Arnold Jay Smith Jazz Vent

CATACLYSMS OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS ROCK HAWAII’S SOCKS

you all know the Hawaiian picture post cards: sunny climes, sandy beaches, the blue-green Pacific waters lapping them, the wave curls of the Bonsai Pipeline, the surfers, Diamond Head always looming in the distance, other defunct volcanoes strung together forming mountain ranges, the Pearl Harbor Memorials, the rainbows, sometimes double, triple and even quadruple helixes. one can almost hear the string sounds of steel guitars and ukuleles wafting as you look at them, “having a great time; wish you could hear.” [sound of stylus running across record right here!]

BIG BAND, ORCHESTRA, DYNASTY, HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION

under the aegis of the indefatigable Sue Mingus, widow of Charles, the above emphatic if repetitively self-titled bassist’s album sprang to life during the 2012 Presidents Day weekend. there were a Mingus Big Band weekend at Jazz Standard (8 sets); the Mingus Orchestra at St. Bart’s Church (Sat.) and at the Standard (Mon, 2 sets), the Mingus Dynasty Ensemble at Manhattan School of Music, all wrapped around the otherwise enveloping Mingus High School Competition at MSM (both Sun.).