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Thanks, jb! Cambridge? Oxford? Milton Keynes? I took the picture myself. It is in Amsterdam. I didn't dare to go closer to him, but he was clearly not afraid. He likes the surroundings of bikes it seems and there are LOTS there. So, is the heron common to be as tame in Britain as this one? Sorry ,since I took the pic with my phone, it isn't really a good picture. Pigeons are usually more tame, bold even, but this heron was fun to watch.

Congrats to the new Knight. I had the honour to sing one of his songs with a big band as well as with a small combo. I like his voice, he goes into the category of raw attracting male voices for me, like the one of Tom Waits though that one has my preference. It shows life and that is what music needs to do for me. Emotion, anyone who can show that in his or her singing voice and make you feel that, has my admiration.

You mean, she didn't sing herself? Who was the singer then?

A belated Happy Birthday!

city scape Guess which city..

Is that with or without bubbles, jb? I like the Evian from the lake of Geneva, only without bubbles for me. Out here just from the tap since that is good enough for me, but hey if it needs to be from a bottle..

I didn't know of her, what a gorgeous face! There is a picture of my mom with a similar hair due, unfortunately my brother has it. Ronald Reagan? Oh my! Good for him. I like her voice. She has a warm low, that's my kind.

a Tempranillo as red as a ruby

O.K., as another non-native speaker but very interested in language and its nuances too, may I weigh in here? About "awesome". I fully agree with those who find it highly inappropriate in its inflationary use today. So if you seem to have used it often yourself and now wonder about synonyms, just think about it from that angle: Consider the ACTUAL and KEY meaning of "awe" in its original sense and decide for yourself if what you think is "awesome" reallly is that "awe-inspiring" that it TRULY deserves being called that. Are there that many instances in our everyday lives where what we experience holds us that much in awe? Particularly if people make a habit of calling their morning cup of coffee "awesome" just because it tastes good - or their ride to work if for once they have not got stuck in a bad traffic jam but just were able to zip through. See what I mean? If you (not YOU in person - I don't know how you use the word exactly, but the people out there at large) use those superlatives wherever you go and move then it all gets numbed down from over-use. And if you consider everything "awesome" then in the end NOTHING is REALLY "awesome" anymore. So why not just nuance things in your use of the langueage? Is there any shortage of words to express your appreciation, ranging from "nice" to "great" to "excellent" to "marvelous" to "cool" to ... whatever ... ("whatever" HERE meaning any number of other words that aren't really difficult to think of but no point in rattling off Webster's Dictionary ) Now, about "whatever" in the sense you complain about, I see what you mean and sometimes you no doubt are right that it just shows indifference and unwillingness to get into an exchange, but I beg to disgree in your generalization. I can think of a dozen situations where that single-word reply "whatever" sounds more like a CONCLUDING verbal shrugging of shoulders rather meaning something like "We've tried to discuss this and I have tried to make my point and get through to you but you just don't want to listen or to take up that argument to take the discussion further so I have said all I could possibly say. Make of it whatever you want but don't bug me anymore now, will ya?" You see, it's all about nuancing, and sometimes I can understand people who cut things short this way instead of getting too verbose over and over again. I've witnessed it among native speakers in quite a few cases in this sense as the culmination of an exchange which in the end turned out to be fruitless, at least to the one who cut things short with that one-word reply of "whatever". Hope I've been able to get through to you with that ... You have, really. I think the expression "to be in awe" is a pretty one and I've used "awesome" along that line, but I did notice that it hasn't got that meaning quite with everyone. The fact that you take this word and explain with your examples to make it clear how it can be used in nuance and the same for "whatever" makes me like to explore the differences even more. Isn't it so that you look at things through your own eyes and through your own experience and that makes you like things (not necessarily just things, but events, experiences, or expressions and phrases for that matter) or dislike them? So my, negative, experience with "whatever" made me say that, but it doesn't mean that I'm correct about it since it can and has been used by others in another way that doesn't show negativity at all, so it needn't be that and I needn't look at it that way. Thank you for pointing that out. Generalization I shouldn't have used there. There are always exceptions, you are so right about that! I did use "whatever" and "awesome" in a song I wrote btw, since this was about someone who used these in his speech or something similar and I wanted to describe that. It wasn't in a negative way there and I still feel happy about how those lyrics turned out. Thanks for taking me down to earth, Steve, lol. (That is a smile btw; using the Dutch word again for "fun") Thanks all for replying, Tim, erwbol, Jazzmoose and Big Beat Steve! Like I've said, I'm learning every day. I really appreciate your input here! Kind regards, page

Thanks Tim, that is kind to say. I'm not into Finnish really but I do watch Skandinavian series, mostly detectives but I need some, English or Dutch subtitles to follow what is going on exactly.

I'm sorry to hear that, erwbol. There are many people like you I think. The Dutch don't like and some seem to be embarrassed about their language even. I just love pretty words and expressions and all that has to do with language and yes. my own still has a special place and a preference to express in. In highschool, somewhere around age 14 I think, I had to read an excercise at Dutch class and give the answer to a question with the expression "in dubio staan', so I did. The whole class laughed at me until the teacher stated I was correct. Apparently I was the only one who had heard about this expression and was using it. I love little specifics and differences how you can say things this way or another and yes I think Dutch is a really beautiful language, so I can only pity you don't agree. I even started to write my own, Dutch, lyrics to familiar jazz songs since there are not that many supporters of Dutch jazz and really it suits. It is and has been fun. Like you I do watch a lot of BBC too. I love English as well and there is lots of my interest to watch on that channel. My spelling in Dutch isn't as good as it used to be since the spelling has changed a few times and they said simplification was needed. At the start of my teaching career it was pretty good. Now I'm not into education anymore, I sometimes just choose to write something the old fashioned way since I believe it is a loss we've changed some words to simplify. The young should know why and where these words came from, what the history behind the word or expression it is. Well. sorry, that is a "stokpaardje'' of mine, so I won't trouble you with it and it is not that I'm against progression. There are things not to like in this country, but for me it isn't the language. Met vriendelijke groet. page

I apologize for the use of the word "awesome" when that has been really annoying, any good synonyms for that one? My reply to the original question would be "whatever" used as a single reply. I hate that word. It shows that someone doesn't care really. As a lover of language I'm always interested in synonyms and learning to say something a different way. To me that is fun, interesting. I sometimes use 'lol' in my reply, but I do not mean the "laughing out loud" like people use that for, but a really old fashioned Dutch word for "fun" and I use it when a post makes me smile. Sorry, it has become sort of a habit. In my language people sometimes ask things while just saying one word like "So?" In Dutch that would be "Want?" or "Dus?" Without really forming a friendly question, it is kind of demanding. I really do not like that. When I write, poems or lyrics, in my own language, I often use Flemish words which have a sense of elegance as well as simplicity I really like. That is fun. Language is fun anyway, even the words I do not like are part of language and show things about how people grew up or where they are located. That is interesting to learn about. I'm still proud of my own language and will continue exploring how to express both verbally as well as in writing. English is a great language and I've learned so much just by being here and reading what other people have to say. Slang or any kind of other way of speaking is also nice to pick up on. I often miss out on humour as a non-native speaker, but I'm learning every day. Thank you all for that! Kind regards, page

Happy Birthday!

Lots of great music to look into more closely. Freddie Slack, isn't he the one who played in Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra? Thank you once again, H.P. I've really enjoyed your game, iit was lovely! Kind regards, page

Thanks Tom and Thom! Looking forward to listening Kind regards, page

Hi guys, I'm really sorry to tell you guys that Hans passed away at September 4th last year. He was ill. I've always enjoyed his blog "Keep swinging" and his post on two jazz forums. He is greatly missed by all of us. Maybe Jim or someone else can remove his birthday from the list, since it must be tough for people close to him to see that appear? sincerely, page

Snail mail is basically a slang for mailing through the postal system. That being a longer method to receive it, thus snail mail. Ah ok, funny expression. I didn't know it. D.L. for me please, Tom. Thank you.

A belated Happy Birthday and congratulations on the little one in the family!

Can I ask what a snail mail is? Or is it slang?

Not today, but a few days ago; bobby pin. I like that word. There was another one, but I can't come up with it now.

