Even if you're triskaidekaphobic, you should find something to like at Chan's edition of the Carnival of Music this week.

Follow all of her links, and discover some new bloggers, some new musical knowledge, or both.

We need volunteers to host future carnivals. It's easy and fun! Sign up here.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:26 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 58 words, total size 1 kb.

Head on over the pond to Musicircus to check out the 12th installment of the Carnival of Music.

I especially liked the linked articles discussing programming of new music, critiquing copyright extension, and listing a huge number of jazz blogs.

Thanks, Rob, for hosting this week. Great job!

If you would like to host, we have an opening on September 5, and then a wide open schedule from September 19 on. Please let me know if you have a link to include in a future carnival, or if you would like to host.

Posted by: JohnL at 08:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 101 words, total size 1 kb.

I was saddened to read today that Robert Moog, inventor of the line of electronic synthesizers bearing his name, died yesterday of a brain tumor.

Moog instruments play prominent roles in much of my favorite music from my childhood and teen years: from the Moog Taurus pedals and MiniMoogs that brought to life the Rush albums from 1977 through 1981, to the Moog III that Keith Emerson took on tour, to the eerie soundscapes that Wendy Carlos evoked in her soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange.

I own a Moog synthesizer, the Liberation.

Mr. Moog will be missed. I have been meaning to buy the Fjellestad biography, and will now make a point of doing so.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:21 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 121 words, total size 2 kb.

You know those awful tunes that stick with you, even though you loathe them?

"We Built This City" by Starship is one of those for me.

It seems that this awful bit of "music" also had an annoying enough video to have stuck with John (no relation) at SFSignal. John had trouble finding a clip of the worst part of the video. I was able to find and excerpt the wretched moment for his viewing "pleasure."

Here you go, John.

Posted by: JohnL at 05:54 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 82 words, total size 1 kb.

Be sure to check out the lovely job that Lynn has done with the 11th Carnival of Music.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 26 words, total size 1 kb.

I had never heard (or even heard of) jazz pianist Ted Howe until two mornings ago.

The local University radio station plays an all-jazz format (except for Saturday morning mariachi music and some classical on Sunday). Driving into work on Tuesday I was really digging a solo piano version of It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) by Duke Ellington. I had never heard the arrangement and was visualizing myself trying to learn it by ear. (Ha.)

Anyway, the announcer came on and, instead of blabbing about something else, immediately and helpfully shared the name of the performer and CD: Ellington, by Ted Howe.

When I got home from work that night I downloaded the song from iTunes and previewed the rest of the album. What a wonderful discovery! Excellent piano technique and original arrangements of Duke Ellington standards.

Buy this album. Here's a link to assist you (and I'll leave the link in the sidebar for a while, too):

Posted by: JohnL at 10:54 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 168 words, total size 2 kb.

Please note that I have added a musical section to my blogroll. In addition to moving a couple of long-time residents of the general part of my blogroll, I have included several new music bloggers with whom I have become acquainted thanks to the Carnival of Music.

Please check out all of these fine bloggers:

• The Fredosphere


• Mixolydian Mode


• Musical Perceptions


• Musicircus


• Podcast Bumper Music


• The Rambler


• Reflections in d minor


• solitude.in.music

Update: Late addition! A Monk's Musical Musings.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:31 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 83 words, total size 1 kb.

The tenth Carnival of Music is happening at solitude.in.music this week.

Check it out for some melodious bloggy goodness.

As always, check the archive page to visit past carnivals, to scope out future hosts, and to submit articles or volunteer to host.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 50 words, total size 1 kb.

Professor Scott Spiegelberg has created a nice tribute to Harry Potter with this week's Carnival of Music, the ninth installment to date. Please drop by and leave a comment.

We need some more volunteers to host. If you're interested, it's an easy and fun way to gain some exposure for your blog. Please send an email here to volunteer to host or submit a post. If you have any other questions, visit the main Carnival Page.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:13 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 84 words, total size 1 kb.