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How's that album "Rosewood" on Columbia? With all the Shaw in my collection, for some reason I never picked this one up.

I saw it, and I absolutely loved it. For the first time since the original trilogy, Lucas has made a movie with heart. Its an excellent film and I'm really looking forward to repeated viewings.

That's the first aspect of Hank Jones that really clicked with me while listening to "Joyous Encounter".....his comping. Amazing! I don't know how I never noticed this before. Motian's drumming really serves this music well. I love how he constantly messes with the groove while never sacraficing the swing. And I don't think I've heard another drummer who uses rimshots so effectively. He hits more rimshots than any other drummer I've heard, but it never sounds overdone.

I picked this one up a few days ago and am really enjoying it. It features the same quartet of Hank Jones, George Mraz and Paul Motian that was on "I'm All For You". I didn't buy that album because to be honest, an album full of ballads just doesn't appeal to me. But after hearing that this new one has a mix of uptempo numbers as well, I decided to buy and I'm awfully glad I did. This is an excellent album by an excellent group who really sounds like they are enjoying playing with one another. I must confess....Hank Jones is a player that I hadn't been exposed to all that much. I think that aside from the "Someday My Prince Will Come" trio album from last year and Cannonball Adderley's "Somethin' Else", I really don't have any other Hank Jones in my collection other than some stuff scattered throughout my Mosaic collection. But after listening to "Joyous Encounter" something clicked in my head (don't you love it when that happens?). I feel like I finally "get" what makes Hank such a giant, and I plan on further investigating his discography. There is no other music like jazz that gives its listeners so many of these epiphanys scattered throughout one's lifetime. I love it! Anyways, to get back on track, the album is fabulous. George Mraz sounds excellent like he always does, Motian's drumming is innovative and just about perfect, and Lovano sounds very inspired with his company. What a year for Lovano so far....with this and the Paul Motian Trio album on ECM, he's already on two of the finest releases of the year. Check this one out!

Just another thing to add....I've been fortunate enough to see them in several live settings....acoustic trio, electric trio, with a horn section, and with guitarist Marc Ribot. Their live shows are excellent and I encourage every one who is a fan to try to check em out live.

I've been a fan for about 7 years. "Combustication" is my favorite, although I pretty much have liked everything they've recorded from "Shack Man" to present. Wasn't a fan of the first two "Its a Jungle In Here" and "Notes From the Underground". I like Medeski much more on the electric keys rather than piano, although that acoustic album "Tonic" is really nice. Their new album is really tight. Kind of a throwback to the "Shack Man/Friday Afternoon in the Universe" days, but more mature.

Its nice that someone realizes this..... And to anyone that is complaining about the new trilogy, keep in mind that it is made for a younger genaration. Lucas himself said Star Wars has too fanbases...the older, Gen X folks like myself who loved the original trilogy, and the younger kids now. As much as we complain about two headed sports anouncers and bad dialogue, I'm met so many young kids who absolutely adore the new movies, and will grow up being Star Wars fans just like I did. So apparently, he did something right.

Not sure if anyone has noticed, but the new movie is getting rave reviews. More than a few critics have claimed its the best film in the series since "The Empire Strikes Back", and are hailing the return of the more old school aspect of Star Wars. I, for one, am very excited to see this movie and will be attending the midnight showing tomorrow night.

JESUS LOVES YOU, EVERYONE ELSE THINKS YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE

yeah, but he just playin' the drums! OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!!!

I really like it. Especially the AACM/Chicago type jazz, which rarely uses piano. Check out the trio recordings by the great tenors like Sonny Rollins and Joe Hendeson. They swing like mad.

Has anyone seen this movie? Very impressive!! Almodovar is one of the greatest directors alive today. His films are very unusual, and he's known for always having powerful female characters in his films. His previous two pictures, "All About My Mother" and "Talk to Her" have been Oscar winners, but I feel that this film, which was shunned by Oscar last year, is his greatest achievement to date. Its quite different from his previous efforts, especially given that the only significant "female" character in this story is a drag queen. I don't want to get into the plot, which is somewhat complex, but this film contains alot of similar characteristics as his other films, but has a much darker feel. I experienced similar sensations watching this film as I did when I first saw Mulholland Drive. This film is the true breakout for Gael Garcia Bernal, the Mexican actor who starred in Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and Motorcycle Diaries. He gives the performance of his career here. He is extremely talented, and don't be surprised when in a few years he becomes a household name for American audiences. Be warned, however, that homosexual themes run rampant throughout this movie, and there are some graphic sex scenes. So if that sort of thing bothers you, stay away. But if not, this is a brilliant film that you won't soon forget. Also, be sure to watch the NC-17 version. From what I hear, there is an R rated version made for US release that contains some horrible digital censorship that ruins alot of the scenes.

