Organization:      LOGISTICS INFORMATION CENTER (IC-LOG)
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Telephone:                 768-8074/8180
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Date:         Thu, 31 Dec 1992 05:31:08 KST
From:         DMetcalf%IC-LOG@WALKER-LTT.ARMY.MIL
Subject:      ZZAJ CAT

Woj, here's the ZZAs& |h P! J catalog, which includes the info on 'I.N.'!

Wotz' th' LATEST in spoken word, absolutely OUT improv fer' the
90's... were ye' to ask some AM/FM jock, th' answer would
definitely NOT be the tapes you'll see listed herein from ZZAJ
Productions... because ZZAJ tapes are on the cutting edge...
they were not MADE for mass appeal... now, they'll play JUST as
well on yer' deck as any of the commercial rotgut yew could
find... in fact, they're ALL hi-bias C90's... it's just that
there's always a touch of ODD, the NEW on a ZZAJ tape... if yer'
a 'stuck-in-the-mud' curmudgeon from MUGWUMP, then you'll
probably not enjoy 'em!  On th' OTHER digit, if yer' IN to
change & sick&tired of being fed the same-ol-crap by yer' local
D.J., these are sounds for YOU!  For those not familiar with th'
ZZAJ story, he's a 'D.I.Y-er' from WAY back... after truckin'
'round th' world for some 25 yearz (some with the military,
other travel independently), he's finally settled back in a
pleasant little nook in Taegu, Korea... hooked heavily in to
worldwide e-mail netz, & with the benefit of having played with
the likes of Davey Williams, LaDonna Smith, Mark Kissinger, Joe
Hardin, Bret Hart & many others too numerous to mention here,
ZZAJ is a FIRM believer in the concept of artistic networking...
while it's not a religous pursuit, it's somethin' he believes in
as a POWER to defeat those who would take us back to th' dark ages
of book-burning & censorship!  ZZAJ is also responsible for the
publication of an improv newsletter called "Improvijazzation Nation"!
This newsletter has expanded from it's original version of about 12
pages to 20 pages, jam-packed with news of music, poetry & other
fantastic D.I.Y material... it serves as a primary source of
networking information for those involved in TODAY!  You owe it
to yourself to get INVOLVED!  NOT only with ZZAJ tapes, or
'I.N.', but in the networking that's going on 'round the world
right NOW!  The underlying thot' behind all ZZAJ Productions, be
they audial or visual, is the promotion of networking
EVERYWHERE!  Whether you believe it or not, there are some who
would prefer that you keep SILENT!  That you not SPREAD the idea
that freedom means communicating your ideas!  This is not a
cult, & there are no rituals... unless you believe that
independent action & thought are among the seeds of evil!  Radio
& television moguls are, in a certain sense, the censors of the
age!  Folk music, the music that YOU & I make, is RARE on the
thousands of stations spread across the world... don't you
sometimes wonder WHY?  There are OTHER ways, not the least among
them the shameless self-promotion (I'm sure that's what THEY'D
label it) of the 'underground'!  The more we all TRADE, share,
wotever form it takes, the less CONTROL th' central scrutinizers
will have!  Several of the tapes listed herein are, in fact, for
TRADE (those marked with *)!  While it doesn't hurt th' coffers
at ALL to get an ORDER every once-in-a-while, a SIGNIFICANT part
of the ZZAJ role in the scheme of things has involved trading
with hundreds of other artists around the world... prices for
ALL ZZAJ tapes are $6.00... "Improvijazzation Nation" is either
$1.50 or 5 $.29 cent stamps... the 'zine is NOT for trade, & no
contributor's copies are sent!  SO - even if you DON'T decide to
order a ZZAJ tape, GET involved in the idea of NETWORKING...
it's fun, relatively cheap, & has more power than you would
believe possible...  what follows then is a listing of the tapes
available from ZZAJ Productions, c/o Dick Metcalf, HQ, 19th
SUPCOM, Unit 15015, PO BX 2879, APO AP 96218-0171... if you've
got access to INTERNET, you can also reach ZZAJ at
DMETCALF%IC-LOG@WALKER-LTT.ARMY.MIL... he will, as ever, be
lookin' FORWARD - to hearin' from you, that is!!!



SDRAWKCAB ZZAJ:  Performance works from Birmingham, Alabama,
with Transmuseq & others; these are my first performance gigs
with keyboards - circa January '86 - remixed in '89 at ZZAJ
Morning Calm Studios, these are sounds for the brave... that
basically means that you WON'T enjoy this unless yer' REALLY
into freeform!



