GA Russell

Week 6 previews https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/cfl-week-6-preview-ottawa-redblacks-hamilton-tiger-cats/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/11/3-keys-to-victory-for-ottawa-hamilton-in-week-6/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/nathan-rourke-expected-to-start-for-bc-lions-in-week-6-1.2334510 ***** This thread's view count today is 468,000. That's an increase of 5,200 since June 1 (130 per day).

Week 6 picks https://3downnation.com/2025/07/11/3downnation-cfl-picks-straight-up-against-the-spread-week-6/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/piffles-picks-week-6-2025/ ***** Week 6 previews https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/saskatchewan-roughriders-4-0-week-6-preview-vs-calgary-stampeders-3-1-prediction-depth-chart-injuries-odds/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-schedule-today-july-11th-2025-calgary-stampeders-vs-saskatchewan-roughriders-tv-channels-live-stream-odds/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/game-preview-calgary-stampeders-3-1-vs-saskatchewan-roughriders-4-0/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/top-two-teams-in-cfl-west-look-to-continue-hot-starts-when-riders-host-stampeders-on-tsn-1.2333924 https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/game-day-riders-look-to-remain-perfect-against-surging-stampeders/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/11/3-keys-to-victory-for-ottawa-hamilton-in-week-6/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/11/3-reasons-why-passing-game-could-decide-redblacks-vs-ticats/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/11/prized-free-agent-acquisition-reggie-stubblefield-making-hamilton-tiger-cats-debut-vs-ottawa/

Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet's "El Muki," Due August 15 From Saponegro Records, Celebrates the Group's 20th Anniversary Lima- & NYC-Based Band Plans Fall U.S. Tour, Including Dates in New York, Washington DC, North Carolina   July 10, 2025 The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet is set to release its 20th-anniversary recording, El Muki, on August 15. This album, the group’s 7th, commemorates their two prolific decades as champions for Afro-Peruvian jazz music. More importantly, it’s an expression of the transformative power of the music—a sound rooted in the real human experience found when people on the streets of Lima and New York come together. Inspired by El Muki, a mythical figure from Andean culture in Peru that is said to protect miners working in the mountains, the band assumes this protectorate role for music, safeguarding the essence of human-driven music itself. The Sextet’s mission is clear: to resist any attempt by technology to replace humans in the inspirational process of creating works of art. Gabriel Alegría, now a dual national of the U.S. and Peru, infuses his bicultural identity into every aspect of his music. His life—immersed in both the vibrant traditions of Afro-Peruvian culture and the improvisational spirit of jazz—drives the band’s pursuit of a unique musical language that bridges worlds and elevates consciousness. Saxophonist/composer Laura Andrea Leguía, an integral force in the group, beautifully encapsulates the creative spirit behind El Muki. Before this record, she navigated the profound changes brought on by motherhood, which reshaped her perspective and artistry. “This album represents my return to writing music,” she says. “Motherhood changed everything—including my brain—and with this recording, I was happy to discover my writing chops are back!” L. to r.: Gabriel Alegría, Hugo Alcázar, Julio Flavio Maza, Jocho Velásquez, Freddy “Huevito” Lobatón, Mario Cuba The compositions are crafted with intention, utilizing traditional Afro-Peruvian acoustic instruments such as the cajón, cajita, and quijada, layering cultural narratives into a dynamic soundscape that, like the roots of jazz and Afro-Peruvian music, are true alter egos of one another. The return of producer Jocho Velásquez, who lent his talents as guitarist to the band’s 2008 debut album Nuevo Mundo, adds another exciting dimension to this new project. His expertise is a perfect fit for his experience as producer and arranger of some of Peru’s greatest Afro-Peruvian artists. Each track offers a visceral exploration of contemporary themes. “El Muki” asserts the role of musicians as guardians of cultural authenticity in a world increasingly saturated with mechanized sound. On “Luciérnagas,” the mysterious groove called lando is stretched to 7 beats to represent the equally mysterious communication patterns of fireflies. “Mala Señal” (“bad sign”), a fast festejo described as “aggressive” by composer Leguía, disrupts the traditional minor blues form. The Amazon River is home to the protagonist of the festejo “Panabe,” named after the rare pink river dolphin, while “Vista Panorámica,” a metaphorical journey in 5/4, takes the listener through and above an urban landscape. “Ausencia,” another new composition by Leguía, captures the void felt in the absence of life and limb. The melancholic cello conjures our collective yearning for connection. The harvest season is known as la zafra, particularly as it refers to sugar cane in some areas. “La Zafra” contrasts the poignant and the sweet, while “Despertar,” written to a sunrise, is meant to evoke and reawaken. The track was named by an anonymous fan who left the suggestion written on a napkin at a club performance by the Sextet. The album concludes with a tribal arrangement of “Walking on the Moon,” the Police hit written by Sting. In this setting, walking on the moon is a dangerous prospect. The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet will preview El Muki at an official concert on Sun. 7/27 at the 800-seat Teatro Segura, a landmark venue in Lima, Peru that dates back to 1615. The band’s signature “Journey to Peru—Behind the Scenes” project offers fans an intimate opportunity to travel to Peru for the preview concert and experience life with the band in the vibrant cultural setting that inspires their work. Weekly Friday night live-streamed performances from Lima are available free of charge on the band’s official Youtube Channel. The band performs Wednesday and Friday nights at Lima’s quintessential club The Jazz Zone. In addition, fans can engage with the Sextet during their fall U.S. tour: Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC, Thurs. 10/2; Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, Pittsboro, NC, Fri. 10/3; Blues Alley, Washington, DC, Mon. 10/6; Origins Concert Series, Oneonta, NY, Thurs. 10/9; The Cutting Room, NYC, Fri. 10/10. Photography: Christian Braun    "El Muki" EPK  Gabriel Alegria Website  

