GA Russell

So far, I've been a fan of Zev Feldman. All that I have with his name on it have been mighty fine.

Yes, but you can sign up for a 30-day free trial. If not satisfied, quit without commitment.

Amazon has announced that this year's Prime Day will begin at 3:00 pm July 16 and continue through July 17. In the past, some other stores have also had big sales on Prime Day, so that Amazon would not get all of the day's action. If you see a relevant Prime Day deal, please post it here!

"My Shining Hour," New CD by S.F. Bay Area Vocalist Jennifer Lee, Highlights Lee's Songwriting Skills, Set for Release by SBE Records on August 10 Lee's 3rd Release on Guitarist Peter Sprague's Imprint & 1st Since 2009 Features 11 Originals Performed by Her Band, The Ever-Expanding Universe, Plus Special Guests Trumpeter Randy Brecker, Bassist Bob Magnusson, Violinist Mads Tolling, & Percussionist John Santos CD Release Shows Scheduled for Dizzy's, San Diego, 8/11 The Sound Room, Oakland, 9/23 June 21, 2018 With her first two albums, Oakland-based vocalist Jennifer Lee established herself as a gifted interpreter of the American and Brazilian Songbooks, producing a critically hailed body of work. On her new CD, My Shining Hour, Lee emerges as a composer who, in the nine years since her last release, has developed a striking repertoire exploring the human condition with humor, compassion, and imagination. "I always wrote a little bit," says Lee, "but I certainly never thought of myself as a songwriter. Then a shift happened and all this music started channeling in. It's like some crazy, overactive muse attached itself to me." Due for August 10 release on guitarist Peter Sprague's SBE Records, My Shining Hourfeatures Lee in the company of her band, the Ever-Expanding Universe, along with special guests including trumpeter Randy Brecker, bassist Bob Magnusson, Grammy Award-winning violinist Mads Tolling, and percussion maestro John Santos. Sprague, known for his extensive work with Chick Corea, Charles McPherson, and Hubert Laws, produced the album, which was recorded at his studio in Encinitas. He also produced Lee's first two discs -- Jaywalkin' (2003), named "finest debut of the year, big label or small" by Dan McClenaghan of All About Jazz, and Quiet Joy (2009), a mix of originals, standards, and Brazilian songs described as "a JOY from start to finish" by the late drummer and Grammy-nominated producer Bud Spangler. "Peter is an extraordinary musician and a deeply soulful player," Lee says. "Working with him over the years, watching how he'll reharmonize or phrase a line, I've learned so much. It's definitely influenced my writing." Lee wrote 11 of the 13 songs on My Shining Hour; all 13 were co-arranged by Lee and Sprague. The Harold Arlen-composed title track (and album opener), which contains an original vocalese written by Lee, is dedicated to her stepfather. "Song of Happy," the other non-original on the album, is an ebullient Latin number by guitarist Abel Zarate, best known as a co-writer of the Malo hit "Suavecito." "Song of Happy" and "Perfect Rendezvous" are duets pairing Lee's light and bright sound with the warm, resonant baritone of Carey Williams (pictured at right with Lee), Jennifer's life partner and musical collaborator who played with Zarate in the 1970s rock/funk/fusion band The Force. "Carey and I had been performing 'Song of Happy' live since 2011, and I fell in love with the song. It's just so fun and uplifting," Lee says. "When I brought it to Peter, he created a super-dynamic arrangement for it, which inspired me to write that intricate tapestry of background vocals. The recording is a gift we get to give to Abel." Other album highlights are the soulful ballads "Speak Your Love" and "Home," and the playful, gospel-like "Crammin' Crepes with Cathi at the Cock-a-Doodle Café," a tribute to the late jazz singer/songwriter and Jennifer's close friend Cathi Walkup: "She was a very clever lyricist who encouraged my songwriting endeavors before I ever thought of myself as a songwriter." Born in 1964 in Redwood City, just south of San Francisco, and raised in nearby Menlo Park, Jennifer Lee ended up at Menlo-Atherton High School as a pianist to take advantage of the school's respected jazz program. She continued her jazz piano studies at Foothill College, often accompanying vocalists, all the while nursing her secret desire to sing. She didn't take the plunge until an early, unwanted glimpse at mortality radically changed her priorities in the late 1980s, when she dropped out of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst to tend to her stricken father. "My dad got really sick and I came back from school to take care of him," Lee says. "He died the next year. He was only 51. That really brought things into focus for me. I realized that none of us knows how long we have here on planet earth, so I'd better do what I want to do now." After her father's passing, she returned to the Foothill College music department, but instead of backing other singers she took over the microphone herself. Subsequently studying with esteemed Bay Area jazz singer Kitty Margolis, Lee gradually worked up the courage to start performing in public and honed her jazz technique on a succession of regular gigs around the Bay Area. She made her first appearance on CD in 2001 on Quintessential, an album featuring three tracks each by five Bay Area singers, including Jenna Mammina and Cathi Walkup. "It took me so long to come to singing -- to finally admit to myself that this is really what I want to do," says Lee. "Then it took another decade-plus for the songwriter in me to emerge. I'm the epitome of the late bloomer." Jennifer Lee brings her Ever-Expanding Universe band to Dizzy's in San Diego, 8/11, and the Sound Room, Oakland, 9/23, for a pair of concerts showcasing My Shining Hour. Jennifer Lee "My Shining Hour" EPK Web Site: jennifer-lee.net

