JSngry

Because if you listen to it, followed immediately by "I Like Big Butts And I Cannot Lie," the decline and fall of pop music, and civilization, is undeniable. Maybe, but if I listened to "Lady Be Good" followed immediately by some of Stevie Wonder's, Paul Simon's, Burt Bachrach's, Monday Michiru's, Joni Mitchell's, Brian Wilson's, et.als. better/best songs, I might come to the conclusion that the art/craft of popular songwriting has actually evolved significantly and positively. Can't say that I'd say the same about society in general though.

Wonder what his "fairly well-know" pseudonym was that he used for his plays.

Much love, and the bestest wishes from deepest in the heart.

Oh well!

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Just saw the most recent episode. My faith that the writers are going somewhere, that they're building towards a big payoff, is really starting to wane.

Well, it pretty much is, isn't it? At least as "Popular Music" goes? And as far as "timelessness" goes, once you remove the aura of nostalgia (or if you prefer, the telling of tales of a certain lifestyle/mindset that is becoming increasingly irrelevant), the number of "Great American Songbook" material that really holds up as "great music" shrinks to a relatively small quantity. The rest of it is, when you come right down to it, Pop Music of a different day. The craftsmanship of the melodies and lyrics is to be admired, no doubt, but somebody tell me why/how "Lady Be Good", to pick one at random, should be viewed as anything other than an artifact of a day and time long since passed. Which is not to say that some great renditions have been offered, or that appreciation of these renditions and songs is inappropriate (appreciation is never inappropriate), but really, what the hell "meaning" does it have apart from its history? It's a pop song, period. Part of a legacy, sure, but what good is a legacy that survies on congratulating itself rather than evolving? Let the hacks have it, and let the lemmings consume it. The sooner they all go over the cliff, the better. Since they're not part of the solution, they must be part of the problem. Or something like that...

Nah, you can't get all of Monday with just one CD.

Fanta Apple. Trust me.

If I buy only 1 jazz cd this decade, what should it be?

Indeed. When I lived in Albuquerque back in the early 60s, the best drummer around was an older cat named Pete Ahmal. Now, I don't know exactly where it was he did live, but he didn't live in anyplace that had a Post Office, if you get my drift. But lord could that man play!

Were either of them musicians? Because there is (or has been) a jazz musician named Hugh Walker playing in Oklahoma fairly recently. And I know what you mean about cats turning up. When I herd James Moody at some club in NYC back in 1980 and the drummer waqs introduced as Al Harewood, I was astounded. Thought he was dead or something. Just goes to show you how narrow the radar screen is capable of being.

Yes, thanks!

Not to be anal or anything, but they're lip slurs, not trills. It's relevant because lip slurs are an embochure building exercise, and Freddie's increasing willingness to make them such a focal point of so many of his solos maybe goes to establishing a changing mindset, a more macho-trumpet thing.

Hey Free For All Paul - you've got both Optimista and Harry Whitaker's Black Renaissance, right? Listen to "Magic Ritual" off the latter and "Oasis" off the former and tell me if you think there's a little bit (or more) of harmonic similarity. This just hit me last night while listening to "Magic Ritual". Considering that the acid-jazz "legend" of Black Renaissance began in Japan years before it did anywhere else, and considering that Monday was a pioneer of the Japanese acid-jazz scene (she was a club DJ before she started recording, I think, routinely dropping in jazz sides for dancers), I don't think it would be too much of a stretch for the similarity between tunes to be intentional.

How does Boptronics compare to Turn Of The Century? The latter is a wack little piece of parallel universe genius that continues to provide tickleness of the most satisfactory variety.

I'm intrigued by this pairing (tripling?) and would love to hear it myself.

Bill Harris Phil Harris Will Harris

Michael Bourne Jim Szantor Pete Welding

I just be givin' Monday some props.

NESSA FOR PRESCIENT!!!!!!!!

Hans Christian Andersen Louis Anderson Donald Andersone

Yeah, Sonny!

Carl & The Passions Valerie Flame Georgie Fame

The Lip Louis Prima Primo Carnera