Dave James

One thing that hasn't been discussed is the FDIC. Their "capitalization", if you will, stood at $70 billion prior to the demise of Indy Mac. That cost them $20 billion, leaving $50 billion in the pot. If the game that's afoot continues, it wouldn't take a whole lot to cause a run on the banks once people become aware of the fact that their money may not be protected. In this eggshell environment, even rumors could become very dangerous. When the historians take a look at the last 30 years, I sure hope Ronald Reagan is smacked upside the head for beginning the process of deregulation that paved the path that led to the kind of situation in which we now find ourselves. The idea of a free market steeped in greed being able to regulate itself is a joke. I'm not saying the government is a whole lot better equipped to handle this, but nothing could be worse than turning over the keys to the henhouse to the fox. Up over and out.

This is now on the Dusty Groove website. $64.99. Up over and out.

HBD, D. For this one day, I won't hold your support of the Red Sox against you. As a matter of fact, I called A-Rod this morning and told him it would be good if he could go deep with RISP (for a change) so your boys inch closer to the Rays. My gift to you on your special day. That's it though. I'm through helping. Up over and out.

I'll be curious about the reaction to the Braxton Mosaic of those who are not familiar with his music but who have decided to purchase this set. I say damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead. To say that Braxton is an acquired taste is putting it mildly. He is like no one else... completely and totally unique. Thanks to a friend of mine who occasionally posts here and who may be the #1 Braxton fan in the known universe, I'm fortunate to have a wide ranging collection of his music. What I've found is that you have to be in the right frame of mind when you decide to listen. You already know the music is going to be challenging and that it will demand your undivided attention. After all, this isn't the sort of thing you just throw on the CD player when you want to kick back and relax. Even if you wanted to do that, the music won't let you. I would also strongly suggest that the Mrs. nor the children nor the dog be present. That just wouldn't be a very good idea unless you were already thinking about finding someplace else to live. All things considered, you are in for a fascinating and unique aural experience. Just keep your mind open and your ears as well. Up over and out.

Based on Ashley Kahn's previous work, I would eagerly anticipate his Blue Note "tome". Same with Gary Giddins and Scott DeVaux. Giddins pedigree is unassailable and DeVaux's Bebop is a book I really enjoyed. Both these strike me as well worth picking up. As a matter of fact, I just pre-ordered the Kahn. Up over and out.

Jerry Lewis should hit his knees each and every day to thank the good Lord for Dean Martin. To say he is an acquired taste is putting it mildly. His films remind me of those 5 minute SNL skits that they somehow manage to turn into into full length movies. I know the French consider him a genius (yet another reason to distrust the French) but, as Gertrude Stein said about Oakland, California, "...there's no there there." Up over and out.

IMO, those five discs at the Blackhawk represent the finest live jazz on record. That's due in no small part to Victor Feldman. There's just something about the way he drives that band, that, along with Manne, makes for something very special. There's a reason Feldman was Miles' first choice for the piano chair that eventually went to Herbie Hancock. I've often wondered if Miles may have seen him as something of a British Bill Evans. Up over and out.

This kind of brings into perspective the ongoing thread about having to sell your collection. I'm seriously tempted to go through the registration process just so I can get some idea what's there. Unfortunately, it would probably take months to do justice to even a cursory "tour". Up over and out.

It's almost impossible to believe this could happen once, much less twice in the same day. And it wasn't just the U.S. The Brits, gold medalists four years ago, managed to pass the baton outside the legal exchange area in their 4x100 relay heat and got themselves DQ'ed. Maybe this is a lot harder than it looks and maybe the weather was a factor, but I can't believe that athletes at this level can't successfully execute a baton pass. Up over and out.

Color. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065234/ Really. I would swear the print I saw with subtitles was in B&W. This would have been the original version. Of course, it's always possible that I was overly medicated at the time. That was many moons ago. Up over and out.

Well this should be interesting. The IOC just announced that they are going to investigate the ages of the Chinese gymnastics team. We already know what a cracker jack bunch of gum shoes they can let loose to look into this, so it should be an interesting few days. It would certainly not be a surprise if they are just going through the motions. They're not exactly famous for calling out host countries and making look like cheaters which, of course, they are. Can you spell W-H-I-T-E-W-A-S-H? Up over and out.