Week 6 picks https://doorfliesopen.com/2025/07/10/cfl-beat-239/ I'm picking the three home teams this week, but it wouldn't be a shocker if the three road teams won. Riders over Stampeders - I'm not sold on the Riders; but they are still undefeated, so I'll need to see somebody beat them. Tiger-Cats over Redblacks - The Ticats looked good last week, while the Redblacks did not. Elks over Lions - The Lions have not looked impressive, even though they beat the Als last week. ***** Top 10 Defenders at this point https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/10/top-10-cfl-defenders-heading-into-week-6/ ***** ***** Game Notes https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/10/game-notes-what-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-week-6/ ***** Week 6 previews https://www.sportsnet.ca/cfl/article/around-the-cfl-unbeaten-roughriders-cant-take-foot-off-gas-pedal/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/game-preview-calgary-stampeders-3-1-vs-saskatchewan-roughriders-4-0/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/10/3-keys-to-victory-for-calgary-saskatchewan-in-week-6/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/10/trevor-harris-to-start-for-riders-against-stamps/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/top-two-teams-in-cfl-west-look-to-continue-hot-starts-when-riders-host-stampeders-on-tsn-1.2333924 ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

After all these years, I've opened up Disc Four.

Week 6 picks https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/calgary-stampeders-face-another-unbeaten-challenge-in-saskatchewan-roughrider-on-friday-1.2333443 ***** Week 6 previews https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/roughriders-look-to-remain-undefeated-tiger-cats-look-to-extend-win-streak-in-week-6-on-tsn-1.2333239 https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/09/tre-ford-nathan-rourke-nearly-even-heading-into-week-6-meeting/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/09/most-outstanding-canadian-watch-6-top-contenders-in-week-6/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/09/3-storylines-to-watch-in-week-6/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/09/5-reasons-to-watch-stamps-vs-riders-on-saturday/

Disc One

From the 5 Original Albums box

Power Rankings https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/08/amsoil-power-rankings-riders-still-on-top/ ***** Week 5 review https://3downnation.com/2025/07/08/3downnation-cfl-awards-the-best-and-worst-of-week-5-3/ ***** Week 6 picks https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/08/prediction-time-cfl-ca-writers-week-6-picks-4/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/08/weekly-predictor-who-wins-in-week-6/

