Free For All

......aaaaaaaaaaaaand....SCENE!

For some reason this reminded me of Frank Rosolino's death, I guess because it happened to someone who posessed a great sense of humor. As most know, Frank was very funny and entertaining and few would have predicted his suicide, and especially that he would take the life of one of his children and leave the other one permanantly handicapped. I'm fairly certain there was also some additional "chemical" influence on Frank at the time other than just the depression from which he was suffering. As much as I still love his playing, it makes me sad to hear him and wonder what's going on under the surface. I was also a big fan of Richard Jeni. Also Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, Mitch Hedberg and Lenny Bruce. Some others who went away too soon.

I was very sorry to hear about this. I really enjoyed his act and the various HBO specials and movies in which he appeared. I'm sorry he was unhappy/depressed enough to make this choice. RIP.

From the "cool t-shirt slogan thread, courtesy of Dan....

I quite like it. You're not a fan, I take it. I must say, I thought that he did a great job singing an incredibly difficult melody! I was ready to hate it, but dammit, he did a good job! He nailed those intervals, not an easy task.

Almost 12 hours into the thread and no sign of the Rooster. Hope he's OK. "Future Passed", was it, RT?

There's a nice (but brief, 2:43) version of Motherless Child on a Ron Carter CD called "Parade" from 1979 w/Joe Henderson, Chick Corea and Tony Williams (with horns arranged by Wade Marcus, the guy who arranged for those Horace Silver "Silver and......" 70s Blue Notes, which I'm still hoping are reissued on CD).

I don't have this, and it looks damn fine. Also looks like it's OOP, used copies are quite expensive. This reminds me that I also need to get Earl Hines solo piano twofer of Duke tunes. Looks like you hit the mother lode Al!

Conrad Herwig and Brian Lynch recently put out a new recording in the vein of their "Latin Side of Miles and Coiltrane" series that presents arrangements of the tunes of Sketches of Spain. Just got it, haven't listened yet, will report soon.

Thanks everyone! I had a nice evening. Hung out with some friends visiting from out-of-town, heard Conrad Herwig and Brian Lynch with their "Latin side of Trane/Miles" group. Got fairly toasted over the course of the evening- martinis, sake, beer and drambuie (or however you spell it). I'm still standin' though! FYI Herb, Steve Cardenas was at the Blue Room last night as part of Ben Allison's midwest tour. He was absolutely killin', BTW. Thanks again for all your support folks! Paul

Tom, guessing from the vintage I'd say either Greg Herbert or Steve Lederer.

....can't speak for her, though......

Well, thankfully I'm not in THIS frame of mind.....

Here's a good one. Where to make the first cut?

That is about the UGLIEST MF cake I've ever seen!

Thanks guys! I just got home from hearing Ben Allison, Ron Horton, Steve Cardenas and Michael Sarin. It was really, really good music! Rooster and Spontooneous were there too. I also heard a rumor that Hot Ptah was there, but I didn't meet him. It's funny, a year ago on this date I had no idea what direction my life was about to take. Now a year has passed and things are starting to move in a positive direction. The year that passed in between these two birthdays has not been easy, and the sadness of my divorce will be with me for a long time, but I'm so grateful to have found an opportunity to continue doing what I most love to do- play, write and teach jazz. I was skeptical about those who said things would get better- it didn't seem that there was any hope of that at the time. I'm relieved that you were right and I was wrong. Thanks to all my friends here who have been so supportive. I continue to learn much from you people, about music and even life sometimes. Cheers everyone! I wish the best for all of you!

Shepp happens.

Hans, I also assumed Bruce was referring to the box as opposed to the single since he called it a "set". Bruce, whichever one you're talking about, they're both great (if you like that big band crap ) . Highly recommended. (BTW if you are talking about the new single "Woody's Winners" I had it up as an AOTW not too long ago) Woody's Winners AOTW

Cool, Tom! Frank Tiberi with 70s hair! I'm guessing they're playing Gary Anderson's arrangement of "Pavane". IIRC, the only other one that Frank played "the farting bedpost" on regularly was "Come Saturday Morning", and I don't believe that he and Woody played at the same time on the latter. This "guess what chart they're playing based on the photo" game is one that John Fedchock and I used to play a lot. You'd be surprised how many clues there are in most photos (especially when you know the charts! ).

I'm just guessing based on who was playing w/Clark in the mid-70s. Could it be Victor Sproles?

Live chat joke moved to prime time! And I'm even sober.

Larry Gales?

I really ripped one the other day, and it burned a little.