Christiern

Roy of 'Siegfried & Roy' critical after mauling CNN --A nine-year-old white tiger attacked Roy Horn of 'Siegfried & Roy' during a Friday night performance on the Las Vegas strip -- the tiger's first time on stage, and the trainer's 59th birthday. Horn was listed as critical Saturday, according to the University Medical Center for emergency surgery's recorded message service, updated at 2:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. ET). The tiger lunged at Horn's neck about half-way through the show, and dragged him off stage, audience members said. "He looked like a rag doll in his mouth," said Kirk Baser, from Pennsylvania. Emergency officials arrived at the MGM Mirage Hotel-Casino around 8:20 p.m. (11:20 p.m. ET), and treated Horn for massive blood loss before he was rushed to University Medical Center for emergency surgery. Horn was talking at the time emergency workers arrived, but had trouble breathing, Clark County Fire spokesman Bob Leinbach said. Horn, the darker-haired member of 'Siegfried & Roy', was born in Nordenham, Germany on October 3, 1944. Combining magic with tiger stunts, the flamboyant duo has performed on the Las Vegas strip for nearly 30 years. The tiger that attacked Horn is currently in quarantine and no one else was injured in the attack, according to MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman. Audience members were shocked to realize the attack was not part of an illusion or magic trick. Amy Sherman, who was sitting in the front row with her mother about 10 yards away from the stage, said the attack happened right after Horn introduced the tiger, saying it was the animal's first performance. "Right after that, the tiger kind of turned its head and bit him on the arm," Sherman said. "Roy started taking a microphone and started whapping the tiger on the head." The tiger, who was on a short leash, then dragged Horn to the ground and they struggled before the tiger dragged him behind a curtain by his neck, she said. Trainers on stage rushed to aid Horn, trying to subdue the tiger. "We just heard all this commotion behind the curtain and you could hear Roy scream," Sherman said. "Everyone at our table was kind of looking at each other, like 'Oh my God,'" she said. After about a minute, which Sherman's mother said seemed like forever, Siegfried appeared on stage. "You could tell he was really shook up, and he just said, 'I'm sorry but the show is over, and you know, the show has been canceled'" Joyce Edenholl said. "Everyone there I think , thought it was part of the act, because no one really freaked out," Kirk Baser said. "When it grabbed him and dragged him off the stage, I thought maybe it was like some magic trick where they switch a rag doll or something." A group of Australians said they witnessed the attack from the front row of the crowded theater, and also thought it was just part of the show. "A lady ran past me, freaking out and it was then I sort of, in the back of my mind, thought now this isn't part of the show," said David Strudwick. "And then you look at the staff and they had a bit of horror in their eyes and ... it was like, wait a second, it may not be a part of the show."

I completely agree, Chuck. I believe this reissue contributed to Schaap being kicked out of Sony, although what he did with the Ellington Newport set and "Black, Brown and Beige" alone would have been sufficient justification. BTW have you ever read an unedited liner by Phil? He makes Leslie Gourse read like Keats.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight made a great recording of "Up Above My Head (I Hear Music in the Air)" for Decca.

Right!

Does that include the special audio plug-in for portentous voice overs? No Dan, iMovie doesn't even contain gratuitous train footage. Besides, all the "Ken Burns" effect does is block one from editing footage made after 1948. Go past that date and you will see flashing, scowling faces of Wynton and Crouch superimposed on you work.

That would do it, Larry!

Charles Burnett's contrived, poorly acted dramatic segments were painful to watch last night. I don't know who he is or what he has done before, but this was pretty bad. It was particularly annoying since it took up time that could have been used for blues clips. I thought the previous night's episode lacked imagination, but this one might have had too much of it--a strenuous attempt at original approach, IMO. I just checked out the Burnett interview and I am amazed at how sloppy his research is. The following is from the Q&A: Columbus, Ohio: Really enjoyed your film! Was the footage of Bessie Smith singing about being jilted in the bar scene archival or produced for this film? It was like an early MTV video! What ended up happening to her? Charles Burnett: No, that was produced by WC Handy and the Handy family owns that. It was a film made by Paramount starring Bessie Smith made in the 30's. She died in a tragic car accident and bled to death in Mississippi. First of all, the Handy family does not own the film. It is actually in the public domain and the original negative was owned by Karl Knudsen, who died last month. He purchased it from the son of Dudley Murphy, who directed the film. Also, the film was not made by Paramount, as Burnett alleges. It was made by RCA Phototone (in Astoria, Queens) and the filming took place in late August 1929, not "in the 30s." Now I know why the film was a chronological jumble--the guy who made it simply didn't bother to do basic research.

