Random Notes - 11/28/1998

Jazz keyboardist Kenny Kirkland was found dead in his apartment November 17th, and the early indications are that it was drug-related. Kirkland's most visible gigs had been with Sting and the Tonight Show band under the direction of Branford Marsalis. He was 43.

Filter continues their steady pace towards a sophomore effort, having packed up their Chicago studio for sunny Los Angeles, where producer Ben Grosse will preside over the final mixing. No official word on a release date yet, but I can tell you that the snare drum on at least a couple of tracks sounds great. New band member Steve Gillis borrowed my Premier Signia snare for some of the sessions, and putting it to good use would be something of an understatement. This album has the potential to gain some serious recognition both for Gillis and the band, who have only turned up on a couple of soundtracks since releasing Short Bus in 1995.