Hot Ptah

I found it hilarious that Paulie's ludicrous babbling about his body, while sitting at Tony's hospital bedside, came across in Tony's coma dream as someone talking through the adjacent hotel room wall in a manner so irritating that it drove Tony to almost embrace death. In general, the inappropriate and ridiculous bedside speeches of A.J., Paulie and Christopher (while Tony was awake but extremely groggy) were hilarious in a dark way. These guys could not think of anything else to say to the "great man" at a time like that? I loved the brainstorming session about Christopher's slasher film, when one of the minor mobsters comes up with the idea that the pieces of the main character's body would be dumped off at different sites along the same garbage route, so that they could reassemble themselves at the dump. What a problem solver that guy is! He could go far in the corporate world with can-do skills like that!

I think that it is priceless that in his dream sequence, Tony is mistaken for an unscrupulous contractor. After having had some work done on my house, I wonder if there is any profession other than organized crime which attracts such sleazy, dishonest low-lifes as the construction industry. (I am sure that there are many fine, upstanding people in that industry as well)

Tony picks up Barry Finnerty's briefcase and wallet, and the Finnerty family reunion turns out to be an entrance into death. I wonder if there is some wordplay going on here. Finnerty, finis (Latin for end, as in end of life). If so, Meadow's boyfriend Finn is not long for this world!

Very funny! I confuse Jane Monheit and Don Mossi, the former major league pitcher.

I have nothing by Spyrogyra, Yellowjackets, Rippingtons, Manhattan Transfer.

I find that really interesting. The Darlings were the Dillards, a bluegrass group which recorded several albums for Elektra Records. I had not known that she was also a professional singer. Today, a female singer/actress who looked like she did in the early 1960s, would probably be featured on any number of TV and/or cable series and reality or game shows, record her own CDs, star in depressingly poor films, be a scantily clad presenter at the Grammys and Oscars...but back then, she was doomed to relative obscurity by the scarcity of marginal, bad taste national media opportunites.

The version of "A Child Is Born" on the Richard Davis album is THE song. I was also at that Kansas City appearance by Roland Hanna and heard him state that he had written the song. I know Richard Davis so I asked him about it after that. Richard told me that Roland had always said that he was the composer of this song throughout the years.

Two unrelated points: When Carmella sets up the portable stereo in Tony's room, she plays one of his favorite CDs--the first song played is Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water". This is the very song that was playing on Tony's car stereo when Tony blacked out behind the wheel and crashed his car--how many seasons ago now? If you record the show and hit the pause button during the first time that Tony looks up at the helicopter light in the dream sequence, you will clearly see the face of the physician treating Tony for his gunshot wounds looking at him from behind the light. The physician's face fills the screen.

My wish list has grown after reading the great suggestions on this thread. Here are my favorite Tzadiks. Some have been mentioned by others: Ahava Raba--"Kete Kuf" One of the few albums that I have ever heard that deserves adjectives like astonishing, amazing, even mindblowing. It is certainly unique to my listening experience, and not unpleasant to listen to. When people say that there is nothing exciting or different being released any more, I play them "Kete Kuf" and wait for the reaction. Steven Bernstein--"Diaspora Blues" I like all three of his "Diaspora" albums, but this one, with Sam Rivers and his group, is really special. It is tied with William Parker's "O'Neal's Porch" for me as my favorite jazz album of the last decade. John Zorn--"The Circle Maker". Zorn does not play on this album. It is very beautiful. Frank London--"Invocations". Very beautiful music by a trumpet player with a compelling sound and approach.

I find Murray Perahia's recordings of Mozart's piano concertos and sonatas to have plenty of soul. I can't dismiss Mozart because of them.

Thelonious Monk stopped playing for several years before his death, due to illness. I don't know if that qualifies.

I have just discovered this thread. I suggest that you may want to get the Murray Perahia Complete Mozart Piano Concertos at some point. I find that set to offer many rewards. It is incredibly beautiful music. I find a certain "soul" in Perahia's Mozart playing that other well known pianists just don't offer. To me, it is one of the most special sets in my collection. Needless to say, it's just one person's opinion, and others may feel quite differently.

I second the mention of the Zehetmair Quartet's Schumann String Quartets. I find it to be amazingly beautiful and moving music. Repeated listens bring more and more pleasure to me.

I read an excerpt from this book in the new issue of Jazz Times, about Silver's time with the Jazz Messengers. It was very interesting reading. If that is representative of the book, it will be worth going out to get.

Marcus Roberts--Alone With Three Giants. This is one that holds up, in my opinion.

Wow, I never knew that the works of e.e.cummings had been turned into a rock song!

Joe Zawinul is holding the box of apple juice above the state flag.

Wait! Wait! I think I've got it! Was the song "It Never Rains in Southern California" by Albert Hammond? I'm pretty sure that is it!

Chico Freeman was established before the Young Lion movement, with several albums on India Navigation and other labels. Whether he still qualifies as a Young Lion, I have no opinion. As for his album with Wynton Marsalis--as a student journalist (using that term very loosely) I had an opportunity to interview Wynton Marsalis in the spring of 1982. He told me that he did not enjoy recording that album because "Chico Freeman did not know the changes to his own tunes! He did not know the changes to his own tunes!" Wynton was quite emotional about it. I'd rather listen to Chico Freeman than Wynton. I saw Mr. Freeman perform live a couple of years ago, in a group with Geri Allen, Richard Davis and Andrew Cyrille--that was assuredly better than anything I've ever heard from Wynton Marsalis. I agree completely. I recall an evening when Chico blew the roof off the place, as a member of Jack DeJohnette's group (other members were John Purcell and bassist Peter Warren). That was much more exciting than anything I have ever heard by Wynton. In the same 1982 interview, Wynton told me that he had studied 20th century European classical music at Julliard and thus "knew" that the compositions of Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell and Anthony Braxton were "the worst thing that could possibly happen to jazz." That quote got into my published review. Right after that a musician wrote to the paper, stating that she was familiar with Wynton's course work at Julliard and that he had not studied 20th century classical music. I have no idea if she was correct. Wynton looked very young in the spring of 1982, I remember that, but he still had very strong opinions and was fearless about spouting them off.

Chico Freeman was established before the Young Lion movement, with several albums on India Navigation and other labels. Whether he still qualifies as a Young Lion, I have no opinion. As for his album with Wynton Marsalis--as a student journalist (using that term very loosely) I had an opportunity to interview Wynton Marsalis in the spring of 1982. He told me that he did not enjoy recording that album because "Chico Freeman did not know the changes to his own tunes! He did not know the changes to his own tunes!" Wynton was quite emotional about it.

Peacemeal is one of Eddie Gomez/Jack DeJohnette's best recordings together. Man they are a fucking powerhouse together! A big Big second for Peacemeal. This may be a stupid question, but how many recordings did they make together? There's a Bill Evans album, right? What else? Guy They were together on the second LP of McCoy Tyner's Supertrios.

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" done as an incredibly slow, mournful dirge. I can hear Richard Davis or William Parker playing it on arco bass.

Was it "Sooner Or Later (Love Is Gonna Getcha)" by the Grass Roots?

Here is the lineup touring as Wayne Henderson and the Jazz Crusaders: Paul Russo, saxophones; Ronnie Laws, saxophones (special guest artist); Joel Gaines, keyboards; Brian Price, guitar; David Hughes, bass; Anthony Moore, drums. Has anyone seen this group, and if so, is it worth going to see?