I'm feeling a fair amount of shame. My Dad, a musician of no repute, convinced me that the accordian began and ended with Myron Floren doing Lady of Spain. Woe is me...how could I have been so wrong? Up over and out.

"Z" Up over and out.

If you're interested in learning more about Hal McKusick, who, BTW, is still with us, check out jazzwax.com. The moderator posted his conversation with Mr. McKusick in four parts, so it's actually quite substantial and very informative. This guy is a really wonderful player who seems to have spent his career flying under the radar. Up over and out.

I don't know to what extent Da Bastids are plugged in, but on their website, they are saying this won't be out until October 21st. Up over and out.

No, he was no Conte Candoli, but he could hold his own. If Condoli was Wilt Chamberlain, Sheldon would be Willis Reed. He did a fair number of guest roles for Jack Webb in the late '60's reincarnation of Dragnet. Webb, of course, was a big jazz fan, so I imagine that's how their paths crossed. There's an interesting album available on eMusic called Live at Don Mupo's Gold Nugget, that shows all the sides of Sheldon in one serving. Campy tunes, audience interaction, good playing, the whole nine yards. I return to this frequently on my iPod. He always struck me as a guy who really liked to have a good time. Up over and out.

Ed Swinnich? How could you not remember Ed Swinnich? An oldie but a goodie. Congrats on the upcoming nuptials. The person who originally said "the first time is a charm" was not necessarily correct. Best of luck to you and the new missus. When you get settled, you must post more often. Like Sly Stone once said, "It'll do you no harm." Up over and out.

Chris - Thanks for taking note of this. Great card. I generally try to fly under the radar when it comes to BD's, but I let the cat out of the bag in a note to Lon acknowledging his. Anyhow, thanks to everyone for their good wishes. When I was 20, 60 seemed like it was a thousand years away. Man, how quickly the time passes. GA - I go back long enough to remember the Winnipeg Warriors in the old WHL. Guys like Bill Mosienko and Harry Lumley. But the best of the best who played in Winnipeg was Teddy Green, Terrible Ted as he later became known, stopping for a cup of coffee in Manitoba on his way to the NHL. Up over and out.

Lon, Hope it's not too late to jump into the fray. Hope you had and are having a good BD. I'll be 60 tomorrow, so I've kind of stopped paying attention to these. Things seems to be looking up for you and that's probably as good a gift as one could receive. Up over and out.

What I don't understand is why Sony is being so secretive. If this is stuff that they'd just as soon be without, then why not just own up to was lost and be done with it? Up over and out.

I don't know what someone slipped in his Kool Aid, but at one point, Mr. Horn was a pretty fair post-bop tenor player. I've been very happy periodically checking in with his album Something Blue ever since I downloaded it from eMusic a year or so ago. When I was into my heavy hippie phase in the late '60's and early '70's, his Taj Mahal album was required listening. Up over and out.

Looks like a turtle that has been relieved of its shell. Up over and out.

The only connection I can find between the word window and Shelly Manne has to do with Hitchcock's Rear Window. Apparently this was the first movie soundtrack that Manne was involved with as a musician, way back in 1953. Don't think this helps much in terms of the issue at hand. I just thought it was interesting. Up over and out.

From a rock perspective, I'd have to throw in with Jimmy Page and Zep. Whole Lotta Love being a prime example. Up over and out.

Jazzjet, I just did a quick Google search using The Proper Time Shelly Manne and found two websites that are offering this LP. It is pricey. Both want $99.00. There are pix of the album cover, so maybe that will help solve he mystery. Here's a track listing. Sorry, there's no The Long Window. 1. Drum Solo 7:20 2. Blue Stutter 4:03 3. The Proper Time 4:01 4. Happy Pool 4:03 5. The Proper Time 1:12 6. Doreen's Blues 3:16 7. Exotic Moods 2:15 8. Warm Water 4:16 9. Doreen's Blues 3:16 10. The Proper Time 1:12 11. Drum Solo 0:50 12. Panic 1:44 13. Fraternizing 1:45 14. Doreen's Blues 1:43 15. Fast Blues 0:42 16. Piano Trio 1:46 12. Doreen's Blues 2:15 13. The Proper Time 1:20 Up over and out.