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azbitterslab.bsky.social
BillB
@azbitterslab.bsky.social
390 followers 580 following 340 posts
Wine, tea, space & prog rock, vinyl, cocktails, live music, guitars, books, ceramics.

Retired as maker of cocktail bitters & as defense analyst /adaptive optics engineer / IMINT /high energy laser geek.

Co-fndr: Architectural Metaphor

Boston -> Phoenix
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azbitterslab.bsky.social
Wonderful show by Stanley Clarke and his band of young guns in Mesa, AZ last night. Some RTF classics, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, and super interplay in stretched out improvs. The man has an amazing touch!
#jazz #jazzfusion #livemusic
Stanley Clarke playing electric bass Stanley Clarke band. Players from left to right: reeds, guitars, SC, violin, percussion Stanley playing upright bass Stanley speaking to the audience.
November 15, 2025 at 4:12 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
Going to see the legend that is Stanley Clarke tonight, so doing some warm up with another bass legend.

Charles Mingus - Mingus at Monterey (RSD 2025)

#NowSpinning #VinylCommunity #vinyl #MusicSky #jazz
Album cover of Mingus at Monterey, depicting a rocky Monterey coast. Turntable spinning album in the background.
November 14, 2025 at 9:08 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
Doing a bit of dinner prep and made Dominque Crenn's confit tomato. (I've been watching cooking Masterclass vids while on the treadmill.) What does one do with all of the tomato peels? Why dehydrate them, of course, to use as garnish (or grind for tomato powder).
#homecooking
4x8 ceramic dish filled with peeled red, orange, and yellow cherry tomatoes covered in oil with shallots and herbs. Baked at 225F convection (107C fan) for 1 hr. Quarter sheet pan with dehydrated tomato peels.
November 2, 2025 at 8:54 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning This album is so good. LoVE Forever Changes.
2012 remaster by Bernie Grundman (Elektra, German pressing)
#vinyl #VinylCommunity #ArthurLee #LaurelCanyon
Album cover of LoVE Forever Changes depicting colorful sketches of the band member faces. Spinning turntable in the background.
November 2, 2025 at 7:56 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#TeaTime Going posh today with Earl Grey from Fortnum & Mason. Lovely sip!
#tea
Brown ceramic tea mug with a blue tag hanging over the left side. Tag says "Fortnum & Mason, Famous Tea, Earl Grey classic"
October 31, 2025 at 9:06 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
A music industry friend is blogging on space rock cassette tapes and is highlighting a compilation that Architectural Metaphor appeared on. It was our 1st show, at an industrial music record shop in Allston MA in 1984. That is me in the front with guitar on lap and a theremin at the ready.
5 musicians. 3 wearing lab coats. Two guitarists, two percussionist, one keyboard. With Peavey and SG amps. Black and white of similar photo as first shown as the backing of a cassette disk. With the title Architectural Metaphor debut show, 1984 Allston MA
October 31, 2025 at 1:04 AM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
Damn.

Rest well, Space Ace

#AceFrehley #KISS #KissArmy
#NowSpinning #vinyl #VinylCommunity
Album cover of Ace Frehley's solo album showing Ace in Space Ace makeup.
October 16, 2025 at 10:59 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning
Sonny Rollins On Impulse!

2019 Vital Vinyl series from Impulse. Nice clean copy with very good dynamics.

#VinylCommunity #albums #jazz
Album cover with a slightly blurry image of Sonny Rollins from his right side playing his sax. Turntable spinning in the background.
October 15, 2025 at 9:25 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
I didn't know anything about Anika Nilles before seeing her in Jeff Beck's last tour in 2022. She was a true powerhouse during that show & she also formed a super tight pocket (w Rhonda Smith on bass) for Beck to do his thing. I can't wait to see what she does with Alex and Geddy.
#Rush #livemusic
Jeff Beck leaning back, turned to his right side, playing a white Strat with Anika Nilles behind her drumkit in the background. Close up of Anika Nilles from her left side, behind her drumkit, with her blond hair blowing all over. Another closeup of Anika behind her drumkit from her left side. Anika in the background behind a red Tama kit. In the foreground are Jeff Beck (left) and Johnny Depp (right).
October 11, 2025 at 9:39 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning It's that time of year for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
2022 Craft, cut at 45rpm by Kevin Gray
#vinyl #VinylCommunity #Peanuts #Halloween #TricksOrTreats #guaraldi
Album cover with a joyous Linus and skeptical looking Sally in a pumpkin patch awaiting The Great Pumpkin with a shadow of Snoopy against a full moon. Turntable with album in the background.
October 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
Enjoying some coffee and a rare cool, rainy morning in the desert.
Colored clay coffee cup of blue, yellow, and orange in the foreground with some flowering desert shrubs, rain causing ripples in a pool, and a grey cloudy sky.
October 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
They picked a super drummer to join them too.
October 9, 2025 at 10:43 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
From my favorite producer of Vouvray bubbly. 2012 Pinon no dose is such a lovely beverage.
#wine #Loire #chenin
October 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
Just saw that The Residents are touring soon, playing Eskimo in its entirety. I am very excited about this. Haven't seen them live since 1986 for their 13th Anniversary Tour.
#experimental #music
October 2, 2025 at 4:31 AM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning This is a hauntingly beautiful album. I've been captivated by the songs that have been released over the past few weeks and to hear the album in its entirety pulls me right into her world.
Emma Swift: The Resurrection Game @emmaswiftsings.bsky.social
#vinyl #VinylCommunity #MusicSky
October 1, 2025 at 1:18 AM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

#jazz #vinyl #MusicSky #VinylCommunity
September 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
Wine while cooking
#Briords #muscadet #LaPepière
September 27, 2025 at 9:58 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
A perfect 60ml sip to have whilst reading.
☕️: Press Coffee Co (AZ), "Twitch"
📖: Deadwood by Peter Cozzens
#espresso #Ninja701
60ml espresso cup from Sicily with blue, yellow, and green horizontal bands seated on a wooden table. Filled with espresso with a light golden yellow crema on top.
September 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning Keith Jarrett The Köln Concert.
Recently bought this at my local library music sale day for $0.50. A classic, for sure
#jazz #music #piano
September 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowPlaying Orange Crate Art by Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson.
Some really brilliant Americana from VDP and some lovely vocals / layering from BW. Sure, it's inconsistent but I love the way VDP weaves lyrics and there are some soaring moments from Brian. #music
September 10, 2025 at 12:43 AM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning Just picked up a 1976 1st UK release (green, Virgin, twins) of Gong - Gazeuse! It is so much brighter and deeper than the 1977 US Virgin Pittman version (Expresso) that I've been playing since release. #Vinyl #VinylCommunity #MusicSky
September 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
Dinner.
1997 Musar.
One of my favorite producers. Exceedingly long life and development track for their reds, whites, and rose. This one is well developed at 28 yrs old but has plenty to go. As usual, the cork gave me a bit of trouble.
#wine #drink #WineSky
September 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowBrewing We recently upgraded our caffeine station with a Ninja 701 to team up w/ our Moccamaster (for daily brew). It's super easy to use, pulls espresso drinks that are rich & smooth, and froths with ease. Today was my 1st attempt at iced & it's really good too! (Topped w/ orgeat foam) #coffee
September 5, 2025 at 8:31 PM
azbitterslab.bsky.social
#NowSpinning Easing into Friday afternoon....
The Band - s/t (The Brown Album)
#VinylCommunity #MusicSky #albums #vinyl
September 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM