Music Corner World

Music boxes have a long and interesting history. Their rise to popularity began in the 19th century, and all these years later you can find a music box in nearly any home. The modern incarnations of music boxes come in so many shapes and sizes, one might think that they would make vintage music boxes obsolete. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. The serious collectors of music boxes know that they would be remiss if they did not have at least one vintage music box in their collection.

We have all seen the music box that, when opened, reveals a dancing ballerina who performs gracefully to the twinkling sound of the music box. As fun as such a display can be it has nothing on its ancestors. How about opening the lid and revealing a miniature town, complete with a functioning train that circles the town on its own set of rails, all to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad?" Or perhaps you prefer the subtle elegance of a handcrafted cylindrical wood cabinet with a circular glass cover that reveals the intricate musical movement inside? Such is the diversity of the vintage music box. But whether your interest lies in the whimsical novelty of a railroad, or the sublime craftsmanship of a Swiss cylinder, you need to understand a few basics regarding a vintage music box.

The vintage music box can be divided into two basic forms: the disk and the cylinder. The first music boxes used cylinders, and later versions utilized the less expensive and more easily manufactured disks. In both versions, tiny prongs on the cylinder or disk would pluck the teeth of a metal comb in the music box, and it was the vibration which ensued that created the tone of a musical note. If you are serious about purchasing, or simply understanding, the vintage music box, then you must turn your attention to the comb.

The key to beautiful music in your music box is the integrity of the comb. Are all the teeth intact? Are they bent? Do they have small pits that indicate previous repairs? Are they rusty? The answers to those questions will clue you in to the quality of the music box you are examining. Another thing to look for is a large comb. A small comb usually means a small sound with a limited range of notes as well. It is important to avoid falling in love with a vintage music box based on how it looks while ignoring how it sounds. Good quality music boxes have a quality musical movement.

The vintage music box has a broad appeal and is readily available at antique shops and online brokers. Be sure to do your homework before purchasing a vintage music box because they can costs thousands of dollars, or more! But a vintage music box is more than just an heirloom or conversation piece; it is an investment that can pay dividends in its monetary value and entertainment value as well.

People have been hooked to television for decades. Currently, it would be impossible to imagine daily life without television as this is where almost all people now rely for information and entertainment.

Almost all households all around the world are owning television sets. A home would not be completely a home without a television in the living room, dining room or any other corners or rooms where house members can sit, relax and enjoy their favorite TV shows.

It is no wonder that numerous companies have been developing different television sets. Now, there are so many brands to choose from. Aside from those brand names, different television technologies are also arising.

Yes, the conventional cathode ray tube (CRT TV) has evolved a lot. Many consumer electronics makers have been spending considerable amount of capital and effort to develop such new TV display technologies.

Plasma TVs

The plasma TV is one of those TV technologies that are actually better modifications of the old CRT TVs. Through the years, the popularity of plasma TVs has also been growing, so there are currently numerous brands for this TV display type.

The technology of plasma TVs has been around for decades now. However, it is only in the recent years that plasma TV products have been rolled out to the market because today, the cost of assembling plasma TVs are significantly lower.

The display or screen of plasma TVs are comparatively different from the conventional TV sets or from other new technology TVs. For one, early users of plasma TVs have been lured by its superior picture quality, slim size and light weight.

However, just like all other emerging technologies, plasma TVs have advantages and disadvantages. It would be imperative that you get knowledge of these facts before you decide buying one for your own use.

Advantages of plasma TV

For one, plasma TVs are lighter in weight, and are slimmer compared to other TV types. This feature would enable the user to easily transfer the TV set whenever there is a basic rearrangement at home.

Plasma TVs are more sophisticated-looking because of their flat screens. These TV sets can also come in bigger sizes, with more than 60 inches being the biggest.

Computer compatibility is one unique feature of plasma TVs so expect the screen to be a good alternative to computer or high-definition TV screens. Thus, these TV sets are multi-functional.

