GA Russell

Kevin Glenn has signed with the Eskimos. As a result, he becomes the first player to have been the property of all nine teams! http://3downnation.com/2018/01/15/eskimos-sign-quarterback-kevin-glenn/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/15/kevin-glenn-player-cfl-rights-held-nine-teams-joining-eskimos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/15/glenn-first-cfl-player-to-have-rights-held-by-all-nine-teams-after-joining-esks/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/15/kevin-glenn-happy-to-make-history-and-hopefully-jeopardy-by-joining-eskimos/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/15/oleary-glenns-story-setting-memorable-finish/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/15/esks-strike-deal-veteran-kevin-glenn/ ***** The Als have released Darian Durant. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/15/darian-durant-released-by-alouettes/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/15/alouettes-release-darian-durant-one-season/ ***** The Als traded Brandon Rutley to the Lions for a neg list name. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/15/lions-trade-for-alouettes-rb-brandon-rutley/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/15/lions-acquire-rb-rutley-trade-als/

Let's take a look at what some college players have been up to since the Vanier Cup. http://3downnation.com/2017/12/09/west-coast-shocker-former-ticats-and-mcmaster-coach-accepts-job-at-ubc/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/09/stiff-armed-off-riders-neg-list-heisman-winner-traded-saskatchewan-toronto/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/10/walk-heisman-winner-remarkable-journey-baker-mayfield/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/11/heisman-winner-baker-mayfield-unconventional-nfl-prospect/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/14/krown-countdown-u-selects-top-2017-canadian-ncaa-football-player/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/14/krown-countdown-u-ptaszek-heads-west-top-ncaa-canadian/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/15/plenty-of-canadian-content-in-u-s-college-bowl-games/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/17/canadian-receiver-justin-mcinnis-has-big-game-for-arkansas-state-in-bowl-loss/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/18/regina-born-qb-leads-west-florida-impressive-season/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/22/canadian-qb-nathan-rourke-leads-ohio-bahamas-bowl-uab/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/22/canadian-qb-nathan-rourke-throws-two-touchdowns-in-ohio-bowl-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/22/canadian-receiver-mark-chapman-plays-well-central-michigan-bowl-loss/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/23/bombers-neg-list-qb-looks-for-second-straight-birmingham-bowl-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/24/bombers-neg-list-qb-quinton-flowers-propels-usf-past-texas-tech/#comments http://159.203.52.247/2017/12/25/jeff-tedford-orlondo-steinauer-guide-fresno-state-to-hawaii-bowl-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/29/alouettes-neg-list-qb-leads-tcu-to-comeback-win-in-alamo-bowl/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/29/eight-canadian-prospects-invited-college-gridiron-showcase/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/29/riders-neg-list-qb-trace-mcsorley-guides-penn-state-fiesta-bowl/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/29/b-c-lions-neg-list-qb-2016-heisman-winner-lamar-jackson-in-bowl-action/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/30/eskimos-neg-list-qb-j-t-barrett-sets-big-ten-record-in-cotton-bowl-victory/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/31/penn-state-improves-7-0-fiesta-bowl-behind-riders-neg-list-qb-trace-mcsorley/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/31/former-riders-assistant-coach-paul-chryst-guides-wisconsin-orange-bowl-win/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/31/heisman-trophy-winning-and-b-c-lions-neg-list-qb-lamar-jackson-plays-possible-final-college-game/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/01/argo-neg-lister-baker-mayfield-falls-short-college-playoffs/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/02/lions-neg-list-qb-helps-alabama-get-to-american-college-football-championship-game/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/10/college-gridiron-showcase-expanding-adds-more-north-american-flavour/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/10/ticats-edge-riders-adding-alabama-qb-neg-list/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/12/canadian-trey-rutherford-accepts-nflpa-collegiate-bowl-invite/#comments

Dan Gurney passed away today at 87. He was my favorite racer when I was a youngster. RIP. http://autoweek.com/article/racing/dan-gurney-1931-2018?utm_source=BreakingNews20180114&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=headline-top&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awbreakingnews

Joe, was the slow instrumental My Funny Valentine?

