Welcome… I’m New Here! Hello From Jazzissimo (Steve Wiest)

[Jazzissimo]

This, more accurately. Welcome! Everyone here is mostly normal. We blink and breathe at regular intervals and we don't make eye contact for uncomfortable lengths of time.

@Izuku : Thank you my friend! A bowl of pints it is! I do indeed enjoy conversation where the eye contact doesn't become uncomfortable, so it seems I've found a home. Rock on!

 

[Jazzissimo]

It seems that mentoring you received worked well. I unfortunately passed up a few such opportunities, one with a top musician who asked me to join with his young family and a few other musicians living in his huge Victorian house--late 60s communal living, the 'in' thing--so I could develop my craft, and another with Barbara Lang, a singer who'd sung several big roles in Broadway shows plus was an actress both on TV and in films (she starred with Jack Palance--remember him?--in a film back in the 50s and was considered to star with Elvis in Jailhouse Rock, but withdrew because she was still weak from having had polio). Silly me. But I probably did the right thing. I was a really innocent young woman back then, and fragile, and I suspect even if my singing took off, it wouldn't have gone well for me personally.

I love that you're engaged again! Yay for love!

Thank you M'lady! Life is grand indeed And from your story, it seems to me that a memoir is in order! At the very least, channeling all of that unique and epic life experience into a novel is fertile and compelling ground for sure!

 

[Jazzissimo]

Howdy New Friends of Litopia!

As I tip-toe around the magical offerings of this ultra-cool place, I realize that I am currently taking without giving. I am such a student of the world of writing prose that I don't quite feel that I have anything to offer yet in the way of critique or expertise. However, I'm sure that once I learn my way around, I will find ways that I can help the Body Litopia.

In the meantime, I do want to offer up some of the other sides of my creative persona(s) as my way of contributing. I shall do so by regularly posting a cartoon and a piece of music right here. And I hope that my new friends enjoy it!

Here is a cartoon from a strip I once launched called "Quiddit." My plan is to relaunch this series again at some point soon. This is one of my favorites where we learn the truth behind the mystery that surrounds the great Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci:


And, here is another track from the new recording by my all-star horn band Vinyl Hampdin. This is my homage to my favorite composer, Paul McCartney called "Sir Paul." I wrote it in Paul's "medley style" where he typically includes multiple grooves and song forms. This one is loaded with lots of George Martin-esque studio gadgetry as well as a heapin-helpin' of Macca musical textures. And yes, that is me with the un-placeable Celtic accent singing the drinking song at the end

Enjoy!

 

[RK Wallis]

I don't quite feel that I have anything to offer yet in the way of critique or expertise.

Of course you have, you have yourself. That's all you need Read this and you'll see why: https://colony.litopia.com/threads/...-giving-and-receiving-writing-critiques.5798/

 

[CarolMS]

I do want to offer up some of the other sides of my creative persona(s) as my way of contributing. I shall do so by regularly posting a cartoon and a piece of music right here.

Received with delight! Here's to 'ya!

 

[Dorm Ant]

I don't quite feel that I have anything to offer yet in the way of critique or expertise.

People look for differing levels of feedback. Some just want to know whether you would read on after the story beginning. If you enjoy reading, you are qualified to crit.

my homage to my favorite composer, Paul McCartney called "Sir Paul.

A brilliant musician and the creative force that held The Beatles together, in my view. I really don't like it when journalists take cheap digs at him over things like the Frog Chorus and Wings. He's been creating new music for over 60 years and has the kind of open mindedness and innovation that deserves respect.

 

[Jazzissimo]

People look for differing levels of feedback. Some just want to know whether you would read on after the story beginning. If you enjoy reading, you are qualified to crit.


A brilliant musician and the creative force that held The Beatles together, in my view. I really don't like it when journalists take cheap digs at him over things like the Frog Chorus and Wings. He's been creating new music for over 60 years and has the kind of open mindedness and innovation that deserves respect.

