I'm on StereoTimes...


Hey...Larry Staples here.
I'm former Director of Sales for THIEL Audio...a decade ago...then founder of LSA GROUP about 2007...designer...
I'm going to be featured as a contributor on StereoTimes ezine of Clement Perry Fame!
My first 'journal entry' is a story called "Miles and Me" a somewhat poignant story about me as a young 13 year old boy hearing him, Miles and being inspired...musically as an Alto Sax player...
It's kind of interesting and fun to read...had it's start on Audiogon....hope you'll readi it.

Larry
lrsky
Hey Larry,

Let me know when the article is available. I always enjoyed our conversations at Nicholsons. Good times.

Dave
You're at the same slime zine as Norm?

I'm a firm believer in symmetry.

Rock on.
If you look at all the aspects of audio reviewing and compare the various audio review publications I think it is fair to say that Stereo Times does an excellent job and is one of the most reputable of all the audio review publications. Clement Perry and his associates have done a wonderful job over the years. IMHO.
Audiofeil,
You're dangerously close to being taken off my Christmas Card List.

Larry
Oh I know.

Hey Larry, tell us another of your Thiel stories again. We've heard every one dozens of times but they're oh so interesting.

So go ahead, please, please, please............just once again. It would mean so much to all the readers.

That should it.

PS- Merry Christmas
Audiofeil,

You're right.
I have repeated myself...and I'm an old guy now, living more off memories and experiences than creating new ones. So, I'll say, that in the twilight of my life...what I did in the past carries more weight than what I'm creating at this new moment. I'll apologize for boring the masses here on 'Gon and try to not live in that past.
Even though they were rich memories for me, they probably hold no sway with anyone else.

The article in Stereo Times is about a concert that I attended in the early '60's...so yes, I'm old, very old. Since it deals with Miles it may have interest for some of you.
The great thing about electronic reading is, it's cheap and you can chose not to read.

Best,
Larry
Lrsky,
I look forward to reading about your encounter with Miles Davis.I have a ton of his recordings.
Best Regards,
Charles1dad,
Thanks.
In the article I look at Kind of Blue...the seminal jazz recording...which Miles and company recorded in 1958...try to do a very short analysis of why and how it was so revolutionary, as opposed to just evolutionary.
And, of course speak about Miles and his group in the context of this being my first concert as a fledgling Alto Sax player and how the night impacted me and my practice routines.
I think you'll enjoy it. Hope so anyway.
Larry
F1fanatic,
Do you have Stacy Kent's album done in French?
I don't speak French, but her accent sounds really, really yummy.

Larry
The article about Miles Davis hit Stereo Times today. Hope you all, sans Audiofeil enjoy it.

Larry
Larry,
I've been wanting to read that article. I have looked on ST website and cannot find it. Not unusual, my Googler has be known to malfunction now and again.......
Lrsky,
I read your article and really enjoy it and your perspective(loved the pictures of Miles,P.Chambers and J.Cobb). I look forward to your next article very much.
Regards,
Finally found the article, no wonder I didn't see it, it was right in front of me!

Enjoyed the article, look forward to more, keep us posted.
Finally found the article, no wonder I didn't see it, it was right in front of me!

Enjoyed the article, look forward to more, keep us posted.
Thanks Adam, Corazon, Charles 1 dad.
That moment in time was really special. As I said in the article...as a fledgling player, hearing Miles Davis do Chromatic Scales was kind of an epiphany. Who would have thought (at that age) that guys like him had the 'basics' down so well.
Now, as an old guy...I recognize that that's what makes any player a good player.

Thanks for reading it...

Larry
Very nice article, Larry. Nicely written and really exudes the reverence and admiration that you have for the music.

****hearing Miles Davis do Chromatic Scales was kind of an epiphany. Who would have thought (at that age) that guys like him had the 'basics' down so well.****

That's one of the most misunderstood things among non-musician music lovers; particularly jazz fans. As you know it is common to think that the great sounds produced by the great players is mainly the result of spontaneous inspiration; their Muse. What is misunderstood or overlooked is the endless hours of "woodshedding" and listening that these guys put in, in order to develop their sound and perfect their technique. That kind of discipline and focus on the "basics" is usually associated with classical players. Jazz players work just as hard on developing the kind of control that will allow them to create very individualistic sounds, with the added challenge of knowledge of harmony.

Best of luck with your writing. Where's the alto playing at these days?
Frogman,
Thanks so much for reading...as well as the kind words.
Funny...at the ripe old age of 34, I took lessons again, after not having done so for 15 years...I took them from a master teacher, world renowned actually.
God, I loved to play...made lots of money, again starting at 13 years old for my first paying job...then thru HS and college and for some years thereafter.
With the advent of canned music, live music became less in vogue long about that time...I quit and then the Sax (Selmer Mark VI...aka the best Alto in the world at that time) became a decoration, lying on a table in my formal living room. Seeing that as some cosmic blasphemy, I decided to sell it, so that it could make music again.
Funny thing...people talk about Strads, whether they sound different and such...well, at age 18, I traded my old horn, a Conn (middle grade piece) in for this Selmer...I remember that day so vividly.
The owner of the local music store was almost legendary to me...I'd heard him play from the time my first 'squawk' and it WAS a 'squawk' came out of my horn...playing something that Paul Desmond had played...sounding really damn close...anyway...the day I bought it, put on my mouthpiece, did a couple of warm up licks...I stopped and asked him...'Is that me playing'? The reason?
It sounded so good, I could hardly believe my own ears. So...when people make comments about the relative sound of a Strad versus contemporary violins I can only extrapolate my Saxophone experience and imagine.
So...Frogman, again, thanks for the kind words...hope you'll stay tuned into StereoTimes...it's a good publication.
Larry