrangements are lively and energetic.  This is also, a pleasure to listen to. 

So, these more intimate sessions may be just the thing after the excitement of the political. Enjoy

Browsing Barnes & Noble - Taking Pic vs. Impulse buying.

I did a quick browsing trip to Barnes & Noble today, here's what I saw:

This card game based on the Invincible animated series. It doesn't interest me too much to me.  There are no 3D game figures.

Battletech Paint Starter set. I thought of getting this, but it really pricy.  Plus, I've started using a acrylic paint markers, and find they fit my need for now.  But i will use the packaging art as color match chart for painting the Mech models I got several weeks ago.

The B&N video section had a display of DVD/Blu-Ray steelcase items. The Ghost in the Shell and Nausica steelcases were tempting.

This little plush remind my of one I have for My Totoro.

I'm conflicted on whether I like this new Jim Hendrix graphic novel.  The art's not bad, but I'm just jaded by my love for the Bill Sienkiewicz "Voodoo Child: the Illustrated Legend of Jim Hendrix (1995), it is hard to want to see another version. Although, this looks like their going for a sci-fi fantasy version, not a straight biography.  I'll think about it.  Who knows, it maybe show up in Ollie's. 

These Andrew Loomis books reminds me of my teen years when I constantly borrowed Loomis drawing books from the public library, since couldn't afford ot buy them.  My library card you my key to open the doors to New Worlds.

Again, I find myself snapping pics in instead of impulse buying. If some of these items show up in future reduced sales, I might reconsider.