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Re: Japanese coffee houses
by Patrice L. Roussel 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

On Tue, 9 Jul 2002 12:53:32 -0700 mwisckol(a)ocregister.com wrote: > > I cast my vote with the "long history of coffee houses in Japan" folks. I > spent a year there in 1981-82, going to college in Fukuoka. I often met > friends at coffee houses, which all seemed to be independently owned and > mostly owner-operated -- each with distinctive touches that made it unique, > occasionally with hobbyist themes. Younger people, at least, seemed to meet > more often at coffee shops (during the day, bars more at night) rather than > at somebody's house. At the time, I assumed this tradition stemmed from the > smallness of the domiciles. OK, let's ask Japan to keep a few of them around for the tourists. Or we could use the other alternative: put one in each museum to remind people of the good old time... In fact we could also use the French way: subsidise the places (to minimize the consequences of a strike from the owners). Patrice. NR: AU BONHEUR DES DAMES: Emile Zola (about the disappearance of little shops in Paris due to the creation of the big department stores; was written in... 1883).

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Japanese coffee houses
by mwisckol＠ocregister.com 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

I cast my vote with the "long history of coffee houses in Japan" folks. I spent a year there in 1981-82, going to college in Fukuoka. I often met friends at coffee houses, which all seemed to be independently owned and mostly owner-operated -- each with distinctive touches that made it unique, occasionally with hobbyist themes. Younger people, at least, seemed to meet more often at coffee shops (during the day, bars more at night) rather than at somebody's house. At the time, I assumed this tradition stemmed from the smallness of the domiciles. Martin

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Fwd: why we don't talk about Zorn anymore (imho)
by Efrén del Valle 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

Hi, > > Part of it has to do, I think, with the glut of > releases. How many of us, > not including Patrice, still keep tabs on the amount > of Tzadik/Avant > releases that come out? I'm still checking almost every Tzadik release on a monthly basis and it's still one of the most exciting working labels for me. Exhaustion could make you miss many good releases, which normally are incredibly diversified. Can't say the same about Avant. (not to mention Knitting Factory!). Maybe I am an specific example but I'm under the impression that many people are still interested- basically because you must run to the store not to miss anything, at least here. > Part of the problem has to do with Zorn's releases > themselves. In my opinion > (coming from someone with limited musical > vocabulary), the releases of the > last few years don't lend themselves to much > discussion anymore. I insist: IAO deserves much more attention than it has received. I really thought it would be a controversial item. Apparently I was wrong. > > Don't get me wrong; I really enjoy listening to > Zorn. But in my opinion, his > current stuff just doesn't have the same electric > energy of the > Elektra/Nonesuch years, or the Painkiller albums, or > the first three Masada > albums (and the chamber arrangements), etc. Back > then I would listen with > the sensation that a whole new realm was being > opened before my ears. It was > as if Zorn was always saying, "You ain't heard > nothing yet" with every > album. But now it seems we've heard everything. Maybe I'm wrong again but my expectations with Zorn are still very, very high. I sense this "soft" period just as that. His latest period will lead to something else, probably totally different and relatively unconnected to the exotica/lounge/surf material he's touching upon right now. For me, Zorn is the materialization of "expect the unexpected". Pay attention to any recent interviews (if any). They are really prophetic and will give you an overview of what's to come. He gave an interview to a Spanish magazine way back in 1993 and he already made reference to his wish to make a whole album like his piece "Pueblo" ("filworks IV"). Almost a decade ago we are witnessing the results, call it "The Gift", "Taboo..." or whatever. > Perhaps it has to do with > the fact that Zorn simply works in too many genres > that no one bats an > eyelash anymore when he comes out with a > surf/exotica album like "The Gift." It's just another aesthetic proposal. I don't bang my head against the wall with excitement when I listen to "The Gift" but I understand it as the exploration of some musical sources that have been important to Zorn. As such, they are extremely well done, with invention and virtuosism. I understand Zorn's whole career as an Homeric tribute to his vital influences. This could perfectly be his recreation of Martin Denny, Les Baxter or Brian Wilson's music through his own perspective. What's next? I don't know. Just check Naked City's Cd sleeves for instance, and look for names in the inspirations/thanks section and expect anything. > But I think it really is a matter of exhaustion: > another month, another > Filmworks / Masada album. As far as I'm concerned, they're more than welcome! Just an opinion. Best regards, EfrÃ©n del Valle n.p: JZ "IAO" (I wasn't lying. I love it! :-)) _______________________________________________________________ Copa del Mundo de la FIFA 2002 El Ãºnico lugar de Internet con vÃdeos de los 64 partidos. Â¡ApÃºntante ya! en http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/fc/es/

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Re: idiocy
by Arthur Gadney 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

>Hey, if Osama puts out a really cool CD maybe you ought to buy that >one, >too. Why not? His videos are pretty popular. _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

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Re: french mcDonalds
by Nvinokur＠aol.com 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

In a message dated 7/9/02 2:50:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, SonataPathetique(a)aol.com writes: << Whenever I goto France, the giant M from McDonalds seems like a gateway to paradise, especially when in the more rural areas >> Who do you think invented French Fries.

