Christiern

You're probably right, but let's not keep it alive by going on and on about the advisability of killing it.

What did Ulmer do that might be termed "great"? Certainly not this film--it was as amateurish as they come--dreadful, trite script, wooden acting, painfully pedestrian camera work, and direction that never rises above that of the worst of Oscar Micheaux's films. I just Googled Ulmer and see that he made some 128 films--this one looks like no thought had gone into it. The writer of the online bio does mention that his output includes a lot of "dross."

Looks to me like it's dying a natural death.

I gave it up about 27 years ago, but it took me about ten years to reach a point where I began to be bothered by second-hand smoke. Let's hope that Jenning's death wakes up some smokers.

Last night on the Black Family Channel (which has the look and feel that Public Access channels had years ago) they showed "Moon Over Harlem," a truly amateurish film from 1939. There are some club scenes with a big band and, in one of them, Sidney Bechet's soprano emerges from the snap-crackle-and-pop soundtrack. Sure enough, he is in the band. Anyone here ever heard of this film? I don't recall seeing it before.

I could think of better things to stalk, if that were my bent. Yes, it is indeed a silly thread, Mr. Analog, but skipping threads that bother one works 100% fine for me. In fact, I'm seriously thinking of henceforth skipping this one. Weizen, if you only knew how many fine smoking jackets I've ruined in the bushes! Armani customer support no longer takes my calls--it's devastating.

Unless it sparks a political discussion, I don't see why it "should" be in the political forum. It's basically about bringing people together--politics, as we see, does the opposite. Barenboim gives 'peace concert' Daniel Barenboim was married to the late cellist Jacqueline Du Pre Conductor Daniel Barenboim has given a "concert for peace" in the Spanish town of Oviedo in honour of late Palestinian author and friend Edward Said. Barenboim and Said co-founded an orchestra of Arab and Israeli musicians to promote peace and friendship between Israel and Palestine. The pair were jointly awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord in Oviedo in 2002. Said died in 2003. The orchestra is due to play in Buenos Aires, London and Ramallah. Known as the West-Eastern Divan orchestra, it consists of approximately 100 musicians including 38 from Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon and 37 Israelis. Said's widow, Mariam, was among those in the audience at Oviedo where the programme included works by Mozart, Mahler and Carl Maria von Weber's comic opera Abu Hassan. Israeli pianist Barenboim, 62, was married to the renowned cellist Jacqueline du Pre. He has announced that he will step down as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra next year. He remains general music director of the Berlin Opera.

Yesterday I received a CD that I highly recommend to anyone who has kids (although you don't have to be one to enjoy it). It's Elizabeth Coatsworth's "The Cat Who Went to Heaven," to which Nancy has written music. She performs it with a large cast of musicians, including Clark Terry, Kenny Barron, Frank Wess, Gerry Niewood, George Mraz, and Grady Tate. It's an Enhanced CD that also contains a video with shots of the session, and Nancy talking about the production. Kenny Werner's piano score is also on the disc, as are the narration, script and individual instrument music sheets. I really admire this production and the way Nancy just keeps coming up with unusual projects, lovingly executed.

Rainy Day is all wet, as it were (sorry, Mala, couldn't resist). Well, she has her facts mixed up, but at least she curbed the gutter language, this time. Now, about those Monk/Coltrane recordings: great stuff. Amazing, too, that they emerge at the same time as the Dizzy/Bird Town Hall set. If these comprised the total of this year's releases, 2005 would still be a very good year.

"I wish I had never met your sneaky ass. I wish I had never married you. I do hate you Jonathan...And I hate all the Fags out there like you who use women to hide behind so that you can walk the streets of America without a care in the world...you're a Fag alright." --Author Terry McMillan in a letter to her husband, Jonathan Plummer. Last night I watched the Tavis Smiley show. One of his guests was author Terry McMillan, who has a new book out. They spent very little time on the new book, however, for she worked herself into a lather over the fact that she is divorcing her husband, Jonathan Plummer (who is 20 years younger and inspired the male character in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back"). Turns out that Plummer is gay and the whole thing has become a truly messy affair, more interesting than any of her published plots. As she lost her composure vowing not to give "that bastard" a penny, Tavis sat expressionless, probably sorry to have brought up the subject. Anyway, I had not heard of this domestic tangle before, so curiosity brought me to Google where I found the following court papers. They are lengthy, but absorbing--in a National Enquirer sort of way. http://tidewateralive.com/tpcasedoc1.html http://tidewateralive.com/tpcasedoc4.html

I used to write liner notes as Fred Nurdley, but only when I did not care for the music and needed the money (BTW, we all had pseudonyms: Dan Morgenstern was Michael Morgan and Orrin Keepnews was Peter Drew). I'm listed on another board as Nurdley, but my profile has the right name, and I think most people here know that Christiern or Chris A = Chris Albertson.

"But I don't think we need to have our true life names attached to everything we write here for all eternity. That'd be cruel indeed for some of us!" Only if we don't stand by our words. As for Rainy, wouldn't want that one behind me, no sir!

You will always be the Gene Harris Fanatic, Dan.

Conrad, it's easy to see why your Dad values this picture. Jim Dye did a fine job, all things considered, but he was working with a low resolution image. If you could do a higher resolution scan and give some of us that to work with, I think the result could be quite remarkable. PhotoShop is a remarkable program for this sort of thing.

I don't see anything wrong with using handles, per se. However, when people make personal attacks on fellow posters from behind a handle, as Rainy Day does, I think cowardice comes into play. If you notice, "Rainy Day" can't post for long without resorting to foul language and paranoid insults. I once posted her real name and had her foaming at her mouth--"outing" (if that is the right term) cowardly posters is not, IMO, wrong, but I would not do that to anyone who is not using as a shield behind which to hide while hurling insults. You may recall that I always used "hardbop"'s real name, because I felt his offensive, mean-spirited trolling required our knowledge of his true identity. In his case, it was a reminder, for I don't think he hid his identity in the early days of Jazz Central. I know "Groper"'s real name but I never use it, because I see nothing wrong with his using a handle. Sure, I strongly disagree with his political views and find many of his opinions ludicrous, but his posts are never mean-spirited or venomous. I think chronically venomous people tend to realize that their behavior is socially unacceptable, so they never sign their real name. As a radio station manager and broadcaster, I have seen my share of such hate mail--we called them crank letters--and they were never signed nor did they come with a return address.

You should get he set because, besides having a way with words, Buddy was one hell of a drummer who usually chose his surroundings well. Besides, you need something to counteract the unfortunate decision that went into your avatar!

50 is just a start, Lon. I recall buying a slight variation of this magazine when it was the latest issue!

That's true, Greg, but while the cost is astronomical (pardon), we do reap benefits in terms of high technology and materials that have become part of our everyday lives. I still think we have warped priorities, however.

MAY THE NEXT 50 BE EVEN BETTER!

Impressive but insignificant when one considers what else is going on in our world. Frankly, I'd prefer to see some outrage over the fact that we are spending billions in space an on a frivolous no-win war while thousands of children and their mothers are starving to death in Sudan.

I always liked this photo...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOTH OF YOU...

I know which DVD the post refers to--didn't I show that in my response? That still does not explain why European bootleggers can't profit from it.

Is that a cryptic post or am I just clueless? Incidental Information Dept.: A good friend of mine who is one of the solo performers in the film told me that there was a wonderful sense of cameraderie on and off stage, and that Scorcese paid everyone the same amount, regardless of name value.

Conrad, that photo says it all. The fond memories of your Mom and the good times you two shared will carry you a long way and soon overshadow the trauma of recent times. An occasional liberal thought might not hurt Chris