Striving . . .

. . . for something . . . but not always being able to explain exactly what . . .



(from http://www.furious.com/perfect/ericdolphy2.html)
 . . . "Eric was a very, very gifted musician and a very nice guy on top of it," McCoy Tyner told me in a recent interview. "He had a very personal approach to playing and enjoyed expanding the limits of imagination. Eric played so many instruments, his pockets were bulging with all these mouthpieces," McCoy said chuckling at the memory. "He was the first guy to come on as a guest with the band. At the time he came along he was doing his own thing and made a tremendous impression. We felt that the quartet was self-contained. Jimmy, Elvin and I felt that we had built something and were still on that journey. We didn't exactly understand where John was going in terms of adding Eric. We were like little kids in a sense like this is our band and we want to keep it that way. But then again it wasn't like we didn't want to share our experience. John was the leader and he was the one that made the final decisions. He decided that maybe if I do this, this will cause something else to happen. And it did! They played so differently. Eric added another dimension to the sound. John never rested on his laurels. He was like a scientist in the laboratory always searching for something new or different. By adding Eric he was expanding the music. John and Eric had a very different type of life experience. Eric had a very academic approach. He studied a lot. John coming from the South had that real gutsy approach. His father was a minister and his grandfather was a minister. He spent a lot of time in church and you could hear that in the music. At the same time there were points where the two met and could make something very interesting happen."

"Eric added a very interesting component to the music," McCoy continued. "John believed in what Eric was doing. He wanted to help him. At the same time he wanted to open the music up. It was a very good experience for Eric as well, being surrounded by the quartet. Ole was one of the highlights of Eric's presence. He had his own approach to the bass clarinet. He had personal things he would do on the instrument and got sounds out of it that you normally didn't hear on a bass clarinet. He was very animated and very enthusiastic.". . . (Note:  Be patient. Eric's solo starts at about 4:07)

What do you think?
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OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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Jack . . .

. . . of all trades. . .


Master of very few.

One of the most difficult things about being an independent artist, or maybe I should say LOTS of the most difficult things about being an independent artist, are those THINGS other than making the music.

I mean now we've got (and have had) YouTube which, don't get me wrong, is a wonderful thing but . . . . . .

"Recommended bitrates, codecs, and resolutions, and more
Container: .mp4

    No Edit Lists (or you may lose AV sync)
    moov atom at the front of the file (Fast Start)

Audio Codec: AAC-LC

    Channels: Stereo or Stereo + 5.1
    Sample rate 96khz or 48 khz

Video Codec: H.264

    Progressive scan (no interlacing)
    High Profile
    2 consecutive B frames
    Closed GOP. GOP of half the frame rate.
    CABAC
    Variable bitrate. No bitrate limit required, though we offer recommended bit rates below for reference
    Color Space: 4.2.0

Frame rates
Frame rates should match the source material. For example, content shot in 24fps should be encoded and uploaded at 24fps. Content recorded at 30fps should be uploaded at 30fps. Content shot in 720p60, should be uploaded at 720p60. Content at 1080i 60, should be deinterlaced, going from 60 interlaced fields per second to 30 progressive frames per second before uploading.
Bitrates
Standard quality uploads
Type     Video Bitrate     Mono Audio Bitrate     Stereo Audio Bitrate     5.1 Audio Bitrate
2160p (4k)     35-45 Mbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
1440p (2k)     10 Mbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
1080p     8,000 kbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
720p     5,000 kbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
480p     2,500 kbps     64 kbps     128 kbps     196 kbps
360p     1,000 kbps     64 kbps     128 kbps     196 kbps

High quality uploads for creators with enterprise quality internet connections
Type     Video Bitrate     Mono Audio Bitrate     Stereo Audio Bitrate     5.1 Audio Bitrate
1080p     50,000 kbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
720p     30,000 kbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
480p     15,000 kbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
360p     5,000 kbps     128 kbps     384 kbps     512 kbps
Resolutions

YouTube uses 16:9 aspect ratio players. If you are uploading a non-16:9 file, it will be processed and displayed correctly as well, with pillar boxes (black bars on the left and right) or letter boxes (black bars at the top and bottom) provided by the player. If you want to fit the player perfectly, encode at these resolutions:

    2160p: 3840x2160
    1440p: 2560x1440
    1080p: 1920x1080
    720p: 1280x720
    480p: 854x480
    360p: 640x360
    240p: 426x240

The YouTube player automatically adds black bars so that videos are displayed correctly without cropping or stretching, no matter the size of the video or the player.

For example, the player will automatically add pillarboxing to 4:3 videos in the new 16:9 widescreen player size. If the player is re-sized (i.e. when embedded on another website), the same process takes place so that 16:9 videos are letterboxed when the player is sized to 4:3. Similarly, anamorphic videos will be automatically letterboxed when shown in either 16:9 or 4:3 sized players. The player can only do this if the native aspect ratio of the video is maintained.

