Big Al

Alriiiiiight!!!

"Stardust" on Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and THE Orchestra Clark Terry's self-titled Emarcy album The opening notes of Jobim's "Desafinado" from The Composer of Desafinado Plays And that's just the tip. What wonderful playing he did bestow upon us. Thanks Jimmy. RIP.

You know it's a mediocre season when people are celebrating a sweep against the lowly Royals. Millwood throws two complete games in a row now that the games are meaningless. The Rangers may not be the worst team in the world, but they are certainly one of the most frustrating to root for!

Same problem with early Beatles stereo: vocals in one channel; instruments in the other. Yet all of the Monk/Messengers CD reissues, if I'm not mistaken, are in stereo. More marketable, for sure, but less listenable. I'd love to hear that I'm wrong about this. Anyone know of a mono CD Monk/Messengers?) The mid-nineties Rhino version in the slipcase. Can't check it right now, I think it's mono, or very narrowed stereo. Listening to that right now. Can't tell if this is mono or a very narrow stereo spread, but it may as well be mono. Either way, a MUCH better listening experience over its stereo counterpart.

Yeah, if I didn't already have this, I'd be all over it.

What's the address where I can send a letter? That's like not mentioning Duke Ellington's contributions to the Newport Jazz Festival!

Sweet!

That's the one. Thanks! Looking forward to the Silver show this weekend!

Another nice show, David! Great selection, too! What song was being played between "Ping Pong" and "Infant Eyes?" It was being played while you were describing "Infant Eyes," and I can't identify it, and I know I'm gonna kick myself when you tell me cuz I probably have it at home.

Happy Birthday, Wayne Shorter!!! One of my happiest memories was seeing him and his quartet (Perez, Pattitucci, & Blade) at the Denton Jazz & Arts Fest in 2002. It was a chilly, humid night; Shorter, wearing a trench-coat, had trouble with his reed starting the show; and it was one of the greatest shows I'd ever seen! Part of it was the whole "OH MY GOD THAT'S WAYNE FREAKIN' SHORTER UP THERE!!!" but most of it was just how tight this band was and how happy Shorter looked up there.

I wish I had something to add to all this, but everything that's come before is sage and solid advice, much better than anything I could share. Just prayers for reconciliation (and by "reconciliation" I don't necessarily mean "getting back together for the sake of getting back together;" just simply a meeting of the minds and hearts for a better future for all three of you) is all I have to offer, for whatever that's worth.

You should keep that duplicate in case you lose the other one or it gets damaged!

My wife won't even let me talk about the Cubs, since she thinks I'll jinx them. They do look good though. Damnit man! You just jinxed them!!! (or is that only if your wife hears you talking about them?) Dunno. I could ask her, but then she'd know I was talking about the Cubs. Guess I'll try to keep shtum from now on. I already jinxed 'em on Saturday when I was talking to my cousin who's Dad lives in St. Pete but is originally from Chicago. "I wonder," I mused in that annoying way that Nat Hentoff uses when he's writing liner notes, "how cool it would be for your Dad," I said to my cousin (stop it, you're no Nat Hentoff), "if the Cubs and the Rays were in the World Series this year? Seems like it's their year, since the Red Sox and the White Sox have broken their curses." So, when the Cubs inevitably collapse, you'll know who to blame. Sorry in advance. Having said that, though: GO CUBS!!!!

Me too! Let me know what I owe ya!

Surprised it took this long to be mentioned. Always thought it was one of the greatest. It certainly deserved a space on that Top 8 list.

I thought it was the other way around. ?? Depends on who's doing the tossing, I guess....

Dwarfs welcomed, midgets tossed...

That inspired this:

Now THAT looks like a fun church! I'd like to hear THEM do "Amazing Grace!"

The Rangers are far from the worst team. In fact, and I've said this all season: the Rangers are, at best, a .500 team and they've been hovering around that all year. Yeah, the last 14 games have been a drag to watch (except last night), but by and large this is all par for the course. A few baseball die-hards around here, who are far tougher than I've ever been on the Rangers, actually feel that the Rangers are but one arm and a decent manager away from being contenders. Hell, even I'M not that optimistic.

I've got chunks of guys like you in my stool, Al. Easy baby! And what's with the sneer? The people WANT to like you!