Re: Tape Trees

Jim,

I'm not sure who else is in the house these days. Marshall Allen lives in his own house in Philly. Jackson's health is fine, and I believe there is at least one other person there, but, as I say, I'm not sure. As far as hiring members of the Arkestra as sidemen, it should be noted that I had Marshall, Jackson, Samarai Celestial and Michael Ray up at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire for a week-long residency last fall, culminating in a very well received Tribute to Sun Ra with the student jazz ensemble here (which I direct), the Barbary Coast. (Sun Ra spent a week in residence here in 1990.) Michael Ray, a member of the Arkestra, has also gone out of his way to hire Marshall, Jackson, Samarai and others for various gigs with an expanded version of Michael Ray and the Cosmic Krewe these past two years. (Often these gigs have been tributes.) And the Arkestra itself is still actively seeking gigs. The main hitch seems to be in the fact that John is really the designated leader and heir, and his health is so bad that he really cannot properly fill that function. Gilmore probably should be in a hospital, but, of course, has no insurance or any other means of paying for that. Anyway . . . Don Glasgo Dartmouth College