GA Russell

I have added more season previews and Week 1 picks to this post: It's going to take me a long time to read them all!

Jack DeJohnette / Ravi Coltrane Matt Garrison June 15 Brooklyn, NY (Shapeshifter Lab) Vijay Iyer June 16 New York, NY (Le Poisson Rouge) June 22 Katonah, NY (Caramoor Center) June 25-29 New York, NY (The Kitchen) Django Bates June 19-20 New York, NY (Jazz Standard) June 23 Rochester, NY (Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival) June 25 Ottawa, ON (Ottawa Jazz Festival) Thomas Strønen June 21 San Diego, CA (The Athenaeum) June 23 Seattle, WA (Poncho Concert Hall) June 24 San Francisco, CA (Red Poppy) June 26 Baltimore, MD (An Die Musik Live!) June 28 New York, NY (Scandinavia House) June 29 Washington, DC (DuPont Underground) June 30 Rochester, NY (Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival) Kuára Trygve Seim, Samuli Mikkonen, Markku Ounaskari June 24 Rochester, NY (Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival) Maciej Obara Quartet June 19 New York, NY (Dizzy’s Coca-Cola Club) June 22 Edmonton, AB (Edmonton International Jazz Festival) June 25 Victoria, BC (Victoria International Jazz Festival) June 26 Vancouver, BC (Vancouver International Jazz Festival) June 28 Ottawa, ON (Ottawa International Jazz Festival) June 29 Rochester, NY (Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival) © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved.

Ted, my contact says that their use of the word Verve is, as said above, "a name Josh chose to express his love of the music and the recording legacy put out by the storied jazz label."

Ted, I'll ask my contact. When my copy arrives, I'll see what the liner notes say. I note that this is on the LightGroove Media label.

TSN has announced its list of the league's Top 50 players, as voted on by the press. https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/12/reigning-mop-headlines-tsns-top-50-players-2018/ https://www.tsn.ca/reilly-reclaims-top-spot-in-cfl-on-tsn-top-50-players-1.1109941 http://3downnation.com/2018/05/29/help-fill-tsn-top-50-players-ballot/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/04/updated-tsn-top-50-ballot-reader-suggested-changes/#comments ***** Matt Nichols slipped in practice and hurt his right knee. He will be out four to six weeks. As a result, The Bombers' opening day starting QB will be Chris Streveler. Streveler will be the first rookie QB to start right out of college since Calvillo with Las Vegas! https://www.tsn.ca/bombers-to-start-streveler-at-qb-in-opener-1.1109581 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/06/bombers-quarterback-matt-nichols-goes-injury-practice/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/06/blue-bomber-nightmare-injury-matt-nichols-bad/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/06/bombers-qb-nichols-to-be-evaluated-by-doctor-determine-severity-of-injury/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/07/bombers-qb-matt-nichols-4-6-weeks-oshea/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/07/dressler-says-news-on-injured-qb-nichols-could-have-been-much-worse/#comments

