Welcome to Copper #81!
This is being written on the first day of Spring. Here in Colorado we view such markers with skepticism, especially when last week saw the massive "bomb cyclone" that hit our area and much of the Midwest, closed down Denver airport, and generally made a mess of things. Remarkably, aside from a few hours of driving snow that made driving difficult, the Boulder area didn't do too badly at all.
Enough with the Farmer's Almanac, Leebs. What's in the issue?
Prof. Larry Schenbeck leads off with a selection of pieces that feature at least one violin up front; Dan Schwartz tells us how an iPad and Qobuz made a recent stay in the ICU less angst-y; Richard Murison writes about Beet....Monty Python?; Jay Jay French stirs things up yet again with a thesis on how communal societies make good bands; Roy Hall manages to find upheaval even in peaceful Cabo San Lucas; Anne E. Johnson does double duty again, and will in every issue from now on. Her new jazz column, Trading Eights, will alternate with Something Old/Something New. Lee Morgan is her first subject, and Off the Charts brings us lesser-known cuts from Jefferson Airplane; Woody Woodward reviews the remarkable music and too-brief life of Sean Costello; and I get all misty-eyed (not really) about a TV repairman, and explore another initiative designed to help musicians get paid for their work.
The Copper Interview wraps up John Seetoo's talk with June Millington, founding member of the influential group Fanny, guitarist, and producer.
Fred Schwartz takes a look at the debut and subsequent lengthy career of the beloved Van Cliburn.
Copper #81 wraps up with a look at audio evolution from Charles Rodrigues, and a Parting Shot by Assistant Editor Maggie McFalls. Christian James Hand will return in the next issue.
Thanks as always for reading—and see you with the next issue!
Cheers, Leebs.