tkeith

Thanks... about to go plow... just punch me in the nuts.

Caught Dodgers/Giants Thursday. Both look like they have some talent in camp. Giants have a kid named Romo they should trade to the Yankees immediately so that the rest of the east thrives. It was a decent game until this guy showed up. Pretty sure Eddie Gaedel would have taken him deep.

Wow, odd that nearly everyone started with the bonus disc. I wanted to nail that Larry Young tune early, but never got back to listening before the HD died. After reading this, I probably would have been third, anyway. Definitely and ear workout and I'll be chewing on my collar waiting for the answers. Way to push the envelope by including a wide variety of music.

No peakies, mostly one-off listens. I mention this later, but I'd just started listening (started with bonus tracks) and responding when my laptop HD died. That sucked. Anyway, sorry for the delay. Track 1 - Boppish/Tristanoesque piece. Bone is not a guy I'm overly familiar with. Nice raspy tone at points, but overall seems to lag a bit behind the beat. Tenor sound is Marsh-like, but doesn't have Marsh's warmth. I want to say Konitz playing tenor, but doesn't seem to have the polish of Lee. Track 2 - Oh, yum! Trumpet has some Kenny Wheeler on him, but sounds more out than that. Dave Douglas, maybe? Altos sound like schooled guys, but one reminds me of Moondoc and the other of Rob Brown, but it's neither. Maybe a hyper-controlled Zorn? Recording sounds modern, but bassist reminds me of Nick Degeronimo -- but I would think him dead before this recording. Could this be a Whit Dickey record? Track 3 - This one isn't firing for me. Seems too learned and trying to be out. A lot of guys doing this now, taking that Tristano feel and playing the learned 'outside' style over it -- doesn't work for my ears. There's nothing *wrong* with this, and that's what's wrong. Just doesn't have fire. Track 4 - Electric bass... ugh. I'd like this better without the electric guitar and electric bass. This reminds me of one of Dennis Gonzalez' bands, but doesn't quite fire for me like that does (geez I'm a negative bastard!). Alto sounds like somebody who's listened to a lot of Grover Washington -- playing very exaggeratedly off the beat much of the time; kind of reminds me of Candy Dulfer. I'm going to take a SWACG (Sophisticated Wild-And-Crazy Guess) at the guitarist, but I'm sure I'm wrong -- I like my guess better than this -- and say Vernon Reid. Even some shades of Sonny Sharrock in there. Sounds like rock-leaning people trying to play an aggressive crossover. It sort of works at times, a bit like Material. Track 5 - Not sure I know this trumpeter. I like the mix with the strings, though. Has an ECM sound to the recording, which had me thinking Kenny Wheeler again, but it's not him -- missing that trademark sweet thing he gets up high. I like this. Track 6 - I think I know this guy, but I can't pin him down (on second listen, now). A bit of Ricky Ford, but cleaner. Must be one of those guys on the edge of my field of listening. Reminds me of an Ellery Eskelin record I just got off eMusic (haven't played it yet, just catalogued it). He plays one of the old Gene Ammons tunes and smokes it. This guy has a more muscular tone than EE, though. Track 7 - Eh... huh? No thanks. Track 8 - Crazy Rhythm. Love this tune. I was going to guess Zoot early on, but the rhythm isn't spot-on like Zoot. Valve trombone. No clue. Track 9 - Huh... shows up as "Track 2" in Quicktime. No idea, but reminds me a bit of Zappa's Jazz From Hell, which I never really cared for. Track 10 - Shows as "Track 3" in QT. This stuff would interest me in the right setting, but it's just not stuff I'd sit down and listen to. No idea. Track 11 - Shows as "Track 4" in QT. Not sure what it is, but the arrangements are by somebody who knows what he's doing. Very pro and tight. Sounds like Charles McPherson on alto to me. Not sure of the 'bone, at all. Modern tenor, don't care for him. Guessing a college boy -- totally loses the feel that was setup for him. Piano rings no bells. Track 12 - Shows as "Track 5" in QT. Different, but not reaching me. Sounds like it's trying to be 'out' but, I don't know -- I like the way Bindu does it, I guess. No guesses. BONUS DISC Track 13 - Yeah baby! That's what I'm talkin' about! Knew this in 2 notes, and started to type my response (started with the bonus), then my laptop took a dirt-nap the next day. Tender Feelings. My guy Tyrone on tenor (solo). I believe Herbert Morgan is the second tenor on this cut. I have this on the Mosaic set, but I think the album is Contrasts. Eddie Gladden and Eddie Wright. It's not Woody Shaw... hang on, it'll come to me... Hank White! These two sides (last two discs in the Mosaic set) are some of my favorite music ever. I was actually going to include a cut from this when I did my BFT. Great choice! Track 14 - Not sure... reminds me of that Anthony Ortega date with Chuck Domanico, but this guy sounds a little funkier than Anthony. I don't know *who* this is, but I like it a bunch. Track 15 - I like how this develops, but it takes awhile. This would be very interesting to watch live. Interesting and effective use of electronics, but tough to hear without seeing.

