Marketing More Clearly What's The Point?

Violin virtuoso Jean-Luc Ponty made a rare live appearance at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on his latest tour. 67 years old and still touring, he played a mix of older jazz-rock 80's fusion and more recent material from his latest band including William Lecomte (keyboards), Baron Browne (bass) and Damien Schmitt (drums). It's a long way from the Frank Zappa and Mahavishnu Orchestra days, but he still sounds great, discounting a few timing problems they'll work out as they tour. It seems strange now to think violin was not considered a serious jazz instrument when he started out.

Check out my article in The Pragmatic Marketer magazine. This issue of the journal for technology product management and marketing professionals includes "I Heard What You Said. Now What Did You Mean?" If you've had the opportunity to sit through a presentation, read a document, or watch a video produced by your company that was full of information—yet, you came away wondering what it was all about, read my article to learn what to do about it.

I see headlines that imply they make us something else, whether it's easier to reach, more productive, better connected or just better accessorized. These devices account for about a quarter of the US cell phone market and are showing a 25% growth rate at the expense of their dumber cousins. I do think there's a social component beyond status symbol. Sometimes we can find new uses for devices that combine functions, are easy to use or make us more mobile. I used to carry around a Palm, iPod and cell phone before getting an iPhone that combines them all (although the Palm is still more functional as a PDA). It's costing me more, that's for sure, with the mandatory data plan from AT&T.  But I can browse the web, take photos (crummy ones), read books, check the weather, read email, find someone, watch video, listen to music and even call somebody. That's more than I could do with those three old devices combined. And it's a very addictive gadget to play around with in an off moment.

++=

Last September, photographer Jimmy Chin set out with Conrad Anker and Renan Ozturk to climb India's Shark's Fin, a 6,500-foot rock route that's twice as long and just as steep as anything on El Capitan. The central pillar of 20,700-foot Mount Meru is in the Garhwal Himalaya of India. The 6,500-foot route has difficulties of 7a (5.11d), M5, and 80-degree ice.  At least 16 attempts have been made on the main line up the prow. They didn't make it this time and suffered days of freezing weather in their portaledge. Their video blog has some great footage and attitude. 

Reading Anker's article in Outside got me thinking about things we wish we'd done and didn't. And realizing here's a guy who might regret things he did, but probably not things he didn't do. Also the thing about summitting, finishing, winning. They didn't get to the top, but what an incredible accomplishment to get that far, persevere through a storm, climb at night, and keep going. Yet know when to turn around and come down. After all, the top is only halfway they say.

I had one of those days when I just needed the feeling of accomplishment, but some projects just won't end. So maybe on days like this I need to take some pride in what we got done along the way. Monday I'll come back and try to finish again.

Mt. Meru is a sacred mountain considered to be the center of the universe.

Mahavishnu Orchestra meets Return To Forever at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 3/23/09. Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Kenny Garret, Christian McBride and Vinnie Colaiuta. John McLaughlin introduced himself and Chick Corea as old hippies having played together some 40 years ago on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew. They each formed revolutionary jazz fusion bands in the 70's.  Each of the musicians in this band are among the world's top performers on their instruments. It was a night of complex, fast, dazzling virtuoso jazz music.

Finished this watercolor piece over the weekend. It's always a challenge!

The original slide was taken in Dusy Basin, Kings Canyon National Park, California.

"Carrying on the tradition of jazz guitar from Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt to the present day is a very important aspect of my music… I'd like people to perceive me as having a direct connection to the history of jazz guitar, while expanding some musical boundaries which may not always involve the guitar itself." - John Abercrombie

Last night at the Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz, the John Abercrombie Organ Quartet (Gary Versace organ, Jerry Bergonzi tenor and Adam Nussbaum drums) played a very straight out set of professional jazz in the classic sense. Structured themes, individual improvization, quartet performance.

So what does that have to do with marketing? We live within the structure of a business which defines the boundaries of our expression. That is the products, the markets, the organization we work within. In this structure we have our teams, the one we work in and the ones we work with. Those structures and boundaries set the themes within which we can improvise and create. Sometimes we push those boundaries and create new ones, sometimes we work within them to best advantage. Perhaps in music as well as marketing we have to remember what we do is done for the audience, the listener in jazz or the buyer in business. The freedom in structure, the boundaries in expression where we can try new things, improvise, learn and work together creating something new our audience wants to hear.