Originally that great period, 1943-46, then again in '48. He was about 85.

Sorry to report that Chubby Jackson, who so smoothly helped to propel the Woody Herman band, has died. Don't know any details, but he had been quite ill.

I never even entered the lobby, sad to say.

Assuming that you are referring to the Columbia sets (Frog is also putting out a complete set with, I understand, great sound by John R. T.), I recommend Volume 2 because it contains her extraordinary collaborations with Louis Armstrong. It's a tough question for me to answer, because I embrace it all. Volume 5 contains less music, since the second disc is devoted to about 70 minutes of my interviews with Ruby Walker Smith, but it includes the soundtrack performance of "St. Louis Blues," from the 1929 film, the last session (with swing era musicians), and two alternate takes with Armstrong. Since you have read the book, it might interest you to hear Ruby tell some of the stories contained in it--she does a far better job than I could hope to. Your wife's observation is an interesting one. I once asked Genya Ravan why so many female singers put up with abusive husbands and boyfriends. Her explanation was that the abuse works as a balance, of sorts! She told me that "a girl can get tired of being waited on hand to foot. When you are the star of the show, you only have to hint that you want something, and someone's off trying to find it for you. After you go through a lot of that, it's kinda nice to come home to a guy who isn't at your feet." Different strokes, eh?

What is Windows?

Or the wooden nickel. BTW I have a Belgian Franc note (legal tender) with Charlie Parker's picture on it.

Thanks, Chuck, interesting story. As I have mentioned before, Rudy never tried to force a sound on me. He would set up, we (including the artists) would listen to a playback, and Rudy would make any changes that were suggested to him. Thus the final sound was a consensus. Of course, much can be done in the mastering process, so I am not surprised to hear that Alfred Lion also took part in that phase--we all should have.

I agree--love A Face in the Crowd. deplore Kazan's cowardice. Shades of the recent Wagner and Riefenstahl threads.

Presumably, you went to the job interview knowing that you are qualified for the position. Unless you have suddenly developed a tin ear, I would say that you are still qualified. Go in there with that knowledge, don't let fade the belief in yourself that accompanied you to that interview. Remember, too, that you did well in the interview. When we want something badly enough, we give a little extra to get it. Good luck, I'm sure that all will go well.

One has to wonder if Peter can write about Monk without perpetuating his father's ego-driven claims. I have great respect for Peter, but I seriously doubt that he can approach this subject objectively. I think Robin Kelly's book is the one to look for. He interviewed me about Monk at Riverside, and I found his determination to get to the truth quite impressive. Since Orrin is so closely linked to Monk's Riverside experience, it is crucial that the story be told without honestly.

I still don't understand why all our money has to be green. It makes a lot more sense to have a readily identifiable color for each denomination.

Catesta, my Mac has reduced your avatar to a tiny, perfectly shaped question mark, and neatly centered it in a precious little blue box. As for the Segway, I recently saw one that had been parked with the doorman in my building. Very neat. Here's one in "berigan's" favorite city...

He was a policeman in Wilmington, Delaware. Truly one of the nicest, most genuine people I have known. As I recall, his first album was one side of an LP entitled New Faces at Newport. The other side served to introduce Randy Weston. It think it was an MGM or Verve release. Lem had great enthusiasm for all the jazz forms that preceded him. He came to my Philly apartment from time to time, to listen to recordings or, on a couple of occasions, sit down with Elmer Snowden and Lonnie Johnson. Once he brought his grandfather with him, and I could see where he got the winning personality from. He told me that he loved to sit down with his grandfather and listen to him reminisce. "You know," he said, "you can look into the eyes of older people, and see how much fun they had." His death was a great shock to those of us who knew him, especially the manner in which it happened--he was playing Russian roulette.

UNO It's the MJQ (LP16-1)

That was Josef Mengele. AKA The Angel of Death, but no angel was he.

Ken's server is obviously not Mac-based Thanks for keeping us informed, Jim.

I was a charter member and never had a complaint. When a disc got lost in the mail, Netflix said forgeddaboutit. I have temporarily put my subscription on hold, but only because I am working on two books and haven't the time to watch DVDs.

The Bottom Line is the only NYC establishment I refused to go to for a review. These people were unbelievably rude.