Plays of the Week https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/07/special-teams-electrified-week-5-in-timber-mart-plays-of-the-week/ ***** Power Rankings https://3downnation.com/2025/07/07/3downnation-cfl-power-rankings-calgary-stampeders-bowl-their-way-up-the-charts/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/2025-week-5-piffles-power-rankings/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-news-hub-power-rankings-the-aftermath-of-week-5/ ***** Week 5 reviews https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/07/4-kick-return-touchdowns-highlight-electrifying-week-5-in-the-cfl/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/07/landrys-5-takeaways-from-week-5-4/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/07/5-pff-stats-that-stand-out-from-week-5/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/07/mmqb-bo-levi-mitchell-ticats-picking-up-where-they-left-off/ ***** Sask analyses https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/saskatchewan-roughriders-quarter-century-team-piffles-podcast-favourites/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/riderville-roundup-july-6-2025/ ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Week 5 results Stampede Bowl Calgary 37....Winnipeg 16 Big upset! The Bombers were never in it. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/04/recap-calgary-37-winnipeg-16/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/04/stamps-down-bombers-in-inaugural-stampede-bowl/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/calgary-stampeders-hand-winnipeg-blue-bombers-first-loss-to-win-stampede-bowl-1.2330871 https://3downnation.com/2025/07/04/burn-the-film-blue-bombers-crushed-in-inaugural-stampede-bowl-nine-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/04/stampede-bowl-a-massive-success-for-calgary-on-and-off-the-field-six-other-thoughts/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/stampede-bowl-recap-what-made-it-a-rousing-success/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-scores-today-calgary-stampeders-37-winnipeg-blue-bombers-16-stamps-dominate-in-inaugural-stampede-bowl/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/04/3-stats-that-defined-calgarys-stampede-bowl-win-over-winnipeg/ ***** Hamilton 51....Toronto 38 A track meet. Touchdowns were scored on five consecutive possessions. For the first time, a fan won the million dollars for two kickoffs being returned for touchdowns. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/05/recap-hamilton-51-toronto-38/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/new-westminster-native-becomes-first-ever-touchdown-to-win-winner-1.2331950 https://3downnation.com/2025/07/04/roy-lyster-becomes-first-ever-touchdown-to-win-millionaire-after-two-kickoff-return-touchdowns-in-ticats-vs-argos/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/04/bo-levi-mitchells-five-touchdown-night-fires-tiger-cats-past-argonauts/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/bo-levi-mitchell-throws-five-td-strikes-to-lead-hamilton-tiger-cats-past-toronto-argonauts-1.2331794 https://3downnation.com/2025/07/05/toronto-argonauts-get-stuck-on-a-hamster-wheel-in-loss-to-ticats-six-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/05/bbq-season-hamilton-tiger-cats-drop-50-burger-on-struggling-argonauts-eight-other-thoughts/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-scores-today-hamilton-tiger-cats-51-toronto-argonauts-38-ticats-extend-qew-dominance/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/04/3-stats-that-defined-hamiltons-week-5-win-over-toronto/ ***** BC 21....Montreal 20 Great game! The Als were the better team, but Sean Whyte won it with a walk-off field goal. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/05/recap-bc-21-montreal-20/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/05/lions-hand-als-first-home-loss-with-last-second-win/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/sean-whyte-s-walk-off-field-goal-lifts-bc-lions-over-montreal-alouettes-1.2332092 https://3downnation.com/2025/07/06/last-minute-mistakes-sink-montreal-alouettes-in-second-straight-loss-six-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/06/b-c-lions-undercut-walk-off-win-against-alouettes-with-bad-penalties-shameful-brawl-12-other-thoughts/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-scores-today-bc-lions-21-montreal-alouettes-20-lions-win-on-last-second-field-goal/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/05/3-stats-that-defined-bcs-week-5-win-over-montreal/ ***** Edmonton 39....Ottawa 33 Another good game. The Elks took a big lead, but the Redblacks wouldn't quit. The Elks were the last winless team. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/06/recap-edmonton-39-ottawa-33/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/06/justin-rankin-sparks-elks-first-victory-over-redblacks/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/justin-rankin-tre-ford-lead-edmonton-elks-past-ottawa-redblacks-for-first-win-of-season-1.2332431 https://3downnation.com/2025/07/06/ottawa-redblacks-returner-devonte-dedmon-carted-off-with-leg-injury-vs-edmonton-elks/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/07/justin-rankin-runs-edmonton-elks-to-win-over-redblacks-five-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/07/somethings-gotta-give-ottawa-redblacks-superstars-come-up-short-11-other-thoughts-on-losing-to-the-elks/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-scores-today-edmonton-elks-39-ottawa-redblacks-33-elks-claim-first-victory-with-rankins-explosive-performance/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/06/3-stats-that-defined-edmontons-week-5-win-over-ottawa/

