RDK

And it's not intended to. It's meant to find the next Christina Aguillera or Whitney or Josh Grobin or whoever's the current flavor of pop vocalist. Now if such a singer has enough talent and artistic integrity, then maybe he/she can parlay the "break" that the show gives them into a career. We're seeing that happen with a couple so far - notable Kelly imo - and with some time and experience maybe one or two of them will ultimatetly become "great." But it does nobody any favors by constantly comparing the winners to some of the very best musical talent of the last century. Heck, most artists out there - from Idol or not - aren't in the same league as those you mention.

Stop assailing us with your filthy logic!

Grogar. He invented fire back in 12,000 B.C.

Somebody's been cutting class. Huh? I'm not disagreeing with you... but the second part of my quote (which you deleted) was the relevant part.

To make things even more confusing... I'm pretty sure they number them as they go out the door - and sometimes they miss one. I bought a set once that came with an unnumbered booklet, but the invoice itself had the correct number written on it. So I wrote that number into the book myself.

Just please don't start another "Big Al's self-deprecating sense of humor" thread.

Leon Thomas = Al Jarreau

Kelly's really coming into her own. I've always liked her as a singer, but I have to respect her as an artist after reading a recent interview in EW.

I wish I was talented enough to share.

More than a few of my favorite jazz experiences/memories are of seeing the Akiyoshi-Tabackin Big Band over the last 25 years. I'm pleased to hear that they are just as beautiful people as they are musicians. Mr. T is far from underrated to me!

Mingus' Complete America Session just dropped!

WOW!!! If I can get the original for 50 cents at the thrift store, the digital remaster with bonus tracks is worth at least 75 cents. Please post a link to any reputable retailer offering this jewel for 75 cents, and I'll be sure to buy it. Is this disdain for someone else's musical tastes really necessary? I'm sure you can find many jazz albums in the 50 cent bin as well (I often do) - I guess we can all stop buying CD reissues now.

Thought the show started out rough when it began last September (and I saw a longer cut of the pilot last July), but it's one of those shows that really found its groove, and once it all started to gel it became, imo, one of the 2 or 3 best shows on TV. Acting was a bit subpar and the show occassionally stumbled on its ambitions, but it was a show so filled with ideas and fresh concepts that even my wife became really caught up in it (and she cares not a bit for comics, fantasy, or sci-fi; just compelling storytelling). I thought last night's finale was a bit of a letdown only because they had to pack so much into it and tie so many loose ends together that they've been developing for the past 23 episodes. The show actually reminded me less of comic books (notably, the X-Men) than of a Stephen King novel, with its many characters developed slowly and often seeming disconected until the end, when everything comes together fatefully. Of course, as much as I dig King as a writer, his greatest shortcoming are his endings, too - but the ride is usually a hell of a lot of fun. For those who missed this, I highly recommend watching it when it comes out on DVD.

Great image, but perhaps a bit too American/Texas. Got anything more Northern European? Do they have a Volvo Ranch?

Brilliant, John, brilliant!

Cowell's pretty good, but he did record that one album for ECM...

Looking at Ubu's up above: not bad, but it makes me wonder - have real people ever appeared on an ECM cover? The only one i can think of is the Miles silohuette on one of the Jarrett Trio discs.

Sorry to hear the gig sucked, John, but it does make a great story. Reminds me of that time Aykroyd and Belushi sang "Stand By Your Man" in the redneck biker bar!

It looks/sounds great. It is in PAL format, though, so you might need to watch it on your computer.

excellent choice! i thought *i* was the only one who raved about this record. Believe it or not, my copy (mint!) only cost a buck or two. I think the dealer thought that "Stereo" was some later-period re-issue/knock-off label.

Can someone please mock up some of the Lou Donaldson's ECM albums for Aric's benefit?

This one's easy. An original "Stereo Records" pressing (the stereo version of Contemporary at the time) of The Poll Winners Ride Again.

I see it the other way around, what is the upside of having it ? nobody is forbidding people from discussing right now and it's up to the people who want to discuss the music to create different threads relating to that subject instead of putting it all in the same thread.