Verve Jazz Ensemble Showcases Jubilant Group Sound on Its 5th Album, "Connect the Dots," Set for Release July 20 by LightGroove Media Album Features Originals & "Underserved" Jazz Compositions, With Saxophonist/Flutist Alexa Tarantino & Trombonist Willie Applewhite Joining Quintet Led by Drummer Josh Feldstein CD Release Show Set for Saturday, Sept. 29, 8pm, Club Bonafide, NYC June 12, 2018 Always highly polished, the Verve Jazz Ensemble's timeless straight-ahead jazz reaches for exuberance as well on LightGroove Media's July 20 release Connect the Dots. The fifth album by the VJE, a modular New York-based ensemble led by drummer Josh Feldstein, features upbeat performances of band originals, standards, and lesser-known works by classic jazz composers -- each characterized by the musicians' palpable delight in playing together. Connect the Dots also finds the VJE expanded to seven pieces, with alto saxophonist/flutist Alexa Tarantino and trombonist Willie Applewhite making their VJE debuts alongside the existing quintet of trumpeter/flugelhornist Tatum Greenblatt, tenor saxophonist Jon Blanck, pianist Steve Einerson, bassist Elias Bailey, and Feldstein. The exuberance is amplified by the tunes themselves: catchy melodies, imbued with deceptively rich harmonies and finger-snapping grooves. This, according to Feldstein, is part of the band's reason for being. "Beyond the joy of playing the music, one of our goals is to make the music more widely accessible," he says. "Brighter and with melodic and rhythmic structures people can immediately connect to, whether the listener is new to jazz or an aficionado." To that end, Connect the Dots includes new arrangements of some of jazz's most beloved standards -- Lee Morgan's "Ceora," Cole Porter's "Love for Sale," Harold Arlen's "My Shining Hour" -- alongside intoxicating originals like Feldstein and Greenblatt's lush bebop title track and Blanck's subtly funky "Autumn Left." However, the album also features "underserved" tunes by jazz royalty of the likes of Benny Golson ("Little Karin"), Stan Kenton ("Intermission Riff"), and Gerry Mulligan ("Disk Jockey Jump"). Here too, says Feldstein, is one of VJE's missions: "To find music that is fresh, with melodies we love, and blow the dust off it. There's so much amazing music that people haven't heard." L. to r.: Alexa Tarantino, Tatum Greenblatt, Steve Einerson, Elias Bailey, Josh Feldstein, Willie Applewhite, Jon Blanck. The full septet appears on four of the album's 13 tracks. The remainder feature three different quintet configurations, as well as trio settings for Einerson, Bailey, and Feldstein. The drummer, along with Greenblatt and Blanck, contributed the arrangements for these configurations as well as providing the original tunes. The Verve Jazz Ensemble is the brainchild of Josh Feldstein, born and raised in New York City. He began studying drums at 11; a year later, his drum teacher told him that Josh's drumming style reminded him of Gene Krupa. Josh immediately immersed himself in the recordings of the legendary "Sing, Sing, Sing" soloist. That was it: At a time when most of his friends were listening to pop artists like Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson, Josh "withdrew into jazz." Through junior high and his years in Queens at Bayside High School, Josh continued his drumming. He attended Queens College where he got his undergraduate degree in English. Later, while living with his wife in DC, and after they moved to Connecticut, Josh continued sitting in at local clubs. A turning point came in 2005 when Josh saw a recent West Conn jazz grad named Jon Blanckperform. Impressed with Jon's playing and musicianship, he introduced himself to the young saxophonist, and soon struck up a great friendship and musical connection. Together with bassist Chris DeAngelis, they formed a trio that became the core of the Verve Jazz Ensemble-- a name Josh chose to express his love of the music and the recording legacy put out by the storied jazz label. The band's lineup steadily evolved from their 2013 debut, It's About Time, a quintet outing that included the VJE debuts of New York's Tatum Greenblatt on trumpet and Matt Oestreicher on piano. East End Sojourn followed in 2014, with Elias Bailey taking over from DeAngelis on bass and Oestreicher alternating with Steve Einerson. The latter became the sole pianist on 2016's Perimeter (a breakthrough for the VJE, featuring five original compositions along with their usual well-chosen tunes). Their fourth album, Swing-A-Nova (2017), a trio feature with three tracks adding Greenblatt on trumpet, reached #6 on the JazzWeek radio charts. Now, with Connect the Dots, Alexa Tarantino's alto saxophone and flute and Willie Applewhite's trombone fill out the VJE's exhilarating classic jazz sound. The Verve Jazz Ensemble, featuring the entire septet, will perform a CD release show at Club Bonafide, 212 E. 52nd Street, NYC, on Saturday 9/29, 8:00-9:15pm. Photography: Gulnara Khamatova Verve Jazz Ensemble: "Disk Jockey Jump" Verve Jazz Ensemble: Lalo Shifrin's "Bistro" Web Site: verve-jazz.com

Steve Tibbetts guitar, piano | Marc Anderson percussion, handpan Michelle Kinney cello, drones “Instead of conjuring other worlds, Tibbetts has spent the past 40 years trying to figure out what this one sounds like in its entirety — a quiet, noble quest for one of the most underappreciated musicians of our time. Tibbetts’ exquisite new album, Life Of, is his strongest since 1989’s superb Big Map Idea, and is easily the most elegant of his career. Forget about jazz, forget about guitars. Life Of should make beautiful sense to anyone on this vast and unknowable Earth who’s ever spent time listening to the rain.” – Chris Richards, Washington Post LISTEN / BUY © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved.