The screen resolution is absolutely high in resolution, so sometimes people mistake the TV sets for HDTVs, which are far more advanced and are considered the latest apple of the eye of TV technology aficionados. The color of the images are also extremely exceptional so you'll definitely enjoy watching programs.

Disadvantages of plasma TVs

Being so slim and light that it is, the plasma TV is still not the slimmest and lightest TV around. Comparatively, another TV technology, LCD TV, has a slimmer screen and lighter weight than the plasma TV.

For people who may not know more about burn-in, plasma TV may be susceptible to that. When a TV has burn-in screen, traces of an image that is long projected on the screen, will stay in the screen and appear as minor shadows, that can sometimes be annoying.

Plasma TVs also have lower brightness than other TV screen types. That is why when you are viewing the TV on a bright sunny day, and there is ample daylight at the room, you would hardly see the image on the screen.

Moreover, experts still argue that plasma TVs are good buys. If you are planning to buy a TV set, consider purchasing a plasma TV and find out for yourself why so many people are choosing it over others.

Music and cigars aren't something I usually equate with each other. In fact, cigars are almost the last type of smoke I think of when I turn the dial of the radio. If I hear Ryan Adams, I imagine him on stage surrounded by a grayish cloud, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. If I hear Bing Crosby, I imagine that his White Christmas also involves a black pipe. And, if I hear Willie Nelson, I think of a type of smoke sure to make him hungry for some Kenny Rogers Roasters. Cigars, however, don't typically cross my mind when I think of music.

It turns out this is a misconception on my part: cigars, or rather their boxes, contain some of the true roots of music.

Cigar box guitars are homemade guitars where used cigar boxes serve as the resonator, echoing the vibrations that cause sound. Used by many poverty stricken musicians, these instruments forever have a place in the history of song. In fact, cigar box guitars go all the way back to the 19th century.

Before 1840, according to the curator of the National Cigar Museum, Dr. Tony Hyman, cigars were not shipped in boxes but large crates, crates that would hold over 100 cigars at a time. These crates were found to be too big in size for efficient shipping and were eventually reduced into smaller crates that would hold much fewer sticks. And so, the cigar box was born.

About the time cigar boxes emerged, cigar smoking did as well: people from all walks of life indulged, leaving their cigar boxes empty in the process. Picked up by innovators and creators, these empty cigar boxes were quickly turned into guitars, banjos, and fiddles. Unbeknownst at the time, these instruments would soon give those who were too poor to afford a guitar a chance to experiment musically.

The earliest known cigar box instrument is believed to have been concocted during the Civil war. This is based on the discovery of a drawing by Edwin Forbes, a French artist working for the Union Army. This drawing features two soldiers sitting around a campfire, one watching the other play a cigar box fiddle.

Eras marked by poverty saw cigar box instruments, particularly cigar box guitars, begin to flourish. Both the blues movement and the emergence of jug bands are believed to have been facilitated, at least in part, by cigar box guitars and the Great Depression, leaving so many people broke and out of work, became a catalyst for these homemade instruments.

During these times, many people couldn't afford guitars so they simply made their own. Using cigar boxes, screen wire and broom handles, as well as anything else they could find, countless children made playable instruments. Since these instruments were made by so many different people, they had many different varieties. Some cigar box guitars had one string, some had three or four. Some had frets up the neck, some did not. Some of the creators built their guitar and simply moved on, some grew up to be the trail blazers of rock and roll.

Among the notable musicians believed to have played cigar box guitars at some point are Carl Perkins, Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, Ted Nugent, BB King, and Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Part of so much of our nation's musical past, the cigar box guitar has an entire museum dedicated to it. The National Cigar Box Guitar Museum is located in York, Pennsylvania and features a wide display of various cigar box guitars as well as the stories of the legendary musicians who played them.

Very talented Soul artist Macy Gray has released her latest album titled On How Life Is and Wow! It's good.

Macy Gray has been a super star in the Soul genre for quite some time now and On How Life Is is an excellent illustration as to why.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you've got one of Macy Gray's most impressive releases ever.

