.:.impossible

Keiko said that Elvin had been in a hospital bed since February due to heart failure. He had been out of the hospital for ten days before the concert. The performance area at Regattabar is on the same level as the tables. My friend has a friend at the ticket office because we've been front and center every time we go. I shit you not, I sat ten feet in front of Elvin's hotrod gold glitter Yamaha drum kit for two sets! They opened with Caravan and I had my worries. He stuck to his floor toms and his strength was not increasing. His rhythm and tempo were on and off and his changes just seemed so sudden. But there were those glimpses. His playing got better and better as he gained confidence in his playing. I loved watching him move around that kit. The more we cheered, the stronger he got. At times, he was fantastic! Elvin didn't talk much, though it looked as though he were trying at times. His facial expressions were priceless. That smile! Mark Shim, whom I had never heard before, can play one fast bebop line on tenor and Eubanks plays a convincing Lee Morgan-style trumpet. Gerald Cannon played a great bass solo on What A Wonderful World, which seems strange to saI'y, but it really was nice. There is no mistaking Elvin. He was definitely doing his thing. I am so glad I went. Keiko takes such great care of that man. It seems she truly understands how much Elvin Jones means to us. My friend took a picture of us. He's kind of an autograph/photo hound. I'll post it once I have it. What I want you to take out of this post: It felt great to be in his presence. His smile will forever be embedded in my memory.

I've been reading about this for a while now! This is good news.

Will do Doug. Thanks for the advice. I agree. I would regret not going. I just don't want it to be sad. My friend said he wasn't sure if Elvin would finish the set, then his playing would just increase in strength and surprise the hell out of everyone.

I have a ticket to go check out Jazz Machine tonight. I've never see Elvin before and have mixed emotions about this. A friend was there last night. Elvin has been out of intensive care for all of 10 days after a 2 1/2 month stay. I have this feeling that its like going to see a dying grandparent one last time before they pass away, and I feel like maybe I shouldn't go, so that I could remember them the way they were. In the end, I'm always glad that I spent that time with them, but there's always that fear. Then again, its a chance to see one of the masters. I would regret not meeting him. Does anyone know why Elvin was in the hospital. My friend couldn't understand what Keiko said.

Thanks for the info Reinier. I'm looking for more recordings with Moses right now. I didn't do my research obviously. I assumed the entire disc was the trio. Too bad... How's that track, Careful?

I would love to hear this. I don't think its available on CD... Jim Hall, Steve Swallow, Bob Moses! Any help?

Does anyone have either of these two albums? Playground ECM 1979 Last Year's Waltz ECM 1981 If so, PM me. I'm pretty sure they have never been released on CD, and I don't currently have a turntable set up. Thanks!

4/2 Joe Lovano guests with the Duke Jazz Ensemble @ Baldwin Auditorium 4/9-10 Grady Tate with the Kenny Barron Quartet; Kenny Garrett; Antonio Hart @ Durham's Carolina Theatre

Yeah, I'm kind of with you Clifford. Not bad, but not great. I assume this style of music had already been explored by classical composers during the second half of the twentieth century, but I'm not all that familiar.

Someone told me that. Maybe that's why nobody ever asks me for recommendations! HA!

I saw a blurb in the April edition of Cadence. I will post some info when I get home if I remember.

Yeah, I caught that typo too. I'm not trying to be a jerk Alexander, but you mispelled physistist.

Weeeeee!

I like crap Chuck. ... wait. Did I just type "I like crap?" Shit.

Chuck said crap. Ha!

Yet another ego boost. Thank you! You're welcome. Those who want to know will have to use the given clues to find the answer. It's on this board, somewhere. Oh please... a scavenger hunt? This better be good 3er. This better be good.

I was just havin' some fun with you Lon! I like your title!

"Cowboys lasso a capybara, the world's largest rodent, in Venezuela..." Wouldn't they be capybaraboys? I always get capybara mixed up with capuera...

I think its great. At the time of its release, I had just heard Christian Fennesz for the first time, along with Neil Young's On The Beach and a couple of Pillow/Terminal/Town and Country albums. Heron King Blues formed a logical bridge between all of these, and introduced some new influence into the band's sound. These guys are getting really good at what they do. I thought Roomsound was one of the best things I had heard in a long time. They've really developed that sound. I say, "Git it."

I wouldn't be caught DEAD with a two-star album!

I'll agree with everything said so far (sorry, can't verify Lon's alternate title though!). The only one of these that I haven't heard yet is LET FREEDOM RING. I don't know what the hold-up is. I see it all the time, now that its been re-issued, and I pick up something else instead.

That's a sweet avatar, tonym! Both of 'em. I could never tell what they were. What, no capibara pix? Brandon, was your previous avatar a self-portrait?

Red Red Meat: Clifford, please tell me you've been checking out the Califone discs!

David, I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry. Take care.

001 -- "license to groove!" I thought it was the hacker's trademark or something.