GA Russell

I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Picken at the 1978 Grey Cup. Here's a nice article about him by Paul Friesen in the Winnipeg Sun Jan. 5. https://winnipegsun.com/sports/other-sports/winnipeg-sports-icon-reflects-on-life-well-lived#comments ***** The eBook edition of Johnny Sophomore, the book about Johnny Manziel's last year of college ball, is free today at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Sophomore-Manziels-Final-Season-ebook/dp/B00JL2OWIY/

beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium Edition 250 Ohm Over-Ear-Stereo Headphones. Semi-open design, wired, high-end, for the stereo system - $159.00 https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-880-Premium-250-Over-Ear-Stereo/dp/B000F2BLTM

Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone - $79.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AJIF4E PS - I thought these were on sale, but maybe not.

Michael, some of those are favorites of mine, particularly the Mike Nock and the Kenny Wheeler!

I have a lot of catching up to do! The College Football Hall of Fame announced today that Rocket Ismail had been elected. http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25704414/vince-young-raghib-rocket-ismail-patrick-willis-headline-2019-college-football-hall-fame-class

The great saxophonist Joe Lovano has appeared on a number of ECM recordings over the last four decades, including much-loved albums with Paul Motian, Steve Kuhn and John Abercrombie. Trio Tapestry is his first as a leader for the label, introducing a wonderful new group and music of flowing lyricism, delicate texture, and inspired interplay. Lovano and pianist Marilyn Crispell are in accord at an advanced level inside its structures. “Marilyn has such a beautiful sound and touch and vocabulary,” Joe enthuses. Drummer Carmen Castaldi, a Lovano associate of long-standing, also responds to the trio environment with sensitivity, subtly embellishing and detailing the pieces. Lovano: “We play together like an orchestra, creating an amazing tapestry. I brought in the material, but there’s an equal weight of contribution, creating music within the music, and harmonizing it in a really special way.” Trio Tapestry was recorded at New York’s Sear Sound studio in March 2018, and produced by Manfred Eicher. LISTEN / BUY Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry Concerts Jan 27th Buffalo, NY (Albright-Knox Art Gallery) Mar 15th San Francisco, CA (SFJAZZ Miner Auditorium) More dates to come For Joe’s complete touring schedule click here © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved.

Onkyo TX-8020 2 channel Stereo Receiver - $142.00 https://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8020-channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00EE18O7W/

I came across the album Movie Stars Sing! today, and of course I thought of Golden Throats right away. TTK, do you have this one? It has songs sung by Vince Edwards, Troy Donohue and Ricardo Montalban! https://www.oldies.com/product-view/67446O.html

I am not disagreeing with any of the money comments, but I thought that Bird's original motive was to be able to hire a rhythm section who would have a clue what to do. He would in effect tell the pianist du jour, "You just play Cherokee, while I play this thing I wrote called Koko."

Klipsch R-100SW 10" Subwoofer - $165.48 https://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-R-100SW-10-Subwoofer/dp/B07FKH9ZDC

I agree that teams should be at least decent to qualify for a bowl. Remember, two of those six wins were against early season Div. I-AA teams. And I agree that naming a bowl game after a corporation is distasteful - even more so when the corporations change every couple of years. In Charlotte the Belk's Bowl was the Continental Tire Bowl not long ago. But I like the idea of two evenly matched teams from opposite sides of the country (who would never otherwise play each other) getting together on a beautiful southern afternoon in late December, while the rest of America is taking the week off. It might be a good game!

Paul, I bet you remember fifty years ago a young guy had a nationally syndicated "column" called The Bottom Ten, ranking the worst ten college teams. As I recall, Northwestern was usually up there. Each week there was a highlighted "Crummy Game of the Week," which featured two conference cellar dwellers battling each other.

Mike, as far as I'm concerned, you're always welcome to inform us of Cal Tjader facts and trivia! The emails I receive from oldies.com suggest that Not Now and Real Gone are two labels of the same company. But I don't see that on the net. https://www.discogs.com/label/419015-Real-Gone http://www.notnowmusic.com Real Gone Music is linked with Warner, among others. http://www.realgonemusic.com

Thanks, guys! I've never heard a Membran, but I remember they were severely dissed here several years ago.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and that Santa brought what you wanted! There is another (apparently) European pd label that looks interesting. I don't see a name. Here is an example, its Cal Tjader release: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071WV6NT3/ Let me say up front that the Not Now/Real Gone releases are just too low-fi for this fan. On the other hand, I am content with the Jasmine releases I have. Does anyone have an opinion of the quality of this label's sound? And by the way, what's its name? PS - OK, I now see that the label's name is apparently Documents or maybe The Intense Media.

Stefan, I see these headphones. I'll let you decide if they are good enough for you. Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone - $249.00 https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H ***** Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless with Active Noise Cancellation- Black - $249.95 https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Momentum-Wireless-Active-Cancellation-/dp/B00SNI44CQ ***** Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open-Back Headphone - $112.02 https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-SR-Open-Back/dp/B06WRMZZ45

Rocky 1-6 Bundle - $18.30 prime https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-1-6-Bundle/dp/B01LWZH62B

Thanks, Jack!

Have Gun Will Travel (complete) - $40.14 prime https://www.amazon.com/Have-Gun-Will-Travel-Complete/dp/B07FDMXLRX

Now $117.61.

There is a Jimmy Smith 5 Original Albums set (I think the title should include "vol. 2"), which includes Home Cookin', Crazy! Baby, Midnight Special, Back at the Chicken Shack and Softly as a Summer Breeze. https://www.amazon.com/5-Original-Albums-CD/dp/B079229SL9/ What do you folks think of these albums? Are these as good as his Verve albums (which I think were recorded soon after)?

November 2019 marks 50 years since Manfred Eicher founded ECM Records, “one of the defining sound-worlds of the past half-century of recorded music” (Richard Brody, The New Yorker). The anniversary year is inaugurated with two nights at Winter Jazzfest. Michael Formanek (double bass) /Mary Halvorson (guitar) /Tim Berne (alto saxophone) Shai Maestro (Shai Maestro: piano; Jorge Roeder: double bass; Ofri Nehemya: drums) Ralph Alessi Quintet (Ralph Alessi: trumpet; Ravi Coltrane: saxophones; Andy Milne: piano; Drew Gress: double-bass; Mark Ferber: drums) Vijay Iyer/Craig Taborn (pianos) Mathias Eick Quintet (Mathias Eick: trumpet; Andreas Ulvo: piano Håkon Aase: violin; Audun Erlien: electric bass; Torstein Lofthus: drums) Billy Hart Quartet (Ethan Iverson: piano; Dayna Stephens: saxophones; Ben Street: double-bass; Billy Hart: drums) © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved.

Logitech Harmony 650 Infrared All in One Remote Control, Universal Remote Logitech, Programmable Remote (Silver) - $32.99 https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Infrared-Universal-Programmable/dp/B004OVECU0

I say "no."

Furman PST8 SMP EVS LiFT 15-Amp Aluminum Chassis 8-Outlet Cable and Telco Protection Advanced Level Power Conditioning - $83.00 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YYVLAK/