Dan Gould

I finally broke open my favorite Christmas present, the Ray Charles Atlantic box set, and in reading the very nicely laid out book, I was struck by this statement by Jerry Wexler: What do you think? Is this liner note hyperbole? While he doesn't refer to "hard bop" there's no doubt that the root of that style was the "return to the roots" of blues and gospel, and its often given as a "reaction" to the rise of West Coast jazz that was supposedly neutered of these characteristics. At the same time, I can imagine that Ray had an influence, but I'd rather hear it specifically from the people Wexler mention (or any others) before taking it as, ahem, gospel truth. I guess I fall on the side of "probably true, but also probably overstated." What do you guys think? I do believe its an interesting question, I hope some of the more perceptive members will offer their thoughts (I'm kinda afraid of what Allen might say, as many of his comments lead me to think he pretty much dismisses "soul jazz" out of hand) .

Good piece in today's Times about Hall of Fame balloting through the years:

What a ridiculous comparison. Guidry pitched til he was 37, and his career ended due to his ineffectiveness. Koufax quit at 30, his best years ahead of him, and in his last five years, had gone 129-34. Guidry went 48-40 in his last five seasons. Guidry won one Cy Young and two ERA titles. Koufax won three Cy Youngs and five ERA titles. Guidry was awesome for one year, very good for two others (his other two 20 win seasons), and decent in a fourth year (18-8). That isn't anywhere near HoF calibre, and to compare it to Koufax is just nuts. A better comparison might be to El Tiante, who had four 20 win seasons and a lifetime ERA that was more than half a run better. Dan - Bill James, who is, or at least was, employed by your beloved Sox, made the comparison. I didn't. And neither he nor I made the claim that Guidry belongs in the Hall - please read my post. I believe that James was making the point that statistics aren't everything. I'm surprised that you would bring Tiant's name up as a possibility for the HoF. I seem to remember that he was another traitor/"Judas" who took the bucks and joined the Evil Empire. Just because someone is connected to the Sox or disassociates themselves has nothing to do with whether they get a free pass on stupidity or recognition of their talent.

Yeah? Didja know about this one? I bow to no man in my admiration of Teddy!

You're a fool, Albertson. This is an obit about an historical figure. Not a dumb-ass Frank Rich column about gays, the religious right, and the culture war. And I find it hysterical that you talk about hissy fits when it was YOU who announced your "departure" from this board after that very thread WAS moved. Have you seriously still not perceived the reason? Well, as I said, you ARE a fool.

What a ridiculous comparison. Guidry pitched til he was 37, and his career ended due to his ineffectiveness. Koufax quit at 30, his best years ahead of him, and in his last five years, had gone 129-34. Guidry went 48-40 in his last five seasons. Guidry won one Cy Young and two ERA titles. Koufax won three Cy Youngs and five ERA titles. Guidry was awesome for one year, very good for two others (his other two 20 win seasons), and decent in a fourth year (18-8). That isn't anywhere near HoF calibre, and to compare it to Koufax is just nuts. A better comparison might be to El Tiante, who had four 20 win seasons and a lifetime ERA that was more than half a run better.

I wouldn't be at all surprised that this really is a necessary warning. Two, three feet of snow on a flat roof, I can picture a lot of people who are worried about the weight of all that snow, thinking about lugging that thing out a window. But the rest ...

Just ordered from Da Bastards, but I'm wondering if anyone can shed light on this one: As in, was this reissued, perhaps under a different title? It all looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place such a session as being with Blue Mitchell and Barry Harris, so I went for it. Gots to be good, right?

Definitely sad news. Perhaps we can be grateful that he didn't linger and suffer very long. Now I know I'm gonna be cleaning the house to Stormy Monday, Live and Black and Blue today.

I think the same show was posted on Dime a Dozen a few months ago. The "info file" said this:

Finally, maybe some good news in Boston? Manny Says He's Staying In Boston. Of course, we still have to replace He Who Shall Not Be Named and Rent-a-Wreck, too. But Manny in Boston means protection for Papi and lots more run production than almost any other option out there. The only player I'd accept for Manny is Tejada, and it doesn't look like that will happen.

The Van Dyke is the place for live jazz. The Miami Zoo is very good, if that would appeal to the kids. If you're looking to hunt for jazz CDs, try the CD Collector on Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale. Not a long drive from Hollywood, maybe twenty minutes. Go east off of I-95. Where Federal Highway splits off and goes north, stay to the right. Go through one light and then take the next right into the parking lot. If you go too far you'll pass another light then a bridge over the intracoastal, with a Borders on the other side. I'd recommend that Borders but the jazz selection has gone to hell. But CD Collector has an excellent selection of used jazz, even some decent used LPs.

