Dave James

The Harmonicats? I'm all over this one. These are three wild and crazy guys. Up over and out.

While I'm happy to report that I have not actually heard the Simon standards album, I did have the unenviable misfortune of stumbling across a live performance of same during a recent PBS fundraiser. To say that she was out of her element would be selling the inepitude of her performance short. Not only could she not get where she needed to get vocally, but it looked like she knew she couldn't. I know she is notoriously prone to state fright, but this went well beyond that. Very uncomfortable. Of course, the crowd of lemmings they rounded up to bear witness to this dreck dutifully applauded the two songs I was able to listen to before I bailed, but they were the only people in the room who missed the boat further than Ms. Simon. I don't know who sold her or her record company on this idea, but they should be made to find new work in another occupation. Up over and out.

Al, I hear you. That one last night had to leave a mark. Up over and out.

Kudos to Jorge Posada for his all around game last night. Holding on to that ball after Teixeira played Pete Rose to his Ray Fosse was remarkable. That collision must've knocked him six feet backwards. And then to come back with a walk off in the bottom of the ninth. Let's just say if he ever has a better game, I hope I get to see it. The Yankees problem isn't hitting. Even without Matsui, Sheffield and, last night, Giambi, they still pack plenty of lumber. Their problem is arms. If the Unit can't figure it out, Chacon continues to pitch like he did last year when he was with the Rockies and Mariano Rivera stays as hittable as he has been so far this year, we gottum major problems. Octavio Dotel could fill the Rivera void, but that doesn't address the starting rotation. That, my friends and fellow Yankee fans, is the problem. Up over and out.

After last night, if Elliot makes it to the final pairing, there should be a Congressional investigation. Up over and out.

I think if I was Herbie, I'd start worrying about my legacy. Up over and out.

Al, Based on what happened at Yankee Stadium tonight, I don't think I'm in a position to argue with you. Up over and out.

Bolton Swings Sinatra CD Michael Bolton Regular Price: $15.65 Sale Price: $13.29 Scheduled to release Tuesday, May 23, 2006 Place your order today and be one of the first to receive this product when it arrives. 1. You Go To My Head 2. Fly Me To The Moon 3. For Once In My Life 4. Summer Wind, The 5. My Funny Valentine 6. I've Got You Under My Skin 7. That's Life 8. 2nd Time Around, The - (featuring Nicollette Sheridan) 9. Girl From Ipanema 10. Night And Day 11. They Can't Take That Away From Me 12. New York, New York Thank God for Concord Records. Up over and out.

For the same reason a dog licks his balls. Because he can. Up over and out.

Chris, I absolutely agree with you. If Bonds never hits another home run, it would be the best thing that could ever happen to and for the game. Those morons in San Francisco who robotically cheer everything he does ought to have their heads examined. The problem is that cheating in baseball goes much deeper than Bonds. If I had my druthers, I'd also expunge the records of Mssrs. Sosa, McGwire and Palmiero. But, it really doesn't end there either, and that's the crux of the issue. For instance, what do you do about the pitchers? Since baseball ramped up its steroid policy, more pitchers have been caught using than any other position. That would lead one to believe that perhaps there was more juicing going on among that group than among everyday players. So, what really overshadows the Bonds issue is this; if you start by making an example of him, where do you stop? Up over and out.

Soul Stream, Thanks for the heads up. George Braith, who'd have figured you'd ever hear any more from him? I love his Blue Note stuff. From the standpoint of his sound, he's one of a handful of jazz guys who just marches to a totally different drummer. The song samples on on CD Baby are to say the least, intriguing. I couldn't resist, I went for all four. Up over and out.

Let's see, I'm looking for a silver lining here, and about the only thing I can find is that this didn't happen to Matsui in August. Small solice. Sure, the Yanks have some guys who might be able to step up, but as long as both Matsui and Sheffield are out, you're talking about taking 220 RBI's out of the lineup. And speaking of Sheffield, his "I'm not playing until I'm 100%" ultimatum pegs him as the "I'm in it for me" guy I was hoping he wasn't. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's using this as a ploy to get them to move on a contract extension/option pickup. Between the Unit's woes, injuries and dropping two of three to the Sox, this has been a pretty lousy week if you're a Yankee fan. Prediction: Lou Pinella is managing the Yanks before the end of this season. Up over and out.

Patterson was a class act. Today's fight game could use a boatload of Floyds. Up over and out.