Alex Honnold, 22, made the first free solo of the Regular Northwest Face (VI 5.12a, 23 pitches) on Half Dome on September 6, 2008.  That's no rope, protection or gear of any kind besides climbing shoes and chalk.  He completed the route in 2 hours, 50 minutes. Dan Osman is quoted: "You don't wanna die right? So you just don't fall." Just don't fall!

Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale have been Acoustic Alchemy for about 20 years. Hearing their positive, energetic jazz at the Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz is a treat in a small club where you can't be more than eight rows from the performers. They are very tightly arranged, performing with both speed and melody. We went to the first show and they invited the audience to stay for the second, so we did. The sets both went by fast.

Our road trip through northern Idaho and western Montana.

Lake Pend Oreille, Glacier National Park and Hells Canyon.

Here's LP sitting on Siyeh Pass at 7,750'.

 The Yellowjackets are an enduring jazz quartet performing with Mike Stern which adds a seriously improvisational and edgy sound to what used to be a staple fusion band. Seeing them in a small venue like Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz really puts the music first in an intimate way. Last night was a very improvisational, energetic and quite virtuous set. Bob Mintzer often leads the music, but with Mike Stern's guitar and Russ Ferrante's keyboards they really have strong soloists. Not to minimize Marcus Baylor and Jimmy Haslip who are incredible musicians on their own. The time passed quickly.

He does make it sound simple. Just set up more wind power to offset natural gas home power generation which can then be used for transportation fuel. Thus reducing the country's energy costs by $300 billion over 10 years. The U.S. is already the world's leading generator of wind power even though it only produces 1% of the electricity in this country. Never thought I'd hear wind power advocated by a conservative oil tycoon. And he's got a very straightforward Internet campaign to market his ideas. It's a grassroots campaign using social networking techniques to raise awareness and put pressure on the next U.S. president. He's an 80 year old video blogger with a Ning powered site, a page on Facebook and a Twitter following. $58 million to spend on a campaign will certainly buy you expertise. He does have his own commercial interests as well. But I have to admire the marketing machine behind it all.

We spent the July 4th week at Lake Tahoe again this year, this time with our recently adopted dog. There are quite a few dog friendly places you can go. And the wildflowers are in their peak season this time of year. Here are the north lake spots we hit:

North Tahoe Regional Park off National Avenue in Kings Beach has about 3-4 miles of wooded trails for hiking in addition to the tennis courts, ball fields and a disc golf course. They ask for $3 parking fee from non-residents (but you can come in from Regency Drive via Highway 267 free). Dogs must be on leash. In winter it's used for cross-country skiing and snow machine racing on a track.

The Commemorative Overland Emigrant Trail is accessed from Alder Creek Road 2.3 miles up highway 89 north from Truckee. It's 15 miles total in length, but the trailhead 3 miles up Alder Creek Road follows the creek. Dogs must be leashed or under voice control. A moderate mountain bike trail as well.

Spooner Lake is a beautiful spot and the take off point for the famous Flume Trail for mountain bikes. The 2.1 mile hike around the lake is level and dogs must be on leash (but we let him jump in whenever he wanted). It's in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park so there is a $6 fee for you and your dog. You can also hike out the North Canyon trail to Marlette Lake for a longer day.

Prosser Creek Reservoir in Tahoe National Forest is a nice place to paddle without power boats. It's located 2.5 miles up Highway 89 north of Truckee (past Alder Creek Road). We let our dog run free and leashed him when he got too excited about the wildlife and wouldn't get in the canoe.

Chimney Beach is an incredible find.  South of Sand Harbor via Highway 28 it's access from a public parking lot. There are additional access trails and parking areas along the highway. It's the classic Tahoe beach: white sand, boulders, torquoise water. The trail continues along the lake for several miles to Secret Harbor. Be warned, clothing is optional!

Watson Lake is accessed from Highway 267 by taking the Fiberboard Freeway at Brockway Summit about 6 miles. It's a pretty spot and you can hike out the Tahoe Rim Trail from there. Or hike to the lake via the TRT. It's a popular mountain bike trail, so watch out.

For a place to stay in Incline Village, my parents' place is for rent.

View our trip.