LOTS of coffee today!!!!

I wish they had a price guide for Mosaics like they do for baseball cards and comic books.

McCoy Tyner - New York Reunion............though I'm not sure I'd highly recommend that one.

Nice!!!

My second favorite Mosaic set after JJ Johnson.

I believe he's scheduled to play with the local rhythm section of Willie Pickens on piano, Larry Gray on bass and George Fludas on drums. Great band!

Roscoe by far.

I caught both sets on Thursday night, Cinco de Mayo. The band included his regular bandmates Ugonna Okwego on bass, Marcus Strickland on tenor sax, and Neal Smith on drums. And for this Chicago visit, Harrell had local legend and pianist extraordinaire Willie Pickens on piano. Overall it was a really great show, and seeing Tom play was a special experience as it always is. He debuted some new compositions as well as bringing out some older ones, and even closed the night with a standard, "Hot House". Tom has been my favorite trumpet soloist since I first saw him a few years back, and it seems that now that he has taken his playing up another level. His solos were virtuostic, and every note was packed with emotion. He sounded really fantastic. Even Marcus Strickland, a player who I've always felt is overrated, was sounding better than I've ever heard him play live. While I still wouldn't say I'm a fan of his playing, Thursday night he was showing some potential. His lines are starting to sound more like he's telling a story, rather than sounding so academic like all the other times I've seen him play. And Ugonna Okwego was incredible as always. I think he's one of the finest young bassists around. I hate saying this, because Willie Pickens is one of my favorite living pianists, but I think his style of playing didn't quite mesh with the moods of Harrell's compositions. Willie plays with a funky style drenched in the blues, while using tension with the skill of the classical pianist. I've seen him light fires underneath the bands of Bobby Hutcherson, Fathead Newman and many others passing throughout the Windy City, but this is the first time where it just wasn't working. He played as technically wonderful as he always does, but I just don't think it was the right match. And while drummer Neal Smith threw down some of the most dynamically-rich drum solos I've heard in a while, and had impeccable time, I generally found his comping to be a bit boring. He never really kicked the band in the ass like a good drummer should. Overall, I much preferred the piano/drum team of the Davis brothers, Xavier and Quincy, that Tom used to have with him. But overall, the show was great. It was really great to see Tom playing so well, and his compositions are light years ahead of almost everyone else's. Call me crazy, but I feel that Tom is approaching the level of Wayne Shorter in terms of a composer.

Yeah, same here. Hopefully we can meet up.

Hmmm....I wonder if he was refering to the organ or another instrument, because he told me that he started playing the organ in his mid 20's. Oh well...he's still the shit either way!

Lonnie Smith was older....I think his mid 20's, when he first started playing keyboards.

I thought this too, until I got one. I use mine all the time. Its funny how many things we can see in our day to day lives that are photogenic, but we never think about it becuase we don't have a camera with us. Problem solved!

I am really liking this record. The thing that really does it for me is the fact that it has the feeling of an old school blowing session, but still sounds very modern. It has the two tenors, coming in and blowing on both standards and original compositions by both artists, but it has a very "fun" feel to it. There are times they seem to be trying to outblow each other, which is cool. The rhythm section consists of Liebman's bassist Tony Marino and Eskelin's drummer (at least most of the time), Jim Black. The band is really cooking and they acheive good chemistry with each other. As the notes point out, its very interesting to hear Liebman, typically a post-bop type player, and Eskelin, typically a freer player, find this common ground. As a huge Eskelin fan, I really liked hearing him in this territory that is more mainstream from his recent efforts, but still not mainstream. It sounds like it was a very challenging date for all involved, but I think both men really stepped up to the plate and really threw down some good jazz. Its old fashioned, but its not. That's why I really like this date.