Edgewood Suite

A new three-part suite for the Edgewood Saxophone Trio.  The inspiration came after I learned that the great jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams was born in Edgewood, formerly a suburb of Atlanta.

Snake on a Fence

Clifton Road, Atlanta

Gongs

Something you don't see every day - the setup before a performance by the Nakatani Gong Orchestra; Goat Farm Arts Center, Atlanta.

Silos

My family moved to Alpharetta, Georgia when I was twelve.  It's a sprawling suburb now, but it was a small town then.  The nearby unincorporated community of Crabapple was even smaller - just a crossroads.  There was a beautiful farm there, with these three silos.  Crabapple doesn't really exist any more, and the farm is long gone, but the silos are still there, in a small park.

Darryl Rhoades in the Studio

Legendary Atlanta songwriter/comedian Darryl Rhoades and Jimmy Cobb recording vocals; 800 East Studio, Atlanta.

Jesus Limo

Decatur, Georgia

"Race Entertainment"

In addition to being a record collector, I also collect old record catalogs.  Today I found a 1943 Victor/Bluebird catalog in an antique store, and was surprised to find this ridiculously offensive image at the beginning of the section devoted to "race records" - records recorded for and marketed to African-Americans.

For many years the record business had no idea how to market its product to black record buyers; "race music" advertisements from the 1920s and early 30s were rife with insulting caricatures like this.  But this catalog is from 1943.  At a time when black Americans were fighting and dying in World War II, how in the world could RCA Victor think that African-Americans would see this image and feel good about buying Victor records?

Recording with Darryl Rhoades

I used 'em all.  400 East Studio, Atlanta.

Filming

Pullman Yards, an old railroad maintenance facility near my house, is often used as a set for movies.  Filming is going on there and at the businesses beside and behind my house now. 

Balls

Hardendorf Avenue, Atlanta

Weathervane

Crabapple, Georgia

Black, Brown and Beige

The cardboard cover for Duke Ellington's 1945 studio recording of excerpts from his massive suite Black, Brown and Beige - two 12" 78s.

Trees

Alpharetta, Georgia

Bendy Man

I'm not sure which marketing executive first decided that a huge, fan-driven bendy man would make people say, "I want to shop here."  This one was in Decatur, Georgia.

An American Tradition

Why, I don't know.  Hutchinson Street, Atlanta.

Ice Storm

Ice

Clifton Road, Atlanta

Remus Mir No. 9

A storefront Kemetic temple in Decatur, Georgia.

Grocery Store Line

In anticipation of a snow/ice storm, so many folks went to this grocery store in Decatur, Georgia that the line to check out snaked around to the back of the store.

Window Rooster

Radial Cafe, DeKalb Avenue, Atlanta

Harp

Concert, Roswell, Georgia

Security Camera Self-Portrait

Drugstore, Decature, Georgia

Bass Saxophone

...hanging in my sax repairman's shop.

Moreland Avenue Mural

On the border between the Reynoldstown and Edgewood neighborhoods, Atlanta.

Ganesha

McLendon Avenue, Atlanta

Music Shop Retablo

...created by Peruvian/American artist Nicario Jimenez.

Atlanta Fog

Fog hides the top of Atlanta's downtown.

Plastic Food

...in the foyer of a Chinese restaurant, Decatur, Georgia.