As I mention every year at this time, I love reading everyone's previews of the upcoming season. I'm going to do something different this year: put all the analyses on one post - this one. That means that I will be adding to this post whenever I see something relevant. Week 1 power rankings https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/12/nissan-titan-power-rankings-three-clear-contenders-2018/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/12/3down-power-rankings-lets-expletive/#comments ***** league analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/12/odds-cauz-breaks-every-teams-chances-2018/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/11/landrys-5-takeaways-final-week-pre-season/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/11/steinbergs-mmqb-question-every-team-2018/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/13/3downnations-fearless-2018-cfl-predictions/#comments http://nationalpost.com/sports/football/cfl-commish-says-league-exploring-earlier-start-to-regular-season/wcm/5999a87a-b691-469e-aa6b-b61a3be9605c http://canoe.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-eskimos/road-to-starting-role-can-be-a-winding-one-for-cfl-quarterbacks/wcm/3388e275-f3b2-4d8d-b06e-b7dc78daf0c2 https://www.capperspicks.com/gambling/2018-grey-cup-futures-betting-lines-cfl-picks/ https://www.cfl.ca/kickoff2018 https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/13/checking-news-notes-opening-week/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/14/qb-confidential-high-profile-pivots-set-to-enter-contract-years/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/15/3downs-justin-dunk-on-tim-and-sid-discussing-whats-hot-in-the-cfl/#comments ***** Montreal http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/mike-sherman-names-drew-willy-alouettes-starting-qb/#comments http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/revamped-montreal-alouettes-look-to-break-playoff-drought-1.4701088 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-montreal-alouettes-season-win-total/ http://nationalpost.com/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes/zurkowsky-a-new-year-for-alouettes-but-same-old-sputtering-offence-from-2017/wcm/e4663b08-f3a8-4e92-94ab-a2f498aa828e https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/13/earning-your-wings/ ***** Ottawa http://www.3downnation.com/2018/06/10/five-takeaways-redblacks-cuts/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2018/06/12/three-canadian-castoffs-redblacks-consider-calling/#comments https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2018-cfl-season-preview-ottawa-redblacks-need-know/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/qb-trevor-harris-poised-to-lead-redblacks-into-cfl-season-1.4701517 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-ottawa-redblacks-season-win-total/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/20/three-keys-redblacks-2018-season/#comments ***** Toronto https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2018-cfl-season-preview-toronto-argonauts-need-know/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/veteran-quarterback-ricky-ray-leads-argonauts-grey-cup-defence-1.4701157 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-toronto-argonauts-season-win-total/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/18/cox-argos-need-grey-cup-move-chains-toronto/#comments ***** Hamilton http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/podskee-wee-wee-episode-111/#comments http://canoe.com/sports/football/cfl/ticats-leonard-looks-to-build-on-stellar-rookie-season/wcm/f8c2baf2-fbbf-4a77-885d-b1d8d14265f2 https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2018-cfl-season-preview-hamilton-tiger-cats-need-know/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/johnny-football-s-presence-looms-on-tiger-cats-sideline-1.4701282 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-hamilton-tiger-cats-season-win-total/ http://nationalpost.com/sports/football/cfl/league-team-and-player-all-have-something-to-gain-or-lose-with-johnny-manziel-experiment http://canoe.com/sports/football/cfl/ticats-cant-afford-another-slow-start-regardless-of-tough-schedule/wcm/8814410c-43c9-4e6b-95ca-647905600426 https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/05/31/johnny-manziel-starting-hamilton-tiger-cats-cfl http://3downnation.com/2018/06/15/three-key-questions-facing-hamilton-tiger-cats/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/16/five-predictions-ticats-season/#comments ***** Winnipeg http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/breaking-bombers-final-cuts/#comments http://canoe.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/friesen-bombers-streveler-has-it/wcm/50f8be5b-aebe-4b68-9f91-594b5eb1b1cf http://canoe.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombers-to-start-streveler-at-quarterback-in-season-opener/wcm/f83656aa-f0e3-4172-805d-0713cca3d85a http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/blue-bombers-starting-season-without-star-quarterback-1.4702718 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-winnipeg-blue-bombers-season-win-total/ https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2018-cfl-season-preview-winnipeg-blue-bombers-need-know/ ***** Saskatchewan http://3downnation.com/2018/06/10/riders-put-five-nationals-on-six-game-injured-list-and-what-the-moves-mean/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/riders-to-start-zach-collaros-at-quarterback/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/tre-mason-beats-out-fellow-former-nfl-backs-for-riders-roster-spot/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/cutting-vets-riders-will-motivate-players-remain/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/chris-jones-makes-tough-necessary-football-decisions/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/3down-green-cast-special-place-hell-cuts-season-preview/#comments http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders-season-preview-1.4703022 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-saskatchewan-roughriders-season-win-total/ http://nationalpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/2018-saskatchewan-roughriders-are-hoping-to-repeat-history/wcm/848b5097-b29f-41fe-97fb-14a20e4f8121 https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2018-cfl-season-preview-saskatchewan-roughriders-need-know/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/15/six-predictions-2018-saskatchewan-roughriders/#comments ***** Calgary http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/stampeders-open-cfl-season-with-more-questions-than-answers-1.4703008 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-british-columbia-lions-season-win-total/ https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2018-cfl-season-preview-calgary-stampeders-need-know/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/15/third-times-charm/#comments ***** Edmonton http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/eskimos-aim-to-hoist-grey-cup-at-home-in-2018-1.4702805 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-edmonton-eskimos-season-win-total/ https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2018-cfl-season-preview-edmonton-eskimos-need-know/ ***** British Columbia http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/buono-not-thinking-about-end-of-hall-of-fame-career-just-yet-1.4702599 https://www.getmoresports.com/2018-cfl-odds-british-columbia-lions-season-win-total/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/16/hervey-uses-unique-cost-cutting-plan-in-lions-rebuilding-effort/#comments ***** Week 1 picks https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/12/weekly-predictor-nye-makes-first-picks-2018/ https://pickem.cfl.ca https://cflpowerrankings.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/cfl-week-1-picks/ https://www.getmoresports.com/cfl-betting-odds-week-1-preview-picks/ https://thegruelingtruth.net/podcast/cfl-weekly-pickem-show-week-1-w-cfl-legend-robert-drummond/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/14/3down-cfl-picks-lets-get-thing-started-already/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/14/slam-dunk-picks-makin-money-on-the-2018-cfl-season/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/13/cfl-ca-writers-make-week-1-picks/ http://www.rodpedersen.com/2018/06/week-1-cfl-picks-2018.html https://www.tsn.ca/risky-business-week-1-in-the-cfl-1.314185