A number of guys have worked out with NFL teams. http://3downnation.com/2017/12/15/defending-super-bowl-champion-patriots-workout-three-cfl-players/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/15/cfl-all-star-defensive-back-to-workout-for-chicago-bears/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/18/chicago-bears-workout-argos-grey-cup-mvp/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/19/philadelphia-eagles-workout-two-defenders-from-alberta-cfl-teams/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/19/brandon-zylstra-worked-detroit-lions-nfl-tour-continues/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/22/buffalo-bills-hold-cfl-themed-workout/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/26/canadian-qb-brandon-bridge-leaves-impression-on-ny-giants/#comments ***** And we see a few signing NFL contracts. Bo Lokombo http://3downnation.com/2018/01/02/canada-linebacker-bo-lokombo-signs-futures-contract-with-san-francisco-49ers/#comments Brandon Zylstra http://3downnation.com/2018/01/03/cfls-leading-receiver-brandon-zylstra-sign-vikings-report/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/duron-carter-says-zylstra-got-short-changed-by-nfl-backs-cfl-talent/#comments Elie Bouka http://159.203.52.247/2018/01/03/riders-release-canadian-db-elie-bouka-pursue-nfl-opportunities/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/03/canada-db-elie-bouka-released-riders-signs-philadelphia-eagles/#comments Jonathon Mincy http://3downnation.com/2018/01/10/alouettes-cover-man-jonathon-mincy-signs-with-chicago-bears/#comments

