Long Watch: October Project

9Comments

1. 1.

   Karen in GA

   November 7, 2014 at 1:25 am

   I thought I was the only person in the world who had heard of October Project (well, me and the friend who told me about them). That’s the thing about growing up pre-internet — there are things I just got used to seeing disappear, and it still doesn’t occur to me that I can just Google these things now.

2. 2.

   Steeplejack

   November 7, 2014 at 1:41 am

   @Karen in GA:

   That happens to me all the time with classic jazz. It just never occurs to me that there are film clips extant, and then I accidentally see one and am simultaneously amazed and like “Duh!”

   John Coltrane, “My Favorite Things.” Love McCoy Tyner’s piano solo at about 2:25.

3. 3.

   Tenar Darell

   November 7, 2014 at 1:43 am

   @Karen in GA: Heh, I always forget to look for music, particularly music performances. I google things like “beautiful libraries” on the internet. I love my local public library, but there is something about beautiful architecture to hold shelves and shelves that makes me happy.

4. 4.

   Major Major Major Major

   November 7, 2014 at 2:09 am

   @Steeplejack: I frakking adore Tyner. Seen him live twice. The first time my (now) husband leaned over, after the first song, and asked “is it supposed to sound like that?”

5. 5.

   Irony Abounds

   November 7, 2014 at 2:17 am

   @Karen in GA: I actually found October Project after they had disbanded through Jane Olivor’s recording of Bury My Lovely. I loved the song and found out it was a cover of an October Project song and was just stunned when I listened to their songs. It’s a damn shame their career path kinda stalled when their label dumped them and then Mary Fahl left the band. Her solo stuff is a bit uneven, but she has done a number of songs with similar feel as October Project.

   Thanks for highlighting the band Anne.

6. 6.

   NotMax

   November 7, 2014 at 2:34 am

   @Tenar Darell

   At the moment cannot remember the the name of the library (in Italy, IIRC) known for having always shelved their books with the non-spine side facing out in order to better preserve the bindings, but it is architecturally attractive.

   If you’ve never come across pix of it, the above might be enough of a clue to track it down.

7. 7.

   Tommy

   November 7, 2014 at 2:59 am

   @Steeplejack: First off kind of enjoying October Project. But went to your Coltrane link. I came to jazz later in my life. My grandfather used to play jazz all the time. I HATED it. Then somebody threw down some Miles Davis for me. Sketches in Spain was the exact album, and you can hear it in full on YouTube. Something clicked. I was hooked.

8. 8.

   dr. fancypants

   November 7, 2014 at 4:01 am

   Wow, this brings back memories. I listened to OP to excess in college. By the time I finally managed to catch them live, they’d lost their amazing lead singer, and reconstituted with a new lead as November Project. There was really just no replacing that incredible voice, though.

9. 9.

   Duncan Watson

   November 7, 2014 at 5:59 pm

   I saw October Project live in NJ way back in 1993 or so. Intimate setting. Bought the first CD from their merch table. Got the second one later. Her voice is amazing.