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CALL for SUBMISSIONS!!!
ALL artists! I am very, VERY happy to announce that IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION is ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS again. I have been granted a (possibly long-term) stay of execution for my trip to Iraq. I will still be traveling all over the U.S., so new issues may be a little less timely, but (as always), we will review your materials as soon as possible after we receive them. Look at the guidelines for submission below, please:
MUSIC: All formats accepted. Snail mail to: Zzaj Productions, c/o Dick Metcalf, 5308 65th Avenue, Lacey, WA 98513 The only criteria for music you submit is that it MUST HAVE high performance energy... if you submit lacklustre material, it will be reviewed accordingly
POETRY: Poems are accepted for publication ONLY via e-mail. Poems submitted in any other fashion will NOT be published. Poetry that includes some reference to music is granted first priority for publication.
BOOKS: We will review some books; books about music are PREFERRED. We will NOT return any books submitted for review. Snail them to the address listed above for MUSIC.
DIY Announcements: We will post your (e-mailed) ad about DIY projects, regardless of genre or medium... HOWEVER, this is ONLY for INDEPENDENTS... if you are a corporation, don't even BOTHER sending stuff... it will be marked and reported as SPAM!
Improvijazzation Nation - Issue # 65 1/2
INTERVIEW with David Morgan, new owner of the "JAVA FLOW"
I've been visiting the Java Flow coffeehouse ever since my return to
"JavaLand" in 1995 (from Korea). I've observed many changes in the
atmosphere since that time... some music, a little art & lots of "street
folks" hung out there over those years... sometimes it was fun, while at
other points, it was a bit drab/dismal under the original owner. After a
recent road trip, I stopped in to see the owner & (to my surprise) found
that is was "under new management". I had a chance to sit down & discuss
the "new directions" that David Morgan intends to move it towards, & was
quite pleasantly surprised. The key impression is that, while not a total
"throwback" to the hippie era of the 70's & '80's, it has (very)
attractive elements of those fine times woven into the new structure... open
mikes, artwork, & a pretty solid idea of how to make it a more attractive all
-ages venue without compartmentalizing the concepts involved so rigidly
that it can't flex. Some GREAT ideas, some very positive energies & a lot
of HARD WORK have been invested, & I (for one) am highly impressed. As a
result of that discussion, I asked David if he'd give us an interview for
IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION, which follows:
Zzaj: I'm strongly impressed with what you've done to make this little
coffeeshop "turn around". Please tell us where you see it going in the
next 6 months... or the next year or so?
D.M. I see the java flow quietly becoming one of the places in Olympia that
people talk about when they discuss local art, good local music and places
to get a bite to eat. The way in which that is going to happen is really a
fluid thing. I'll try a variety of ideas over the next several months or
years and keep those that work, rethink the others and learn how to own a
great little coffee shop in the process.
Zzaj: You seem to have a very strong "work ethic" (something that most
indie musicians reading this 'zine can relate to)... why are you investing
so much of your energy in this venue? Labor of love, or just "labor"?
D.M. The work ethic comes from a 20 year career in the Marine Corps.
I'm retired and need to keep busy, I enjoy staying active and doing what
I've done all my life... I fix things. Java Flow was in desperate need of
fixing.
Zzaj: I noticed a lot of (various) types of art for sale in here... are
you an artist (music, painting, or anything like that)? Have you ever been?
D.M. I am a potter. I've been told I do some nice work, others disagree. I still
play with clay in my basement and sell what I make at Java Flow and a
gallery or two.
Zzaj: We talked quite a bit about the type(s) & direction(s) for music (you
want) in your establishment.. please outline your ideas/philosophy about
what you want it to be (for our readers).
D.M. I like free stuff.... I think I can get some quality musicians of varying
styles to play at the Java Flow because they love to play music for people
rather than for a handful of cash. Chances are Led Zepplin won't take me up
on my offer to give them each a free Mocha if they play there, but I bet I
can find enough good Folk, Blues, Jazz and acoustic Rock to make the Java
Flow a fun place to keep coming back to.
Zzaj: You've only been in the community for a few years now. Do you
expect to be here for a few or a lot of years? If it's "a lot", why?
DM Olympia has begun to feel like home for me. I have moved from country
to country for over twenty years and I am really kinda diggin this whole
"Roots" feeling I'm starting to get about this place.
Zzaj: There was a favorite place of mine (many years ago) in OlyWa
(called the Gnu Deli)... will you be keeping the shop as "Java Flow", or are
surprises in store for us (regarding the name/tone of your establishment)?
D.M. I can neither confirm nor deny that any such changes may or may not
be taking place in the near future.
Zzaj: I noticed that you spoke (quite a bit) about this being an "all ages"
venue... why do you think that's important?
D.M. If there weren't so many bored kids in this town, perhaps there wouldn't
be so many kids having kids or teenagers with rotted Meth teeth. One of the
first things I notice about a person is a really pretty smile. The other
side of the coin is that I feel strongly that the music at the Java Flow
needs to mature somewhat... it needs to become a venue that has a little
something for everyone.
Zzaj: What kind(s) of coffee & food are you selling? Plans for change in
the future?
D.M I have every espresso drink under the sun except for Frappes (ever
clean a blender 36 times in one day? If you really just gotta have a Frapp, go
to Starbucks.) I've got over 100 flavors for the various drinks made there.
The coffee is Olympic Crest... arguably one of the finest roasts in the Pacific
Northwest. I offer made to order Deli sandwiches, Dogs, Brats and a decent
assortment of munchies on racks near the counter. I really don't want to put
too much more on the Java Flow plate than that... it's a small espresso
cafe and it's important to me to avoid trying to be too much. I dislike
places that try too hard to be All Things to All People... it just doesn't
work.
Zzaj: You spoke (a bit) about things Buddhist... where did that come
from? I mean, IS that something you're interested in, or just something you
encountered in your extensive world travel(s)?
D.M. Like most people, my path led me to a place at one point in my life that I
felt like something was missing... some intangible thing. I was not raised
in a religious environment so I had no point of reference about
spirituality. I did a great deal of reading and spent a tremendous amount of
time thinking about how I perceived this existence. Buddhist ideology fit
best with what I already had inside so I identify with Buddhism, but to say
that I am a dedicated Buddhist would be an insult to the many Buddhist
people I've met along the path.
Zzaj: Since you're dealing with aspiring musicians, & since the focus of
our magazine is on indie/underground artists, what (if any) are your
"words of wisdom" for aspiring players?
D.M. Music is the only art form that must be appreciated as it is happening;
in that respect it is the art form that most closely resembles life itself.
Play, my friends... play your asses off... you are the theme song of our
lives.
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