RareNoiseRecords Presents Jamie Saft's First Solo Album in 25 Years as a Recording Artist SOLO A GENOVA CD, VINYL AND MULTIPLE DIGITAL FORMATS AVAILABLE IN STORES AND ONLINE ON JANUARY 26, 2018 AND THROUGH WWW.RARENOISERECORDS.COM. Thursday, January 25, 8PM - CD Release Event The Owl Music Parlor, Brooklyn ABOUT THE LABEL - RareNoiseRecords was founded in 2008 by two Italians, entrepreneur Giacomo Bruzzo and music producer Eraldo Bernocchi. Located in London, the label's mission is to detect and amplify contemporary trends in progressive music, by highlighting their relation to the history of the art-form, while choosing not to be bound by pre-conceptions of genre. It seeks to become a guiding light for all those enamored by exciting, adventurous and progressive sounds. For further information and to listen to excerpts, please go to www.rarenoiserecords.com. New York, January 13, 2018 - One of the most prolific artists on the RareNoise roster, pianist Jamie Saft has appeared on recordings by such groups as Metallic Taste of Blood, Slobber Pup, Plymouth, Red Hill, The Spanish Donkey and Berserk! as well as on collaborations with Steve Swallow and Bobby Previte (New Standard / Loneliness Road), which also featured Iggy Pop, Bill Brovold (Serenity Knolls), Roswell Rudd (Strength & Power) and his own New Zion album (Sunshine Seas). His sprawling discography, which includes prodigious sideman work with John Zorn, numbers over 160 albums. And yet, over all those sessions he has never recorded a solo piano album. "I've incorporated some solo piano pieces into other records of mine before, but this is something unique for me," says the ubiquitous keyboardist. "This is my first proper full length solo piano album in 25 years of making records." Solo a Genova is Saft's highly emotive take on jazz standards and other uniquely American compositions. "I first conceived of this recital of music back in 2007," he explains. "I was asked by my good friend Giuseppe Vigna to give a solo piano recital in Florence, Italy. At that moment in time, the United States was in a rough patch politically, so I wanted to present American music as an example of positive, forward thinking art - art that made a difference in the world, art that resisted hatred and negativity, art that promoted a positive path forward for mankind. I chose songs from artists that were dear to me: Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Joni Mitchell, Curtis Mayfield, Charles Ives. Who better to represent the transformative powers of music than these brilliant writers? Recorded at the beautiful Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova, Italy in an acoustically marvellous space, Solo a Genova showcases Saft on a 9-foot Steinway Model D piano in the service of these beguiling tunes. "My primary influences for solo piano are actually the very same influences for playing the piano in any situation: Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk and Garth Hudson of The Band. Each has a uniquely personal approach to solo piano stylings. Each of these masters incorporates the entire history of modern music within their piano worlds. Their music IS American classical music." The album opens with a pure expression of happiness on Curtis Mayfield's "The Makings Of You" and is followed by an interpretation of Jimmy Jam-Terry Lewis' "Human" which melds beautifully to Saft's own "Gates." Says Saft, "Those are both brilliant examples of the complexities of human beings. Each of these tunes is trance-like and transformative and swiftly transports the listener. The harmonic approaches of each of these songs is deeply fundamental and helps propel the message of the song perfectly. Saft takes Coltrane's meditative ballad "Naima" to some new places in an expressive solo interpretation. As he explains, "'Naima' is of primary importance in my musical development. I've been working on that tune for more than 30 years. There's an entire universe of harmonic possibilities proposed within this piece. Coltrane spent years pushing the boundaries of modern music within this one piece of music, so certainly my interpretation is deeply personal. His highly impressionistic take on ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" is imbued with daring improvisations and dramatic twists. "That was improvised entirely in the moment," he explains. "I always try to take a radically different approach to covering something like a piece by ZZ Top each time I perform it. Some pieces of music require a simple, straight-forward rendering. This piece begged for something deeper. ZZ Top's music for me has always been about resonances. Power chords on the guitar sustain in truly unique ways. I've tried to look for these same resonances inside this giant concert Steinway Model D piano: literally inside the piano! This arrangement just happened this way. This was the beginning of the second half of the concert portion of the evening, so I really tried to transform this piece into something with a more classical approach. He next turns in a faithful rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed." Says Saft, "With this Stevie Wonder's song there is such a strong and deep architecture already in place, so I felt no need to transform this piece at all. I wanted to retain all the positivity and hopefulness of the original so there was really nothing to change. It's just a respectful and humble performance of a great masterpiece of modern popular music." "Po' Boy," a later period Bob Dylan tune, speaks of another time and place both lyrically and musically. "This is a perfect vehicle for me to try and relax into some nice stride styles with a big nod to Thelonious Monk in my approach. A simple song can often have complex structures hidden within it. 'Po' Boy' is a great example of this. Little twists and odd numbers of beats can be found within this piece. It creates a sonic world that is both relaxed, familiar, and yet not really at rest at all. It's also the rare piece of music written in C Major that resonates with me." Two Saft originals, "The New Standard" and "Pinkus," are both very soulful expressions that were previously recorded by the keyboardist - "The New Standard" is the title track from a recent RareNoise album he made with Steve Swallow and Bobby Previte while "Pinkus" appears on his New Zion Trio album Chaliwa as well as on Loneliness Road. Saft's rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Blue Room Motel" is even more melancholy than the original. "That tune, for me, has always been the essential expression of the traveling musician's path," he says. "It's the ultimate elucidation of the melancholic path. In fact, the word 'Hejira,' the album from which it originates, is said by Joni to mean 'leaving the dream no blame.' Shifting gears, Saft next tackles Charles Ives' "The Housatonic at Stockbridge." Says the pianist, "I've worked on that piece for decades and still have barely scratched the surface. As a student of the great composer and clarinetist Joe Maneri in the late 1980's in Boston, I was tasked with learning to sing and accompany myself on classical 'lieder' - things like Schumann and Schubert. I attempted to learn to sing and accompany myself on these composers but their music didn't really speak to me in the same way as Ives' did. So I began trying to accomplish this play and sing idea with Ives' music instead. Ives' harmonic explorations were revolutionary. He incorporated 12-tone serialist concepts in his music years before Schoenberg. Ives explored microtones, harmonic dissonances, rhythmic confusion and multiple musical threads coexisting together on the same plane. Ives' nod towards aleatory music pre-dated John Cage by decades. He stands as one of the greatest composers of all time, in my opinion. His music is steeped in European classical forms but with a deep understanding of a uniquely American perspective on sound manipulation. Presented here in my solo piano version, I tried to draw out the essential harmonic and melodic paths of this piece while improvising within Ives' harmonic world". Saft delivers a precious version of "Blue In Green," the gentle Bill Evans composition which appeared on the 1959 Miles Davis classic, Kind of Blue. "'Blue In Green', like 'Naima,' was one of the first pieces of music I learned from the jazz universe," The final piece on Solo a Genova is an interpretation of an early Bob Dylan tune, "Restless Farewell." Says Saft, a noted Dylanphile, "This tune absolutely looks to higher states of consciousness. It speaks of a man looking back and taking stock of his life. Bob Dylan lovingly sang this song to Frank Sinatra on Sinatra's 80th birthday. The rare, emotional outpouring and transformative power of Saft's piano is in evidence throughout Solo a Genova, his brilliant solo piano debut. TRACKS 1. The Makings Of You 2. Human Gates 3. Naima 4. Sharp Dressed 5. Overjoyed 6. Po' Boy 7. The New Standard 8. Blue Motel Room 9. The Housatonic At Stockbridge 10. Blue In Green 11. Restless Farewell