Now let's look at the transactions (mostly cuts) since June 3. The Argos cut Swayze Waters. Ronnie Pfeffer won the job. I have to think that the fact that Pfeffer is a Canadian and Waters is not went into Marc Trestman's thinking. http://3downnation.com/2018/06/05/ronnie-pfeffer-wins-argos-kicking-job-swayze-waters-cut/#comments ***** Eric Rogers has rejoined Calgary. http://3downnation.com/2018/06/06/former-cfl-all-star-receiver-eric-rogers-agrees-to-terms-with-stampeders/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/06/stamps-confirm-eric-rogers-agreed-contract/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/06/mitchell-adding-rogers-a-huge-weapon-for-stamps-offence/#comments https://3downnation.com/2018/06/07/stampeders-make-return-of-all-star-receiver-eric-rogers-official/#comments ***** Sask is going with youth. They cut Rob Bagg, Bakari Grant, Chad Owens and Travis Bond. http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/riders-release-canadian-receiver-rob-bagg/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/10/rob-bagg-blindsided-by-riders-release/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2018/06/09/riders-release-veteran-receiver-bakari-grant/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/riders-cut-receiver-and-returner-chad-owens/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/riders-release-ol-travis-bond/#comments ***** Winnipeg cut last year's first overall pick Faith Ekakitie. http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/bombers-release-2017-no-1-overall-choice-dl-faith-ekakitie/#comments ***** Hamilton traded Abdul Kaneh to Toronto for next year's eighth round pick. http://3downnation.com/2018/06/10/ticats-trade-db-abdul-kanneh-argos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/10/why-the-ticats-traded-abdul-kanneh-and-what-it-means/#comments ***** Noah Picton will go back to school (U Regina). http://3downnation.com/2018/06/08/argos-qb-noah-picton-will-go-back-usports-trestman-watching/#comments ***** And summaries... http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/the-biggest-names-among-cfl-cuts/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/11/coming-going-plenty-value-recent-cuts/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/10/cutdown-day-11-moves-mean/