If you're a Macy Gray fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don't even have to be a fan of Gray, or even Soul to know is good. This is just good music. Period.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 9, A Moment To Myself. Outstanding!

On How Life Is Release Notes:

Macy Gray originally released On How Life Is on Jul 27, 1999 on the Epic label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Why Didn't You Call Me


2. Do Something


3. Caligula


4. I Try


5. Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak


6. I Can't Wait To Meetchu


7. Still


8. I've Committed Murder


9. A Moment To Myself


10. The Letter

Personnel includes: Macy Gray (vocals); Jon Brion (guitar, piano, Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone, bells); Darryl Swann (guitar, programming, background vocals); Jinsoo Lim, Arrik Marshall, Bendrix Williams, Blackbird McKnight, Gabriel Moses, Miles Tackett (guitar); Ngozi "Guz" Inyama (saxophone); Jeremy Ruzumna (piano, organ, Clavinet, Farfisa organ, Moog synthesizer, background vocals); Patrick Warren (Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone); David Wilder (bass, background vocals); Dion Derek Murdock (bass); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (percussion); Kiilu Beckwith (programming); DJ Kiilu (turntable); Dawn Beckman, Musiic Galloway, Sye Smith (background vocals). Recorded at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound and A&M Studios, Hollywood California.

Reflections is the latest Smooth Jazz CD realeased by the extremely talented saxophone playing Alfonzo Blackwell who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I'm confident Alfonzo Blackwell fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one.

I wish it weren't the case but, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Reflections. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

The nice thing about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Smooth Jazz isn't your favorite genre you still can't help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

This is a first rate CD, delivering a little something for everyone. I give it my highest recommendation. It's quite simply great listening. A must buy for the Smooth Jazz fan.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 3, Field Of Dreams, track 5, I Miss You, track 13, Better Days.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5, I Miss You. What a nice track!

Reflections Release Notes:

Alfonzo Blackwell originally released Reflections on Aug 28, 2001 on the Shanachie Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Funky Shuffle


2. All Blues


3. Field Of Dreams


4. Joy


5. I Miss You


6. Next To You


7. Take You Out


8. That Feeling


9. True Blue


10. Somewhere Sunday


11. Precious Love


12. Reflections


13. Better Days


14. That's Cool

Personnel: Alfonzo Blackwell (soprano saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums); Jean Norris (vocals); David Mann (keyboards, drum programming); Bernd Schoenhart, Chuck Loeb, Mark Marino (guitar). Recorded at Blackwell Studios, New York, New York.

Very talented Smooth Jazz artist Alexander Zonjic has released his latest CD titled Reach For The Sky and Wow! It's good.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Alexander Zonjic is one of those musicians that has the ability to just bowl you over with his talent. The kind of artist it's really a treat to be able to listen to.

I give Reach For The Sky my highest recommendation. It just plain belongs in any serious music collectors collection regardless of genre preference.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5, I Just Wanna Stop. Outstanding!

Reach For The Sky Release Notes:

Alexander Zonjic originally released Reach For The Sky on Aug 28, 2001 on the Heads Up Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. This Is The Day


2. Far Away


3. It's Too Late


4. Angela (Theme From Taxi)


5. I Just Wanna Stop


6. Bellavia


7. A Hard Day's Night


8. Reach For The Sky


9. Swinging Shepherd Blues


10. Amazing Grace

Personnel includes: Alexander Zonjic (flute); Wendy Moten, Kevin Whalum, Herschel Boone (vocals); Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming); Robert Tye (acoustic & electric guitars); Earl Klugh (acoustic guitar); Luis Resto (keyboards) Hiram Bullock, Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar); Jeff Lorber (bass); Danny Cox (drums, percussion, programming). Producers: Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Alexander Zonjic, Danny Cox, Luis Resto. Engineers include: Eric Moregeson, Jeff Lorber, Denny Jiosa. Recorded at Studio A, Dearborn Heights and Monster Music, Clawson, Michican; JHL Sound, Pacific Palisades, California; The Dog House and The Reel Thing, Nashville, Tennessee.