LOG - 15

Go to:

08 March - This morning I dropped off some leaflets about this very website at the FIND2003 conference. It's for Filipino American students and was held this year at UMBC. One of the vendors, Pinoywear (from NY), had a t-shirt with a turntable-and-mixer graphic. I chatted with the co-owner, Albert Cabreara, about his business. It started in '97, and he said that the neighboring vendor, Tsinilas, were the only t-shirt companies on the East Coast aimed at Pinoys/Pinays. (Seems that California has about 6-8 and they're not very collegial, at least to those from out-of-state.)
  From UMBC, I went into the city to check out a Pratt Library symposium on how to get into the music business. Upon my arrival, Peter Spellman, from Berklee music college in Boston, was describing historical phases of the music industry. He was followed by Scott Johnson, a local entertainment lawyer, who deals with many music issues. They include record contracts, publishing and distribution agreements, licensing and copyright. His rambling remarks were often quite fascinating, as he drew upon his many experiences.
When I left, during a question & answer panel of local music makers and entrepeneurs, I thought the event was about over. Later, I realized I'd missed a talk by Jeri Goldstein about booking gigs and marketing. (She's written a book about it.)
  Several hours later, I drove down to DC and dropped off some website leaflets at a reception for Asian American college students attending a weekend leadership seminar put on by OCA (Org. of Chnz. Am.s) Identical seminars are being held around the country.

15 March - I started off the evening by heading to the Smithsonian's American History Museum in DC to see a half-hour highlights trailer of the 3-part PBS program, "Becoming American; The Chinese American Experience". I left early, during the panel discussion, to go a mile or two away to the women's museum (Nat'l. Museum for Women in the Arts) for a rare performance by Brenda Wong Aoki. She's a storyteller from San Francisco who combines words with dance and theater. I used to play one of the cuts from her first CD on my radio show.

20 March - I happened to tune in late this evening, to the DC Pacifica station, WPFW. I was curious to find out their coverage of the anti-war protests across the country. They've been linking the stations since the invasion of Iraq began, and 'PFW listeners have been hearing broadcasters from the NY and Berkeley stations.
  So I was pleasantly surprised to hear two familiar voices from Berkeley, Prathap Chatterjee and G____ ____. (The latter identified herself as "G", so I won't blow her cover... Didn't disguise her voice, though.) They seemed to be hosting a program that dealt with anti-war concerns of some Asian Americans of East Asian and South Asian descent.
  Prathap worked in DC for a couple years, as a journalist for the environmental news service, Interpress. One time, I asked him to substitute host a radio show for me, when I had to go out of town. As for G, I knew her, because she used to work on an Asian Pacific Islander show on KPFA (the Berkeley Pacifica station). (I've always tried to meet people who produce Asian American radio programming.)

23 March - Given that the Oscar awards show was on tv tonight, the turnout at the Ottobar in Baltimore wasn't bad. It was still sparse enough for me to easily get up to the edge of the stage and snap some photos of Mia Doi Todd singing and playing her guitar. She's got a lot going for her, and I can see why she got signed to a major label (Columbia/Sony). She's an original, using augmented minor chords (or something like that) to back up her pearly, resonant voice. She has a very minimalist approach, and it draws attention to her deft, thoughtful lyrics.
She was touring with Lou Barlow and the New Folk Implosion. I'm afraid I wasn't familiar with his stuff, unlike many in the audience. I didn't find it that compelling.

2 April - Music of Japan Today 2003 preview concert by Ruckus ensemble, UMBC

3 April - Music of Japan Today Symposium 2003, UMBC... featuring guest composers Joji Yuasa, Tokuhide Niimi, and Akira Nishimura.

4 April - Symposium continued... New Chamber Music from Japan performed by Ruckus of UMBC, Meyer Aud., Freer Gallery, DC.

13 April - Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra played their version of the Far East Suite (originally composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn), Meyer aud., Freer Gallery, DC.

8 May - performance of works-in-progress by Melody Takata on taiko with dancer Leonora Lee and Francis Wong on sax on flute. Also Jen Shyu interacting with Leonora and another with Francis. This all happened at the Locus performance space in Japantown, SF. Met a JA couple, named Flo and Kan.

9 May - found out at a AAScon session on new media pedagogy that professors at ASU and Michigan (i.e., Asian American Music CyberGuide) have listed this website as a reference in their courses in recent years.

10 May - For lunch, I hopped a bus down Van Ness and grabbed a burger at McDonalds near SF city hall. It was interesting to hear recordings of real music in the air. (Is this a trend? No more Muzak? I've noticed that at supermarkets in the past year or more.) The piece that caught my ear was an "old" hit by Bic Runga. I could barely make it out amidst the lunchtime conversations.
  This evening, I went to another performance at Locus, this time by Gathering of Ancestors and rapper A.K. Black. Also joining in were Genny Lim and Jen Shyu. The show really cooked! Afterwards, joined them for a meal down the street at Sanpo. (hadn't been there in years)

11 May - checked out Vienna Teng's solo performance at Tower Records in Stonestown. (Stonestown is a shopping center next to San Francisco St. U.)
  I enjoyed her performance and remarks. She's got a clear voice, a great touch on the keys, and some well-crafted songs. She's also got a good sense of humor.
  On the other hand, some of her songs sounded like Cantopop, which may have endeared her to some in the audience... but not me, I'm afraid. I also found her dress to be problematic. The hemline was well above the knee, but her legs were not particularly inspiring. (Although I'm not in the habit of rating female singer/songwriters' legs, I seem to remember that Annie Lin had a nice pair. (This sounds so silly, I have to laugh at myself!))

or...

Sign My Guestbook Guestbook by GuestWorld View My Guestbook