Twenty minutes further south, I can say, "Ditto!"

Gene Harris made a record, "Don't Call me Nigger, Whitey" ... I think its on Blue Break Beats Volume 3. Not that I recommend it or anything.

Frank Burns George Burns Morgan Freeman

I feel as though I did miss the Rose Bowl, cuz I turned it off and went to bed when Southern Cal opened up the 12 point lead. It looked to me like it was USC's defense that was stepping up, and no way UT could stop them enough to get two scored in 5 minutes. You can imagine how surprised I was when I woke up and saw ESPN's home page. I probably should have taken a lesson from Tuesday night, when I bailed on the Orange Bowl after Penn State had the first down inside the 20 in regulation. I was sure they'd kick the winning field goal and had no interest in witnessing the inevitable defeat of my beloved Seminoles. 'Course, I was wrong, but only in the details, and at least I missed out on a lot of the aggravation that went with the disappointment.

Couple of Sox first basemen could pick 'em pretty good too: Cecil Cooper and George 'Boomer' Scott. Scott won 8 Gold Gloves, the first three with the Sox. Cooper won two, but both were with Milwaukee.

Damn, you live in Arizona and don't like summer time? Honestly, though, I dig the album but not as much as others of that era of LD's career like Alligator Boogaloo.

His buddy Strawberry, too. Ironic to remember that in 1986, Gooden and Clemens were incredible pitchers facing each other in the World Series. 20 years later, look at where Gooden is and what Clemens ended up accomplishing.

Well, Brad, the fact of the matter is that the Hall is loaded with guys who aren't "no-brainers". If only no-brainers belong, than your beloved Gil Hodges wouldn't even be mentioned. Check out Hodges' Baseball-Reference.com page: http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hodgegi01.shtml Yes, he had 7 seasons as an All-Star and three Gold Gloves, but the guy never led his league in anything other than games played, sacrifice flies, and strikeouts. Their "Hall of Fame Monitor" has a score of 100 or greater as a likely member, with 130 or above a virtual cinch. Rice scores 147. Hodges scores 83. In fact, all of the players I identified rank as "likely Hall of Famer" by their measurement, except for Sutter and Santo, and both rank higher than Hodges. Sorry if I'm being harsh but I do find it ironic that you identify "no-brainer" candidates as the only legit Hall of Famers, reject the ones I identify and then name someone who epitomizes the term "marginal candidate".

Results will be announced next Tuesday, I believe, and it should be an interesting ballot, with no "slam-dunk" new candidates (Albert Belle, anyone?) and a widespread perception that in the wake of the steroid scandal, the career stats of people like Jim Rice and Dave Parker will get the respect they deserve. So, let's play Vote for the Hall of Fame. Specifically, name up to 10 candidates from this year's ballot who you believe deserve enshrinement. I'll start: Jim Rice From Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com: In the closer category, I think Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith and Goose Gossage belong. I think Yankee fans will agree with me: Yankee fans feared Rice the way Sox fans feared Goose. In the category of starting pitchers who didn't reach meaningless milestones but still belong in the Hall: Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris. And in the category of guy who played with class, guts, intensity and character, Andre Dawson. And while I know his name isn't on the writer's ballot, but anyone who puts Ron Santo's stats against any other third baseman who has made it knows that the Old Cub belongs. So who is on your HoF ballot?

Cito Gaston Chico Escuela Jane Curtin

So you sleep in the garage? Sorry, I skipped a word. "Of our three EXTRA bedrooms, ..."

Of our three bedrooms, one became the office, one became the guest bedroom and one became my music room. Here I am reading a Mosaic booklet in the comfy chair:

I saw the George Coleman Octet at Smoke maybe 5 years ago or so ... I think George said it was the first Octet gig since the 80s or so. Gary Smulyan was on bari, Rotondi on trumpet, and Ned Otter was music director (I think he was in charge of updating the charts or something ... seems to me he was deeply involved in organizing the gig). Mabern and Farnsworth were in the rhythm section, can't recall the bass player. Wait a sec ... does George have a son who plays a rhythm instrument? Somehow I am suddenly thinking that a younger Coleman played bass or drums. Ah, the memory is a wonderful thing, when it works. Anyway, the memory that definitely comes through is that it was a great show, George and Harold sounded great and the younger cats were pretty good too. Also was the only time I've made it to Smoke, a great little place.