Joey Chestnut won again today, for the 17th time, with a total of 70.5. Joey Chestnut reclaims title in Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest, wins 17th Mustard Belt

Week 5 picks https://doorfliesopen.com/2025/07/03/cfl-beat-238/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/03/3downnation-cfl-picks-straight-up-against-the-spread-week-5/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/piffles-picks-week-5-2025/ My picks... Bombers over Stamps - The Bombers are #1 in my power rankings. Ticats over Argos - I like Arbuckle a lot, but I'm going with Mitchell and his receivers this time. Als over Lions - The Als are at home, and I like MBT. Rourke may not be recovered from his injury. Redblacks over Elks - I'm going to pick any team that is winless to continue to lose. ***** Week 5 Game Notes https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/03/game-notes-what-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-week-5/ ***** Week 5 previews https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/inaugural-stampede-bowl-winnipeg-at-calgary/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/game-preview-calgary-stampeders-2-1-vs-winnipeg-blue-bombers-3-0/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/vernon-adams-jr-seeks-first-touchdown-pass-as-calgary-stampeders-host-winnipeg-blue-bombers-1.2330270 https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/cfl-week-5-preview-hamilton-tiger-cats-toronto-argonauts/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/03/3-keys-to-victory-for-toronto-hamilton-in-week-5/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/03/3-questions-ahead-of-fridays-rivalry-game-between-argos-ticats/ https://3downnation.com/2025/07/03/montreal-alouettes-rule-out-qb-davis-alexander-for-second-week-in-a-row/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/03/davis-alexander-ruled-out-of-saturdays-game-vs-bc/

The league has released every team's entire neg list. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/02/cfl-negotiation-lists-fully-available-to-public/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/02/9-names-of-note-from-cfl-negotiation-lists/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/dave-naylor-cfl-makes-each-team-s-full-negotiation-list-public-1.2330092 https://3downnation.com/2025/07/02/cfl-permanently-publicizes-negotiation-lists/ ***** Week 5 picks https://rodpedersen.com/68344-2/ ***** Week 5 previews https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/02/4-storylines-to-watch-in-week-5/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/game-preview-calgary-stampeders-2-1-vs-winnipeg-blue-bombers-3-0/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/inaugural-stampede-bowl-winnipeg-at-calgary/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/02/3-keys-to-victory-for-calgary-winnipeg-in-week-5s-stampede-bowl/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/brady-oliveira-returns-to-winnipeg-blue-bombers-lineup-in-time-to-face-calgary-stampeders-1.2330286 ***** QB Rankings https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/02/quarterback-rankings-who-is-the-no-1-pivot-in-the-cfl-2/ ***** JoAnne Polack has agreed to chair Football Canada's Board of Directors. https://3downnation.com/2025/07/02/jo-anne-polak-appointed-new-chair-of-football-canada/ *****

#2 @NACC #32 @JazzWeek MOODY JAMES MOODY - 80 YEARS YOUNG format: Jazz Recording of James Moody's 80th birthday concert (March 25, 2005) at NYC's Blue Note Jazz Club James Moody: Sax, Flute, Vocals David Hazeltine: Piano: Todd Coolman: Bass Adam Nussbaum: Drums Jon Faddis: Trumpet Paquito D’Rivera: Clarinet, Alto Sax Slide Hampton: Trombone Randy Brecker: Trumpet Cedar Walton Piano (9) George Wein: Master of Ceremonies "The album captures both a March 2005 birthday party and a victory lap for Moody as he fronts a stellar and rotating cast of musicians that includes trombonist Slide Hampton, pianist Cedar Walton and alto saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera. The vibes are as relaxed as they are humorous as Moody digs into his musical treasure chest and recontextualizes his signature vocal number "Moody's Mood For Love" for the hip-hop generation ... The zigzagging "Bebop" and "Birks' Works" are two examples among many on the album of Moody as a force to be reckoned with as a thrilling saxophonist and flutist." JOHN MURPH - DOWNBEAT INTRODUCING JAMES MOODY - :18 BENNY'S FROM HEAVEN - 10:57 CHEROKEE- 7:53 MOODY'S MOOD FOR LOVE - THE TV RAP 4:32 MOODY SPEAKS -:52 BIRK'S WORKS - 13:44 BEBOP - 13:55 HAPPY BIRTHDAY - :31 OW- 9:04 CENTERPIECE - 8:54 DARBEN, THE REDD FOXX - 8:03 POLKA DOTS & MOONBEAMS - 5:13 ST. THOMAS- 7:03 James Moody (1925– 2010) was an American jazz saxophone and flute player and occasional vocalist, playing predominantly in the bebop and hard bop styles. Moody was an international jazz star since 1949. He was born in Savannah, Georgia, and was raised by his single Mother in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from Arts High School and was drafted into the segregated US Army Air Corp. where he played in the "Negro" band and honed his skills. In 1949, in Stockholm Moody recorded his first album as a bandleader, "James Moody and His Modernists", which featured the iconic track "Moody's Mood for Love". The song has been covered by Amy Winehouse, Van Morrison, Take 6 and Queen Latifa, to name a few. In 2001 and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In the 1960’s, Moody became a member of The Dizzy Gillespie Quintet. The group’s performances and recordings are still considered to be some of the most important and influential in the history of jazz. In 1997, Moody had the pleasure of playing Mr. Glover in Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In 1998, he received the NEA Jazz Master Award and in 2000 was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. Moody was a 4-time Grammy nominee and a recipient posthumously in 2011. Website: JamesMoody.com Label: OriginArts.com JAMES MOODY - "JAZZMASTER INTERVIEW"