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Jazz cafes
by Tosh 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

If I am not mistaken, I think Murakami ran a 'jazz' coffee shop either in Kyoto or Osaka. These specialized 'coffee shops' were (are) the greatest. That is what I hate about Starbucks (and others) is that they sort of borrow the concept - playing jazz or whatever - and then the original shops soon disappear. -- Tosh Berman TamTam Books http://www.tamtambooks.com

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Re: Starbucks Japanese culture
by alastair＠pretentious.co.uk 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

I remember an article by Otomo Yoshihide where he waxes lyrical about "Jazz Kissa", cafes where he could hear the full range of jazz whilst having a cuppa, during the 70s. As I recall, Haruki Murakami's main character in "Norwegian Wood" (Watanabe?) goes into one. So cafes - and damn fine sounding ones - did exist in Japan pre-Starbucks. Often thought I should start one over here... Alastair -----Original Message----- >From : Tosh <tosh3(a)earthlink.net> To : zorn-list(a)mailman.xmission.com Date : 09 July 2002 05:48:25 Subject : Starbucks Japanese culture First off, there were no Japanese coffee shops to be replaced (a >really insignificant number) Coffee houses are a very new phenomena >in Japan and what you are seeing is a springing up and not >a supplantation. And unlike the Europeans who fight not to have malls >erected in thier countries, the Japanese vehemently applaud the >installation of the Kentucky-fried-Gap culture. > > >Actually I think coffee houses or cafes have been in Tokyo since the >1930's. On your statement that the Japanese applaud the >Starbucks/Gap culture -perhaps you are correct. But it still makes >me sad. >-- >Tosh Berman >TamTam Books >http://www.tamtambooks.com > >_______________________________________________ >zorn-list mailing list >zorn-list(a)mailman.xmission.com >To UNSUBSCRIBE or Change Your Subscription Options, go to the webpage below >http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/zorn-list > -- Personalised email by http://another.com

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Re: Boredoms & Cale in London
by alastair＠pretentious.co.uk 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

This may be inappropriate, but can you give any credence to the rumour that Cale was added at a pretty late stage as the Boredoms was selling rather poorly? Alastair (a Wire subscriber, so please don't flame too hard!) -----Original Message----- >From : Rob Young <editor(a)thewire.co.uk> To : zorn-list(a)mailman.xmission.com Date : 08 July 2002 18:13:51 Subject : Re: Boredoms & Cale in London The first in a series of events celebrating 20 years of The Wire >starts this weekend: > >JOHN CALE & THE BOREDOMS > >Saturday 13 July at 8.00pm >Royal Festival Hall > >Japanese thrash stars THE BOREDOMS roll into town for one night only. >Experimental rock/punk/tribal shamanism tinged with more than a hint >of surrealism, THE BOREDOMS' beautifully crafted chaos has been >admired for the past two decades, with John Zorn, Julian Cope and >Sonic Youth amongst their many fans. Few artists display such >head-first propulsive madness. > >Musical visionary JOHN CALE headlines the evening with a >characteristically exploratory set. The dark star of the Velvet >Underground, the producer of the Stooges, Squeeze, the Modern Lovers >and Patti Smith, Cale also has an unparalleled reputation as a >songwriter and experimentalist. His influence on musicians today >continues unabated (Mercury Rev are the latest band to pay homage >with a version of Cale's Close Watch). > >This concert is part of the Rhythm Sticks festival at the Royal Festival Hall. > >Tickets: ý12.50, ý15 and ý17.50 >Box Office 020 7960 4242 www.rfh.org.uk/rhythmsticks > >Hope to see you there, >The Wire >-- >_______________________________________ >Rob Young >Editor > >THE WIRE: Adventures In Modern Music >2nd Floor East >88-94 Wentworth Street >London >E1 7SA UK > >Tel 020 7422 5010 >Fax 020 7422 5011 >Direct line 020 7422 5012 > >http://www.thewire.co.uk >_______________________________________ -- Personalised email by http://another.com

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Re: BYG Braxton, etc. [was RE: interview of John Zorn in the last issue of BOMB ]
by Steve Smith 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

Paul: Both your information and your disclosure are welcome. Hope you didn't think I was major-bashing... I may be thrifty, but I'm truly thrilled that the Fuel reissues are enjoying Universal distribution. If only the label and the distributor could see eye-to-eye on even a couple of well-placed ads, though... just sticking some minis at the bottom of a Verve ad, even... I tend to think it would be a tremendous boon. Neither Varese nor Universal could be spending much on licensing this material (and truth be told, I'd assumed it was some kind of settlement for Charly's having issued Chess material actually owned by Universal a few years back). And, judging from traffic both here and on rec.music.bluenote, there seems to be more than sufficient interest in the BYG line to justify the meager co-op outlay. In the mean time, Fuel 2000 could at least add the damn things to their website, which seems to promote very little other than a new Jethro Tull album. I vaguely recall the label actually doing quite a number of hip, unexpected things (like the Complete Napalm Death BBC Sessions!!!) that they'd do well to promote a little better. Free advice from the cheap seats. But oh, my, yes indeed, it would be VERY cool of you to drop the occasional note to let us know what's coming up. Only fussy cuz 've been there, Steve Smith ssmith36(a)sprynet.com NP - Nile, "In Their Darkened Shrines," 'In Their Darkened Shrines' (Relapse)

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Starbucks Japanese culture
by Tosh 09 Jul '02

09 Jul '02

First off, there were no Japanese coffee shops to be replaced (a really insignificant number) Coffee houses are a very new phenomena in Japan and what you are seeing is a springing up and not a supplantation. And unlike the Europeans who fight not to have malls erected in thier countries, the Japanese vehemently applaud the installation of the Kentucky-fried-Gap culture. Actually I think coffee houses or cafes have been in Tokyo since the 1930's. On your statement that the Japanese applaud the Starbucks/Gap culture -perhaps you are correct. But it still makes me sad. -- Tosh Berman TamTam Books http://www.tamtambooks.com

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