AllenLowe

I'm thinking of Brad Pitt as a donor - but don't tell Angelina Jolie -

I love the Hound Dog Taylor - also a VERY interesting clip of the Rolling Stones live in 1969 in which, on Honky Tonk Woman, they nearly double the tempo during the tune - so much for the vaunted RS rhythm section -

see you then Grandy... Nate, Jaki was drinking heavily in those late years, very depressed over his wife's death - listen to the earlier solo albums and it will change your life - and also be aware that Jaki was playing without key centers as early as the middle 1950s, according to his fellow Bostonian Charlie Banacos, but never got credit for it because he was out of NYC - at his peak he was incredible - check out, as well, the OJC stuff at Lennies on the Turnpike, with Joe Farrell - wow!

that is one flat rat -

just a bit more on Balliett, who has written some great profiles but has real limitations and problems - he called Miles Davis a "first rate second rate trumpet player," disliked Jaki Byard, and got caught up in his own descriptive prowess - I find some of his musical descriptions unbearable - on the other hand, his profile of Pee Wee Rusell is a work of art, and many of his interviews are indispensible - and the Max Roach comment on lack of swing shows a fundamental lack of understanding of a certain key jazz aesthetic -

John Szwed told me about running into him at a Jazz Journalists Association event a few years ago - he was a major jazz hipster -

interestingly enough, that Hawkins with strings album was Dave Schildkraut's favorite Hawk recording -

how about Gary Coleman? (well, maybe as Pee Wee Marquette)

actually, if you look closely, there is small print on many albums that says: "do not listen to this while operating heavy machinery"

actually, I think Justin Guarini should play Duke -

or Mussolini's kid -

is that the one with vocals by Martha Raye?

I have an old recording, Mussolini on piano, Hitler on bass, Stalin on drums - not bad once they stop fighting over Poland -

Busard's a nut, but a nice guy and fun to talk to - and has the most massive collection of American music on the face of the earth -

Clem - you're thinking of Robert Walser -

if Bill Gates had a nickel for every time Windows crashes.... wait - he does!

I actually have a US distibution source for Frog, and can probably place orders - if you are intersted email me and I'll make a call to find out -

$25 for a signed photo - and some of you guys got mad at me for FIRST pointing out what a skinflint Horace is -

I'm with Jim on this one - though I never took FORMAL lessons, my teachers were on the turntable: Ornette Coleman, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Haden, Bud Powell, Booker Ervin, Dave Schildkraut, Monk, Charles Mingus - that's a good faculty - from age 14 to age 17 I listened to jazz maybe 4-6 bours a day (almost every day) - than I sat down at the piano and read a lot of lead sheets. I've taken the best piece of educational advice from Von Freeman: "Learn your chords and suffer."

well, Tristano was the same guy who described Sonny Rollins' playing as "all emotion, no feeling."

yikes - not a smart attitude from the director - as the movie Ray proved, it's just not true - unless you are Doris Day playing Ruth Etting in Love Me or Leave Me, it's probably a better idea to use the original. Unless, of course, you have something to bring to the vocals, something that captures the spirit. From what I've heard of Phoenix, it's a bit of a botch, but I'll reserve final judgement until I see him in the context of the movie.

not nearly as distracting as having to listen to Phoenix singing for two+ hours -

I ignore no one, as I want to know who's plotting against me or is threatening my dog -

I can't believe they couldn't afford to do the licensing - and I've heard his singing, which I find unlistenable, though I have not seen the movie yet. Either way it was a major mistake, as there is really no replacing the original, especially if you want to have the performance impact. And, honestly, I'm doubtful they could have forced him to do the singing. Sorry, I still see this as a vanity issue - trust me, I know the type -

Phoenix's decision to do the vocals was a bad one and, and, I'm willing to bet, attributable to simple actor's vanity -