This one is out now. Singer-Songwriter Ola Onabulé & Guitarist Nicolas Meier Present Proof of Life A unique project with two performers sharing a passion for culturally diverse musical expressions. AVAILABLE TODAY AND THROUGH WWW.OLASMUSIC.COM RELEASED ON RUGGED RAM RECORDS (CAT NO: RRAMCD016) WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION VIA ORCHARD/SONY Ola Onabulé - Vocals, Keyboard Nicolas Meier - Guitar, Glissentar Jakub Cywinski - Acoustic Bass Chris Nickolls - Drums Will Fry - Percussion

Saxophonist Ron Blake Streamlines & Simplifies His Musical Delivery with "SCRATCH Band," Due August 8 on 7Tēn33 Productions Album Introduces an Intimate Trio Collaboration With Reuben Rogers on Bass, John Hadfield on Drums, & An Immediacy Drawn from the Music of Blake's Virgin Islands Upbringing CD Release Show at Dizzy's, NYC; Wednesday, August 13   June 30, 2025 Ron Blake makes the case that less is more with the lean, uncluttered, direct sound of his SCRATCH Band, set for an August 8 release on his 7tēn33 Productions label. The debut of the tenor and baritone saxophonist’s eponymous ensemble is a more intimate affair than usual, placing Blake in a trio with bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer John Hadfield, and applying that folklike sonic reduction to the rhythmic and melodic sensibilities that surrounded Blake growing up in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (In another unusual turn, Blake is on baritone saxophone—nominally his secondary axe—than his primary tenor.) “There’s not a huge need to embellish with this music,” the leader says of his native quelbe music tradition. “It’s driven by the beauty of the melodies and good, danceable rhythms.” That philosophy stood Blake and SCRATCH Band well when they first convened to record in New York in the winter of 2021, during the pandemic, when quarantine and social distancing protocols were still in effect. Downscaled by necessity, the musicians duly focused on plainspoken, soulful tunes with immediate and obvious appeal, like “Bassman,” the calypso classic that wears its big dance groove right on the surface; the sensuous Cuban pseudo-lament “La Conga de Juana”; or the head-nodding island funk of “Appointment.” L. to r: Ron Blake, John Hadfield, Reuben Rogers. By no means, however, does the music on the album give the SCRATCH Band an easy way out. Groover though it is, the tenor-bass duet “Another Level” gives both Blake and Rogers a serious workout. Slow-burning closer “April’s Fool” is packed with tricky rhythmic nuances, and the elegant pair of “Body and Soul” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” dare the musicians to find something new to say with two of the most covered songs in the canon. (They deliver handsomely on both fronts, Blake finding fresh sweetness on the former while Rogers and Hadfield tap into waves of grace and dignity on the Black National Anthem.) The secret to the simplicity of SCRATCH Band is that it gives its artists more room for discovery, not less. Ron Blake was born September 7, 1965 in the Santurce district of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and grew up in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Blake’s father was an architect who loved jazz and Latin music, and passed that passion down to the youngest of his four children. First trying his hand at guitar as an 8-year-old, Blake by 10 had settled on the saxophone, playing alto in the school band. By 14, he had come far enough on the instrument to attend Michigan’s famous Interlochen Arts Camp for three straight summers. His success in the Arts Camp led Blake to enroll at Interlochen’s Arts Academy, where he completed his last two years of high school before attending Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, then making the transition to the ever-fertile Chicago scene. Aside from a brief return to St. Thomas, Blake remained in Chicago until 1990, when he took a position at the University of South Florida; two years after that, he made his way to New York and found himself in the quintet of the young trumpet prodigy Roy Hargrove. He also worked with Art Farmer, Meshell Ndegeocello, and the multicultural ensemble Yerba Buena, as well as releasing his debut album as a leader, Up Front & Personal, in 2000. (He made three more albums in the 2000s for the Mack Avenue label.) In 2005, sitting in with Steve Turre one night at Smoke led to an audition for the bari chair at Saturday Night Live, where Blake has been ever since, taking home multiple Emmys in the process. In addition, Blake has earned three Grammys as a member of the Christian McBride Big Band; been a regular member of the Mingus Big Band and Love Rocks NYC House Band; taught for over 15 years at the Juilliard School; completed a master’s degree in jazz studies at NYU; founded the Caribbean Jazz Institute at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, Maine. Ron Blake SCRATCH Band, with Reuben Rogers and John Hadfield, appears at Dizzy’s, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC, on Wednesday 8/13, 9pm; and at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club, Portsmouth, NH, Thursday 8/14, 7:30pm. Photography: Spencer Cole Porter    Ron Blake SCRATCH Band EPK   Ron Blake Website  

