General Asylum

General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

Return to General Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Barry Schaffer's jazz opinions

69.255.25.120
Posted on May 26, 2013 at 13:08:26
DaveT
Audiophile

Posts: 1126
Location: Mid Atlantic (Wash, DC Area)
Joined: September 25, 2000
 For those of you who may have communicated with Barry Schaffer over the years via the Asylum or his website Jazz Opinions - well Barry had a stroke last August.

He was partially paralyzed on one side and his communication was virtually nil. Over the past eight months he has spent time in the hospital and two or three rehab facilities. He currently at home and able to move around in a wheel chair, but his communication is limited to a very few words or phrases.

I suspected that info was getting into his head, but he wasn't able to get intelligible info out. Last week I sent him a CD by Sharel Cassity, a saxophonist like Barry. It seems that Barry has responded positively to the music. We can't tell but we think he understands what is said to him.

I plan to send him a few more CDs over the next few weeks.

Those that would like to communicate with him - post a message here and I will see that your messages are read to him. He does not have access to his computer at the moment, but I think if his care takers see a positive response they may well let him have access, again.

If you would like to send him music selections, send an email to
davet dot survey at gmail dot com and I will forward his home mailing address to you.


DaveT

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Barry Schaffer's jazz opinions, posted on May 26, 2013 at 13:18:35
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31872
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 Sorry to read that. Always enjoyed his posts here and appreciated his POV.

I wish him the best and really do hope he is able to make progress
towards a comfortable quality of life.

Happy to hear he is still enjoying listening to music.

God Bless him.

Thank you for posting!


"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Barry Schaffer's jazz opinions, posted on May 26, 2013 at 14:23:34
erik
Audiophile

Posts: 1145
Location: New England
Joined: April 3, 2000
 I had this feeling that something bad is going on with Barry.

I love and deeply respect him. He has an amazing sense of music, and I learned a lot from him. Always enjoyed chatting with him over here.

If you can let him know that we are missing him, and waiting for his blindfold tests, witty jokes that would be great.

Please recover and come back, my man!

Thanks for letting us know, Dave.

 

Wow, that's a shock. I thought he'd just od'd on AA., posted on May 26, 2013 at 22:32:30
Rick W
 Hey Barry -- Music Lane ain't anywhere near as interesting as it was when you were around. Except for GEO, the place has been taken over by pseudo-musicologists. The horror!

They offed Water Cooler, so you'll have to find another forum to spank wingnuts.

I'm betting you recover. I know you're loaded with geezoidal perspicacity. Wish you the best.

Rick

 

All I can say is, posted on May 26, 2013 at 23:38:29
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 20316
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
 SHIT. I DO wish him well
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain

 

RE: All I can say is, posted on May 28, 2013 at 09:54:12
charles1dad
Audiophile

Posts: 157
Location: michigan
Joined: January 2, 2009
 Barry I wish you well and hope your recovery is soon so you can ressume the activities that you love.
Regards,

 

RE: Barry Schaffer's jazz opinions, posted on November 23, 2015 at 16:16:05
Chapra
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: California
Joined: November 23, 2015
 Just saw this post. I can't express how sad I am to hear about Barry's health issues. He really touched a lot of people very deeply with his enthusiasm for jazz and his generosity in sharing his knowledge of the music. Hope he has recovered and is doing well!

 

RE: Barry Schaffer's jazz opinions, posted on November 23, 2015 at 21:56:32
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing- I can think of nothing better than him listening to music to heal.

 

Barry Schaffer's Update, posted on November 27, 2015 at 06:31:45
DaveT
Audiophile

Posts: 1126
Location: Mid Atlantic (Wash, DC Area)
Joined: September 25, 2000
 Barry has recovered somewhat, but externally he is a shadow of his former self. Over the past few years he has met with a series of medical complications. He has regained some very limited speech - just enough to let one know there is an Ol' Bare still in that body.

About a year and a half ago, while he was still living at home, he played his sax for his girlfriend. Since then he only cries at the mention of his playing. He still enjoys listening to the music.

He is now relegated to life in a nursing facility. He can speak a few words in context. He is, definitely, still in there. His girlfriend has come to realize that he has full comprehension of what is going on around him and he has the ability to read. It is just external communication that is the challenge.

Regretfully, I fear the Jazz vinyl and photo collection he amassed over the past 60 years may be lost. People around him don't share his love for music and respect what he has collected. He is still hanging in there though, but from what I have been told he seems to realize the limits to his prospects of measurable rehabilitation. He is quite often reduced to tears.

His girlfriend sees him 5 or 6 days a week. He enjoys her company and will utter the name of a musician when listening to music. Occasionally, he will say a word that let's you know he likes the music to which he is listening.

It is touching to me that you thought of him during this time of Thanksgiving. I will have his girlfriend present to him you thoughts.

On behalf of Barry I thank you for your fond reminiscences of Barry and his website.


DaveT

 

RE: Barry Schaffer's Update, posted on November 27, 2015 at 11:39:01
dirtyvinyl
 Reading/hearing about ANYONE having a stroke resonates with me. I've been extremely lucky to have pulled through one after spending a week in the hospital with brain swelling.
Good fortune was on my side, as I wasn't left with paralysis or a speech defecit.

I am not aware of this mans previous activity here or his website, but certainly can offer wishes of imprvoved health.
Every member here can be a victim regardless of lifestyle.
Here's to EVERYONE having healthy family/friends on this holiday and the coming years.

 

Page processed in 0.033 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]