I had some fun this afternoon burning a couple of CDs from long-in-the-past jazz vinyl—Starcrost and 47 Times Its Own Weight, two Austin groups who were active in the middle ’70s. Both had a fistful of serious musicians who are still active in Austin jazz today (Dude “Beto” Skiles, Mike Mordecai, John Mills, and Paul Pearcy), some who are still active elsewhere (Jim Spector, David Deaton), and one who’s no longer among us (“Mambo Johnny” Treanor). It’s just too easy to forget how good these guys were, even that long ago when they were all young and didn’t yet have years of experience. I think I’m gonna have to go now and dig out my Steam Heat and Beto and the Fairlanes LPs and see if they’ve held up, too.
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson allies with a lecherous fly. Fnord.
