Well, dear readers, I’m quite ready for the Christmas vacation to begin, and yet it doesn’t begin until Friday, really. Therefore, I must slog through the next few days and finish up everything I need to finish up for this year. And slog I shall. Damn them, damn them all to hell. It’s been quite an interesting year, this 2016 year. It began in an amusing way, with all these people posting on Facebook that first week that it was already going to be the BEST YEAR EVER. And every one of those people who posted that have forgotten they posted it and are now saying, without equivocation, that it was the WORST YEAR EVER. For me, it was neither the best nor the worst. The good parts of it were truly good, and the bad parts of it were beyond bad. And there was even some ugly thrown in, too, but I’ll let you all figure out what that was.
I don’t like to dwell on the bad, or negative things. Suffice it to say that this year was a real challenge in many ways – we’ve really cut back on Kritzerland releases and that, unfortunately, has impacted Ye Olde Cashe Flowe, but it’s just something that has to be dealt with. I was truly hoping that this fifteen title Rhino deal I have would move along quickly but that has proven to be not the case. They approved the packaging for our next title with them in JUNE and yet it sits on someone’s desk at Warner Bros. gathering dust because I guess it’s just not important. The poor Rhino guy calls every week trying to move it along, but the person on whose desk it sits is notorious in the record community for this kind of thing. A year ago, this was not how it worked – if it was a straight reissue of a Warner Bros. LP it was Rhino only who approved, but they changed it if the film was made by Warner Bros. – now THEY have to approve it, too, for reasons that really make no sense. It is a very frustrating situation because all the other titles save for two are going to have to go through that same process. I can do the two that don’t, but both are film musicals and have been out before and I was hoping to do something that hasn’t. Anyway, we’ll try to do more titles next year, although I do think we did about fourteen this year.
The year began with me writing a new book, Patrick Bronstein Presents. I absolutely loved writing every word of it and I could not have been prouder of the result. I wish there were a way to get these more out in the universe but it is what it is. It does surprise me when our regular dear readers don’t bother with the books, but that’s become pretty standard, I’m afraid. I got so many wonderful compliments about it, though, and that makes it all worthwhile and I do know that one of these days these books are somehow going to get discovered and that will be a good day. I suspect it will happen as soon as I’m gone from this planet – isn’t that always the way?
Of course, we did ten Kritzerland shows (had to take January and July off due to where the holidays fell) and they were pretty great this year. I don’t know how many more I have in me, but as long as they’re fun and we can keep the quality high, I guess we’ll continue until we don’t. I do know I have enough shows to get us to our seventh anniversary. The other main thing in the first part of the year was the writing of L.A. Now and Then, both mine own and making sure all the other collaborators got me their material. We had two private readings, I made lots of changes, but really until March I had no idea what the show even was. Then we went into rehearsal and I have to say it was a completely wonderful experience from start to finish. The cast, mainly students, did a great job, and our two guest artists were real role models for everyone – Robert Yacko and April Audia. We had a great band, great orchestrations by Lanny Meyers, Richard Allen did a really good job as musical director, and I’m happy to say that every performance was pretty much sold out and the audiences absolutely loved the show and the production. It’s a crying shame we couldn’t get anyone from the city down to see it, this love letter to LA. It’s really kind of reprehensible that they couldn’t be bothered to support a show about the city they represent. But, that’s LA – now and then. I’ll continue the look back during the week.
Yesterday was a lovely little day. I got over ten hours of sleep, relaxed, listened to music, and then got ready for the partay at Doug Haverty’s. Prior to going, I watched the first Sibelius symphony on the new Blu-ray set I got. I thought it was very well conducted, the sound is really good, and the video is crisp and I must say that WATCHING and listening you’re acutely aware of the orchestration and the players and what’s actually happening in the music in a way that doesn’t always happen when you’re just listening. I heard certain details I’ve never heard before, just because I was seeing what the orchestra was doing. The conductor is one of those effusive fellows like Bernstein, so he’s fun to watch.
Then I went to Dino’s Pizza and picked up two extra large pepperoni pies and brought them to the party. I was one of the first two people there. I had two slices of the pizza, and as others arrived it proved to be a popular item among the foodstuffs. They had Honey-Baked ham and turkey, Doug’s every lovin’ Dorathy’s famous seven-layer bean dip (excellent), turkey chili, and other items. I was actually very good and only had the pizza and a tiny bit of the bean dip’s upper three layers. I was there longer than I’ve ever been, almost two-and-a-half hours, talked to some nice folks, and then I took my leave.
I’d picked up some packages on the way, and when I got home I uploaded music into iTunes and then watched symphonies two through five. They were all good, but I was especially taken with the third symphony – which I heard in a whole new way and really loved. The fifth was also very well done, although going into the big tune in the third movement, he slowed down so much that it took me aback, but it did have a certain majesty to it that was nice. I eventually went to the Subway and got a Subway club for the rest of my food intake. It wasn’t very good, to be truthful and I think I’m pretty much done with Subway because that’s been my experience the last few times I’ve been there. I may have simply outgrown it or my taste buds have.
Then I listened to three new Villa-Lobos CDs, both really entertaining and both of which contained music I didn’t already have. I just love this man’s music.
Today, I’m completely unsure what is happening, other than doing some work on the February Kritzerland which, as usually happens, falls on Super Bowl Sunday. Ask me if I care, because I don’t. That’s why the kid show is a no-brainer – we fill it up no matter what is going on that day. I thought there was something else happening this day, but I can’t remember what it is if there is, and I certainly didn’t write it down. So, hopefully someone will let me know if something is going on. I’m sure I’ll eat something amusing, hopefully I’ll pick up packages, and I’m hoping some screeners arrive, too.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals and going and doing and winding down – we’re also hoping to ship The Gang’s All Here this week, if all goes according to Hoyle.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do some work, eat, maybe jog, hopefully pick up packages, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What were the highlights and lowlights of your year? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be winding down and looking forward to having two weeks all to myself.