Author Archives: markweiss86

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About markweiss86

Mark Weiss, founder of Plastic Alto blog, is a concert promoter and artist manager in Palo Alto, as Earthwise Productions, with background as journalist, advertising copywriter, book store returns desk, college radio producer, city council and commissions candidate, high school basketball player, and blogger; he also sang in local choir, fronts an Allen Ginsberg tribute Beat Hotel Rm 32 Reads 'Howl' and owns a couple musical instruments he cannot play

Goodbye, Curley Neal hello, Normani

Posted on March 29, 2020 by markweiss86

I interviewed Curley Neal at his clinic in Menlo Park, winter 1984. I just noticed Normani “Motivation” video after buying Rolling Stone #1337   I was gonna compare her to Dr Hook until I noticed her ball handling. I think … Continue reading →

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Bird omenology (courtesy of I.D.G)

Posted on March 28, 2020 by markweiss86

(Ida sent out a two minute vine of birds singing in her yard, then I stepped out and did 30 seconds very similarly….a couple days later, I found this poem by Al Young, the poet laureate who has a birthday … Continue reading →

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Terubozu song in Japanese folk lore

Posted on March 28, 2020 by markweiss86

If you read this blog serially or from top down and not just follow a link, you might notice a Japanese theme recently. yes, I was impacted by my work with Akira Tana. But there was also a movie festival … Continue reading →

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Top Hat and The Thin Man

Posted on March 28, 2020 by markweiss86

I saw two women making music at Lytton Plaza on July 14, 2018 and thought they were great. I call them Top Hat and The Thin Man because I was on my way to watch some Fred Astaire movies at … Continue reading →

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Saturday shout out to ‘Original 9’ tennis players, 1970

Posted on March 28, 2020 by markweiss86

I caught about 30 minutes of Billie Jean King and Boomer Esiason talking about the launch of equity and equality for women athletes. The original nine played for one dollar each to launch the professional circuit. Billie Jean King, Rosie … Continue reading →

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Little piece of leather don’t you know: Stella Brooks, Connie Han & Blanca Cecelia from Queens

Posted on March 27, 2020 by markweiss86

I forgot to write the rest of this. Briefly: Stella Brooks was a singer from San Francisco who was big in the 1940s and her signature song was “I’m a Little Piece of Leather Don’t You Know (well put together … Continue reading →

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Peter Selz VS Terry Acebo Davis

Posted on March 26, 2020 by markweiss86

Terry texted me a link to some citation on the Internet about her and when I clicked on it, it’s a used book seller selling a file from the archive of the recently deceased and very esteemed critic and curator … Continue reading →

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Imagining a mash up of Maki Morinouye ‘Dream’ VS Dave Douglas ‘Moonshine’

Posted on March 25, 2020 by markweiss86

Maki is a choreographer, dancer, coffee farmer and mom in Kona Hawaii by way of Purchase, NYC  and Seattle. I don’t believe I’ve met her but Terry and I visited her family’s art studio in 2011.  I am wondering if … Continue reading →

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Dave Douglas, Trumpet, Aoife O’Donovan, voice ‘Barbara Allen’ VS ‘KC Moan’ Memphis Jug band, from Harry Smith Anthology

Posted on March 24, 2020 by markweiss86

Or the Aoife O’Donvan Time Warp Tour Dave Douglas sent around to his mailing list a version of exquisite Barbara Allenism, with Aoife O’Donvan, the singer from Bluegrass band escaping Crooked Still, she’s neither. it’s doesn’t ring true like something … Continue reading →

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‘Philadelphia Freedom’, The Philadelphia Experiment — Ahmir Thompson, Christian McBride, Uri Caine VS ‘Bright Mississippi’ by Monk Quartet

Posted on March 24, 2020 by markweiss86

I’ve been thinking about Monk.BLUF Not sure my tech devices get me any closer to the urban or southrern or blacker essenses of these jazz places, from my insular and easy suburban shelter and place. Still trying to train my … Continue reading →

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