Noj

One I don't see recommended here is the two-cd anthology The Curtom Story: Curtis Mayfield's School Of 20th Century Soul. Great tracks by Leroy Hutson, The Five Stairsteps, and others.

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I can't find a frame of reference when I listen to the performance in the original post, so it's strictly a visceral experience for me. There's no easily recognizable category of rhythm to file it under and no catchy melody. As a result the only descriptions coming to my head were "eerie" and "creepy" because it sounds unsettling to me. Maybe I just don't have the mileage listening to such music. To satisfy my curiosity, would someone humor me with a positive, descriptive review of what was performed? What makes it good, for you? Is it the lack of predictability? The technical skill on the horn? Or is it strictly visceral? I suppose I should just be satisfied with "not for everyone."

At times it's difficult to believe it's a trumpet making the noises. Multiple times in the performance the sound reached a wail of unearthly creepiness. His circular breathing is remarkable. It's not my bag, but it's pretty intense. My tastes fall more in line with Dan Gould's. It raises questions for me as to how much of this might just be considered showing off chops, like a metal guitarist just shredding for the sake of shredding. As if it were more practicing than composing. Although there is a somewhat emotional feel to it all, I feel as if it's a bit mush-mouthed or not as pronounced in the emotion it provokes as a solo arriving at such technical fireworks within the context of more recognizable jazz elements. Don't get me wrong, I think there's room to appreciate any sort of music performed however anyone wants to perform it. And if this is exactly someone's bag, more power to it. It feels to me like the height of a solo, at its most abstract and completely detached moment, extended for 20 minutes, and not bookended by the journey there and back. How did we get there? I don't know, but we're there, it's eerie, and we don't get to go home.

Haters will look for and find the most irrelevant reasons to dislike a team they already dislike. Lebron didn't leave early. That's what matters. How come nobody is calling Duncan a choker? Because he isn't. The greatest players aren't great on every play. If you hate them already when they miss a big shot, they're a choker. Some guys will call a player with 1) the greatest pressure on him and 2) the best elimination game stats in playoff history.......... a choker. I reserve the right to be totally unreasonable and hateful with regard to sports. I'd probably be more forgiving if Devil Stern hadn't blocked the Lakers' trade for Chris Paul on the basis of "fairness," while letting this Miami Globetrotter team get built from nothing.

*excepting the fans who left Game 6 in the 4th quarter with the outcome very much in doubt. #nonbasketballbandwagonfans

Congrats, Evan!

LeBron was having a huge quarter (though a good bit was with Splitter in the paint) until arguably the two most crucial possessions of the quarter, during which he flailed into the key for a turnover, then the next trip down he got an awkward, forced shot blocked and sat down to cry for a foul while the Spurs went the other way. Had they lost, it would make three Finals that LeBron had been unable to win.

The two turnovers James had down the stretch in the 4th quarter were such awful chokes that, had LeBron not been bailed out by some really fortunate Spurs free throw misses and a miracle Ray Allen three, I think his legacy may have been damaged. Unbelievably lucky win for the Heat, and I think the Spurs won't be able to recover from having the championship in hand and blowing it that badly.

I agree with this. It's less about entire shows than moments/certain songs within shows. For example "Villanova Junction" from Woodstock is one of the most chilling live performances I've ever heard. I love the different, funkier version of "Red House" Jimi did in that show marred by the drunken, obscenity-shouting Jim Morrison (same show? I have it on a weird boot).

I suppose "necessary" wasn't the best choice of word. Any egomaniac is welcome to attempt to dictate the terms of relevance to the entire world, but should expect the inevitable repercussions and dissent from everyone else. There's a whole lot of artists I had to learn about in order to get a high score on certain exams. Even if I didn't like what they did, it was viewed as important to the establishment that students understand what they did and why it is considered relevant. Above and beyond that, no matter what your tastes, whatever you create must have an audience. It must inspire an audience and captivate them. Having resonated with a large audience doesn't necessarily mean the establishment will share the enthusiasm, but often the two coincide. With that in mind it's sort of odd to attack an established artist in the same field whose work has resonated with a really broad audience. Not sure what he's trying to prove or who he's trying to prove it to. It's sort of like a mouthy sports star who ought to let his game do the talking. If he doesn't want to play like Wayne Shorter...don't play like Wayne Shorter. Show and prove.

In all the arts it is necessary to separate historical relevance from personal taste, and to know the latter doesn't dictate the former.

Right. The Pats will make Tebow effective and really rub it the Jets' noses in it.

Me too. Wayne Shorter's music is some of the most beautiful I've heard in any genre, and this poor sap Hoffman has somehow thought himself out of appreciating it.

Go Spurs! I will, without trepidation, say Jordan is the greatest shooting guard of all time. MJ was a breathtaking athlete and an unflappable winner who not only lived up to his hype but looked awesome while doing it. However, Jordan could not pass the ball like Magic Johnson. Nor did he score the ball as much as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (who had as many NBA titles and more NCAA titles). Jordan's even surpassed in shooting touch by Bird. He never averaged a triple double for a season like the Big O. He didn't average 50ppg and 25rpg like The Stilt. Greatest ever overall my foot. There's no such player.

I'm sick of the "greatest ever" hyperbole with Jordan. Jordan's Bulls beat old, depleted teams and mediocre, unbalanced teams. It was a lull between Kareem and Shaq. In fact, I'm sick of the individual being raised above the team. No basketball player wins anything alone. Not Jordan, or Kobe, or LeBron, or anybody.

I'd rather watch Timmy Turtlehead get another title. LeBron is truly great, but I hate him and his team.

Go Spurs.

I quit cigarettes 14 years ago. I used to smoke pot all day long until 7 years ago.

Go Pacers! Go brawls that get Heat players suspended!

I'm a fan of mid-century modern...

Bumped my pledge up to the $100 level.

My timing with the fast forward/rewind buttons was second to none.