MOSTLY IN THE GNU'S:  Compilation of performances in Olympia,
Washington (w/Trillium & the 'Mad Metcalf Ensemble') &
Birmingham... this was reviewed very favorably in one of EC'S
earliest issues!  HOT stuph!



INHERITED ANOREXIA:  More madcap compiled stuph from all of the
above & an in-house performance with the 'SCOTTSBORO BOYS';
guest appearance by Artemis ab ZZAJ  Remixed November '89,
Morning Calm Studios



KICKIN' IN TH' KITCHEN AT CHRISTMAS:  1979 freeform jam with
various Olywa (Olympia, Washington) artists at the (sadly)
now-defunct GNU DELI cafe.  Lots of percussion & freeform on
this one!  Remixed, Morning Calm, November '89



*ZZAJ-ART, VOL 1:  Mutual tape collaborations, mostly by mail,
betwixt Bret Hart & ZZAJ; features guitarz/keybords/spoken word.
 Recorded November '89 at Morning Calm studios & Bret Hart's
Bedroom Studio East, Korea.  These are my first sounds by mail;
VERY strange, but with a definitive zzaj flavor



*ZZAJ-ART, Volume 2:  More madness from the Hart/ZZAJ team; much
more upbeat & dangerous than volume 1.  Recorded (partly live),
December '89, ZZAJ Morning Calm Studios



*JESUS & ADOLF (Seoul Communions):  First solo home-studio work
by ZZAJ, EVER!  These are all instrumental toonz, quaint &
verymuch homespun.  Got pretty good reviews in GAJOOB, too!
Recorded January '90, Morning Calm Studios



*IN A CONSERVATIVE WORLD:  Solo keyboards/poetry/comment by
ZZAJ.  Caustic in places & not recommended for Young Republicans
(tho', in retrospect, mebbe' they could've used it for strategy,
eh?)  Recorded February '90, Morning Calm



*SPIRIT OF THE RHODES:  Keyboard & vocal commentary on the
issues of today - includes special percussion marvels by Luis
Encarnacion (who later disclaimed all affiliations with ZZAJ
Productions, after hearing my experiments with the espresso
machine & paper clips), this was Bryan Baker's favorite ZZAJ
tape, as of GAJOOB #7!  Recorded March/April '90, Morning Calm



*SAMPLER '90:  Just what it sez, most of the above included.
Remixed May '90



*'SPRESSO WACKO:  Significant explorations, moving in to the
kitchen, 'spresso machine, etc., tho' I did manage to stay away
from the bathroom.  Solo work, heavy layers, definitely improv,
but with enuff structure to keep it in a 'listenable' framework.
 Recorded June '90, Morning Calm



*2 SIDES OF ZZAJ:  Mail comp between DimThingShine (now Jim
Rite) & ZZAJ.  Side one also had poetryworks (read by ZZAJ)
written by J.CE/#+cM9  "E5      +KW $Y9umwork on side 1 is what
makes this a good listen!  Recorded July '90, Morning Calm
Studios



*10 YEARS AFTER:  (TRILLIUM LESS ONE)  Live studio performance
work in Olympia, Washington with all the members of Trillium,
less one.  Even includes a couple of experiments with "straight"
songs composed and sung by ZZAJ.  This is one of MY favorite
tapes in all those done up to this point!  Recorded August '90,
by Trillium (at the 'Woods' studio), remixed September '90,
Morning Calm



*ROGUE SEA MERCHANTS - "WON"):  Spontaneous live studio work
with Remus Glaude, John Alkins, H. Mark Vale, Pepper & Peter
Alkins; as the name indicates, first in a series of two.  Strong
zzaj leanings, especially on side 1, with a little more freeform
on side 2.  Recorded August '90, Woods Studio, remix September
'90, Morning Calm



*ROGUE SEA MERCHANTS - "STEW":  Second tape of the series, with
a special guest appearance on side 2 by Artemis ab ZZAJ.
Artemis is my son Arthur, & he plays a HOT clarinet (in an
abandoned water-tower just outside of Huntspatch, AL) Recorded
August '90, Woods Studio, remixed September '90, Morning Calm



*LEAVE THE - JESSE'S BEHIND:  My last tape for '90; some pretty
caustic reflections on Jesse Helms & other PMRC pirhanas like
him.  Solo.  Recorded November/December '90, Morning Calm Studios



BINARY REDUCTIONS:  Mail collab twixt poet extraordinaire John
M. Bennett & ZZAJ.  Explores virgin territory.  Lots of GREAT
readings by John, with some solid instrumental backgrounds by
ZZAJ.  Recorded January/February '91.  Remix March '91, Morning
Calm



