RainyDay

I'm amused by all this check drama. When I go out with a bunch of female friends, we just split the bill evenly. If someone drank more or whatever and insists, they may kick in some extra and pass a couple bills back to the rest of the group. What I hate is when people want to only pay for what they ate.

People who are glib and without compassion about someone else's suffering. People who only care about themselves and wouldn't stoop to help another human being. People who can't see the big picture. People who are completely uninformed on an issue and have their mouths open the widest and the loudest. People who make right turns from left lanes.

Good question. Life has not been kind to South of Market businesses. Better call first. It's been a while since I was there.

Bacar!

Yeah, you have. I just can't remember the name. It's between 3rd and 4th near Caltrain. Scott Amendola used to (may still) play there a lot.

I've only heard about it. A friend said it was okay. Whatever happened to Bruno's? I thought it was reopening. And what about the at place off 4th St. near the Caltrain Station? I went there once and it was very nice. More bar/restaurant than club but nice.

Address the letter to: Mr. Kaz Kajimura Yoshi’s 510 Embarcadero West Oakland, CA 94607

While I'm running off with the mouth, I missed the Fish Fry last night with Khalil Shaheed. I wanted to stop by and get on the mailing list. For anyone interested, Shaheed hosts a jam session on Sunday afternoons on the Embarcadero (about three blocks down from Yoshi's). Check the East Bay Express online for details. He used to host a jam at Bluesville on Sundays before it closed down and sometimes those jams were pretty cool.

Thanks for the reminder on this. I don't think I can make it on Thursday but I think they will be playing again in SF sometime in the future. Have to check my SF Jazz schedule 'cos I seem to recall they are doing a couple a concerts.

There was talk that Blue Note was going to open a club in SF but it fell through. The SF Redevelopment Agency is trying to revive the Fillmore District into an entertainment center and wants a jazz club. They have made overtures about a club to the guy (I forget his name--I forget everything!) who is the founder and CEO of the SF Jazz Festival and he declined. What I heard from my reliable sources (not Yoshi's staff, by the way) is that Kaz is concerned a new club will end up in SF, possibly Blue Note, and give them competition. So, the thinking is, if there's going to be a club in SF, it should be Yoshi's. The thing is, the Redevelopment Agency is willing to throw $5M at someone to open a club in the Fillmore. Everyone I talk to thinks it's a really bad idea, including people who live in SF. SF hasn't supported a serious jazz club in over 15 years. The jazz "clubs" they have now are more bistro/bars where people go to meet and greet. Yoshi's has built a substantial reputation over the years in Oakland. While it's true that people come from all over the Bay Area (and Monterey and Sacramento), putting the club in SF will make it a witch to access. There's no freeway access (because there are virtually no freeways in SF). There is parking in the Japan Center but it's not cheap and it isn't clear how long a hike it would be from the Center to where the club would be located. Fillmore is served by bus lines but it's no where near BART, Caltrain or the Ferry Building. Who wants to drive to SF or hassle with Muni during rush hour? Operating a club in SF will just cost more for the owners and the patrons. I haven't checked in a while to see what they are saying these days but www.jazzwest.com has posted info about this and should have more details. Write Kaz a letter and tell him how you feel. When I mention this move to Yoshi's patrons, they are very surprised and very concerned. Spread the word.

Party at my boss' house, a blues/jazz/fish fry event (see What's Happening in the SF Bay Area thread), brunch with a friend. House cleaning, do some power walking, try to squeeze in some photo taking.

By the way, is everyone aware that Yoshi's is contemplating a move to the Fillmore District in SF? I've been encouraging folks who oppose the move to write to Kaz Kajimura to protest the move. It may not happen until 2007 or it may happen sooner. Yoshi's is afraid that Blue Note may still come to SF and they figure if someone is going to run a jazz club in SF, it should be them. They probably won't keep the Oakland club open. Even my SF friends say the move will kill Yoshi's because SF won't support the club. I know I won't be going as much. It's not accessible to regional transit, there's no parking and what parking you will find will be very expensive. And there's no way they can operating at current ticket prices. Finally, Yoshi's would be competing head to head with the SF Jazz Festival, which operates darn near all year round.

