David S. Ware seeks kidney donor

Saxophonist David S. Ware is ailing and in need of a kidney donor, reports Steven Joerg who heads Ware's label, Aum Fidelity. Diagnosed with kidney failure in 1999 and on dialysis ever since, Ware has continued to perform and record, with Shakti, a new record featuring a new lineup, out this month. In late December, Ware reported that treatment was no longer working effectively, and that a transplant is his only option. Various friends and family members have offered to help, but have been rejected as donors since they do note share Ware's O blood type. Ware is seeking interested donors who are under 60 years of age and who are in generally good health without diabetes and high blood pressure. The transplant would take place at New Jersey's highly-regarded Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. If you think you can help, get in touch with Joerg at 718 854 2387 or at aum@aumfidelity.com. Ware, of course, is a towering figure of avant-garde jazz, who came to light in the '70s in the bands of Cecil Taylor and Andrew Cyrille, and who led fairly consistent quartet lineups that epitomized modern free jazz throughout the '90s and '00s, landing a major label contract with Columbia at one point but primarily recording for highly-regarded boutique labels like Aum Fidelity, DIW and Thirsty Ear.

Drum-heads open vintage drum shop in Portland

The Breeders' drummer Jose Medeles is teaming up with Scott McPherson, who's sat behind the tubs in the bands of Elliott Smith, Beck and M. Ward to open the Revival Drum Shop in Northeast Portland, Oregon. Medeles characterizes the shop as "a place to check out some great vintage and custom drums, hear timeless music spinning on our turntable, grab a coffee, hang out and talk drum," inspired by Hollywood's Professional Drum Shop,a mecca for skinsmen since 1959. Medeles refers to a photo taken at the PDS featuring "cool drums, cymbals and a couch to sit on. It had a great selection to be sure, but mainly had a cozy, drum friendly environment where all drummers could come and share their love for drumming. When I worked there, the couches had been removed but the vibe remained. I hope REVIVAL captures that spirit of camaraderie." The store will open on January 31st with guest DJs Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse), Janet Weiss (Quasi), Scott DeMay (Mike Kirkendal Band) and Karen Antunes (Mississippi Records). Chick Webb's borthday (February 10th) will be honored by a day-long marathon of Webb's recordings, and on February 13th, the shop will mount a show of drum inspired visual art by Johnny Marr (Modest Mouse), Kim and Kelley Deal (Breeders), Janet Weiss (Quasi), Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd & Kliph Scurlock (Flaming Lips) and others. In-store performances and other events will follow.