PIECE COALITIONS:  Mail collab with guitar friend Mark
Kissinger/ZZAJ.  Very upbeat & timely.  You'll LOVE Mark's
guitar on this one!  Recorded Febaury/March '91 & remix Morning
Calm



ALIEN TONGUES:  Mail collab with Jake Berry & (many) friends.
Almost like being at a free improv jam, in places; serene in
others.  Recorded March '91, Morning Calm Studios



EACH SPEECH:  Latest poetry/music improv collabs with poet John
M. Bennett.  I think we both felt a lot more comfortable with
each other's styles on this one.  Side 2 also includes readings
(of texts by Clarke A. Sany - Church of the $.39 Hamburger) by
ZZAJ.  An inspiring tape!  Recorded July '91, Morning Calm



CRITICAL MASS:  STRONG guitar work by Mark Kissinger, with ZZAJ
on supporting instrumentals & even a couple of original ZZAJ
textweaves.  This is THE best tape by the ZZAJ/KISSINGER team, &
those of you with ANY rock/zzaj leanings will really like this
one!  Recorded July August '91, Morning Calm



FRACTURED FAIRY TALES:  Red-hot poetry/improv collab with
'Poetry Devils' Robert Winson.  There are some excellent sound
qualities and the pace is ever-changing.  Those interested in
music and poetry will find this a pleasant challenge!  Recorded
Jan/Aug '91, Morning Calm



DANGEROUS REVISIONS:  First mail collaboration with one of the
Northwest's synth/improv/acoustic piano masters, Harlan Mark
Vale.  ALL the tunes here are original & will provide both
pleasure and challenge for the true listener.  Recorded Sep/Oct
'92, Mark Vale's 'the Inlett' studio & Morning Calm Studios



UNBORN BABY:  Miriam Sagan wrote the book of revealing and
intimate poetry about the joys & pains of being a woman, now
ZZAJ reads it, with his own unique blend of music to add to the
mystery.  Recorded Feb/March '92, Morning Calm



AZURE SHADOWS - Jake Berry & ZZAJ join forces to bring you
another exciting journey into the minds of 'today'.  Music and
poetry woven together to skillfully wrap you in it's effect.
Recorded at Jake Berry's 9th Street Labs & Morning Calm, Feb/Mar
'92



EMOTIONAL CIRCUS:  A supreme journey with northwest synthmeister
KRAMTONES (a.k.a. H. Mark Vale) & ZZAJ; the mystical, harmonic &
the strange are all here for yer' listening pleasure - this one
is RED-HOT!



AZURE SHADOWS:  Jake Berry & ZZAJ join forces to bring you
another exciting journey into the minds of 'today'.  Music &
poetry woven together to skillfully wrap you in it's effect.
Recorded at Jake Berry's 9th Street Labs & Morning Calm



"L" - The latest SUPER session from ZZAJ & Mark Kissinger.  FINE
lickz, some themes, but basically just GOOD rockin' zzaj!
You'll LIKE this one!  June '92

TWO-CARD DRAW:  Somewhat political overtones on this Jake
Berry/ZZAJ mail collab; but it won't BOG ya' down with it...
LOTZ of NICE folk guitar jams & relaxing panoramas!  July '92



SCARAB POLEMIC:  This is one of the HOTTEST ZZAJ tapes EVER!
Mail collab with my old friend Joe Hardin, there's enuff musical
heresy on here to shake the socksoff a STATUE!  LOTZ of blooz
toonz & plenty of strange mix together for the musical time of
yer' LIFE!  GET IT!  September '92



SKINLESS HE:  The latest in a series of fine word-wanderings &
musical meanderings from the John M. Bennett/ZZAJ team!  The
sound quality on this tape is the BEST ever rendered by the ZZAJ
studios!  An absolute adventure in words/music that you WON'T
want to miss!  October '92, Luna Bisonte Prods & Morning Calm
Studios



That concludes the listings for now... but, don't think fer' a
MOMENT that that's IT!  There are tapes in the works with Jon
Greenbaum (Shake Mechanics), Tom Wright & many others... won't
stop, CAN'T stop - ya' know WOTIMEAN?  Th' networkin' gets in
the BLOOD after a while, not to mention that once you start, it
SPREADS!



That's it for this version of the catalog... mo'...



                            LATER,



                              Rotcod Zzaj





P.S.  Order 2 or more tapes & they're only $5 per!

Another fine ZZAJ Production



Improvijazzation Nation

CATALOG, Winter '92

D. Metcalf, HQ, 19th SUPCOM, Unit 15015, PoB 2879, APO AP
96218-0171



$1.50, HQ, 19th SUPCOM, Unit 15015, PO BX 2879 APO 96218-0171,
USA
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic