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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hi Listmates, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Comments for Steve Barbone</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I am glad to see your first CD is out with a second on the
way - the coffers will most likely, fill rapidly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>It has been our experience that some fans are purists who
want/need a perfect recording of studio quality whilst other accept our "warts
and all", "Zenith in the Raw" live recordings as being more exciting. One
German agent who was critical of the live recording quality (a typical tectonic
type wanting electronic perfection without any high register distortion) went
around telling everyone "this band must be seen to be heard" and it sounds as if
your group also gives a high energy production. It swings and it is
fun.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>So your comments about "squeaks and clams" are
noted. When we were in the studio recording, each with his own cubicle and
headset (unable to see each other) we could not get the same feel
without our very active live audience to spur us on to greater heights. So
we prefer live recordings at the expense of some quality. For those who
want the band in their lounge room beside them using hoofers and tweeters (Sp?)
quality seems to override a band that swings. </FONT><FONT
face=Arial>We tried again spending 12 hours one Sunday with some 14 track sound
genius and got zilch from it except a huge bill for trying to adjust levels of
some instruments.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Your first CD by coincidence, has four numbers earmarked
for our 10th CD this year. You will find that after over 100 recorded
tracks on 9 CDs you have to start being selective and avoid repeating numbers
again. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Also try to keep your numbers down to an average 5 minutes
giving 14 tracks per CD (as most radio people will tell you - they wont play
anything that runs longer). Some fans are funny and try to get value for
money (so they say) by selecting the CD with the most tracks on it. We
have a Zenith 2000 chord book to call upon with most numbers anyone usually asks
for. It is considered bad taste to ask the audience for requests on
international jazz festival platforms but we often ignore this as our music is
not normally charted or rehearsed and is true spontaneous jazz. I hope
that last comment does not cause to much trouble.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Cheers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Tom (live recordings) Wood</FONT></DIV>
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