“The mechanics of listening to an LP—removing the vinyl platter from the sleeve, placing it on the turntable, perhaps locking it down, moving the arm over, and lowering the cartridge and stylus—impose an unhurried experience….releases from ECM call for such deep listening.” – Derk Richardson, The Absolute Sound CLICK TO BUY © *2018 ECM Records US, A Division of Verve Music Group. All rights reserved. ECM Trygve Seim - Helsinki Songs release date: August 31st Trygve Seim: tenor and soprano saxophones; Kristjan Randalu: piano; Mat Eilertsen: double bass; Markku Ounaskari: drums With its overt lyricism, strong themes and a sense of perpetual melodic invention, Norwegian saxophonist Trygve Seim's new album quickly identifies itself as a classic-in-the-making. Themes of dedication run through Seim's Helsinki Songs, a set of tunes composed - for the most part - in the Finnish capital, and radiating tributes in many directions. Here are songs referencing Igor Stravinsky and Jimmy Webb, pieces dedicated to each of Seim's gifted bandmates, and tunes that tip the hat, obliquely, to Ornette Coleman and Bill Evans. The quartet plays superbly throughout, with outstanding solos from leader Seim and pianist Kristjan Randalu. Helsinki Songs was recorded in Oslo's Rainbow Studio in January 2018 and produced by Manfred Eicher. ECM Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Other Side releasing August 31, 2018 on CD and Vinyl Tord Gustavsen: piano; Sigurd Hole: double bass; Jarle Vespestad: drums Tord Gustavsen Trio on tour Sep 25 New York, NY (Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola) Sep 27 Santa Cruz, CA (Kuumbwa) Sep 28 Stanford, CA (Bing Concert Hall Studio) Sep 29 Vancouver (BlueShore Financial Centre) Sep 30 Portland, OR (Classic Pianos) Oct 2 Minneapolis, MN (Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church) "This is the chill-out as a state of grace, and it can go as deep as you like. Sublime," wrote the Independent on Sunday of the Gustavsen's Trio's Being There, released in 2007. Over the last decade Tord has experimented with other ensemble forms and formats, but on The Other Side - recorded at Oslo's Rainbow Studio in January 2018 - he returns decisively to the piano trio, with faithful drummer Jarle Vespestad, and excellent new bassist Sigurd Hole. Hole's approach to his instrument, drawing on folk influences as well as modern jazz, is ideally suited to Gustavsen's slowly-developing, deeply melodic pieces. The album, produced by Manfred Eicher, is issued on the eve of a major tour.

Week 3 checking down https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/27/checking-duron-carter-stay-defence-now/ ***** Week 3 game plans https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/27/cfl-ca-game-notes-look-week-3-3/ ***** Sam Giguere has signed with the Eskimos. https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/26/eskimos-sign-former-als-ticats-receiver-sam-giguere/ ***** I have added picks and power rankings to the previous post.

Week 3 power rankings http://3downnation.com/2018/06/25/3down-power-rankings-calgary-top-seismic-shake/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/26/nissan-titan-power-rankings-ticats-continue-upward-trend/ https://cflpowerrankings.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/power-rankings-after-week-2/ https://thegruelingtruth.net/football/cfl/cfl-power-rankings-week-3/ https://www.tsn.ca/stampeders-climb-to-no-1-in-cfl-power-rankings-1.1123789 http://boxscorenews.com/boxscore-cfl-power-rankings-week-ticats-trek-towards-top-p150409-68.htm http://www.americanfootballinternational.com/cfl-power-rankings-for-week-3/ ***** Week 3 picks https://cflpowerrankings.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/cfl-week-3-picks/ https://www.getmoresports.com/cfl-betting-week-3-preview-picks/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/27/cfl-ca-writers-make-week-3-picks/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/27/weekly-predictor-eskimos-need-add-another-ingredient-mix/ https://thegruelingtruth.net/football/cfl/cfl-week-3-preview-and-predictions/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/28/week-3-picks-tell-us-really/#comments http://www.rodpedersen.com/2018/06/week-3-cfl-picks-2018.html http://3downnation.com/2018/06/28/slam-dunk-picks-consequences-50-burgers/#comments

