sonnymax

Got 15 minutes to waste? This has got to be one of the strangest guest appearances ever on the old Steve Allen Show. Frank Zappa, age 22, playing the bicycle and instructing Allen and his band how to play experimental music. Lumpy Gravy indeed!

what do you like to drink while smoking a cigar? "Asthma doesn't seem to bother me any more unless I'm around cigars or dogs. The thing that would bother me most would be a dog smoking a cigar." - Steve Allen

Flora art - it's not just for album covers: Check out this devils food cake from Brooklyn's JollyBe Bakery: Floraphile Shannon Wade, of Portland, combined elements from the covers of The Pete Jolly Duo and Mambo for Cats into her tattoo.

While I can't argue with your personal experience, your statement isn't logical and it runs counter to my own experience. How "cool" a cigar's draw is depends on the amount of outside air contained in the smoke. The more outside air, the cooler the draw. The length of a cigar has little to do with this, but ring size is important. The larger the ring size, the more area there is to bring in outside air. Hence, a 52 will be "cooler" than a 44 (measured in 64ths of an inch). Smoking a torpedo cigar (one with a tapered end) is supposed to further enhance the coolness of the draw.

I am very happy with the Boveda humidipaks. Unlike the cheap foam inserts, Drymistat tubes, and other humidifers that just keep pumping out moisture, Boveda is a 2-way system that releases moisture when it's needed, and absorbs it when it's not. As a result, there's less fluctuation in the relative humidity. You don't have to fill it with water or solution, and you can lay the humidipak right on top of your cigars. Boveda offers humidipaks at different RH levels (65%, 69%, 72%, 75% and even 84% for seasoning a new humidor. I've found that two 72% humidipaks are perfect for my 25-cigar humidor - my digital hygrometer almost always reads 70% RH! They're not expensive ($3 each at Amazon with free shipping), and they last two months (maybe longer). Check them out: Boveda

as you get older, you learn to live with a few clicks and pops.

But seriously folks, here's a useful purchase for the novice cigar smoker: Here are some things I've learned along the way: 1) Don't bite off the end of a cigar. Buy a cutter or a punch. 2) You'll tear the wrapper by removing the band too early. Peel it, or better yet, wait until it loosens toward the end of your smoke. 3) Lighting your stick with a matchbook match or a fluid lighter can alter the taste. Use wooden matches or a torch lighter. 4) Relighting is fine during a single smoking session. Saving half of a smoked cigar for later is a less satisfying experience. 5) Relax and savor your cigar. Smoke too fast and it will burn too hot, causing tears in the wrapper and a harsher taste. 6) Machines? Are you serious? Never settle for anything less than a hand-rolled cigar. 7) Even a great cigar will taste/burn poorly if it's not stored properly. Follow the 70/70 rule (70 degrees Fahrenheit/70% relative humidity). 8) Don't assume the cigar store adheres to #6. Are the display cases closed? What humidification system do they use? Does the hygrometer read "70/70"? 9) Pair your smoke with a suitable beverage. Avoid fruity or ice-cold drinks. Coffee, espresso, root beer, or ice tea are good non-alcoholic choices. 10) When you're done, let the cigar burn out. Crushing it in an ashtray creates more stink.

Just sittin' back, relaxin' with some smokin' poo.

Don't worry boys, she's got sisters! Courtney, Tiffany, and Andrea!

Haven't similar threads about Mr. Tanno's sales list always appeared in the Reissues forum? I'm not complaining, mind you. I'm just curious about the reason for the move.

A 3CD box set called Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions - Complete was issued on the Knitting Factory label back in 2000. It featured full versions of some tracks that were edited for the original vinyl releases.

This 3CD set is being reissued by Douglas on Sept. 8. It appears to have new packaging/notes, but I don't see any indication of whether or not it's been remastered as well.

I believe it's Abraham "Boomie" Richman. He played in several big bands (Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman), backed singers like Sinatra, Ella, Tony Bennett, and Peggy Lee, and did a lot of session work for TV. Supposedly, he also performed the sax solo on Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways." He wasn't a West Coast guy, but a native of Brockton "Shoe City" Massachusetts.

I just found out about this series of upcoming concerts. Considering the consistent quality of Clean Feed's releases, it should be a lot of fun. Wednesday, September 16th 8:00 – Luis Lopes / Daniel Levin / Reuben Radding Luis Lopes – guitar Daniel Levin – cello Reuben Radding – double bass 9:30 – Harris Eisenstadt “Canada Day” Nate Wooley – trumpet Ellery Eskelin – tenor saxophone Chris Dingman – vibraphone Eivind Opsvik – double bass Harris Eisenstadt – drums, compositions Thursday, September 17th 8:00 – John O’Gallagher Trio “Dirty Hands” John O’Gallagher – alto saxophone Masa Kamaguchi – double bass Jeff Williams – drums 9:30 – Daniel Levin Quartet “Live at Roulette” Daniel Levin – cello Matt Moran – vibraphone Peter Bitenc– double bass Nate Wooley – trumpet Friday, September 18th 8:00 – Julio Resende Group Julio Resende – piano Dave Ambrosio – double bass Joel Silva – drums 9:30 – Jorrit Dijkstra Solo Jorrit Djikstra – alto saxophone, lyricon, electronics 10:30 – Avram Fefer Trio “Ritual” Avram Fefer – tenor and alto saxophones, clarinet Eric Revis – double bass Chad Taylor – drums Saturday, September 19th – Co-sponsored by the Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) 8:00 – Kirk Knuffke Quartet “Big Wig” Kirk Knuffke – trumpet Brian Drye – trombone Reuben Radding – double bass Jeff Davis – drums 9:30 – Darren Johnston “The Edge of the Forest” Darren Johnston – trumpet Sheldon Brown – tenor Oscar Noriega – clarinet and bass clarinet Trevor Dunn – double bass Ches Smith – drums Sunday, September 20th 8:00 – Charles Rumback Quartet “Two Kinds of Art Thieves” Charles Rumback – drums Jason Ajemian – bass Joshua Sclar – tenor saxophone Greg Ward – alto saxophone 9:30 – Fight the Big Bull “All is Gladness in the Kingdom” Steven Bernstein – trumpet Bob Miller – trumpet Bryan Hooten – trombone Reggie Pace – trombone Jason Scott – tenor saxophone, clarinet John Lilley – tenor saxophone Matthew White – guitar, tunes Cameron Ralston – bass Brian Jones – percussion Pinson Chanselle – trap set Cornelia Connelly Center 220 East 4th Street, Lower East Side New York City Tickets at the door $15

You say "piss and moan," I say "catharsis." So go ahead and vent. Smashing a smooth jazz CD might help too.

Count me among those who were unfamiliar with Prima Materia until now. I really like the sound clips I've heard, and I managed to purchase used copies of all three of their releases.

Rashied's brother Muhammad sat in for him in a performance with Charles Gayle and William Parker at the Newport Jazz Festival last Sunday. We were told Rashied had been ill and "just needed some more time to rest." As others have said, this is very sad news and my thoughts are with his family and friends.

I seem to recall that one of the members of this board is the host of a jazz show on WGBH-radio.