There may be zero interest in this topic but I will give it a try anyway. First up, new music offering in Oakland starting tonight. ******************************************* Oakland blues band fills your belly, makes your body jiggle By Brenda Payton, STAFF WRITER

It seems there are an infinite number of ways to ask why jazz musicians are so cool. Stewart's question about how many people are in a quartet was amusing.

This reminds me of the scene in Bull Durham when the kid pitcher makes the show and gives his final interview while in the minors: "Baseball is a game where you throw the ball and you catch the ball. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Think about that." Yeah, think about that. This is so deep, so profound, I nearly weep just repeating it. (Sob) Sorry RainyDay, but you butchered one of the highlights of the film. The interview is given after Nuke LaLoosh has reached the Show. You can tell because the backdrop is a major league ballpark. And in fact the line is: "A friend of mine used to say, this is a simple game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball and you catch the ball. Sometimes, you win, sometimes, you lose, and sometimes, it rains. Think about that." I'd sentence you to listening to Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon pontificate about politics, but unfortunately that would be right up your alley anyway. You are of course, correct. I am now in the throes of uncontrolled sobbing.

This reminds me of the scene in Bull Durham when the kid pitcher makes the show and gives his final interview while in the minors: "Baseball is a game where you throw the ball and you catch the ball. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Think about that." Yeah, think about that. This is so deep, so profound, I nearly weep just repeating it. (Sob)

True. I usually meet interesting people and have some great talks about jazz. I even run into long lost friends. They also have really good food.

I caught Ahmad Jamal last week. Idris Muhammad was on drums and I ddn't catch the name of the bass player, sadly, because he was wonderful. I saw Jamal 1.5 years ago at the SF Jazz Festival and was just knocked out by him. He delivered the goods again at Yoshi's last week. Terrific set. One of my first jazz records was a Jamal LP that I played to death. Can't even recall the name of it. I have a very soft spot for Jamal. Incredible musician. Yoshi's is a great place to people watch. When I purchased my ticket for Jamal the night before the gig, I saw Mayor Jerry Brown's number one henchman talking to a muckty-muck from the Port, who is angling to be the new executive director. Very animated conversation. Pretty sure the muckty-muck isn't getting the job.

maren and I both win cigars.

This sounds like the one-man show done about Huey Newton. I can't remember the actor's name. He was in Do the Right Thing and peddled pix of MLK and Malcolm in the film. He talked very fast because that is how Huey talked, like he was on speed. That was BEFORE Huey found cocaine. Roger Guenveur Smith, that's the actor's name. That's what it sounds like you might have seen.

FYI the show is rerun the following day at 7 PM. I can't even imagine how this will turn out.

I agree with the comments about Bescemi. A terrific actor. This has to be unquirkiest I've ever seen him.

I gotta admint, last night was gooood. Tony really made me soooo angry when he went off on his sister about Uncle Junior. And I don't even like his sister. Tony needs to quit his attempts to score with his shrink and get back into therapy. Anybody want to bet that Chris's girlfriend ends up killing herself? She is so trapped and finding out it could last for years may push her over the edge. I think Buscemi's character is the snitch just because he is so obviously the choice and you'd be inclined to think it's someone else. If he is so concerned about going straight, why is he still hanging out with these wiseguys? The garderner in the cast was scream, pathetically carrying his little bag of weeds with one hand. Last night was a great episode.

While out looking for a copy of Dennis Gonzalez's Desert Wind, I bought a used copy of Mayfield's Half Past Autumn Suite and I like it very much. Wasn't sure what to expect since I've only heard him play with Los Hombres Calientes but I've have read a little about his playing away from that band. Anyway, a good choice and a good price. What a great story about the interview! Wish I could have heard that. This story reminds of a review I read recently about the Alvin Ailey dancers that took Judith Jameson to task in a SERIOUS way for not incorporating hip hop into the music and dances they do. The reviewer said it made the entire production feel museum-like. It was downright patronizing and insulting.

Is that what's-his-bucket who used to sing with Van Halen? Sammy Hagar?