BruceH

I've got the Smithsonian double-album of the John Kirby Sextet. I'm sure it's OOP now, though. When I first got it, a friend told me he hates their stuff. I suppose in large doses he has a partial point, but in small doses I still love this band. A lot of worthwhile things (Raymond Scott, Elvis movies, salt, arsenic) should only be taken in small doses.

I love the Japan album! Will have to check out this Eurasia one---you guys are making it sound damn good. brownie--I had a similar experiance to yours as a young jazz listener. Brubeck didn't seem too important at first, and what little I heard didn't sound very swinging. But I grew wiser with time...plus a friend played "Blue Rondo A La Turk" for me. I do agree with the perception that the Fantasy material is generally better, much of it essential IMHO, but it's nice that Columbia has been making their Brubeck stuff more available on CD in recent years.

That's a good point. You could say much the same about Indianapolis, which also produced a surprising number of top jazz musicians for its size. Anyone want to change their handle to "Indy"?

That figures. Most of the population is in the SE corner of the state. Don't go without gloves. A good coat. Maybe a sweater or sweatshirt for under the coat. Maybe even a scarf. I used to scoff at scarfs, but then started getting colds. Believe me, in wintertime New England there's nothing wrong with a scarf. You might even want to dress like this gent:

Damnit, man!! Get some!

Glad to have you aboard, Philly!

I don't know... Check out Asphalt Jungle: "He boned me in front of a stranger!"

When Lebowski came out it got lukewarm to negative reviews, so I gave it a miss. A year or two later a friend recommended it, and a quick rental made me a believer. I knew guys like The Dude in college...didn't we all? If you tell people it's a stoner version of Chandler, they're probably not going to expect it to be so damn funny. (Or maybe I'm just sick.) But it's one of those that you have to see for yourself. Descriptions don't do it justice. And how about Goodman's character?

Sterling Hayden: "Don't bone me!"

You won't be sorry!

One of my favorite albums of all time! Nice little write-up, Jim. There was a time when I used to drive my roommates crazy playing this album over and over, several times a day, like clockwork. Most definately on my "desert island" list.

Anywhere from 10pm to 3am. (Usually toward the middle of that range though.)

This is a case where I'm proud to run with the herd. Sign me up to that list Uncle Skid! I've had the Blue Mitchell set for ages and enjoy it from start to finish. Nothing wrong with the last disc as far as I can see. Essential jazz.

"Movie Love In the Fifties" by James Harvey---fun movie writing.

Glad you and everyone else around you is OK, Alexander. Black ice!!!! NOT your fault. That stuff is deadly, no kidding. Every once in a while, you're reminded that driving is dangerous. A few weeks ago I was driving up highway 280 with my younger son in the back seat (my wife and older son were off somewhere else at the time). It was raining, then the rain got worse, one of those Bay Area typhoons we get in the winter sometimes. The wind kicked up (...and up...), the visibility went down, and I started getting nervous. Then up ahead I saw a car spinning out. It was sliding slowly across four lanes, while spinning end-to-end. It then bounced off the right-side retaining wall and came to a stop. This whole time I was trying move into the left lane while avoiding any cars coming up behind me (when it rains in the Bay Area, I slow down while everyone else doesn't). Luckily, there were very few cars on this stretch of highway at this particular time, otherwise I could just picture the horrible pileup that would have ensued. My son was oblivious in the back seat, but it was a white-knuckle moment for me. I almost get shaky just thinking about it.

VERY interested to see Blues In Orbit, as I've just about worn the grooves smooth on my vinyl copy.

Seriously, the Bob Brookmeyer select looks good.

I like Spiegelman a lot. Too bad he left the New Yorker. How about space art? Chesley Bonestell is one of my favorites.

That's one cool cat!

I didn't know he was so depressed. I hope he turns up OK. I've long been a fan of his work.

She only played about one note before the cat freaked, so it's impossible to say. I think he just didn't like woodwinds.

Anyone see The Simpsons the other night? Lisa got a new cat named "Coltrane" largely because of the name, and when she starts to play some Coltrane music on her sax, the cat screams and jumps out her 2nd-story window. I love it when they do a Lisa/jazz reference.

I actually got this as a birthday present one year. Got a gift card for Borders and went straight to the music section and found it. Never regretted getting it. In short:

Well...maybe not. But it would be nice.

One of the most religious musical experiances I ever had was listening to Ellington's Ko Ko very late at night once. Can't describe it.