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August 25, 2017:

THE LONG, LONG LINER NOTES

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but it’s Friday. Wasn’t it just Monday? Well, it’s Friday and there’s nothing to be done about it. And I, BK, am sitting here bleary-eyed because I wrote a long set of liner notes that took most of yesterday and almost all of last night. That’s because our next release is two CDs containing three scores – I had to do a lot of research for each and it just took forever. And some of what I had to read had such tiny print that if I hadn’t had my trusty antique magnifying glass I might have gone blind. But I got it done and sent it off for proofing and approval – once I have that then it will go to Doug for insertion into his package design. As I sit here writing these here notes I’m listening to Negro Folk Symphony by William Levi Dawson, a wonderful piece, this version conducted by Leopold Stokowski in wonderful sound.

Yesterday I got up very late after about nine-and-a-half hours of sleep. The entire morning was gone, so I hurried and answered e-mails, had a nice telephonic call from Richard Sherman, then around one-thirty I made the two burger meal o’ the day – very tasty again. Then I buckled down, Winsocki and began the long liner notes. I worked for two hours straight and had to take a break. I went and picked up a couple of packages, then came back and sat on my couch like so much fish, where I listened to a couple of SACDs that have been sitting there like so much fish for months. The first I listened to was Van Cliburn doing Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov concertos – this was another Living Stereo SACD – three-channel right off the first generation three-track tapes. The sound is as amazing as all these releases are. If you have a Blu-ray player they all play SACD releases – and these are hybrids and can play on any player as they have a CD layer, but that’s not why you should have it – if you have a surround set up with right center left speakers, you will be amazed by these releases. And they’re CHEAP. After that one, I listened to Heifetz doing Tchaikovsky and Brahms – again, the sound is absolutely breathtaking.

Then I ate a couple of cookies for my evening snack (okay, three cookies), and then it was back to work on the long liner notes. I did listen to a lot of music whilst writing them, including the three scores that are on the CD. I finally finished the notes around ten-thirty. Whew! Then I began a task I wanted to do – going through the Blu-ray closet to get rid of stuff. I’m going to offer those titles and a bunch of classical CDs here first so stay tuned for the list. The price will be right – but act fast because by Sunday I will either put them up on Amazon or take them to Amoeba. Then I took a shower, then began these here notes.

Today, I haven’t heard anything about the potential meeting so I assume that’s not happening. So, I’ll do work on the computer and now tackle the anniversary show commentary, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and I’ll do some work at the piano, then I’ll finish How to Steal a Million and listen to another SACD or two.

I’m not at all sure what the weekend holds, so it may hold nothing, but I have things to do and it would be nice to have some ME time, as once Monday hits I don’t get any rest, even though the next weekend is a holiday weekend. Not for the likes of me – we have the Kritzerland show, then I do this film music party that I seem to do every year, which means I have to write THAT commentary and have a rehearsal for that at some point. And I’m also supposed to take part in a reading at LACC of the Rodney Dangerfield script to Back to School. The widow Dangerfield made some kind of deal with the LACC Foundation and this is a fundraiser for the theater department, so I said I’d do it. That said, I’ve been asking to see a script and see a schedule for a week now and have heard nothing at all, nor does my name appear on the flyer so part of me hopes I don’t have to do it, but if they want me to do it they can damn well include my name.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write some commentary, eat, hopefully pick up packages, do other things, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, various and sundried SACDs. Blu-ray, various and sundried Twilight Time releases. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have finished the damn long liner notes.

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