jazzypaul

I dunno. I think it's the height of arrogance to say that a guy sucks and that his music is crappy, when he could likely demolish most any of us on this board in a cutting session. "I don't like his music." That's opinion. "He sucks," means you're not listening hard enough. Sorry.

To me the problem seems to be that too much of that pop stuff was played and featured as "jazz" everywhere. I remember back in the 80s over here he was all too present in specialist jazz radio shows here but the stuff of his that noodled and doodled over the airwaves might have fitted in very well with easy listening pop stations (where it probably belongs) but not with jazz, not even in jazz programs that leaned more towards more "classic" jazz material (and not avantgarde). THAT's the point ... The music may have been fine for what it was meant to be, but could it be that even in the 80s by typical pop standards he just did not have a youthful and/or energetic enough image to fit in with pop/rock music that was supposed to appeal to the young'us?? :D Which would only have left easy listening programs, but he ended up on jazz programs again instead, and diehard jazzers over here probably resented this as much as they resent(ed) it in the States. It may have been wrong resenting the music for that because it probably never was meant to be jazz anymore, but then it ought not to have been aired on jazz programs in the first place. I understand every word you're saying. But did George Benson put a gun to a music director's head and say, "play gimme the night you no good blah blah blah?" Of course not. Blame the program directors of jazz stations dumb enough to think that the guy who wants to hear Trane wants to hear Benson's version of On Broadway, too. Benson was just playing some music (that I'm hoping) that he wanted to make.

who said he EVER stepped over to the dark side? Turn Your Love Around is just as much of a bad ass song as Rock Candy. Benson as jazz guy = bad mutha on a guitar Benson as pop/R&B guy = great voice, great groove, wish he was more of a bad mutha on that guitar. Nothing in there, as far as I can see, about any sort of dark side.

or head out to the suburbs for Jazz Fest Glen Ellyn The Mulligan Mosaics Big Band is great, Henry Johnson and Willie Pickens need no introduction, and Chevere is going to be freaking FANTASTIC. The Paul Abella Trio plays the after-fest bash at Curly's around the corner.

That one was on "Yesterday and Today" where I come from. not in the CD era it's not. All of the CD re-issues were of the English albums, not the American ones (this is why you've never found a copy of Beatles '65!). So, anyway, yes, And Your Bird Can Sing IS on Revolver.

looks like an absolutely fantastic set list! I'll be checking this out ASAP!

those are caxixis (the ones in the middle of the picture)

so did they.

Except for, you know, chords.

Alex, one that you might really like is Spanish Harlem Orchestra's United We Swing. Oscar Hernandez leads a helluva band, and the last cut has them doing a duet with Paul Simon that really works. I'm a fan of Joe Bataan, although his stuff was pretty poppy for boogaloo. Like Willie Colon, his best stuff used the two trombone formula which really gives these smallish groups some pop. Hector Lavoe was a bad ass that went way too soon. He's got a two disc best of kinda thing on Fania that works well as an introduction to his stuff. For a jazz head's introduction to salsa, I've got to recommend Jerry Gonzalez' Rumba Para Monk. What really shocks me about this one is how little the arrangers had to do to fit Monk's music to latin rhythms. Most everything else that I would have recommended already has been here, so there's no sense in rehashing. And, for some easily available, and pretty happening stuff, you honestly can't go wrong with Cal Tjader or Poncho Sanchez. Both are great, and both can be found even at the shittiest Borders or Barnes & Noble.

