Jim Alfredson

We live in very different worlds. Yes we do.

I don't think it's over the top to call Stevie Wonder one of the true geniuses of music... right up there with Ellington, Coltrane, etc. in my book.

Stevie Wonder is quite possibly one of the greatest vocal improvisers ever recorded. And that period specifically is when he did his greatest work. Anything unreleased from that period should be OUT!

Geez, Larry Brown. Why don't you just go over to the visitor's bench and start dry-humping AI?

I wanted to, but I promised to help my sister setup her wireless network in her new apartment. I'm sure it kicked ass!

insane!!! What about Stern implying that he's considering a lifetime ban for Van Gundy? That's insane. Can you say "power hungry"?

So is this why I was routinely hidden in the cellar when anyone came over? I thought every parent did that to the middle child?

He should've been Defensive Player of the Year last year, too. Giving it to Ron Artest was bullshit.

High ranking monkey:

Dang! Is it his birthday? Why isn't that in the calender!? Who runs this place? Happy Birthday, Groove! You still da man.

"I Got A Woman" is a must-have.

Pick up the stuff on the Collectables label. They've reissued his work on Sue records. You want greazy!? That's the pinnacle of greazy!

Lonnie was in rare form last night, back at the old hang, so to speak. It was a lot of fun! GregN, how'd that turkey dinner treat you? B-)

Not very well thought-out at all. That's what happens when legislators, who know nothing about the technology, make laws about it.

Not really, but it sure as hell isn't your father's organ trio, either.

Geez, Jazz Kat... chill out, man! Is there such a thing as good smooth jazz? Hell yes. For instance, on Friday my r&b band played the Bowen Senior Center in Pontiac, MI (don't laugh... them seniors GET DOWN!) and during the breaks they had a member spinning tunes. She kept playing this really soulful, fun, gospel-esque funky number with a saxophone lead and at the end of the night I asked her who it was. She said, "Kurt Whalen". It was GOOD! I'm going to find the record it's on. I don't care what the label is and I'm not ashamed to admit that the label is smooth. Who cares? Jazz Kat... and anyone else for that matter... if you ever get to the point where labels are more important than the music, you've lost sight of what matters. Who cares if it's "jazz" or "smooth jazz" or "heavy metal" or whatever? Does the music move you in some way? If the answer is yes, then enjoy it! If no, move on. Simple as that. Now, onto the subject of Spyro Gyra... the first organ trio I was in was with my dad on guitar and my best friend's girlfriend's father on drums (got that?) He was really into Spyro Gyra and gave me some of their stuff to listen to. Some of it was pretty good. My dad also has (had) some Bob James on vinyl and I enjoyed that when I was younger (I still enjoy some of it... anything with Idris drumming has at least something going for it!) A lot of what Grover did should fall under the category of "smooth", but that stuff has soul and is great! I don't care what it's called. Again, this makes me wonder what people are going to think about the next Organissimo record. This is going to be fun.

That's a shame. Boyd was greazy as hell. RIP. How is McGriff doing these days?

The drummer was Detroit's own Shawn Dobbins. Man... those cats were on fire tonight!!! Lonnie was playing a beautiful 1969 B3 with twin Leslies, graciously brought in by Detroit organist extrodinaire Gerard Gibbs (it was nice to see you again tonight, my man!) Perry was tearing it up, Shawn was a ball of energy, and Lonnie was smilin' and laid back, laying down the greaze. Good stuff! Makes me want to stay up all night and play! They play again tomorrow... if my wife lets me out of the house again I might check it out, but otherwise... you folks in Ann Arbor/Detroit/Toledo ain't got no excuse!!!

Joe and I are meeting up with Greg to see Dr. Lonnie Smith tonight at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. He's there tomorrow night as well. Rumor has it that Detroit's own Perry Hughes will be on guitar. I'm not sure who the drummer is. Hopefully Randy Gelispie. I'll report back!

The Pistons pulled it out. Tough game. Really stange officiating. The refs let them play loose the whole game until about 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter, then they tightened it up. Then in overtime, it was loose again. WTF? Consistency, folks! Back in Detroit to close out the series on Tuesday.

I wish my pops would stop smoking. He's 64 now and had a triple-bypass back in 2000. He's been smoking since he was 12. For awhile he quit, but he's back to smoking again. I worry about him.

Sorry dude... some of us actually have things to do.

DANG! Can I get one of those for my birthday!?? It's coming up on the 25th of May!!! I'm speaking of the beer, of course.... you pervs!!!

What happened to the bird lady?

Happy Birthday, brother! You are the man!!