Calgary 41....Toronto 7 Ricky Ray suffered a neck injury, and his playing career may be over. Bo Levi Mitchell had the all-time #3 pass completion percentage. https://www.cfl.ca/games/2473/calgary-stampeders-vs-toronto-argonauts/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/argonauts-stampeders-cfl-ray-carted-off-1.4719768 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/23/argos-qb-ricky-ray-leaves-game-with-injury-on-cart/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/23/bo-levi-mitchell-leads-calgary-stampede-argos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/24/argos-qb-james-franklin-didnt-know-say-ray-went-teammates/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/24/ricky-rays-injury-really-says-cfl/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/24/argos-say-qb-ray-has-feeling-in-extremities-after-sustaining-neck-injury/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/24/deductions-from-calgary-destruction/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/25/argos-waiting-test-results-determine-severity-ricky-ray-injury-popp/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/25/ricky-ray-released-hospital-no-timetable-return/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/26/ricky-rays-football-future-uncertain-injury-neck-popp/#comments ***** Plays of the Week https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/25/redblacks-rookie-thomas-leaps-his-way-into-week-2s-timber-mart-plays-of-the-week/ ***** Week 2 summaries https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/25/landrys-5-takeaways-week-2-2/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/25/thrown-loop-totalpickem-week-2-recap/ http://3downnation.com/2018/06/24/streveler-ballin-lapo-installin-canadians-haulin-o-line-maulin-als-fallin-ticats-callin/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/25/podskee-wee-wee-episode-113/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/26/3down-pod-duron-db-ray-collaros-streveler-alouette-troubles-live-mics/#comments

Winnipeg 56....Montreal 10 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2471/winnipeg-blue-bombers-vs-montreal-alouettes/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-blue-bombers-montreal-alouettes-cfl-1.4719388 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/23/bombers-embarrass-alouettes-friday-night-football-13-thoughts/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/23/alouettes-continue-deep-dark-spiral-downwards/#comments ***** Hamilton...38....Edmonton 21 Surprise! And this was in Edmonton. It looks like Manziel will remain on the bench a while longer. https://www.cfl.ca/games/2472/hamilton-tiger-cats-vs-edmonton-eskimos/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/hamilton-ticats-edmonton-eskimos-1.4719103 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/23/video-ticats-discuss-beating-eskimos-38-21-in-edmonton/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/23/edwards-masolis-performance-quiet-manziel-talk/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2018/06/23/johnny-manziel-chomping-at-the-bit-to-play-but-supports-ticats-starter-masoli/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/24/many-highs-lows-ticats-38-21-win-edmonton/#comments https://3downnation.com/2018/06/24/6-takeaways-from-the-eskimos-surprising-loss-to-hamilton/#comments ***** More later.

Week 2 checking down https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/20/checking-stamps-ready-right-wrongs-grey-cup-rematch/ Week 2 game notes https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/20/cfl-ca-game-notes-look-week-2-2/ ***** Week 2 results Ottawa 40....Saskatchewan 17 Zach Collaros suffered a concussion, and will miss some games. Brandon Bridge will start. https://www.cfl.ca/games/2470/saskatchewan-roughriders-vs-ottawa-redblacks/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-ottawa-saskatchewan-recap-1.4717560 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/21/riders-qb-zach-collaros-undergoing-concussion-protocol-brandon-bridge-enters-game/#comments https://www.3downnation.com/2018/06/21/duron-carter-victimizes-trevor-harris-for-pick-six/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/21/redblacks-throw-shade-at-duron-carter-on-td-place-jumbotron/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/22/ottawa-puts-concerns-rest-10-thoughts-redblacks-season-opening-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/22/two-weeks-two-different-riders/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/26/zach-collaros-suffered-head-injury-will-miss-riders-game-against-als/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/26/riders-place-qb-zach-collaros-six-game-injured-list/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/26/riders-to-start-canadian-qb-bridge-in-place-of-injured-collaros/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/26/riders-jones-on-collaros-dont-mess-around-when-its-a-concussion-situation/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/26/davis-collaros-bridge-will-finally-get-chance-shine/#comments ***** More later.