I went to the 'late Rembrandt' exhibition in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam this month. It was beautiful. Very crowded exhibiton though since it was probably a once in a life time moment all of this work was brought together in this exhibiton. I plan to go to the Rijks again later this year to see the rest of the museum again with a bit fewer people there I hope.

page, I have also tried to figure out when this version of "Caravan" by Tito Puente was recorded. From what I can tell, from a lot of online research and listening to many sound snippets available online, I think it is from a session in either late 1949 or 1950 for the Tropical label. I think it was released on an LP titled "Tito Puente & Friends", and later on a CD titled "At the Beginning!" From what I can tell, "Caravan Mambo" is a different arrangement and recording altogether. This version of "Caravan" was not on the "Complete 78s" series, the four CD set which was released on CD within the past ten years. I have that four CD set and this track is not on it. Hi H.P. I was confused about whether it was called "Caravan' or 'Caravan Mambo' since on youtube it was called that last one and it was the same as your track. Since I could only listen to snippets on the album I wasn't sure. Thanks for the info. I love this track. I'm sorry to read there are people here who got tired of the song 'Caravan'. I guess that hasn't happened to me yet since I'm not that long into jazz altogether but I do know that sometimes a song can have too many renditions which aren't all that good and that will make you dislike a song a bit. I do think it is a nice melody. I didn't sing it, yet, although there are lyrics to it. I saw Melody Gardot perform it the first time I saw her. Her rendition was okay, not nearly as good as this one. Aw, that is really kind, M.G. I'd love to hear that rendition. I'll send that p.m. shortly and will look for this Norman Simmons online. Kind regards, page

Hi HP, here are my thoughts finally, no more full answers found I’m afraid, but mostly my impressions and associations. 01 unknown to me, sounds a bit like a honky tonk piano. I like the style of the pianist. 02. a simple blues which is always nice to put in a set, fun to play and to listen to; nice steady rhythm section. 03. another blues; theme sounds familiar, but I can’t come up with what it might be. Nice solo work. Fun track, invites me to dance. 04. more blues. J No clue. Nice sax solo. 05. see my previous post. At our big band we did Tito’s “Oye Come Va”. I love Latin jazz and mambo, which grew upon me when I learned to dance Latin in my teens. I did that for quite some time. Among my originals you can hear the influence too I think. The tune I wrote for Sandi, (remember?) is Latin with swing in the bridge which I felt suited the words best that way and it was sort of a wink at the song of Carmen McRae which she liked so much. Had no chance to record it yet, or I could have shown you guys. :-$ 06. see previous post. I wanted to give my brother Abdullah Ibrahim’s new album at Christmas but it turned out to be a bit expensive, so I gave him another one. My brother is into classical music which has his heart. Since I wouldn’t know what he has already since he has a lot I tend to pick out jazz for him which has a bit of lyrical feel to it similar to the classical music he likes. I do still plan to get Abdullah’s album, for myself, since it is awesome. I got the chance to listen to it online when it came out. 07. sounds like one of today’s pianist. Not Abdullah Ibrahim or Ahmad Jamal. Not Bugge Wesseltoft either. Maybe Keith Jarrett? 08. song: “My Favourite Things”; composers: Rodgers and Hammerstein; jazz waltz; No clue for the artist. 09. Now this sounds a bit like the Carling family especially at the beginning and end. I haven’t been able to find it among their repertoire though. Really nice track. I’m quite a fan of Gunhild Carling who plays trombone and sings and is a composer and she is so kind to offer her music to others to play it. She has composed lovely tunes. I plan to try out some. However this probably is another artist. I love this bassplayer btw. 10. Theme sounds familiar, but again I can’t come up with the title. 11. Bigband, reminds me of Benny Goodman, but it seems it isn’t his orchestra. Like in other BFT’s I’m reminded of the movies I watched as a girl mostly on Saturday afternoons which was really my first encounter with jazz music without knowing it was that. (no jazz music was played in our household, just classical music). This always makes me smile, I loved it from the moment ‘we met’.. Thank you for this one, it has nice memories. 12. Sounds a bit ‘Gaelic’, if you know what I mean. So I’d expect this band being situated in Ireland or Scotland or something. Some folk influence. I like it. Nice theme too. 13. Theme sounds familiar. Man, a fast tune this is. I have no clue. Thanks for your BFT, HP. I’ve really enjoyed it and was quite surprised I was able to find the two tracks so fast. Curious about what the others will turn out to be. Kind regards, page

A belated Happy Birthday! That sounds like fun!

Sad news. R.I.P.