As promised, here are two or three links for each of the nine pre-season games. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/27/learned-riders-pre-season-opener/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/27/reilly-sharp-eskimos-beat-riders-pre-season-opener/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/28/takeaways-from-the-eskimos-impressive-display-against-the-riders/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2018/05/31/harris-exits-early-doesnt-slow-redblacks-victory-alouettes/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/01/injuries-ruin-redblacks-pre-season-opener-14-thoughts/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/03/glimpses-of-potential-from-alouettes-in-pre-season-loss/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/01/milton-manziels-cfl-debut-shows-far-hes-come-far-go/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/02/highs-lows-ticats-pre-season-loss-argos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/04/justin-dunk-on-espn-radio-in-texas-to-dissect-the-cfl-debut-of-johnny-manziel/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/01/backup-qb-chris-streveler-impresses-leading-bombers-past-eskimos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/03/blue-bomber-talk-podcast-preseason-win-chris-streveler-johnny-augustine-roster-breakdown/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/02/ricky-lloyd-throws-three-tds-lions-drop-stamps/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/02/things-learned-ricky-lloyd-others-lions-pre-season-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/07/3down-podcast-nichols-injury-durants-return-no-riders-qbs-new-salary-cap/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/07/dominque-davis-looks-just-fine-redblacks-pre-season-win-argos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/08/davis-diminishes-depth-concerns-nine-thoughts-redblacks-pre-season-finale/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/wasnt-good-learned-riders-pre-season-loss-calgary/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/decoding-chris-jones-post-game-presser/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/bombers-qb-depth-chart-becomes-clouded-preseason-loss-11-thoughts/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/shots-goal-points-ponder-lions-pre-season-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/johnny-manziel-throws-first-cfl-touchdown-pass-ticats-pre-season-finale/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/video-watch-every-snap-johnny-manziel-played-alouettes/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/11/highs-lows-ticats-pre-season-win-alouettes/#comments

The season opens Thursday with the Bombers hosting the Eskimos. Here is the 2018 schedule. https://www.cfl.ca/schedule/ ***** I have not bothered to discuss the pre-season games because typically the road teams leave their starters at home. Later I will post links to summaries of each so that you can get a feel for what happened. ***** The radio line-up appears to be the same as last year's. TSN has the rights to six teams' games. https://www.tsn.ca/radio The Bombers will be on CJOB. https://globalnews.ca/radio/cjob/ The Riders will be on CKRM. http://www.620ckrm.com The Stampeders will be on CHQR. https://globalnews.ca/radio/newstalk770/ ***** Tomorrow is the deadline for final cuts. You can see them here. https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/09/making-moves-teams-make-final-cuts-as-camps-break/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/09/2018-cfl-cuts-tracker/#comments ***** For those in Canada (and perhaps elsewhere), TSN is now offering its channels for live internet streaming for those who do not subscribe to cable TV. http://3downnation.com/2018/06/07/tsn-finally-launches-live-streaming-means-can-watch-cfl-without-cable/#comments

Eunice Gayson, the first Bond girl, has died at 90. RIP. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/eunice-gayson-dead-bond-girl-12672127

Fleetwood Mac's Danny Kirwan has died at 68. RIP. https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/former-fleetwood-mac-guitarist-danny-kirwan-dead-at-68/ar-AAyqhg0?OCID=ansmsnnews11

I too think of New Dance! first. When I was first getting into jazz, Revelation Records was heavily promoting this in Downbeat.

The radio announcer said that this is the first NBA championship team since Philadelphia in 1982 which did not include a player who had been a teammate of Shaq!

The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction In Concert: The Classic Broadcasts 1964-1966 (4 CDs) - $17.99 https://www.amazon.com/Rolling-Stones-Satisfaction-Broadcasts-1964-1966/dp/B01N5SBBBB/

Laurie Pepper is asking for the name of this 1975 recording of Art with Blue Mitchell. Anybody know? https://artpepper.bandcamp.com/track/dont-pay-just-name-it-please

MLB has purchased Rawlings. I suppose the day will come that all MLB equipment will be made by Rawlings, so then MLB will not have to share the merchandise revenue. Anybody have a better guess? RIP. He pitched for the Pirates when I lived in Pittsburgh.

