Kalo

Any recording with a version of "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula" gets my attention. Seriously, this sounds interesting. Peel had deep ears.

"Oscar ... bowed very poorly. He didn't bow too much, 'cause he knew it... Listen to 'Tea For Two' from The Unique Thelonious Monk where he bows and picks. It's like two different people. On the cello it was even worse" Katz does not mention any bowed cello recordings, though. F That brief passage on "Tea for Two" from The Unique Thelonious Monk is the only bowed Pettiford I can recall. I just pulled out my 1979 Milestone two-fer LP reissue of that date, and Bob Blumenthal's liner notes quote Orrin Keepnews thusly: "Oscar wanted to play the entire 'Tea for Two' verse arco, but each time something went astray; either a wrong note or he couldn't stay in tune all the way through. After endless abortive attempts, I finally got him to settle for eight bars with a bow, eight bars without. That might actually have been the first time I actually directed the pace of a record date." Pettiford, by the way, is perhaps my favorite jazz bassist. Even the greats have their blindspots...

I love Hope, as those who remember my earlier avatar might have guessed. Larry, you've inspired me to pull this out again. (I have the 1995 CD.) We all could use mo' Elmo.

Destination Out!, with lots more to come...

Not much left unsaid. Definitely the end of an era. This has hit me as hard as any jazz death since Monk. But the man made his mark. Like all the greatest jazz players, he was unmistakable after only a few notes. I'm listening to Destination Out right now. Beautiful stuff. Jackie's playing was always so direct. (I'm surprised that I haven't heard about this until just now, as I've been hanging out in some pretty heavy jazz circles for that past two nights: ICP Orchestra concert Friday, Ran Blake and Charles Gayle concert Saturday.)

Screenwriters HATE cell phones. Though rather than cutting or pulling out the wires as in days of old, couldn't the villain just crush the damn phone under his or her heel?

No doubt you're right, JS. But we'll all probably agree that The Coasters provided more "fun dividends."

Playing for The Coasters is one thing... (I love those guys.) but Neil Sedaka? That's work. (Might've paid better, though.)

What kind of "therapist" tries to weasel his way into writing lyrics for a famous client?

If you're only going to buy one Lou Rawls album, it might as well have Dupree Bolton on it!

I just watched Otto Preminger's Fallen Angel twice on DVD recently, a film that stars the still under-appreciated Dana Andrews in perhaps his most morally ambiguous role, Linda Darnell in her first iconic bad-girl turn, and Alice Faye in her dramatic debut after years of starring in musicals. An underrated "Film Noir" that was Preminger's follow-up to the classic Laura. The second time through I watched it with the commentary by noir expert Eddie Muller, accompanied by Dana Andrews's daughter. One of the best DVD commentaries I've ever heard. Muller really makes you appreciate Preminger's fluid camera and superb use of actors, while Andrews's daughter gives intriguing insights into her father's personality and acting style.

Wow! I didn't even know that Kenny Kessel was dead.

I finally saw this last night. A genuine "feel good" movie, rather than the ersatz Hollywood kind. The musical acts were mostly engaging (I'm going to check out more Cody Chestnutt, for one), and Chappelle provides further evidence that he might just be the funniest MF alive. I love that fact that he attributes his crack comic timing to a close and reverent study of Thelonious Monk! Highly recommended.

I finally saw this last night. A genuine "feel good" movie, rather than the ersatz Hollywood kind. The musical acts were mostly engaging (I'm going to check out more Cody Chestnutt, for one), and Chappelle provides further evidence that he might just be the funniest MF alive. I love that fact that he attributes his crack comic timing to a close and reverent study of Thelonious Monk! Highly recommended.

But... ... the boxes that hold 50 only take up half the space of the boxes that hold 100... right? 'S'what I was thinking, too...

Just thought of another one I always stumble over: Barney Kessell/Kenny Burrell. Never confuse Dave Burrell and Kenny Burrell, though.

Felafel Palace is a great little place. It's in an old White Castle building; but it sure tastes better than sliders! (Not to mention being much healthier.) Apparently the pickles are authentic. A very traditional Lebanese place that opened up recently near where I work serves them that way. I guess they provide a nice flavor/texture contrast, though it took me a little while to get used to this myself. Especially the purple ones!

Trader Joe's is a grocery store, isn't it? I know they're in Boston. Kind of like a Whole Foods? Looks like that's been covered already. Sorry 'bout that. Two Buck Chuck! Ha. I forgot about that. I can't believe there are still bottles out there. Must have been a pretty big batch! Trader Joe's started on the west coast, but is slowly expanding throughout the U.S. They do have a lot of stores in the Boston area. Charles Shaw, AKA "Two Buck Chuck," is made by the Bronco Corporation, the company owned by Fred Franzia of boxed wine fame. I've heard rumors that the executive from Trader Joe's who cut the deal with Franzia to feature Charles Shaw exclusively at TJs was later fired. The reason being this: He effectively traded the customers down from the $4.99 and up wines, hurting sales on the more profitable stuff. You see, it costs the same in labor and transportation to get a case of Charles Shaw on the floor as it does another wine which might make the company many more dollars a bottle. Oops!

Exactly what I was going to say, Dmitry. I work at a wine store, and most of the standard-size wine boxes fit LPs very well, and accommodate an amount that's reasonable to carry. I used them to move my largeish collection the last two times I moved. Just keep some old newspapers on hand to stuff the empty inch-or-so left in some of the boxes and you'll be good to go! Most stores will be happy to let you have them, though I'd recommend stopping by early in the week, rather than later, when the store may need boxes for customers. It never hurts to send a pretty girl for the boxes, either (sexist, but true).

The best dis of the Insane Clown Posse I've seen are the comic strips about them, written by Mike Rubin and illustrated by Mark Dancey, that ran in the Detroit 'zine Motorbooty. Both strips can be found in Motorbooty #9, from back in 1999. Some brutally funny, and true, shit. Interesting rag. I've saved a few issues for years, owing to very interesting articles about Funkadelic and 1970s Miles Davis, as well as for the comic strips of the talented Dancey, especially a twisted tribute to the Louvin Brothers, also in issue #9. How far afield we've come from Mengelberg and the ICP. But that's the Organissimo forums for you.

Them's fightin' words, bub! Trader Joes is one of the best grocery store chains on the planet, and I miss 'em something fierce down here... I've never been to one (I think the nearest one is in the Detroit area, but I could be wrong)... I just keep hearing about them and how great they are and it makes me think that they'll soon take over the world, like Sam's Club or something, and drive all the local guys out of business. Trader Joe's will never drive other stores out because they carry far fewer items than big grocery stores, including Whole Foods. It's more like a bargain "gourmet" store. It's pretty much guaranteed that you won't find everything you want or need at Trader Joe's, so you definitely have to supplement by going to other places. They have great deals on what they do carry, though. I rely on them for nice prices on certain staples, but they don't have very good produce, for instance.

And it ain't a black hole, either Sort of an extremely white one with sparse waves emerging from it.

Today was beautiful. Looks like you'll get lucky(with the weather, I mean).

They're in Boston on Friday and I'm reviewing the show for a local rag. I'll post the review here when it runs. (I mentioned to a fellow that I work with that I would be reviewing the ICP and he thought at first that I meant the Insane Clown Posse!)