Who R U?

So I've heard ska but didnt know what it was. I certainly remember My Boy Lollipop. And I like reggae. Enough for this thread, thanks.

Hi Everyone. I'm a philosophy professor who lives in the DC area. I've been involved (obsessed?) with music since my college years in the late 60's (I'm 53 now). I occasionally play saxophone and clarinet (especially when my 2 kids are home and let me play with their various bands). I'm happy to say my love of music has passed on to both of them. Once a year or so I teach a course on world music. When I lived in Europe during my junior year in college I was perfectly happy with an $8 all in one record player that automatically turned off when it finished playing so I could easily fall asleep nightly to Dr. Zhivago or Wildflowers or Mozart's 39th Symphony. My wife of 28 years, bless her soul,similarly is still content with the stand alone cd player she plays in the kitchen. Alas, I am no longer satisfied with this level of sound reproduction. I caught the bug about 10 years ago when a friend introduced me to Stereophile, the Absolute Sound, and to separates. After seemingly endless changes I've reached the following: Soundlab Ultimate 2 speakers, Innersound Electrostatic Amp, CAT Sig 1 mk2 Preamp, ARC CD2 (about to upgrade via Audiogon to Muse 8/296) cdp, Michael Green Designs roomtunes and (about to arrive any day) MGD Justarack deluxe stereo rack, ESP power cables and power distributor/ conditioner, Stealth gold interconnects and silver speaker cable, AR AE1 turntable/arm with Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge. I own nearly 4000 records and over 5000 cd's -- and also about 15,000 books. The truly weird thing about all this is that somehow I think my purchasing choices illustrate something significant about my taste and predilections in life. I also play golf, write and publish book reviews and essays in philosophy, and listen to tons of music from all parts of the world as often as I can. To mention a few performers that I like (and have seen live whenever possible): Diamanda Galas, Nusrat Feteh Ali Khan, the Fairfield Four, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Residents, Pink Floyd, Gustav Mahler, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Miles Davis, Art Pepper, Kadri Gopalnath, Alvin Lucier, Eric Dolphy, Ry Cooder, Indonesian Gamelan, Tuvan Throat Singers, Malian Griots, Patricia Barber, Frank Zappa, Hans Theelnik, Fred Frith, John Zorn (... oh, sorry I went on so long but if anyone wants further info about any of these performers I'd be happy to oblige. Their work at least to me is always emotionally gratifying.)
Steve Bindeman

Steve-It sounds like it is going to be very pleasurable having you here, nice to meet you. Just so you know me and Gustav Mahlar are real tight, we went to school together :) FWIW I am one of the many "thread jesters" here, all kidding aside great to have you contributing here.
Tim

sbindeman: you've actually seen gustav mahler perform/conduct? IAE, your tastes appear as eclectic as my own (tho, i've a difficult time imagining how patricia barber AND zappa could coexist as anyone's musical exemplars-perhaps you can explain that from one philosophical perspective or another). i do, most sincerely, welcome you to the 'gon and look forward to reading your opinions. -cfb

I've the same tastes for the music as you steve + some german krautrock stuff. I'm sure that I can continue your likes much further. Zorn is only the beginning...