Bobby Sherman has died of cancer at 81. RIP. https://www.ntd.com/bobby-sherman-former-pop-star-and-teen-idol-dies-at-81_1075563.html

Happy Dominion Day! And so, after four weeks, the Riders and the Bombers remain undefeated; and the Elks are the only winless team. ***** Week 4 review https://3downnation.com/2025/07/01/3downnation-cfl-awards-the-best-and-worst-of-week-4-3/ ***** Week 5 picks https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/01/prediction-time-cfl-ca-writers-week-5-picks-4/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/07/01/weekly-predictor-who-wins-in-week-5/ ***** Alexander Hollins has signed with the Als. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/montreal-alouettes-bring-in-former-all-cfl-wr-alexander-hollins-1.2329796 https://3downnation.com/2025/07/01/montreal-alouettes-sign-former-all-star-receiver-alexander-hollins-one-other/ *****

Toronto 29....Ottawa 16 Upset! Arbuckle vs. Crum. The Argos took an 18-0 lead, but the Redblacks kept plugging. The Argos' Derek Slywka ("Sloo-ka") had the game of his life. See the highlights. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/06/29/recap-toronto-29-ottawa-16/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/06/29/argos-close-out-weekend-action-with-a-victory-over-redblacks/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/derek-slywka-lifts-toronto-argonauts-past-ottawa-redblacks-for-first-win-of-season-1.2329116 https://3downnation.com/2025/06/30/toronto-argonauts-take-big-step-forward-leave-room-for-improvement-in-first-victory-six-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2025/06/30/ottawa-redblacks-lose-by-a-slywka-11-other-thoughts-on-falling-to-the-argos/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-scores-today-toronto-argonauts-29-ottawa-redblacks-16-argos-dominate-with-special-teams-touchdowns/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/06/29/3-stats-that-defined-torontos-week-4-win-over-ottawa/ ***** Plays of the Week https://www.cfl.ca/2025/06/30/cfl-plays-of-the-week-week-4-2025/ ***** Power Rankings https://www.cfl.ca/2025/06/30/amsoil-power-rankings-roughriders-back-on-top/ https://3downnation.com/2025/06/30/3downnation-cfl-power-rankings-montreal-alouettes-lose-their-grip-on-top-spot/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/2025-week-4-piffles-power-rankings/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-news-hub-power-rankings-the-aftermath-of-week-4/ ***** Week 4 reviews https://www.cfl.ca/2025/06/30/landrys-5-takeaways-from-westjet-canada-day-weekend/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/06/30/5-pff-stats-that-stand-out-from-westjet-canada-day-weekend/