From an article in the Huffington Post:
A case study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology shows that it’s possible to develop allergic pulmonary disease, known as “Saxophone Lung,” in response to the mold that collects over time in woodwind instruments. Saxophone Lung is really a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, which is the inflammation of the lung tissue, according to the Mayo Clinic.
So, clean your horns out every now and then guys!
Sam Most, bebop’s pre-eminent flute player as well as one of the first ones, died Thursday morning. He was 82 years old.
First gaining notice in the mid 1950s beginning with his single “Undercurrent Blues,” Most was also among the first to sing through his flute. Herbie Mann, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Hubert Laws have all cited him as influential in their own renowned careers as flautists. Jazz historian Leonard Feather once stated that “Justice should demand that the history books document (Sam) Most’s role as the first truly creative Jazz Flutist.”
Launch Equity Acquires MakeMusic:
Today, MakeMusic announced that Launch Equity will purchase the company. You can read MakeMusic’s press release here. Launch Equity proposed the buyout last July (July 15, 2012), with the intent of taking the company private and then investing money into the company for a new CEO as well as updating software (particularly Finale’s base code).
(Via Technology in Music Education)
This is great news considering Avid is falling off a cliff and the development team of Sibelius was sacked and have started a new project with Steinberg.
However, this did crop up. Seems everyone isn’t happy about this.
Another Jazz Legend has left the house.
Dave Brubeck, jazz legend, dies at 91 – latimes.com:
Dave Brubeck, the jazz pianist, composer and bandleader behind the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet, has died at age 91.
(Via www.latimes.com)
Jim Snidero’s new site: jazzimprovisation.com:
Jim Snidero’s new site, jazzimprovisation.com, is now live. The site offers a variety of instructional videos on jazz improvisation, features top New York players, and uses cutting-edge technology.
(Via UNT Division of Jazz Studies)
Seems that all the embedded videos on the site got lost……very strange. I’ll see about restoring them ASAP!
I heard about this on the Klarinet list this morning, and now it is verified. Sad. He made and complied a lot of wonderful things.
Himie Voxman (1912-2011)
Influential music educator and longtime University of Iowa faculty member Himie Voxman has passed away at the age of 99. If you are a woodwind player, you have almost certainly used, at some point in your musical studies, something written or edited by Professor Voxman.
Check out the Iowa City Press-Citizen’s tribute for a nice overview of his life and career.
(Via Bret Pimentel, woodwinds)
From the Times:
Wilford ‘Bill’ L. Holcombe Jr. EWING – Wilford “Bill” L. Holcombe Jr., 85, died peacefully at home on Sunday, April 25, surrounded by his loving wife of 60 years and his children. Next to his bed was the piano he used to compose music. Born in Trenton, Bill was a lifelong area resident and graduate of Trenton High School. He studied flute at the Juilliard School in New York, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in musicology. As a composer and arranger, Bill worked with Tommy Dorsey, 101 Strings, Peter Nero, and over 100 symphony orchestras, nationally and internationally. He also wrote more than 15 film scores. Bill founded Musicians Publications 35 years ago. Bill played flute, clarinet and saxophone and in his early career performed with Tommy Dorsey, Tex Beneke, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, and the New York radio station WMGM “Theatre of the Air.” He was also a Decca Records staff player. In recent years Bill had appeared as a soloist with many symphony orchestras around the country in a show entitled “Bravo Big Bands,” for which he wrote most of the arrangements. He also led and played soprano sax in the Philadelphia Saxophone Quartet. Son of the late Wilford L. Sr. and Isabel Tompkins Holcombe, he is survived by his wife, Helen Mooney Holcombe; son, Wilford L. Holcombe III, and daughters, Barbara Goehrig, Nancy Haber, Jeanette Schanilec, Heather Holcombe, and Kirsten Feldstein. Also surviving is his long-time personal assistant, Mario Singh, who is like family. Additionally, Bill is survived by 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and many cousins. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Blackwell Memorial Home, 21 N. Main St., Pennington, NJ 08534. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Samaritan Hospice at www.samaritanhospice.org. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to Samaritan Hospice caregivers and Edward Ghanney for their exceptional care.
Sad. You will be missed Sir.
Another Obit here.
This is a sad story. Original article here.
A Vallejo man was arraigned in Martinez on Wednesday on charges that he murdered a man in his home in Bay Point, stole property, including a custom-made gold-plated flute, and then set the man’s house on fire, prosecutor Harold Jewett said Wednesday.
Alejandro Rivera, a 23-year-old male escort, met the victim, 66-year-old Theodore Neff, on Craigslist and had a sexual relationship with him, Jewett said.
The two men got into an argument on Dec. 3, during which Rivera allegedly strangled Neff.
At some point after the murder, Rivera allegedly went back into Neff’s home at 542 Bustos Place in unincorporated Bay Point, stole property and allegedly set the house on fire, Jewett said.
They have caught the guy, and charged him with murder, arson and burglary. The whole story is messed up.
This was posted on the Galway Flute Chat list:
“Southern California flutists were delighted to be treated to a
Masterclass by Sir James this last November in Malibu. For a variety
of reasons, masterclasses by high-profile flutists are a relative
rarity in the Los Angeles area, especially considering how large the
flute community is in Southern California. Fortunately, the tireless
and amazing Jim Walker has decided to offer an annual week-long
Masterclass right here in Los Angeles!
Jim is pleased to announce his first annual week-long Masterclass & Seminar, taking place at the beautiful new facilities at the Colburn School in Los Angeles June 16-21, 2008.
Guest Artists for Flute Week 2008 include Viviana Cumplido, Principal Flutist with the Phoenix Symphony, and Los Angeles Flutist Heather Clark.
Jim Walker’s “Beyond the Masterclass” Flute Week will follow an intense daily schedule that is both highly performance-oriented and designed to offer instruction on topics that students will face as professional musicians in the real world. Performers will play in masterclass, receive a private lesson, attend all seminars, play in flute ensemble, perform in recital, and attend two special flute concerts given by Jim and Viviana. Several options for auditing the class are also available.
Many more details about the class and registration forms can be found at www.jimwalkerflute.com/beyond.
Brochures to post or to hand out to students can also be downloaded and printed from the website.
Jim is very excited about the class this year and it promises to be a valuable opportunity for everyone who will participate.
Feel free to send any inquiries to: jwmasterclass@gmail.com
Greg Milliren
Jim Walker’s Flute Week Coordinator
Los Angeles, CA”
If you have not heard of Jim Walker, you haven’t been to the movies recently. You need to check him out.