All y'all Wang Chung haters can kiss my grits. They more than make up for Everybody Wang Chung with To Live and Die in LA, which is a great tune. Now, onto the crappy craptastic tunes... First, practically anything off of the first Silverchair album, but especially the song Tomorrow: "Its twelve oclock, and its a wonderful day, I know you hate me, but Ill ask anyway, Dude, if the guy hates you, why do you want to pal around with him and waste a wonderful day? Wont you come with me, to a place in a little town, The only way to get theres to go straight down, do you have to dig through solid earth to get there? Are we about to witness a scene from the Lord of the Rings or something? Theres no bathroom, and there is no sink, The water out of the tap is very, hard to drink, Very hard to drink, I would assume that if there's no sink, then there's probably no tap, which, yes, would make water hard to drink, if you were specifically attempting to get water from the faucet. You, wait til tomorrow, You, wait til tomorrow, You say that money, isnt everything, But Id like to see you live without it, not as nonsensical as what was in the first verse, but still, pretty damned awful. You think you can keep on going living like a king, Oohh babe, but I strongly doubt it, Yeah, without money, it's a little hard to live like royalty. Congrats on the profound thoughts, Mr. Silverchair. Very hard to drink, Very hard to drink, really? did you really have to skimp on the lyrics here? You gonna wait too, fat boy, Fat boy, wait til tomorrow, You gonna wait too, fat boy, Fat boy, wait til tomorrow, You, wait til tomorrow, You, wait til tomorrow, You gonna wait too, fat boy, Fat boy, wait til tomorrow, You gonna wait too, fat boy, Fat boy, wait til tomorrow." Where does the fat boy come from? What happens tomorrow? These might be the worst lyrics of all time. Way worse than mmmbop or anything by Hootie OR the blowfish. I won't even get into that Nickelback song about being a rockstar. Someone needs to spill blood for that one.

Well, let's get on it then!

for probably the first time in the entire time I've been on this board, I agree with Dan about something. Who's writing the liner notes?

well, considering the amount and sheer diversity of musical talent gathered on this board, we'd almost all be douchebags if we didn't put it all together at some point. Certainly someplace like the Hideout could host an event like this: big enough to hold a couple hundred devoted O-board types and otherwise curious folks, small enough to keep it intimate. Thoughts?

Congrats! I've got 17 1/2 years till that moment comes, so if you have any advice between now and then, I'm all ears...

no worries, I deserved it. that said, c'mon peoples! buy some cd's! daycare ain't cheap!

now we be on amazon.com as well. click on the guy selling it for $12 named the paul abella trio. Not only is it cheaper than anyone else, but yeah, you'll get it straight from me.

I'll agree that the American Auto industry is completely screwed. Unfortunately, they were only reacting to market demands. Wives want minivans (which aren't exactly great on gas either, mind you). But hey, now that that Explorer comes with a third row seat, let's get that instead. Husbands don't want to be seen in kid haulers, but they still need to haul around the kids. And if you're gonna get a truck, you'd better get it with the four wheel drive package that you'll use twice a year, which wastes even more gas. Let's face it, there IS a need for bigger vehicles. But that just begs the question: where is the electric car? Where is the hydrogen car that Honda could build tomorrow? Why aren't we seeing hybrid editions of every car that gets sold in America? Ditto for diesel.

Yes, we can. One of these days, I'll get video of my trio doing our medley of Papa Was A Rolling Stone/Eleanor Rigby (which, on set lists shows up as "Papa Was Eleanor Rigby" natch). If you can do it on upright, guitar and bongos, I am sure a larger group could pull it off.

Someone needs to remind the kind folks at Dunkin' Donuts that Palestinian terrorists wear clothes, and we won't be happy until there's an ad featuring Ms. Ray in the buff holding a cup of coffee.

Smokey Robinson AND Earth Wind and Fire? I'd say she's batting .500, possibly .750, depending on when the U2 concert was.

Happy birthday, mang!

I was afraid that might be the case. Mitch (the guitarist) and I will be playing in a production of Hair (I'm not kidding) that week and the week after. That said, I would LOVE to get together for a beer or something.

up for the Chicagoans round these parts. Our usual last (or fourth) friday of the month gig at Joey's Brickhouse is tonight...if you like good food at decent prices, stiff drinks and a band that's not completely lame, then this is the spot for you! Saturday we're at a place that's half clothing store/half restaurant & bar w/a stage (no, I'm not kidding). Embrace in Hinsdale. Should be fun. Come check it out! Monday, we're at Andy's again for some fine Memorial Day-ing. So, please, please, pretty please w/sugar on top, Chicago O-Boarders...we could use your support!

Somebody sent me this months ago, and I just put it in the CD player again this past weekend. It's sooo good. That and the album by Vieux Farka Toure have been in heavy rotation for the past week. Great stuff.