BeBop

My "take" on Hawaii is slanted by the fact that I'm solely a business traveler. The downsides: - Airports and hotels are full of people unfamiliar with "the routine". Grrrrrrr. - Working eight to five (or, more likely, 6:00AM until 9:00PM) the sunshine and tradewinds are outside my enjoyment - Local culture? - Everyone back at the office seems to think I'm on vacation. The best State? Gotta be Alaska. I've been on business trips where I've gone hiking at midnight (June). That's cool. And in December, well, work doesn't mean missing much outside. But that's not what the survey is about. I'm kind of surprised that high unemployment, low wages and high cost of living don't "sink" Hawaii.

I won't debate the conclusions as they pertain to residents, but as a visitor, my ranking of the first three - Lousiana, Hawaii and Florida - put them dead last. Ugh. Dreadful.

Just a idea that I've exploited in the past and may again. She really like and is proud of where she lives. By picking something locally made or specific to the area, I sometimes come out better off than if I got something at the mall. (examples: non-precious jewelry, decorative items.) I suppose if she preferred where she grew up, I might got that route, but... Thanks for the suggestions. I know I made it hard by not giving more clues, The iPod is really a nice gift in the sense that Apple will support her and I don't have to figger the thing out. (I'm a Zune guy.) Amazingly, she just bought herself one - not the kind of thing she's inclined to do.

We're keeping it low-key this year, but that doesn't mean my wife isn't expecting a few things under the tree. (Actually, no tree: figurative "tree" only). I thought about that Mosaic Gift Certificate...but thought again. I'd like to find something woman-focused, and there's plenty advertised in this category. But the distinction between what's advertised and what wives really want is sometimes pretty big. All these years in, I've done the jewelry, day spa, pedicure, day-out-for-the-girls, kitchen stuff, decorative items... I really wanted to find something perfect-for-her and that shows how well I know her. That's why I've come to you guys.

Did I show up on time this year? Is the punch all gone? Seriously, I hope it's a great one.

I'll send you my secret recording of Chuck Nessa singing and playing the tambourine on Navy Pier.

IF you really want to stretch the Chicago connection, that's where I first saw Organissimo, at Andy's. (Sorry gotta get in a "plug".)

Among the younger cats, Mike Smith might be considered. http://hardbop.tripod.com/msmith.html I think Eddie Harris and Tony Williams were born in Chicagoland, though they aren't as closely associated. JR Monterose? Hey, and Jimmy Heath wrote CTA, right?

OHELLYEAH!

Happy birthday, and thanks for your contributions here. Enjoy!

I'd visited a jazz-loving friend six months or so ago and borrowed this for a night in my hotel. I'd been a bit biased going in, I s'pose. Frank Tusa was a regular musical contact of mine, back in my Bay Area days. I really liked the set and put it on my short list for purchase, once I settle down and start buying again. What a lively group.

Ah yes, relax and enjoy, David!

In the Oakland, CA hills this morning. And I'm snowed in. Can't get out of my friend's driveway. (Elevation is about 2,000 feet) (

It's just videos, right? Look they're moistly from YouTube or something. (Sorry, I'm not well-informed here: I don't watch videos.) Not sure what makes it a 'cafe' or a place to hang out. I don't mean to be snarky here. I really just wanted to make sure there wasn't something I was missing.

Hell, Hall and Oates sound like a fine group.

A couple of you confirmed what I'd hoped to hear: that some reasonably good recordings slipped in along with those chosen for "other" reasons. I've actually heard the "Tain" Watts, and thought it was pretty good, as many of his recordings are. Still, the Grammy seal of approval ain't exactly the endorsement I'm looking for

Hopefully no one took me seriously when I suggested we did!

