Big Al

Alright, now that it is officially Feb. 23 all over the world, let confusion rain and wish Jim R a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Along those same lines, I also took my RVG and McMaster and tried to do my own A/B. The first thing I did was to test the old "reverse-polarization theory." The only thing this showed was that I did, indeed, wire my car speakers incorrectly; this explains why it sounded so crappy in the car. After putting the house-speaker wires back in their intended slots, I ran an A/B of "Yes I Can, No You Can't." I have to agree with Dave that the session sounds a lot hotter than on the McMaster. But upon second listening, I can't honestly say that it's any better or any worse than my McMaster (with which I tinkered with some audio program to make a nice loud CDR). I guess the real test will be what it sounds like when I get my car re-wired!

It's 9:45 pm Texas time, which means it's already tomorrow on the previous side of the pond, although it won't really be Jim's birthday Caifornia time until at least next Saturday, but all the same let's start celebrating now!!! Play yer favorite Jobim tune/ablum in Big Jim's honor, or throw on your favorite guitar album! Or throw on your favorite guitar player playing a Jobim album! Or go fly a coupla kites! In any event, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM R!!!! And here's to many many more krayzee e-mails!!!

I'm right there with ya.

Well, it's a quartet album with Cables on piano, Wayne Dockery on bass, Steve Johns on drums, and Steve Berrios on percussion on a few tracks. Sonny plays tenor, alto, and soprano saxes, as well as alto flute. There are some good reviews over at CD baby.

Glucklich geburtstag!!! Or something like that! Thanks for all the good cheer! Is the Hacker Keller in Hamburg still standing?

Interesting comments about a less-than-raging fire, Jim; but then, I have nothing else to compare his playing to. Well, I take that back: I recently heard Fortune’s playing on McCoy’s Sahara, and that was waaaaaaaay too intense for me. So, if this album represents something of a mellowing to one set of ears, another set of ears may see this album as a rekindling of the flame. At least , these wimpy ears seem to think so! But in all seriousness, particular highlights (and I don’t have the CD in front of me, so I’m just going by track numbers here) are “Trane and Things” an obvious yet very effective rewrite/tribute to Trane’s version “My Favorite Things” featuring playing by Fortune and George Cables (now that guy should be wearing the crown for King of the Underappreciated Pianists) that is nothing short of inspiring. The fourth track sounds like quiet desperation that doesn’t wanna be quiet any longer. The tribute to Mongo Santamaria (“Mongo Blue”) features as peaceful a competition between rhythms as you’ll find, as the bongo player plays one rhythm, while the rest of the band plays a straight blues. Almost as effective as Buddy Montgomery’s “Land of 1,000 Rainbows.” (that was on BFT 15; that’s the only reason I know about that song). I’m getting Fortune’s From Now On in a few days, so it’ll be interesting to compare the two discs. In any event, I hope I sound this inspired when I hit this guy’s age.

In other surprising news today, the sun rose again. Film at eleven.

Thanks 7/4

I like this one!

What do you call a one-legged woman? Eileen

Could NOT agree more with you!!! Can't remember the last time I drooled on my keyboard! Still, I Want to Hold Your Hand with Larry Young MORE than suffices!

Happy birthday to the biggest Al of them all! Keep up the great work!

Happy birthday to two of the best ears on the planet!!!

Two guys walk into a bar. One received stitches, the other a mild concussion.

I'm hearing this album for the first time on the RVG. Jazz.... hell, MUSIC doesn't get much better or hotter than this! What an absolutely stunning record!

Incredible grooves, incredible playing all around. Higgins plays like a man possessed. Lee was on fire for this one. If I think about it, this is my favorite Mogie session.

Sure explains why Gene Simmons took all those pictures.

What everyone else said, Berigan! Haven't had the procedure either, but wishing you a speedy recovery nonetheless!

Pity Blue Note didn't stick this session on the Workout RVG.

Clearance price w/shipping = $20. Is this worth it?

The JB's "More Peas" "I'm gonna play the organ the way I play the pie-yanna"

Second to all that. Then maybe get Sony's "America's Number One Band" also at yourmusic. In fact, yourmusic has quite a good selection of Basie where you can't go wrong!