Continuing with the players' votes... Best Rising Star - James Wilder https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/28/best-in-the-league-2018-rising-star/ ***** Fastest - Speedy Banks https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/01/best-in-the-league-2018-fastest/ ***** Best Playmaker - Diontae Spencer https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/04/best-in-the-league-2018-playmaker/ ***** Most Underrated - Luke Tasker https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/14/best-in-the-league-2018-underrated/ ***** Best Trash Talker - Simoni Lawrence https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/18/best-in-the-league-2018-trash-talker/ ***** Best Shutdown Defensive Back - Tommy Campbell and Chris Randle https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/18/best-in-the-league-2018-trash-talker/ ***** Most Physical Defender - Kyries Hebert https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/07/best-in-the-league-2018-physical-defender/ ***** Best Quarterback - Bo Levi Mitchell https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/14/quarterback-2-final/ ***** Best in the Clutch - Justin Medlock and Ernest Jackson https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/07/best-in-the-league-clutch-2/ ***** Best Hands - SJ Green https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/25/best-in-the-league-2018-hands/ ***** Toughest - Mike Reilly https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/11/best-in-the-league-2018-toughest/ ***** Best Pass Rusher - Charleston Hughes https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/05/best-in-the-league-pass-rusher-2/

And now to wrap up the off-season headlines, I've found some articles about last year's Grey Cup which I did not previously post. Enjoy! http://3downnation.com/2017/11/24/redblacks-fan-records-argos-practice-puts-instagram/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/25/video-real-talk-with-nik-lewis-what-stamps-qb-bo-levi-mitchell-is-like-behind-the-scenes/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/arthur-will-grey-cup-appearance-change-argos-fortunes/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/video-real-talk-with-nik-lewis-grey-cup-week-a-players-perspective/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/r-nations-guide-picking-grey-cup-team/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/mayors-tory-and-nenshi-trade-barbs-on-twitter-ahead-of-grey-cup/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/stampeders-seek-grey-cup-redemption-upset-loss-redblacks-last-year/#comments http://138.197.137.206/2017/11/26/rider-fan-guide-grey-cup-105/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/seven-grey-cup-stats-matter/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/stamps-marquay-mcdaniel-blames-teammate-grey-cup-loss/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/shawn-lemon-chirps-charleston-hughes-grey-cup-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/former-ticat-cassius-vaughn-plays-huge-role-grey-cup-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/video-argos-celebrate-stunning-grey-cup-comeback-victory/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/argos-qb-ricky-ray-celebrating-first-deciding-on-future-later/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/26/grey-cup-picks-who-you-got-in-the-big-game/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/grey-cup-mvp-remembers-legend-flutie-snow/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/arthur-football-team-lovable-misfits-now-grey-cup-champs/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2017/11/27/toronto-fans-say-let-snow-argonauts-defeat-stampeders-win-cfl-finale/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2017/11/27/argonauts-grey-cup-rally-set-tuesday-afternoon/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2017/11/27/stamps-rb-jerome-messam-refuses-interviews-devastating-loss-grey-cup/#comments https://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/signs-drake-watches-argos-win-grey-cup/#comments https://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/argos-return-home-celebrating-grey-cup-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/27/grey-cup-ratings-see-double-digit-jump-2017/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/28/toronto-rally-grey-cup-champion-argonauts-set-today/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/28/argos-celebrate-grey-cup-win-rally-toronto/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/11/29/five-keys-recovery-abusing-body-mind-grey-cup/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/01/no-redblacks-no-problem-ottawa-105th-grey-cup-smashing-success/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/01/dickenson-breaks-down-mitchells-grey-cup-game-ending-interception/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/01/alberta-premier-goes-running-argos-jersey-settle-bet-ontario-premier/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/01/drake-poses-grey-cup-picture-argos-buzz-toronto-grows/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/01/podskee-wee-wee-episode-96/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/06/leafs-throw-shade-city-calgary-hosting-grey-cup-champs-flames-game/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/07/noted-riders-fan-leafs-coach-mike-babcock-poses-argos-grey-cup-picture/#comments

