Jim Alfredson

Too bad your kid is not Jesus, or you'd make some $$$ on that blankie.

We're working on it. I want to get to Chicago very badly. It'll happen soon... I hope!

SEK, sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope they can find a way for you to be better. We have tried UofM. One of the things that the neurosurgeon, Dr. Kim, said yesterday is that right now we are moving laterally from doctor to doctor. From the top minds at MSU to the top minds at UofM. And what we need to do is move vertically, up to the next tier. He suggested Mayo or Cleveland Clinic.

Joey DeFrancesco? I love Joey, though. He's a bad dude.

Just a little update: Today we had an appointment with a local neurosurgeon, just to have another opinion. He was very kind and was the first doctor we've seen who didn't act like he'd rather be golfing. He seemed genuinely concerned about Alison, but agreed with the neurosurgeon in Ann Arbor that her Chiari Malformation is probably not the cause of her problems. He did have some very good advice, however, and referred us to a non-MSU affiliated neurologist here in town. He also said that if this new neurologist can't help us, he should be able to expedite getting to someone who can. Overall, we felt pretty good leaving his office just because he explained everything very well and took the time to go over every idea we presented him. He also suggested another test that no one has performed yet to look at my wife's vertebral arteries. So at least we have another route to go on for the time being.

Where did you find that quote? Not that it matters much... Jimmy Smith has an ego bigger than his discography! He's a funny dude.

Spring is coming early this year.

http://www.prevailingwinds.net/agelist/agelist.php

yes, give me a jingle

Arno Marsh, Randy's father, is still kickin' ass at 76. Can't wait to play with him again this summer!

That's a great story, Mike. I wish I had the chance to learn from one of the true masters, although my mentor, Doug Decker, is a phenomenal organist who can hang with the best. I got some pedals lessons from Dr. Lonnie Smith after one of his gigs, once. And I played in front of Joey DeFrancesco, who told me, "You're gonna give me a run for my money!" I don't know how true that is, but it was nice of him to say that. I never got to see Big John live. I would've loved to have met him and heard him play. I'm thankful I got to see McDuff before he passed. And I've seen McGriff and Jimmy Smith several times. Never got to see Shirley or Groove or (of course) Don Patterson. Or even Don Pullen. So many masters gone. Gotta keep the torch lit...

The Onion strikes again... http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4104

Ha! That's good stuff. Star Wars sucks.

We saw this band at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday after playing the previous afternoon. The festival organizers were so gracious and let us stay another night in the hotel so we could see Herbie. Terri Lynne Carrington blew my mind. She is absolutely incredible. When I met her backstage I told her, "I only have one word for you... ferocious!!" I would add focused to that as well. She's a fantastic drummer.

That's all right. As long as it doesn't get in the way of his game, I don't care.

Congrats Johnny and Mrs. Johnny!!! Such wonderful news!

That's the best way to learn... get right in the middle of it, in the clubs, and go for it. Keep going!

This is something I'm going to have to hear... I don't really understand what you're hearing. You're not pressing any keys, but you're hearing a sound that repeats? I know you're probably low on cash but I would get that tech over.

Percussion hormonic selector?!? Careful, man!!!! Seriously, the classic Jimmy Smith setting is: B preset pressed down on top manual. Volume set to normal Vibrato Great (this is for the top manual) - on Vibrato Swell (this is for the bottom manual) - on Percussion - on Percussion volume - soft Percussion decay - fast Percussion harmonic - third And the big black round knob that's next to the white vibrato great and swell tabs should be set to C3.

Marcello, When was this picture taken and where? Very cool. Also, who's Spider Martin? I'm not familiar with him I don't think.... Thanks again for the shot! GReat!!!! No relation to Spider Webb.

Up and down in pitch or in volume?

How about 2005?

Sounded like an electric piano to me. (Now there will be no more excuses. Donnie Hathaway's "The Ghetto" will now become a part of the repertoire...) Except for the fact that I'd feel strange singing about the ghetto!! Some white boy from a farm town talkin' about the ghetto? I'd be afraid of running into this brother that met me backstage in Lansing after the jazz festival a few years ago... they introduced me as playing "like Jimmy Smith" instead of being influenced by Smith. After the set, this elderly brother came up to me and said: "Man, you ain't no Jimmy Smith! And I'll tell you another thing... you ain't no Jack McDuff either! And Shirley Scott would whoop your ass!" He did have one caveat, however. He told me, "You're all right, though... for a white boy."