You can adjust the fit of your video in our player after uploading your video by using formatting tags.

If letterboxing is added to a video before it is uploaded (i.e. in the case of creating a 4:3 video from a 16:9 master), the widescreen player will add pillarbox bars too, resulting in black bars all around the video (windowboxing) and a bad viewing experience (see the diagram below). . .


Is it ME!!!????  or do I detect a need to be a technical wizzz  and an artist at the same time!!! ???. . . 

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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Seems Like Only . . .

. . . when our good friend Paul Rieger conceived this wonderful idea . . .



Band Bash 2014 - “You’re With the Band!”
We are paying tribute to our friends, families and others who have suffered through the hardships of repetitious rehearsals, frightening feedback and décor-destroying equipment. This party is for you! Please join the bands, Trio Novo, Oho, and Buck Subtle & the Little Planets for an evening of music, art, food and drink!

When: Saturday evening, May 24, 2014, 7:00 PM until 11:00 PM
Where: Heritage Parkville Gardens hall at the Parkville Shopping Center.  7631 Harford Road [Harford at Taylor Aves.] Enter rear parking lot behind Bank of America. Parking in rear.
Food and beverage: Hot and cold buffet, beer, wine and soft drinks

The music: Trio Novo: bossa nova and jazz, with a twist of progressive;
OHO: artful, modern song-making to make you laugh, cry and dance;
Buck Subtle & the Little Planets:  progressive rock for the contemporary absurdist!

The art: enjoy paintings by Bob Tiefenwerth, Connell Byrne and Maureen Nolan

The music starts roughly at 7:30 PM.  (Optional earplugs available upon entrance!) Attire – casual.

This is a private party, so please help us with the head count by sending your RSVP by Sat. May 10 to Paul Rieger.


. . . well, we did, it was. . . and well . . . 

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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v

Sing . . .

. . . Vladdie . . . 

With my newfound interest in and empathy for Vladimir Putin, at least for his desire to serve his countrymen and for his lack of duplicity in things political, drove me to learn that he is a musician.  Well, not a professional musician nor maybe even not a terribly exceptional one.  But he is, with little doubt, a sincere music lover.  Now how can you dislike a music lover no matter how many countries he invades?

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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v

Another Take . . .

Read an interesting take on Putin recently in a shipping trade magazine (Andrew J. Lawler, Global Trade) that said 'Putin, right or wrong, sees himself as the best candidate to restore Russia's sense of national pride, world stature and its economy.' Futhermore, acquiring territory has not historically been a neat, clean, up-and-up kind of business of which Putin is well aware. Hawaiians, Native Americans and Mexicans can well attest to the that in terms of the United States' conduct. Mr. Lawler also says that Putin is smart to align himself with the Russian Orthodox Church as opposed to the atheists that preceded him in leadership positions there. The church connection helps him to win hearts, and subsequently minds. He is a folk hero to his people. . .

a point of view certainly not "Officially Sanctioned" nor one you will hear much about in the mainstream media.

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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The List . . .

Athough his list is large, some links don't work, some sources are dubious and some arguments are specious, Dan, From Squirrel Hill does make a particularly good point in the second paragraph below about additional political parties. . .



(from http://danfromsquirrelhill.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/obama-252/)
". . . Every President, every politician, and every human being tells lies and engages in acts of hypocrisy. But Barack Obama does these things to a far greater degree than anyone else that I have ever known of. His campaign promises were so much better sounding than anyone else’s – no lobbyists in his administration, waiting five days before signing all non-emergency bills so people would have time to read them, putting health care negotiations on C-SPAN, reading every bill line by line to make sure money isn’t being wasted, prosecution of Wall St. criminals, ending raids against medical marijuana in states where it’s legal, high levels of transparency. Obama’s promises of these wonderful things sounded inspiring and sincere. They sounded so much better than the promises of any other President. So when Obama broke these promises, it felt so much worse than when other Presidents broke their promises.

In the 2008 United States election, I wrote in Ron Paul for President. In the 2012 election, I voted for Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. Those who are of a more leftist persuasion than myself might want to consider voting for the Green Party in future elections. . . "

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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Tomorrow. . .

Spring Jazz Festival
at Elk Run Vineyards
15113 Liberty Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771
(410) 775-5089

For Tickets Go To:
http://www.elkrun.com/spring-jazz-festival/



The Elk Run Spring Jazz Festival features two days of jazz performances, along with vendors, crafts, hayrides through the Mt. Airy vineyards and wine tastings.

Saturday June 14th
Noon-1:30  Howard Burns Trio
1:45-2:30    Ray Jozwiak
2:30-3:15    Laura Baron
3:30-5:00    Ronny Smith and Friends

Sunday June 15th
Noon-1:30  Time Squared
1:45-3:15    Josh Bayer Trio
3:30-5:00    Darryl Brenzel Quartet

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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