Today was Paulette Godard's birthday. She was a cousin of Jake Gaudar's. (It is also the birthday of Ian Hunter, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in 1970.) ***** The Hall of Fame statue has been moved to Tim Hortons Field. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/23/hall-fame-statue-finds-new-home-hamilton/#comments ***** The Board of Governors approved all of the rules changes proposed by the Rules Committee. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/23/cfl-approves-rule-changes-illegal-contact-no-longer-reviewable/#comments ***** Duron Carter spent an entire day at Rider practice playing defense. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/23/duron-carter-spends-entire-riders-practice-playing-defence/#comments ***** There are mixed opinions of Johnny Manziel's CFL prospects. Bill Polian thinks he will do great. Doug Flutie thinks he will find the temptation to be lazy to be great. Warren Moon thinks his chances of success are no better than 50/50. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/24/doug-flutie-johnny-football-easy-get-lazy-cfl/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/25/warren-moon-says-playing-in-the-cfl-an-ego-crusher-for-johnny-manziel/#comments ***** Bear Woods had back surgery, and will be out a month. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/25/argos-lb-bear-woods-has-back-surgery-could-be-out-one-month/#comments ***** The Ticats traded Davon Coleman to BC for a 4th round pick. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/25/ticats-trade-dl-davon-coleman-to-lions/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/25/ticats-traded-davon-coleman/#comments ***** The Als cut Josh Freeman, so he retired. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/26/alouettes-quarterback-josh-freeman-retires/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/26/alouettes-actually-cut-josh-freeman-retired/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/27/alouettes-did-not-give-qb-josh-freeman-any-signing-bonus-money/#comments

The Yardbirds Story (4 CDs) - $8.25 prime https://www.amazon.com/Yardbirds-Story-CD-Clambox/dp/B000H8SEAI/

Let's try to finish up with the off-season news. final draft analyses http://3downnation.com/2018/05/15/3downnation-podcast-cfl-draft-rankings-stud-supplemental-prospect-usports-east-west-bowl-recap/#comments ***** #1 pick Mark Chapman is holding out. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/20/first-overall-pick-wont-ticats-training-camp/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/24/ticats-and-no-1-pick-mark-chapman-far-apart-in-contract-negotiations/#comments ***** Trent Richardson has not arrived at camp, and has been placed on the suspended list. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/20/riders-put-rb-trent-richardson-on-the-suspended-list-to-start-training-camp/#comments ***** Argos training camp preview http://3downnation.com/2018/05/20/argos-training-camp-preview-part-2-defense-special-teams/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/05/21/argos-turn-the-page-after-grey-cup-championship-season/#comments ***** Derek Dennis has returned to the Stampeders. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/20/comfort-calgary-draws-star-lineman-derek-dennis-back-stampeders/#comments ***** Jake Harty is out with a torn ACL. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/22/riders-canadian-receiver-jake-harty-suffers-torn-acl/#comments ***** The Riders let John Ojo go. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/22/riders-release-former-cfl-star-db-john-ojo/#comments ***** Jeremy Zver has decided to retire. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/22/regina-native-riders-canadian-ol-jeremy-zver-retires/#comments ***** Adam Bighill turned down an NFL offer to sign with the Bombers. http://3downnation.com/2018/05/24/lb-adam-bighill-turned-down-nfl-offer-to-sign-with-bombers/#comments ***** More later.

Vijay Iyer June 3 Charleston, SC (Spoleto Festival) June 16 New York, NY (Le Poisson Rouge) June 22 Katonah, NY (Caramoor Center) June 25-30 New York, NY (The Kitchen) Craig Taborn June 6-9 Charleston, SC (Spoleto Festival Residency) Django Bates June 19-20 New York, NY (Jazz Standard) June 23 Rochester, NY (Rochester Jazz Festival) June 25 Ottawa, ON (Ottawa Jazz Festival) Thomas Strønen June 21 San Diego, CA (The Athenaeum) June 26 Baltimore, MD (An Die Musik Live!) June 28 New York, NY (Scandinavia House) June 29 Washington, DC (DuPont Underground) June 30 Rochester, NY (Rochester Jazzfest) Maciej Obara Quartet June 19 New York, NY (Dizzy’s Coca-Cola Club) June 22 Edmonton, AB (Edmonton Intl Jazz Festival) June 25 Victoria, BC (Victoria Intl Jazz Festival) June 26 Vancouver, BC (Vancouver Intl Jazz Festival) June 28 Ottawa, ON (Ottawa Intl Jazz Festival) June 29 Rochester, NY (Xerox Rochester Intl Jazz Festival) Bill Frisell June 7 Burlington, VT (Discover Jazz Festival) Till Fellner June 6-7 Minneapolis, MN (Orchestra Hall playing Mozart K466 with Minn Orch and Kent Nagano) © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved.

