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Bertrand, See our "Harold Mabern/Eric Alexander" thread in the Live Shows forum.

I actually thought Clint gave a fantastic performance. I believe this is the first time I've ever seen him cry on screen. Not that that constitutes a great performance, but it gives an idea of what I mean when I say that he actually acts instead of just appearing as a big screen version of himself.

It will be the trio each night for sure.

May 3 - May 8, John Scofield with Steve Swallow & Bill Stewart at the Showcase! Finally. Note: May 8, Sunday, is Mother's Day, so plan accordingly.

This is true. Although its somewhat sad that so few people, especially in a place like Chicago, don't take advantage of what they have in their own backyards, in a way it is kind of nice. It makes you feel like you're getting your own private jazz show!

Most definitely. We should meet up for a late lunch before one of the upcoming matinees.

Well, I caught their last two sets yesterday evening, and I was very impressed. They played some some great versions of "Milestones", "Giant Steps", "Alone Together", "Dis Here", and "My Romance". I was blown away by Harold Mabern! I had never seen him before. What an original, inventive stylist and soloist....he was a joy to watch. Eric Alexander played well as he always does, yet I feel that he wasn't 100% last night. I saw him a couple years back with One For All and I remember him playing much better during that show. They played with local rhythm section, Dennis Carol and George Flaudas. While George is a solid drummer, Dennis Carol really stole the show on a number of occasions with his intense solos. It made for a great evening of high quality mainstream jazz. For the 10:30 set, there must have only been 10 people in the place, yet they still gave it their all. sheldonm and ejp626, did you guys make the matinee?

Must've been some wild times!

They are integrated into the movie like Lord of the Rings. Haven't seen it yet, but that's what I read somewhere.

Glad to see that you are diggin on Widespread, Aggie87! You really can't go wrong with their stuff. "Bombs and Butterfiles" is probably my least favorite studio album, and even that one is good! "Ain't Life Grand" has some of their least played, but best, songs. impossible, just out of curiosity, did you pick your name based on that WSP song? Aric, I might just go see them this year. I haven't seen them since the first Bonaroo festival in 2002, which were some of Mikey Houser's last shows. I'm kind of scared to see them without him in the guitar chair....it will be so different. But I hear that George McConell plays his ass off and has been a good replacement for Mikey. Any reports from folks who have seen both incarnations of the band?

Eastwood, perhaps more than most directors around these days, seems to affect viewers in a way that is either black or white. Either people come out of his films unaffected and unsatisfied, or they are really pulled into the emotional plights of the characters and come out of the films and come out like they just got hit by an 18 wheeler. I don't know of anyone who has ever been "in between" with these movies. "Mystic River", which to me was his best film since "Unforgiven", seemed to draw similar reactions. It just didn't work for some.

As am I. Criterion has been putting together some really fantastic DVD packages lately. I got "The Battle of Algiers" and its got to be the most heavily packed DVDs in my collection. Also a great film, by the way.

Wal Mart has it for $14.99, but today is the last day!

http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/touring.aspx

Paging Chuck Nessa......

In my experience, it varies from disc to disc. I think the Benny Carter "Jazz Giant" sounds better on SACD, but the Cannonball Adderley "Live in San Francisco" sounds better in K2.

Eric, I won't be making it to the Sunday matinee. My music classes started last week and I got the time slot of 4:30-6 booked for the next 6 weeks. I'm going to head to the showcase either tonight or tomorrow night .

I must beg to differ. "Adaptation" is one of the best movies of recent years. Of course, its mainly the screenplay and the direction that make it such an important work, but Nick Cage gives a fantastic performance as Charlie/Donald Kaufman. He deserved his Oscar nomination for that one.

Shit, was he the guy in "Do the Right Thing" who saves the boy from being hit by the car?

Before I say this, let me make it clear that I'm no Keanu Reeves fan. I think he pretty much sucks as an actor. That said..... Has anyone here seen Sam Raimi's "The Gift"? It stars Cate Blanchett (whose been my favorite actress for years) and is a really well done, creepy supernatural thriller. Keanu has a small role as a redneck accused of killing a local debutante. I must say that he did pull this role off, as he is genuinely creepy in several of his scenes. This is probably his high water mark as an actor. That said, its the only role he's ever taken that has convinced me.

Thank you for the reveiw, late. I enjoyed reading it. I'll be seeing them at the beginning of March here in Chicago, so I hope that they've ironed out the wrinkles by then. I agree with your statements about Herbie and Carrington...there's a tight musical connection there. I saw them perform with Wayne Shorter last year and they were great together. Carrington was mentored by Jack Dejohnette for years, so that might explain the stylistic similarities.

L'Atelier Tampon?? Brownie, would you mind explaining the origin of the name of this venue???

Just reissued on Hathut. Never heard it...is it worth picking up? I am most likely going to be picking up the new 23 Standards (Quartet) 2003 set from Leo, and wasn't sure if I should get both....I like Braxton's original stuff much more than the standards.

I saw that, Eric. The only CSO shows I could afford to go to this season are Herbie Hancock's Directions in Music band and the San Francisco Jazz Collective. I did get some Sonny Rollins tickets, but am going to have to sell them.

I've been spinning this one constantly for the past couple of weeks since I got it. Its only availiable through the website www.sfjazz.org, and is limited to 5,000 copies. The group consists of Bobby Hutcherson, Joshua Redman, Miguel Zenon, Nicholas Payton, Josh Roseman, Renee Rosnes, Robert Hurst and Brian Blade. The first disc consists entirely of some really interesting but successful arrangements of Ornette Coleman tunes, and the two remaining discs are original compositions....one from each band member, which surprisingly, I ended up enjoying just as much as the Coleman tunes. The level of musicianship is constantly high, with excellent group interplay and some very moving solos. Three discs of very high quality modern jazz for around $40 is a great deal! It was delivered to my door just three days after I ordered it. Jump on this one, folks.