Joe G

You won't get ANY grief from me on those counts, my brother!

Sounds like Joe's been workin' out with that Gripmaster: Ron, Ron, Ron.

I think she's cute and fun, but I don't think that pic works in her favor, personally.

I like that cover. Never heard of the group, though.

Watch out for Jeremy Kittle. I hear he's been growing by leaps and bounds.

I did the Artist Way course in the 90's when that book first came out. It was quite helpful, indeed.

Can we all agree that music with no "chops" sucks, too?

Ain't that something! Thanks for posting that.

A bit of a repetition of what's been posted already, but here, from "The Advancing Guitarist", are Mick Goodrick's thoughts on the subject: ~ Play on the tunes that you are currently playing, but at least twice as slow. (And no double time!) This way, if you start to play any of your "pet licks", it will sound so bad to you that you'll probably stop right in the middle and quite possibly actually start to imporvise, since, at the slower tempo, you'll have much more time (and space) to think/hear/feel other kinds of ideas. ~ Ask yourself: "Is there anything really important in music that I've forgotten about?" ~ Feed a loaf (or two) of bread to some pigeons, ducks, sea gulls, or other types of birds. ~ Imagine a time or circumstance where you could never play the guitar again. ~ Go for a long walk. ~ Cry. ~ Stop playing the guitar and/or listening to music for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days. ~ Stop playing the guitar, but listen to a lot of music for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days. ~ Change the strings on your guitar and polish it. ~ Send your guitar "back to the factory" to either be retuned or recycled.

Forgot about that! Chuck's been taken twice now.

Good for you, Randy!

I have to thank Free For All; I've gotten three good laughs out of that pic you posted.

I can't beleive someone on THIS board wouldn't have any Jimmy Smith . . . . . The only organist I really listen to is Larry Young. Sorry to Jim, and everybody else! I was about to post that I, of all people, don't own any Jimmy Smith albums, but then I remembered that I do have Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes. But, I hear plenty of it on the road with Jim.

Chicagolanders: check them out at Hothouse on the 22nd!

I have yet to take my guitar on a plane, but that day may be coming soon. And I am a bit worried about it.

I just got back from the show in Ann Arbor, at the very intimate Kerrytown Concert House (and I do mean house)... The concert was very, very good. It was very sophisticated and satisfying on so many levels. Actually, I'm a little taken aback by what I just witnessed! Every piece was like a story - there was a very strong narrative element to the performances - and the transitions between the different parts of the narrative really knocked me out. Like you said, the way they "snap back into form" was often brilliant; if indeed they ever departed from the form (hard for me to say without seeing several concerts for comparison). There was a great amount of contrast to the music, like sweetly touching melodies and harmonies (not unlike those found in Metheny's music), then driving rock beats, then primal screams. And it was all exquisitely paced (and placed) to create maximum effect. But for all that contrast, everything seemed to flow so well and be all of a piece, like how it's the same ocean no matter if the weather is stormy or calm. Plus, just some damn good playing from everyone. LOVE Cuong's tone, rhythm, and phrasing, while Ted's sense of time and his overall approach to creating effects on the kit were eye opening! I bought the new CD from him tonight; based on the samples I listened to previously I'm sure it will be good. But that concert!

Consider me disturbed!

I was going to ask - is that Michael Brecker, or Michael Corleone on tenor?

So far, D.C. is the one place we know for sure that we're playing!

ZING! I was pondering that very thing earlier today in a clothing store while overhearing a pop/country ballad featuring a rather weak melody.

I'll mention it to him on Monday.

4 degrees above zero!

October. Nothing yet - still working on it.

That too.

You betcha! Probably October.