Lazaro Vega

In 2006 the Western Jazz Quartet from Western Michigan University appeared live on Blue Lake Public Radio, and it was Steve Zegree who christened our new baby grand piano, the same one we're still using today. In honor of Steve's transition, during the first hour of tonight's Jazz From Blue Lake we'll hear an excerpt of that broadcast with Trent Kynaston, Tom Knific and Timothy Froncek . Streaming live from www.bluelake.org/radio

Opening today. (Blurb):Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park's new $22 million Japanese Garden opens Saturday to the public. If you plan to go now or in the future, check this out for background and visitor information.

Sunday reading.

Last night Jazz From Blue Lake featured music by Ornette Coleman in honor of his 85th lap around the sun, with remembrances for Lew Soloff and Steve Zegree, too. Here's a link to the broadcast, which is good for today only: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/18-1-20150309.mp3

In case you missed any of these tributes. KCRW (? Is that right? A "K" station in NYC?) continues it's Ornette Coleman week, too.

The music of Bix Beiderbecke was featured last night on Jazz From Blue Lake, with a focus on his small group recordings with Frank Trumbauer during the first part of each hour. We'll also hear from Randy Sandke, Catherine Russell, Freddie Hubbard and Rene Marie. Enjoy the 5 hour program on demand today only: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150310.mp3

“There’s not an infinite supply of water.”

Carolyn Heines. Is this about right? http://www.theraceclub.com/videos/swimisodes-yoga-for-swimmers-core-exercise/

Last night Jazz From Blue Lake featured the music of Mike Clark in the first part of each hour, and heard music by Russ Johnson, Charlie Kohlhase, and James Falzone's Renga Ensemble in advance of The Chicago Explorer's Club concert a week from Sunday at LaFontsee Galleries / Underground Studio. See www.adventuremusic.org for tickets to that one. Here's the link to last evening's broadcast: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150312.mp3

James Falzone returns to Grand Rapids on March 22nd with Charlie Kohlhase's Chicago Explorers Club. Have you read James' bio? http://allosmusica.org/press/#/bios/

Friday night in Spring Lake: (blurb) Tickets are still available for Ari Hest for his concert here this Friday night. Not familiar with Ari? Check out the video below. Grab a couple of tickets, find your favorite person and settle in for one of the best concerts and best concert experiences you can have. Tickets available here: http://bit.ly/1JwMc8n or by calling the Box Office at 616-930-4755.

Last night Jazz From Blue Lake featured the music of Tom Varner. Here's a link to the broadcast, http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/18-1-20150617.mp3

Jazz From Blue Lake on now to 10 this morning with a special shout out to Cathy Holbrook of St. Cecilia Music Center for a wonderful jazz concert series. We'll hear the musicians who appeared there, and look forward to Miguel Zenon today at WMU, and Charlie Kohlhase next Sunday. Www.bluelake.org/radio

Lauren Deutsch writes: There is no quiet in my heart or head. So these nine victims will join those who perished before them – a sacrifice to the blood-soaked pedestal erected around the constitution’s second amendment that gun lobbyists say guarantees the right of individuals to bear arms. Where guns are concerned this is what passes for American exceptionalism – an 18th century compromise with fatal 21st century ramifications. For the parishioners of the Emanuel African Me...

U.S.

Here's a link to last night's Jazz From Blue Lake featuring trumpeter Malachi Thompson with a premier Chicago Rhythm Section on several recordings, bassist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Avreayal Ra, who you'll hear in Grand Rapids on May 3rd at LaFontsee Galleries / Underground Studio. Dee Alexander sings on several recordings featured last night, too. And of course we heard from Roy Haynes. http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150313.mp3

Great read. http://theendofbeing.com/2013/03/06/jacques-derrida-interviews-ornette-coleman-the-others-language/

Steve Lacy temporarily on demand: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/18-1-20150618.mp3

Were you at NeoCon?

Russ Johnson in Grand Rapids this Sunday, 3/22. See www.adventuremusic.org

Did you catch her at the East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival?

From Mark Stryker: Wow! Steve Lampert just hipped me to an amazing find: Leonard Feather's archives at the University of Idaho includes 50 tapes raw tapes of his blindfold tests/interviews with, um, Miles Davis ('58), Cannonball & Nat Adderley, Art Farmer, Art Blakey, Dizzy, Duke, dozens more. I dipped into the Miles tape, the Adderleys and a couple others. Incredible. Caveat emptor: I have no idea what all is in here yet, and some things maybe mislabeled. I tried one labeled Samuel Hayakawa...

Usuable ideas here?

Dick LaPalm worked with Nat King Cole for years, behind the scenes, not on the bandstand. And he'd send out the following letter to jazz radio programmers annually: Dear Radio Royalty, This coming March 17, NAT KING COLE turns 98. Using the present tense is absolutely fitting. Today, at every hour, radio stations around the world continue to broadcast his timeless music. He is, indeed, still very much with us. He still stands out from the rest, and he stands alone. Comparing anyone to...

Blue Lake Public Radio features the music of guitarist Bill Frisell tonight after 10 p.m. From Ted Panken: "Happy birthday, Bill Frisell, 64 today. I'm reposting an entry on the blog from a year ago of a Downbeat feature that I wrote about Bill in 2008, and an uncut Blindfold Test from about 15 years ago."