Free For All

And remember, you can't spell "spam" without A&M!

I just love it when I sign in and see a thread title like this. It's our very own "home run derby".

Good enough then. OK, what about ballet?

I remember really disliking opera when I had to study it as an undergraduate. I was very young and all I wanted to hear was jazz. When the former Mrs. FFA started doing the Santa Fe Opera gig, I started going out there to visit every summer and I attended several operas each time. I must say the SFO puts on a helluva show- the performers, orchestra, sets and the venue itself were absolutely first-rate. They also programmed a variety of operas- there were some new contemporary ones, old warhorses that could be counted on to put butts in the seats, and every year they did a Strauss opera. My favorites were the Strauss, mostly because the brass section usually had some big moment that allowed them to let it all out. One of the things I really liked was having the libretto in English on a little screen on the seat in front of me- it really helps to be able to follow the plot. What always struck me as funny was the way the "action" unfolded; it always seems to be: "I've got a secret!" ("He's got a secret!") "I've got a secret!" ("He's got a secret!") "I'm going to tell!" ("He's going to tell") "I'm going to tell!" ("He's going to tell") "I'm telling you now!" ("He's telling us now") "I'm telling you now!" ("He's telling us now") "I told my secret!" ("He told his secret!") "I told my secret!" ("He told his secret!") .......etc., etc. Fortunately the slow disclosure of the plot allowed plent of time to check out the score w/o missing anything. I'm glad I learned to enjoy opera, and although I don't attend many (now that I'm banned from Santa Fe ), I have a much greater appreciation of the genre. And Pavarotti was a MF. Whatever his personal issues were, we were fortunate to have lived the same time as him. He had a serious gift. RIP.

Welcome back Jazzmoose! Nice tribute avatar, btw.

Michigan went from #5 to unranked in the AP poll. Ouch! FSU also dropped out, but they were only #19 to begin with and didn't have nearly as far to fall. Appalachian State isn't even eligible to be included in the polls, which seems kind of unfair. Seems like the whole ranking/playoff system is due for some major tweaking.

Thanks, Dan. Always the voice of hope. Anthony Bourdain is touring Honk Kong in ten minutes. Maybe I'll watch that instead.

I don't know, were the Eagles previously a "bastion of integrity"? Maybe at the peak of their popularity, but I think now it's a case of "aging rock band clutching at straws". "Welcome to WalMart. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!"

Any team I feel obliged to root for immediately sucks. Once I move on they have a "storybook season".

The ember member.

.....and your point is.....??? It's obvious that the problem is you're hanging out with saxophonists. Dude, you're in for nothing but trouble!

That's a pretty pessimistic and dismissive generalization, Chris. You're too young to be that dark on horn players already- that should still be a few years off! Don't let a bad experience result in a generalization like that. As a representative of horn players I hate to see anyone turn to the dark side. There are some out there who might just inspire you! Care to elaborate on what brought you to this conclusion?

Sorry to say he passed away in 1994, RIP.

I'm already on record as guessing that they will have it in January. We should start a pool! Is there a "Vince factor" this time?

I was a member of the "CO2" during my Austin days ('80s). A fun group to play with, a creative oasis in a town with lots of great music but not a big jazz scene. During my time with the group we performed w/Vinnie Golia and (bassist) Ken Filiano as well as Dennis Gonzalez. Big fun! Tina at that time was married to trombonist Randy Zimmerman (an excellent player and great guy) but I understand they have since gone their separate ways. During that time Alex Coke left town to play with the Wilhelm Breuker Collectief. People came and went all the time. Former Basie trumpeter Martin Banks was also a participant. Mitch Watkins (guitarist, did several recordings w/Barbara Dennerlein) was around then- as far as I know he probably still is- people really get attached to Austin (I know I did). Mitch is a VERY creative and engaging soloist and composer. There was at that time a great nucleus of players in town, it was a great hang. It was during that time that I had the opportunity to meet and play with legendary bassist Gene Ramey. I also did some gigs with Luis Gasca when he was in town (hmm....he still owes me some $$ for those gigs!) Brazilian guitaist Toninho Horta came to town several times. Austin was also where I got to hear Chet Baker just before he passed. Also Jimmy Ford & Arnett Cobb. Wow, when I think about it, it was at times a pretty great scene! That was a good time to be in Austin- it was still "weird".

Dr. Gonzo Bonzo Ronald Reagan

Nice to see all my Ohio jazz bone brothers getting together! Paul Ferguson is a great guy and a great writer, as is Vaughn Wiester (from Columbus). Chas Baker runs the jazz studies program at Kent State. I first moved to the area when I got married in '99- I taught part-time at Youngstown State and played with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. A lot of very talented musicians out there! How's my friend (trumpeter) Jack Schantz doing? But "Bon' Swa"??? Hmmm.....may have to throw a flag on that one. Edit: BTW, when I was teaching at Youngstown, the program was at that time being led by the late Tony Leonardi. Tony was a wonderful person, a great educator and happened to have been the bassist on Woody Herman's Basin Street West sessions which were finally collected and organized for the Mosaic single release. It was a priviledge to have gotten to know and work with him. The program is now (I believe) being led by another talented and great guy, saxophonist Kent Englehardt.

There is a spot with a sign that says "Reserved for Professor McKee", right? Ha! I wish.....I get the "priviledge" of purchasing a parking permit which then allows me to compete for a space.

It will be interesting to experience my first football season at FSU. I haven't been at a school with a program this big since I was a student at UT-Austin. This is a huge school with 40,000 students (but only about 12,000 parking places!). I think the 'Noles are going to have a good, but maybe not great season. On Fridays before home games they have a big block party downtown. I plan on going to a game or two, maybe a little later in the season when it's not quite so MF hot! Edit: It still feels funny to be a proponent of a team I used to root against (I'd never been a fan of FSU, UF or Miami). I guess since I became a "free agent" all that has changed!

I'm certainly no expert, but is there any chance that's a rotary valve flugelhorn that Owens is playing?? Yes, it is a flugel.

Sorry to hear about the departure of Moose, Mark. My dog is still living, and being well cared for by my ex, but one of the most painful aspects of being divorced has been how much I miss my doggie pal. We were the best of friends and he always brightened the worst of days. I think about him every single day. When I was still in the house and online late at night (usually at this site) he would be under the table on his bed asleep keeping my feet warm. Man, we do love our animals, don't we? I'll also miss the Jazzmoose (it goes back quite a way on this and the BN board), but as long as you continue to hang here I don't care what name you use. All the best!

Looks like Old Town has won, and by an impressive margin late in the game. Congrats!

Thanks for the links, brownie! Great music! I hadn't seen that '68 set before. Jimmy Owens playing the rotary-valve trumpet! I forgot he did that. It sure sounded like one of Slide's arrangements. It's always a trip to see him play the trombone left-handed- I'm left handed too, but learned to play the horn right-handed. I have no idea if this is way off base, but in '67-'68 Slide did some recording with Henri Texier (bass) and Daniel Humair (drums). Are these by any chance the guys on this session? Who's the other trumpet? Phil sure sounded great, on all of it. Great stuff!