Week 2 power rankings http://3downnation.com/2018/06/19/3down-power-rankings-riders-rise/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/19/stamps-esks-pace-nissan-titan-power-rankings/ https://thegruelingtruth.net/football/cfl/cfl-power-rankings-week-2/ ***** Here are some power ranking from last week that I came across tonight. https://www.oddsshark.com/cfl/power-rankings http://www.rodpedersen.com/2018/03/mullinders-off-season-cfl-power-rankings.html http://boxscorenews.com/boxscore-cfl-power-rankings-week-eskimos-p149659-72.htm http://nationalpost.com/sports/football/cfl/week-1-cfl-power-rankings-calgary-stampeders-enter-season-as-the-team-to-beat ***** Week 2 picks http://nationalpost.com/sports/football/cfl/cfl-week-2-lions-qb-jennings-trying-to-find-the-right-amount-of-swagger http://breakingfootball.com/cfl-week-2-preview/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/20/cfl-ca-writers-make-week-2-picks/ https://www.docsports.com/2018/free-cfl-week-2-picks-expert-canadian-football-handicapper-618.html http://www.sports-teller.com/2018-cfl-week-2-picks-and-tv-schedule/ https://cflpowerrankings.wordpress.com/2018/06/20/cfl-week-2-picks/ https://www.docsports.com/free-picks/cfl/2018/Winnipeg-Blue-Bombers-at-Montreal-Alouettes-Week-2-CFL-Picks-Predictions-6-22-2018-036.html https://www.covers.com/sports/cfl/matchups https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/20/weekly-predictor-expect-upset-week-2/

Week 1 results Edmonton 33....Winnipeg 30 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2466/edmonton-eskimos-vs-winnipeg-blue-bombers/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-edmonton-winnipeg-season-opener-2018-1.4706902 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/14/storm-halts-bombers-eskimos-cfl-season-opener/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/15/defensive-breakdowns-cost-bombers-season-opener-11-thoughts/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/15/storm-delays-in-season-opener-another-chapter-in-cfls-weird-weather-history/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/18/blue-bomber-talk-podcast-defensive-breakdowns-strevelers-debut-week-two-preview/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/18/cfl-had-thoughts-to-suspend-eskimos-bombers-marathon-game/#comments ***** Sask 27....Toronto 19 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2467/toronto-argonauts-vs-saskatchewan-roughriders/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders-toronto-argonauts-cfl-1.4709003 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/15/riders-dl-charleston-hughes-records-100th-career-sack/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/16/nine-things-learned-riders-win-toronto/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/17/davis-riders-chance-beat-east/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/20/green-cast-even-watch-game/#comments ***** Calgary 28....Hamilton 14 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2468/hamilton-tiger-cats-vs-calgary-stampeders/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders-hamilton-tiger-cats-1.4709703 http://3downnation.com/2018/06/16/video-ticats-june-jones-jeremiah-masoli-loss-stampeders/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/17/edwards-ticats-win-calgary-set-tone-season-didnt-happen/#comments https://3downnation.com/2018/06/17/8-things-learned-from-calgarys-win-over-hamilton/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/18/milton-plenty-ticat-takeaways-loss-calgary/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/18/podskee-wee-wee-episode-112/#comments ***** BC 22....Montreal 10 https://www.cfl.ca/games/2469/montreal-alouettes-vs-bc-lions/ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes-bc-lions-1.4709709 ***** A pantless BC fan ran onto the field. Gee, do you think alcohol was involved? He was banned from BC Place for one year, and he has hired an attorney. http://3downnation.com/2018/06/16/idiot-field-gets-destroyed-b-c-lions-player/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/17/hit-fans-everywhere-points-ponder-lions-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/17/lions-fan-ran-onto-field-got-leveled-banned-b-c-place-one-year/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/18/marcell-youngs-hit-b-c-lions-fan-sparks-online-debate/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/06/20/guy-ran-onto-field-b-c-place-hires-lawyer/#comments

I have added to my June 13 post what I expect will be the last season previews I will come across. I never did find one by Dan Ralph.

Here are two ways for Americans to watch the games without cable TV. The league is now offering to those in the US a package of every game for streaming for $79.99. http://cfl.yaretv.com/packages.php Most of the games will be shown on ESPN+, which is now offered for streaming for $4.99 per month. https://watch.espnplus.com/sports/

Leo Sayer - Gold Collection (3 CDs) - $8.99 prime https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Collection-LEO-SAYER/dp/B077Y82BQM/

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