Steve Tibbetts: guitar, piano Marc Anderson: percussion, handpan Michelle Kinney: cello, drones One-of-a-kind guitarist and record-maker Steve Tibbetts has an association with ECM dating back to 1981, with his body of work reflecting that of an artist who follows his own winding, questing path. The BBC has described his music as “an atmospheric brew… brilliant, individual.” Life Of, his ninth album for the label, serves as something of a sequel to his 2010 ECM release, Natural Causes, which JazzTimes called “music to get lost in.” Like the earlier album, Life Of showcases the richness of his Martin 12-string acoustic guitar, along with his gamelan-like piano and artfully deployed field samples of Balinese gongs; the sonic picture also incorporates the sensitive percussion of long-time musical partner Marc Anderson and the almost subliminal cello drones of Michelle Kinney. Tibbetts, though rooted in the American Midwest, has made multiple expeditions to Southeast Asia, including Bali and Nepal; not only the sounds but the spirits of those places are woven into his musical DNA as much as the expressive inspiration of artists from guitarist Bill Connors to sarangi master Sultan Khan. Life Of has a contemplative shimmer like a reflecting pool, with most of the album’s pieces titled after friends and family, living and past.. © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved. Elina Duni: voice, piano, guitar, percussion Songs of love, loss and leaving. After two highly acclaimed albums with her jazz quartet, Elina Duni issues her most intimate recording to date. The entirely solo Partir features the Tirana-born vocalist, accompanied by her own piano, guitar and frame drum, interpreting songs from very diverse sources, from folk songs and chansons to songs of singer-songwriters. Here we find traditional music from Albania, Kosovo, Armenia, Macedonia, Switzerland and Arab-Andalusia as well as Jacques Brel’s “Je ne sais pas”, Alain Oulman’s “Meu Amor”, Domenico Modugno’s “Amara Terra Mia”, Elina’s own “Let Us Dive In” and more. Duni’s uniquely-expressive voice and pared-down arrangements locate a common thread of longing that runs through the material. Partir was recorded at Studios La Buissone in the South of France in July 2017, and produced by Manfred Eicher. © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved. “Together since 2001, Swiss pianist Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin trim their sails and sharpen their already laser-like focus on Awase, the combo’s first studio release in eight years. Slimming down to a quartet seems to have only intensified Ronin’s near-telepathic discipline and unique triangulation of chamber minimalism, jazz improvisation, and crown-chakra funk. “Locked-in” only begins to describe the superimposed rhythmic cycles and uncanny interplay that defines (the group) as it navigates Bärtsch’s ever-expanding repertoire of “modules.” - Richard Gehr, Village Voice © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved. Ketil Bjørnstad - A Suite of Poems Anneli Drecker: voice; Ketil Bjørnstad: piano Norwegian-Danish author Lars Saabye Christensen is one of Scandinavia’s most widely-praised and prolific contemporary writers. For many years now, in the course of his travels around the globe, he has been sending “hotel poems” to his friend Ketil Bjørnstad, inviting him to make music out of them. These literary postcards explore a range of moods. Bjørnstad says: “I feel very connected to the lonely, existential perspective of these poems, made in different hotel rooms.” For this recording, Ketil worked closely with singer and actress Anneli Drecker, former lead vocalist of pop group Bel Canto. Settings of poetry and other texts form a special category in Norwegian pianist-composer Bjørnstad’s discography and A Suite of Poems is a song cycle to put alongside such projects as A Passion for John Donne, Sunrise, and The Light. Marc Sinan / Oğuz Büyükberber - White Marc Sinan: guitar, electronics | Oğuz Büyükberber: clarinet, bass clarinet The guitarist and the clarinetist have worked together in many contexts since first meeting in Istanbul in 2009. The individual musical directions of the two players have effectively converged from opposite poles: Marc was trained as a classical guitarist in the western European tradition, but has increasingly been drawn to improvisation and Turkish material, while Oğuz grew up surrounded by Turkish music, and was originally self-taught before heading for the Amsterdam Conservatory, subsequently making his way as both improviser and composer. For White, both musicians provide new music. Sinan’s five-part “Upon Nothingness” includes his musical response to recordings of songs of Armenian prisoners deported to Germany during the First World War. These historic field recordings are woven into the fabric of Sinan’s pieces, which also make liberal use of electronics, blurring the distinction between the real and the surreal. © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved.