Big Al

I daresay that had Talking Book never been released, the greatness that followed it may never have happened as well. Hence the reason it gets my vote. That and “You’ve Got It Bad, Girl!” Songs in the Key of Life holds a special place in my heart, as it got me through the spring of my senior year of high school. Unfortunately, it’s for that reason I can’t stomach listening to it anymore (which is not to say it’s a bad album by any stretch; just brings back too many memories I’d rather not confront again anytime soon).

Hans and deus, if you see this, please come back. You guys are missed.

Yup, DEFINITELY gotta dig out that Andrew Hill Mosaic again to refresh my memory about how wonderful the rest of that session is that spawned track 3! Track 7: I do have that one! DRAT!!! Ah well, at least I got Jackie Mac and A.T. correct! Track 9: Man, wrong on all counts. The bad thing is, I used to own this set and could never warm up to it. Track 10: Boy am I embarrassed that I missed Baby Face on this one! Now I gotta start lookin' out for Brother Jack's ghost coming after me as well as Mingus from track 6! Track 11: Ah hah!!! I should've known that one from Unity! Ah well.... Another great compilation, Cary! Thanks for the fun!

Thanks Mike! B-)

Back in January 2001, I was in Atlanta for a conference. I got bored at the hotel and decided to take a ride on the Marta train to the Tower Records (when it used to be by the mall there in Peachtree). I took this CD to listen to while riding the train. During the song “Circles,” these two duded a few rows past me start getting into it. One dude, big ol’ bad-ass lookin’ fella, probably related to The Fridge starts in on this little skinny dude with corn-braids: (and forgive my butchering of the dialect, this is about how it sounded to these ears): “Man, yo’ a sissy! Yo’ a sissy wearin’ the ponytails like that!” So then the little skinny dude jumps right back “Whatchoo talkin’ bout, motherfucker? I kick yo’ ass!” “Aw fuck, man, I ain’t afraid of yo’ skinny ass.” So they go on like this for about five minutes and at first I thought we were all goners, figured bullets would start flyin’. Then I had this urge to burst out laughing, just because of how ridiculous it looked: this little skinny dude tryin’ to get in the face of this big dude. And I wanted to laugh so bad; ended up turning away from these guys, knowing that if they saw me laugh, it woulda been MY ass that they woulda kicked! They both got off the train and started beating the shit outta each other (actually, I think the big guy just stepped on the little guy) and the rest of us kinda let out a sigh of relief that we were all still alive. Anyway, all this was going on while “Circles” was playing, and I always think of this little bit of excitement when I listen to it. More later on how infuckingcredible the rest of this album is!

FREE FOR ALL!!!!!!!

Understand that the difference between Jim and the rest of us is that WE can walk away from the Politics forum when it gets to be too much for us. Jim doesn’t have that luxury. Would you want to be obligated to watch over that forum on a regular basis? Or have to answer the PMs from one poster complaining about another poster? That takes much more mental toughness than I’ll ever have; don’t know if this happens to any of you, but there are times when posts in the Politics forum really hurt, to the point that it follows me after I’ve left the board for the day/moment (and it’s not even so much about posts directed at me, since I post in there so infrequently: it hurts me to see others be so viciously sarcastic to one another. I thought we were supposed to be united around here). If it affects me that much, and I have the luxury of walking away from it, I can’t even begin to imagine how it must affect Jim. And remember, he’s got enough stress in his life as it is, without a bunch of self-righteous sycophants trumpeting their daily political beliefs. So yeah, for Jim’s peace of mind, and that reason only (which is the best and only reason for it anyway), shut down the politics forum. The only other alternative would be for someone hand-picked by Jim to moderate the politics forum; but then you’d still have the complainers whining about how this moderator wasn’t as good/fair/unbiased as Jim, so maybe that wouldn’t relieve the stress after all. Close it down, I say.

His next project is a duet with Coltrane, over both versions of Ascension. Guy Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! I also hear he's rerecorded Interstellar Space, with a drum machine replacing Rashied Ali. Guy Well, so much for sleeping tonight!

Agree with every point completely!

Pretty sure it is. And even if it ain't, it still is!

Just checked the website and you're absolutely correct: it goes thru April 3! RIGHT ON!!!!!!

I think the 4-for-3 special ended on Monday (the 28th).

Jazzbro my man, you are gonna LOVE that slab o' greeeaze!

Jazzbro! I'd love the Max Roach + 4 disc!

Well, the birthday got off to an auspicious start, coming as it did after the worst bout of flu I’ve ever had. I’m much better now, but the last few days were absolute hell, and today is the first day that my whole body wasn’t wishing for death as a much more painless alternative than actually trying to breathe! Family took me to Olive Garden for dinner, and the actual birthday party/cookout (oh yeah there’s gonna be some greeeeeaze there!) is Sunday afternoon/evening, so the birthday goodies oughta be rolling in by then (I’m hoping the reason we came up dry tonight is because the Mosaic Selects I asked for are still en route! Actually, I got some very nice threads from my folks, to replace the old threads I’ve been wearing out!). Many thanks to ubu for starting this thread and remembering me. I love birthdays, and I’m gonna keep loving them until there’s none left for me! Biers raised and consumed in honor of John (couw), tonym, Gregk, Sangrey, Bright Moments, gslade, Lon, noj, Chris O, Paul (conn500), Guy (brownie), tjobbe, Phil M, tooter, ralphie boy, catesta, DTMX, JohnS, Brownian Motian, deus62, SEK, 7/4, and aftab for all the good birthday wishes (if I didn’t list your real name, it was out of respect for privacy for those who don’t know your real name. I mean, EVERYONE knows that jazzbo is Lon! Not everyone knows Bright Moments or deus62’s real names.)! So a big ***hiccup*** and much love and greeeaze to all of you. Jim R, you tell everyone to blame me for a lot of your Board Humor, and yet you’ve forgotten more than I’ll ever know about how to be funny; so, would you kindly remind me again, like you have the last 2,000-or-so times I've asked? Heck, you don’t even have to be kind. Being hilarious is enough! Thanks for always being funnier than me! Jeff (AB), my brother, your friendship is truly cherished and your PM today almost made a grown man cry in his office! Not that that’s a bad thing or anything, but I’ve worked long and hard to build my reputation as a complete asshole around work, and that woulda killed it right there! Mikeweil, what, no Christmas or Hannukah wishes? Can’t wait for the good Tjader vibes! Brother Joe G (youngster!), you guys do what I only dream about! Please don’t ever stop, and next time I promise not to shut down the whole town when I come to see you guys! Ghost, right back atcha my friend. It’s not only because I consider you a friend that I think you have one of the best radio shows going; it’s because you really do a grand job playing the music and telling the stories. Maren and Rachel, if it weren’t for you, this place would have no class whatsoever. Despite that obvious character flaw of yours, I’m glad y’all are here! We truly don’t deserve you two (at least I don’t!). Soul Stream, I’m gonna take you up on that offer! And no “buts” about it! Vint, how’d you discover my secret recipe for the extra-greeeeeazy frosting? Cuz I KNOW that ain’t my candles lighting that thing up! Brad, I never knew that about me & Jaws! Thanks for making my day that much more greeeeazy! And if I accidentally left anyone out, please don’t be afraid to say so. The flu medicine hasn’t completely worn off yet! Oh yeah, Chuck and Skid, you guys are still a couple o' smart asses! Don’t ever change! Sorry to get all mushy-gushy on all of ya like this, but how often does a man get the chance to tell his friends how much they mean to him? Not often enough, IMHO. Thank you all. This is Hilariuos Swanky saying good night. Wait don't cue the music! I forgot to thank my doctor, my lawyer, my wife, my kids, my writer/cat (RIP), my accountant (wait, that’s me! Nevermind!), my agent, my mechanic, my pharmacist, my pastor, all of my teachers, Clint Eastwood, blah blah blah blah.................

I coulda swore I saw it on BMG at one time. Not sure I ever saw it on yourmusic. And I don't smoke!

Happy birthday, fellow fish-head! Hope you enjoyed being younger than me for that whole day that it lasted! Give the baby a hug for me tonight!

Drat! Those are in my queue for May and June!

Suffice to say, y'all are making this a great day for me! I wanna answer everyone's post individually, which I plan to do later when I'm at home.

drat!

I’ll echo Mike Fitzgerald’s remarks about the Mosaic set. Especially the all-star jam of February 11, 1957. Blakey, Hank, Poppa Lou, Byrd, Monsieur McFadden (as Babs Gonzales calls him) and the Master just KILLIN’ for seventy-five solid minutes! Groovy music for cruisin’ down the highway on a Sunday afternoon (or any other day for that matter, but especially Sundays!)

Oh BABY!!!!

Double ditto to what Jim and Rachel just said.

Just sent a PM re: Four!

Thank God for THAT!