If I'm reading my tea leaves correctly, the Yankees are going to need all the offensive firepower they can muster given the shakiness of their pitching. If The Unit can't figure it out and he really is finished, they have major problems. I love what Mussina has been able to do thusfar, but his history isn't anything upon which I'd want to bet the farm. Without a genuine #1 stopper, this is going to be a tough row to hoe. At least the Sox have Josh Beckett. That's why the resolution of the Clemens sweepstakes is going to be so important. I can't imagine anyone who's ever been better positioned to cash in than The Rocket. I mean, things could not have broken better for him if he'd planned it all out himself. I know Houston has already offered him $4 million a month, but that'll probably wind up looking like chump change by the time the Yanks and Red Sox have made their final offers. Up over and out.

mrjazzman, I just ordered "London By Night" from a Japanese outfit called HMV about a week ago. I believe their website is hmv.jp.co or hmv.co.jp. I've placed two orders with them and it looks like a pretty solid dealer. Prices are very fair and service (at least with the one order I've received) was excellent. Up over and out.

I never took the time, nor will I, to determine what percentage of my collection is from Blue Note. Just looking at the telltale white spines in my storage units though, I'd guess 40-50% of everything I have is a BN imprint. I'd have a hard time arguing that Blue Note isn't head and shoulders above any other label in terms of overal quality and consistency. That's not to denigrate Prestige, Impulse, Pacific Jazz or any other label, but when anything in any line of endeavor stands out to the extent Blue Note does, I say give them their due, AND keep buying their product. Up over and out.

Dan, At least he's not Randy Johnson. Up over and out.

I've seen at least two Baker/Twardzik live recordings on Dusty Groove, but the way they sometimes characterize sound issues always makes me wary. Can someone comment on the quality of the sound? If it's passable and it's "new" Twardzik, I'm in. Thanks. Up over and out.

Jim. With regard to the issue of "great" versus "influential" and your thought that over time the two will merge and become one. There is some validity in that argument, but I think it depends, perhaps, on the passion one has for the music. For jazz geeks like us, and for those who will follow in our footsteps, I think there will always be a difference. For others not so steeped in knowledge or immersed and obsessed with understanding the music, perhaps less so or not at all. Take Miles as an example. Most of us on this board would acknowledge the importance of "Birth of the Cool" and the influence it had on what came after it, but at the same time would feel, I think unequivocally, that Davis made greater recordings. Over the course of time, maybe 50 or 100 years from now, I'm not sure that changes. Up over and out.

In terms of influence, I don't think you can argue the importance of "The Hot Fives & Sevens", "Birth of the Cool" or "A Love Supreme". Both changed the direction of music at the time and affected its course in a manner that is still being felt today. Having said that, I can still make the argument that from an aesthetic standpoint (the subjective factor by which greatness is measured) each of these artists may have made "greater" music. For sure Miles did with "KoB" and maybe Coltrane with "Giant Steps". People can and should argue "greatness" as long as there's jazz, but I don't think you can argue influential. Up over and out.

Pass it off to my own quirkiness, but I don't think any "Best Of" compilation belongs on this list. Further, IMO, this list strikes me as more "Most Influential" than it does "Greatest". Up over and out.

In the dog eat dog world of record retailing, there is some classic Darwinism at work, i.e. survival of the fittest. The move to online purchasing is the prime example. As several posters have already pointed out, Dusty Groove, for one, appears to be flourishing or at least holding its own, while others, like Delmark are about to go down for the third time. If Mr. Koester doesn't realize his business model is broken, then he has no one to blame but himself. I know it costs money to modernize, and Delmark has always struck me as one of those labels that just holds on by a string, but if you aren't willing to do what's necessary to keep up, then the consequences are self-inflicted. There's also the issue of product. Delmark has made a significant commitment to a segment of the music that is on the margins when it comes to the size of its potential audience. I think it's great that they are willing to take that kind of artistic stand, but it may also be what's contributing to their financial instability. Up over and out.

There is very little, and by that I mean next to nothing, in the political world that isn't spun one way or another. Whenever I see something that's particularly cloying (No Child Left Behind) I'm automatically dubious of the intent. You have to give the "namers" their due, though. Regardless of the inherent duplicity in what they're doing, they are pretty darn good at doing it. Up over and out.

I just ordered two Michiru CD's (4 Seasons & Routes), Nathan Davis' London by Night and Sonny Clark's Leapin' and Lopin' (all Japanese versions) for a total of $107.00 from HMV in Japan. My computer is misbehaving tonight, but try entering HMV.co.jp or do a search and click on the HMV Japan-Homepage. I've ordered from them before (Horace Tapscott's "In New York"). Service was excellent. Highly recommended website with fair prices. One that I don't recall seeing discussed on this board before. Up over and out.

Sorry, but I've had it up to here with Hollywood's style over substance fixation. If I never see another special effects laden "blockbuster", it'll be too soon. Give me decent acting, a good story, solid, believable characters and character development...in short, something I can actually care about, and I'll be a happy camper. Up over and out.