From: mas@sag4.ssl.berkeley.edu (Mason Wong)
Newsgroups: rec.music.newage
Subject: Open letter to Patrick (was Re: Don Harriss)
Date: 14 Apr 1992 22:42:11 GMT
Organization: Space Science Labs
NNTP-Posting-Host: sag4.ssl.berkeley.edu
Summary: My email attempt bounced, so I'm posting it openly...

[This was an email response to Patrick, who privately emailed me
regarding my open post on artist Don Harriss.  My response has
bounced from his very tricky address, so I'm posting this openly - MW]

Patrick,

Thank you for your well said response.
While I still hold my opinion of the "Elevations" album,
please keep in mind that I've only given it two listens so far
(the first track many more times though!)...

Actually, while looking for the album, I first could not
find the name Don Harriss - in the cheapest CD store nearest
to campus which specializes mostly in used CDs.  Next, at
Tower records, I found his name and the two recent albums
you mentioned.  I was tempted to buy them, "sight unseen"
because I was on a buying spree!  However, certain internal
necessities caused me to proceed promptly to the pizza place
next door and utilize the facilities.  Right afterwards, I
climbed the stairs up to Leopold's records (The Wherehouse)
which has gigantic selection of all music (yes, right next door
to Tower) and immediately found Don Harriss's "Elevations"
and three other albums under the New Age section.
I bought it immediately, along with the other CDs I posted
on the net, with relatively high expectations.

I must admit I am partially to blame for my disappointment
in the album - my expectations were too strong, in that I
thought the track "Elevations" would be one of the more
mellow tracks of a relatively lively CD.  Why else would
Greg Stone on KOME 98.5 play it during the jazz fusion
segment of his weekly progressive rock/fusion/local-rock show?
Having heard it twice on the show months apart but still
recognizing and enjoying led me in search of the album.

I also must admit, I was not familiar with the jazz fusion/new age
scene in 1987.  My tastes in "new age" (as in the general
marketing category) did not develop until late 1988.
Even then, however, Vangelis was my favorite.  Bold.  Powerful.
Experimental.  Also, I note the equipment Don Harriss listed
in his album - his DX7 listing a sign of the time.   As far
as I am concerned, anything before 1988 is considered
"pre-M1" as in the KORG keyboard, of which I own.  Not that
synth music was inferior then, but somewhat more restrictive...
my opinions on this are not so strong.  Keyboardists like
Vangelis, Larry Fast, Tony Banks, Rick Wakeman all seemed
to take their works beyond the limits of the technology.

Just for a quick run down, maybe I could point out where
I'm coming from.  I am a senior at UC Berkeley majoring
in math and minoring in music.  To me abstract algebra
is as tough as classical harmony.  I have played piano 
since I was six, performed at a mediocre level with my
high school jazz band for two years, and I now compose
music in my spare time on my KORG M1.  Spare time comes
very seldomly, unfortunately.  Music, next to friends,
is one of my greatest joys in life.  Lots of kinds,
Pink Floyd to Genesis to Billy Joel to Tangerine Dream
to Vangelis to David Lanz to Bach and Beethoven.

While I am now critical of one album by Don Harriss,
I still dream of being in a similar position --
composing, recording, producing an album all on one's own.
Many albums.    Then, of course, the thrill of
playing live with a band at a gig.  Lots of gigs.

Well, now I'm babbling.  Any advice on pursuing music production,
as you're in the music business?

As for the length of this email reply,  touche'...

Thanks,

Mason Wong

p.s. (4/14/92)  I have listened to "Elevations" entirely through
again and I can enjoy it somewhat more openly now that I know
what to expect!
===============================================================================
Mason Wong
Center for EUV Astrophysics   University of California at Berkeley
mas@sag4.ssl.berkeley.edu     mcw@ocf.berkeley.edu    128a-1ae@web.berkeley.edu
===============================================================================