I know we all take the Grammys seriously 'round here. For my part, I haven't done any music buying this year. so I can only guess at the "goods" and "bads" among the choices. I've heard bits and pieces on Bob Parlocha's show (including the Gambarini, as nauseum), and NTSU is a sentimental fave. Anyone care to comment? ------------------------- Best Contemporary Jazz Album Urbanus Stefon Harris & Blackout [Concord Jazz] Sounding Point Julian Lage [Emarcy/Decca] At World's Edge Philippe Saisse [E1 Music] Big Neighborhood Mike Stern [Heads Up International] 75 Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate [Heads Up International] -------------------------- Best Jazz Vocal Album No Regrets Randy Crawford (& Joe Sample) [PRA Records] Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman Kurt Elling [Concord Jazz] So In Love Roberta Gambarini [Groovin' High/Emarcy] Tide Luciana Souza [Verve] Desire Tierney Sutton (Band) [Telarc Jazz] --------------------- Best Improvised Jazz Solo Dancin' 4 Chicken Terence Blanchard, soloist Track from: Watts (Jeff "Tain" Watts) [Dark Key Music] All Of You Gerald Clayton, soloist Track from: Two-Shade [ArtistShare] Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey Roy Hargrove, soloist Track from: Emergence [Groovin' High/Emarcy] On Green Dolphin Street Martial Solal, soloist Track from: Live At The Village Vanguard [CamJazz] Villa Palmeras Miguel Zenón, soloist Track from: Esta Plena [Marsalis Music] ------------------------ Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group Quartet Live Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez [Concord Jazz] Brother To Brother Clayton Brothers [ArtistShare] Five Peace Band — Live Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band [Concord Records] Remembrance John Patitucci Trio [Concord Jazz] The Bright Mississippi Allen Toussaint [Nonesuch] ---------------------------------- Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album Legendary Bob Florence Limited Edition [MAMA Records] Eternal Interlude John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble [sunnyside] Fun Time Sammy Nestico And The SWR Big Band [Hänssler Classic] Book One New Orleans Jazz Orchestra [World Village] Lab 2009 University Of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band [North Texas Jazz] ---------------------------- Best Latin Jazz Album Things I Wanted To Do Chembo Corniel [Chemboro Records] Áurea Geoffrey Keezer [ArtistShare] Brazilliance X 4 Claudio Roditi [Resonance Records] Juntos Para Siempre Bebo Valdés And Chucho Valdés [sony Music/Calle 54] Esta Plena Miguel Zenón [Marsalis Music]

I don't shop or buy much, but these seem to be pretty good prices on some items. Here

In a word: Berkeley. Visiting Telegraph Avenue is essential. It's still got a bit of that 60s/70s (when I grew up there, tripping over tear gas canisters) patina. Screw Amoeba - I mean, go if you want - but roam the neighborhood. Walk the Cal campus. Have a coffee. Visit Chez Panisse or the associated cafe - quite nearby. (I really shouldn't recommend a place where I couldn't/wouldn't eat, but enough people rave that...) If you want edgier food, there's lots of that too. I'm a big proponent of Oakland too. Like Berkeley, it's an easy BART ride away. But it's a bit harder to recommend specific, concentrated parts of Oakland to visit. Chinatown and Lake Merritt would be a good starter. Lots of people like Marin and the Wine Country. In my mind, the coastal areas are more enjoyable. Stinson Beach and Bolinas in Marin. Mendocino (if you must) further North. All require a car, but if you got one, easy. Personally, South has appeal too. Santa Cruz and Monterey are worth considering. Drop me a PM if you get serious about any of these. I could go on, but won't here.

Cool. Always best to be buying from the locals! Though, as I say, I don't have any direct experience with the product, the fact that Vladimir at North Country carries Atoll is a pretty good endorsement; I think he's generaly considered reliable and a decent judge of products.

I've no direct experience, but I recall seeing a bunch of Atoll electronics on sale at North Country Audio, the Cadence affiliate. If you get seriously interested, you might check in with Vladimir.

'zat time again. Enjoy!

Sorry, Dad. In my first post, I'd applied a narrow definition of jazz, befitting the topic: how jazz-hip is YOUR family. Expanding the definition slightly to encompass the New Orleans revival, man, my Dad could go on for days about the Bay Area's revival legends and lesser lights. Turk Murphy, Leon Oakley, Bob Scobey. It took me a while to appreciate this era that was such a big part of his life. But I was ultimately able to shimmy nearly as well as my sister, Kate.

Wow. How old are these "kids" of yours? And how did they learn about Bird, Trane, Miles...? Formal education? Music training? You? Radio? Some online source? The "kids" I know - nieces and nephews - don't even seem to know much about todays music. (I've little interest in current music, but still subscribe to Rolling Stone, Spin, Blender, Paste and a couple of others, just so I'm not totally clueless.)