Copper

Welcome to Copper #70!

The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest took place October 5-7, and as is often the case, we had our first snow shortly thereafter. Just a few days later, temps are back up in the 60s F (say 15-ish,C). Aside from a dusting upon higher points around us, the snow's gone. Fourteener Longs Peak (>14,000 feet elevation) in the distance looks like an ice cream sundae, and will likely stay that way until next June. Maybe later.

Oh: Part 1 of my walk around the show appears here, in this issue.

The gang is almost all here---more on that in a bit:  Larry Schenbeck brings us Bach, with some atypical instrumentation;  Dan Schwartz is still recovering, so we’ll revisit his piece on minimalist Nik Bärtsch ; Richard Murison remembers a celebrity encounter; Jay Jay French explains how artists get short shrift, yet again ;  Roy Hall recounts close encounters with suicide; Anne E. Johnson brings us obscure cuts from Tracy Chapman, and presents a fascinating Something Old/Something New on medieval Spanish chant (really---listen to this stuff); Christian James Hand  deconstructs Beastie Boys' "Sabotage", and it's pretty amazing; and  I continue the series on phono technology, and write about glossolalia. ;->.

Industry News looks at, yes, still more drama from Sears; and we reluctantly wrap up our friend Rich Maez's feature on Monterey Auto Week.

Copper #70 concludes with Charles Rodrigues contemplating a philosophical question, and a Parting Shot from Middle Of Nowhere, Colorado.

I'm happy to announce that---God willin' and the creek don't rise---Woody Woodward will return in Copper #71, and our friend Tom Methans will be bringing us another take on RMAF. We'll also have a few more surprises---but if I told you what to expect, they wouldn't be surprises, now, would they?

Thanks for reading!

Cheers, Leebs.

Welcome to Copper #69!

The aspens are starting to turn yellow here in Colorado, and  Rocky Mountain Audio Fest takes place October 5-7. Depending upon the machinations of publishing, it will either be forthcoming, in progress, or have already occurred. At any rate, I'm sure it will be/is/was a great show, once again!

Getting into this issue, Larry Schenbeck asks the musical question, "Why Do You Think They Call it Classical?";  Dan Schwartz is still recovering, so we’ll revisit his memorial of Paul Kantner; Richard Murison remembers friends lost along the way; Jay Jay French remembers the birth of the Beatles phenomenon ;  Roy Hall remembers his school days; Anne E. Johnson brings us obscure cuts from all the incarnations of Fleetwood Mac; Christian James Hand  deconstructs the anthemic MTV hit, "In A Big Country"; and  I write about the difference between humility and hubris.

Industry News looks at the latest drama from Sears; and our friend Rich Maez brings us the first part of a feature on the glories of the Monterey Auto Week.

Copper #69 concludes with Charles Rodrigues giving new meaning to the term GUI, and a Parting Shot that continues our automotive theme.

Woody Woodward is still on sabbatical, and we're looking forward to his return. We wish Dan Schwartz a rapid recovery.

Copper #70 will continue our Vintage Whine series on phono playback with part 5, we'll continue Rich's piece on Monterey, and we'll have a feature on RMAF.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you at the show! ...or, I'm glad to see you/it was good to see you, as the case may be!

Cheers, Leebs.

Welcome to Copper #68!

By the time you read this, the first day of Fall will have passed---and we're approaching Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, closely followed by (yikes!) the Toronto Audio Fest, the Capital Audio Fest, the New York Audio Show, the Audio Video Show in Warsaw, the Tokyo International Show---and maybe a few others I've forgotten! Maybe some day I'll explain how the crowded Fall show scene almost got even more crowded....

Getting into this issue, Larry Schenbeck tells us about not Jobs, this time, but snobs and slobs;  Dan Schwartz recently underwent surgery,  so we’ll revisit his memoir of the Tuesday Night Music Club; Richard Murison brings us John Corigliano's striking Symphony No. 1; Jay Jay French’s tells us about his guitars---LOTS of guitars;  Roy Hall fulfills a childhood wish and visits Cairns; Anne E. Johnson brings us lesser-known songs from R.E.M; Christian James Hand  deconstructs Thin Lizzy's major hit, "The Boys Are Back in Town".  I scrutinize the times when sharing isn't caring, and present part 4 of our series on phono playback.

Anne is back with Something Old/Something New, featuring new recordings of Schubert Symphonies; Industry News looks at developments at Krell;  and our friend B. Jan Montana shows us around the CEDIA Expo.

Copper #68 concludes with Charles Rodrigues telling us how a laser turntable SHOULD be made, and a Parting Shot view of the beautiful coast of Sardinia.

Woody Woodward is still on sabbatical, and will return in a few issues---he promises!

Thanks for reading. See you soon!

Cheers, Leebs.