Wily Mo Kingman will never be a major part of any team's picture. He should have been demoted to the minors years ago, but the structure of his original deal was idiotic -- likely prevented an impressive career.

They're stockpiling those upper-middle-of-the-road OFs. I think Abreu is the best one they've gone after, yet, though. You think there's any chance Rivera would see some time at 1B?

It's a tie -- Billy Mitchell, J & B and Slam both from This Is Billy Mitchell. Oh YEAH, man!

Bobby Hutcherson's NOW, track SLOW CHANGE or HELLO TO THE WIND

Pops was not just a fan, but actually made his living busking.

To some extent, I think that happens anyway. I'm not sure the BFT needs and extended formal process. I'll only speak for me, but one of the reasons I like the BFT is that it is laid back; it's a relaxing experience where I can just listen and see what I recognize. If I, the participant, wish to turn it into an information quest, I can do that, or I can just listen and make my guesses. Either way, it won't affect the way I approach the BFT, but the Libertarian side of me starts to get concerned when something simple starts to become needlessly formalized.

It's possible that Henry's share was $380-million, but 700 is always the number I've heard.

My bad -- we'll make sure to talk about second division teams, too, from now on.

I'm in, but I'll wait for the digital version. Thanks for making it a one-disc affair -- I totally agree with your logic on this.

Much as I love 'Tek, I hope it's a cheap contract. Thanks for posting some Hot Stove news, Zen... refreshing. Now back to the previously scheduled mudslinging.

I guess few careers ever fell apart as quickly as Steve Blass's, and other hitters have just lost it too at an early age too, but this one seems more mysterious than some of the others. Probably just because it's the latest, though recalling that baby face of his when he homered in the World Series as a kid is part of it too. I hope he figures it out, but he has so far to go just to be plain old awful right now. Agreed. He was such a dominating force of natural talent when he arrived, you really hate to see it come to this. It'd be nice to see him figure it out.

Don't look at Rice's grounded into double numbers then. Right-handed power-hitters tend to hit into a lot of double plays. Particularly in a park with short infield grass.

Back atcha. Evans had an overrated arm. Very strong, but his accuracy was suspect (note the throw to 1B in game 6, 1975). I saw him do that more times than I can mention here. I like Dewey, but people who rave about his arm are looking at the numbers, not the games. Rice did *not* have a good arm, but that prompted people to run on him, and when they did, he could cut them down with accuracy. He didn't get lucky like Manny, he actually could hit a target.

Cerone was with Toronto when Munson died. I believe it was Jerry Narron who did that. I'm on the fence about Munson; he falls into that Garvey category for me. But I'd have no objection if he were in.

*THAT* is a tremendous travesty. Both Hawk and Murph belong, but that vote total is a real slap in the face.

Hmmm... there was 1980/81, when they had all but locked up Dave Winfield, only to have him leave the dinner and be the victim of racial epithets in the streets of Hotlanta, which irked him enough to choose the Skankees. I'm liking the look of the crimson hose. I'll like them even more when the Saltalamacchia deal gets done! Zen, I worry that your thoughts on Lugo may be correct, but I'm seriously hoping not. Lugo would make a spectacular utility player, and an abysmal starting SS.

I agree with you Jim, though nobody is trying to deify Guaraldi the way they do with Evans. As for the dinner party, I'm not allowed to choose the music anymore. Even when I choose rock stuff for a party, I get accused of playing it too loud. However, the last time I programmed a "jazz dinner party" set, I went heavy on the Dick Griffin (Now Is The Time and The Eighth Wonder) and Pharoah Sanders (Journey To The One), carefully selecting the non-wild stuff. Evidently, my opinion of what constitutes that description differs greatly from the rest of the free world.

I guess thats good especially if he can bounce back from this surgery ....BUT what we really need is a catcher and a 4th outfielder!!!!! My guess is that Smoltz would take over Masterson's spot, and JM would return to the rotation. This frees up Buchholz for the Saltalamacchia trade. Saw this morning that they're in talks with Rocco Baldelli, which addresses the 4th OF spot nicely, IMHO.

Wow. Somebody should send that guy the links to Hans Groiner!

It might have been this one. Jim Wohlford batting cleanup and Joe Strain batting sixth... hard to believe Philly could pull that one out.

Mike Hargrove... the human rain delay. By comparison, Nomar was in a hurry to get in the box.