Absolutely! I agree 100% As a jazz musician-based hybrid creative open to all kinds of grand influences, I appreciate his inquisitive "all hands on deck" approach to music as well as his infinite drive. A true force of nature and a stone-cold GENIUS!

 

[PCFrontier]

Hello Litopians!

My Litopia name is "Jazzissimo" but my real world name is Steve Wiest. As fate would have it, I just won the November Pop Up Submission! (I'm still recovering from the Guinness-fueled celebration of said) Hello to @Emily who encouraged me to join (actually threatened me with dire Celtic retribution the likes of which I can't even IMAGINE if I didn't join) so here I am! This is my website if you want a look-see as to what I've been up to: Steve Wiest Website

I don't know my way around yet, but I'm looking forward to learning. My first order of business will be to ask all of you genius writers (the Spider Robinson term "prose-birthing" came up during my first Pop Up Submission show and wasn't very well received, so I won't use that...ooops...I guess I just used it ) to help me to craft a title for my new novel. This is the one that won November ("Mmmmm...Guinness...) and its original title was "Dreaming of Tesla." It's a sci-fi jazz-speak comedy thriller love story...so, yeah. I will create a thread in the discussion room and see what I get.

In the meantime, I'm thrilled to be here and I look forward to spending time with Y'all (I LOVE all things U.K. but am based in Chicago, Illinois: U.S. and came of age in the Deep South, U.S. a place called Hattiesburg, Mississippi that is very close to New Orleans, Louisiana...thus the use of "Y'all")

Talk with you soon!

PS: By way of introduction to the Colony, I mentioned that I am a musician first and foremost (hoping to change that to novelist first and foremost...time will tell...) so here is a recent video of me with my all-star horn band called "Vinyl Hampdin." I compose and write everything and play trombone in the group (yep, I'm the white-haired fellow in the video. Do yo know how much white hair dye costs these days? ) It begins with our drummer filming his portion with the able help of his kids, then we are off into a piece I wrote about manifesting good things. Enjoy!

Hallo Jazzissimo, I have just joined Litopia so welcome from a new member. Best wishes Paul C

 

[Jazzissimo]

Hallo Jazzissimo, I have just joined Litopia so welcome from a new member. Best wishes Paul C

Wassup @PCFrontier! Welcome aboard. I’ve only been a member for a short while and have already learned TONS! I know you’ll have a wonderful time.

 

[Mel L]

Our Litfest 2023 is in April next year in London Book your flights now!!!!!!!

@Emily, Is it confirmed? I've lost the thread (and possibly the plot...)!

 

[Emily]

@Emily, Is it confirmed? I've lost the thread (and possibly the plot...)!

YES! 22nd of April

 

[Vagabond Heart]

YES! 22nd of April

Oh cool - did not see notification of that

 

[Emily]

Oh cool - did not see notification of that

I'll bump up that thread

 

[Jazzissimo]

Here is another offering to the Body Litopia:

A colorized, yey troublingly ironic "Quiddit."

And another selection from my all-star horn band, Vinyl Hampdin. This one personifies my life view

 

[Jonny]

Welcome, Steve

Well done on Pop-ups and hope you enjoy Litopia.

 

[Jazzissimo]

Welcome, Steve

Well done on Pop-ups and hope you enjoy Litopia.

Thanks so much @Jonny! I have been really enjoying the hang and vibe here in Litopia land. It has already been a huge help to me and I'm learning new things daily. Such a deal! And MAN...what a thrill it was to grab that November prize on Pop Ups! That last show was the longest 60 minutes of my life for sure, but all's well that ends with a WIN. So looking forward to the Huddle-Zoom. See you there!

 

[CarolMS]

Here is another offering to the Body Litopia:

A colorized, yey troublingly ironic "Quiddit."
View attachment 14245
And another selection from my all-star horn band, Vinyl Hampdin. This one personifies my life view

Wowsa! Cookin'! And those worms need to get Zen -- What is the sound of NO hand clapping? Ponder that one!

