In celebrating the 4Oth anniverary for Galaxy Rangers' preimere, September 14, 1986 I invite fans to visit the Galaxy Rangers playlist of videos on my youtude channel. I was one of the original core artists and storyboard director of the series. I'm glad to see it's still remembered so fondly. RANGERS...HOOO!!
This week's Sunday Music Muse Day post features two drummer i enjoy. First, the Miles Brown Trio. I hadn't heard the leader, bassest Miles Brown, or his father Steve Brown, but I'm good friends with drummer, Rich Thompson. (I looked the group up online)So, that why I bought the CD. This is 2009 recording of original copositions and jazz standards. There Rich Thompson tune "More or Less" I knew from his own recording as a leader. This is solid jazz trio outing, worth giving it a listen.
So that's this weeks post. Enjoy the last day of summer and the school year begins for many. Peace.
This pass week I celebrated my 76th birthday...so no longer I'm 75 and still Alive, but "76" and hope I don't get sick! The guard rails are gone. Here's your friendship torture test, my self-written birthday song for jazz birthdays. ( I hope to do a better version for next year)You've been warned: For comparison, it will remind you of the scene in the movie "10" where Dudley Moore is trapped by the piano playing preacher. For added pain the lyrics are in the comments. Enjoy, and thanks for your well wishes.
Stay Posted.
This Sunday Music Muse Day finds us saddened by the news of the passing jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini. I believed I came late to the party knowing Gene Bertoncini playing and music. My first expose was buying the CD by guitarist Steve Greene, who I saw at perfoeming with the group The White Hots at Jazz 90.1 event at the Artisan House. I posted about the "Gene with Greene" in February 2020 and proceeded to acquire eight more Gene Bertoncini CDs. His name on CD becomes a "must Buy". I'm sorry I never got to see him play live, in person, since I have several musican friends who played with, and knew him personally.
My sincere condolences to his family and all his friends. His musical legacy will keep him in our hearts for ever. RIP ,Gene, and thanks for the music.
Just a quick post of the Sunday Music Muse Day first Gilfema + 2. Gilfema is a jazz trio consisting of Lionel Loueke, Ferenc Nemeth, and Massimo Biolcati. The name of the group comes from the musicians' names: Gil, fe, ma. Silly me, I thought it was an African term. In anycase, the "plus 2 " is Anat Cohen on Clarinet, and John Ellis on bass clarinet and ocarina. This the second CD I have from the group, which I became interested in through guitarist Lionel Loueke's African unique playing style. It's definitely worth a listen.
Over at the Thundercats,org site the video from Only My Toys shows a tour of the Cat's Lair that featured a table with Thundercats treasures, all of them I designed for the series. Bravo. and thanks. https://thundercats.org/features/only-my-toys-interview/
This Sunday Music Muse Day features two CD I picked at the Hi-Fi Lounge on Monroe Ave near Twelve Corners in Brighton (Rochester) NY. First up is Tom Ollendorff - Where in the World. The included press release flyer states this is the guitarist's third album, and first collaboration with "Blue Note artist Aaron Park, pianist. The quartet with James Maddren on drums, and Conor Chaplin of bass. The promo goes on to state,"Ollendorff's music elegently mixes graceful themes, baroque-like etudes and fast bop swing". I found it offers nice contemporary jazz. Well worth a listen, and I plan to seek out his other prior releases.
In my role as The Serial Accumulator of toys, I was browsing the toy section at Target and came across the Mr Beast latest toy release, Mr Beast Lab Hybrids.
I first became interested in the Mr Beast Lab Mutators action figures that came with cool "Mutation Chamber". It reminded me of the mutation tanks in the ExoSquad animated TV series that was used to make Neo-Sapiens Creatures. I bought a MR Beats Lab Mutation Chamber with the Iconic Panther. I actually looked better than the ExoSquad NeoCat action figure based on my original design.
I actually, totally forgot I had a Chamber in my Warrior in the Mist comic from 1972.
It seems Mr Beast is a pretty successful media property, including animated series. I scan the QR code on the back of the MrBeast Lab Hybrids and it liked me to the animated series on Youtube. I watched the collection and found it very funny and enjoyable.
In checking the credits, I spotted a familiar name, Henry Gilroy, one of the series' executive producer and writer. I recently intereacted with Henry for the Kepyr Foundation Thundercats Art auction. Of course, Henry is best known for his work on many major animated series. I remember him for writing one of my favorite Dark Horse Comic stories Alien: Mondo Pest. It's show what a small world it could be. Check out the Mr Beast animate series. It's one of several toy related mini-series I'm cominfg across. Like the DC Metal Force that's a series of short supporting the minor toyline.
Another is an action figure toy line I found at the Dollar General store, Final Faction supported by comic and a animated series on Youtube.
This week's Sunday Music Muse Day features two grreat musicians who are sadly no longer with us, but their musicial legacy lives on. First, Jack Bruce - Jack Bruce Collector's Edition. I was a fan of bassist Jack Bruce from 1960's when he exploded on Rock scene with the power trio Cream, Eric Clapton on guitar and Ginger Baker on drum. Like Ginger Baker, Bruce also ventured into the jazz world, famously playing in the groundbreaking jazz fusion group Tony William's Lifetime, with John McLaughlin (pre-Mahavishu Orchestra). This Collector's Edition contain a lot tunes I never heard of his written by Bruce and Pete Brown, many are live recording. There is specticular group of guitaristshowcsed on CD such as Eric Clapton,Gary Moore, Clem Clemson, and David Torn. Bruce does a haunting rendition of Jimi Hendrix' Wind Cries Mary. The music is worthy of anyone's collection. The only down side to the package is the type design is almost unreadable on the CD cover. It might be better on full size vinyl record sleeve.
I can't wait to see Jagara and Zaxx (both I designed for the original Rankon/Bass series) on my local toy shelf. If I ever do another comic con I might offer this or my poster (In the comments.)
Here's a preview of images I'll use for a Journeyman Artist Timeline Tale video, soon. "The Wild West" - Unproduced Animated TV series Pitch". Back between season 1 & 2 of ExoSquad, Will Meugniot asked me to do some character designs for a western series that he and Doug Wildey were also doing sketches. I did my best to keep up to their high standards.
I never met him Doug face to face, but talked to him on the phone when Will Meugniot, who knew him well, ask me to use him for a storyboard for ExoSquad. I was nervous at the thought of talking to him. I called, and our first exchange was so memorable, to me. I introduced myself by name and he replied, “well, I never heard anything bad about you, so I guess you’re alright.” From a great artist like him, I’ll take that as a compliment. I have xerox copies of concept drawings he did for a western cartoon series pitch that didn’t happen, It might have been some of the last work he did before passing away." Here's some of the art Doug Wildey did for "Wild West".