 

[Jazzissimo]

Wowsa! Cookin'! And those worms need to get Zen -- What is the sound of NO hand clapping? Ponder that one!

Indeed! (and thank you )

 

[Jazzissimo]

Howdy Litopian Lovers of Life!

I just enjoyed a session of righteous info DELUXE with @AgentPete's seminar on writing a killer synopsis. WOWZA! My po' li'l head is in danger of bursting like pipes on a cold winter's day from all of that experiential-knowledge gold. I look forward to joining everyone as a heartfelt contributor in various Litopian places such as my first Huddle last week. Whatever I can offer up in the way of giving back to this group will be my pleasure.

To that end, here are two more hyper-creative offerings from Wiestworld. I hope that you enjoy

For those of you who remember the troublingly surreal kid's show Telly Tubbies and enjoy bizarre casting decisions, here is a fun one:



And, here is a studio video of myself conducting my composition "The Last Theme Song" with an amazing student group that I used to direct called The One O'Clock Lab Band (at The University of North Texas, U.S.) The concept of this piece was to celebrate the lost art of the full-length TV theme song. I hint at some old classics such as "The Streets of San Francisco" as well as "Mannix" along with modern cinematic works like Hans Zimmer's "Inception" score. Enjoy!

 

[Jazzissimo]

Happy New Year Litopia!

At the start of this exciting and happy new trip around our own personal star, I'd like to take a moment to say THANK YOU for your collective fellowship and all of the help you have already given me. This is a righteous group of prose-magicians indeed, and I am proud to be counted among your number. May 2023 be filled with beauty, love, and incredibly lucrative book and movie deals!


This is a picture of beautiful Chicago, Illinois: U.S. Deborah and I live not too far from what you see here. Just go to the bottom right of the picture and travel west (opposite direction of the lake) for a cuppa minnits and there 'tis! The windy road that you see hugging the frozen lake is Lake Shore Drive, a path that I use quite often for all of my downtown–or as we call it "The Loop"– activities.

 

[Rachel Caldecott]

Hello Litopians!

My Litopia name is "Jazzissimo" but my real world name is Steve Wiest. As fate would have it, I just won the November Pop Up Submission! (I'm still recovering from the Guinness-fueled celebration of said) Hello to @Emily who encouraged me to join (actually threatened me with dire Celtic retribution the likes of which I can't even IMAGINE if I didn't join) so here I am! This is my website if you want a look-see as to what I've been up to: Steve Wiest Website

I don't know my way around yet, but I'm looking forward to learning. My first order of business will be to ask all of you genius writers (the Spider Robinson term "prose-birthing" came up during my first Pop Up Submission show and wasn't very well received, so I won't use that...ooops...I guess I just used it ) to help me to craft a title for my new novel. This is the one that won November ("Mmmmm...Guinness...) and its original title was "Dreaming of Tesla." It's a sci-fi jazz-speak comedy thriller love story...so, yeah. I will create a thread in the discussion room and see what I get.

In the meantime, I'm thrilled to be here and I look forward to spending time with Y'all (I LOVE all things U.K. but am based in Chicago, Illinois: U.S. and came of age in the Deep South, U.S. a place called Hattiesburg, Mississippi that is very close to New Orleans, Louisiana...thus the use of "Y'all")

Talk with you soon!

PS: By way of introduction to the Colony, I mentioned that I am a musician first and foremost (hoping to change that to novelist first and foremost...time will tell...) so here is a recent video of me with my all-star horn band called "Vinyl Hampdin." I compose and write everything and play trombone in the group (yep, I'm the white-haired fellow in the video. Do yo know how much white hair dye costs these days? ) It begins with our drummer filming his portion with the able help of his kids, then we are off into a piece I wrote about manifesting good things. Enjoy!

Sorry I missed your submission. Welcome!

 

[Jazzissimo]

Sorry I missed your submission. Welcome!

Thank you Rachel! Not sure if anything will come of said Pop Up win...but the quest continues! Happy New Year!