The Als have signed 29-year-old QB Josh Freeman. Freeman was Tampa Bay's first round pick (#17 overall) in the 2009 draft. He started 59 games. https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/12/als-ink-former-nfl-first-rounder-qb-josh-freeman/ http://3downnation.com/2018/01/12/alouettes-close-to-a-deal-with-qb-josh-freeman/#comments ***** The Als have given Darian Durant a non-negotiable offer. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/10/alouettes-give-darian-durant-take-it-or-leave-it-option/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/11/kavis-reed-discussing-darian-durant-bonus-wants-younger-starting-qb-manziel/#comments ***** Here's more on Johnny Manziel. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/11/johnny-manziel-sees-comeback-marketing-opportunity/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/12/former-browns-teammates-on-johnny-manziels-time-in-cleveland/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/08/riders-derek-dennis-johnny-manziel-put-a-bigger-target-on-his-back/#comments

Monk (complete) - $37.49 prime https://www.amazon.com/Monk-Complete-Tony-Shalhoub/dp/B01IP2X73G

Thanks John!

Here are the league's official free agent track and a discussion about the top free agents. https://www.cfl.ca/fa18/ https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/08/great-debate-top-pending-free-agent/ ***** Khari Jones will be the Als' new OC. Rich Stubler will also be on board. Jones was hired after Buck Pierce, George Cortez and Tommy Condell turned the Als down. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/03/new-alouettes-coaching-staff-features-plenty-cfl-experience/#comments http://159.203.52.247/2018/01/03/alouettes-offered-oc-job-bombers-qb-coach-buck-pierce/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/two-other-coaches-turned-down-alouettes-offensive-coordinator-job/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/05/khari-jones-there-are-no-decisions-that-have-been-made-about-als-qb/#comments ***** Chris Getzlaf has retired. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/long-time-riders-receiver-chris-getzlaf-retires-cfl/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/06/3downnation-green-cast-zach-collaros-kevin-glenn-chris-getzlaf/#comments

The Seattle Times is reporting that Seattle is considering hiring Marc Trestman as its OC. Trestman recruited Russell Wilson to play for State. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/10/argos-marc-trestman-candidate-seahawks-oc-job-report/#comments ***** Johnny Manziel's agent made some disrespectful comments about the league, which some feel may have reduced the Ticats' interest in signing him. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/07/manziel-returns-social-media-hint-cfl-comeback-troll-browns/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/07/ticats-make-johnny-manziel-a-contract-offer/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/07/ticats-keep-johnny-manziels-rights-offer/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/08/johnny-manziels-agent-breaks-silence-loudest-possible-way/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/08/statement-manziels-agent-tone-deaf-come/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/08/johnny-manziel-backs-agent-public-statement/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/09/milton-agent-helps-johnny-manziel-execute-early-cfl-heel-turn/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/09/bombers-qb-matt-nichols-on-johnny-manziel-back-it-up-on-the-field/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/09/3downnation-podcast-johnny-manziels-outrageous-demands-and-the-cfl-quarterback-situation/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/10/henry-burris-would-not-pay-johnny-manziel-500-grand/#comments ***** Dave Dickenson has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame! http://3downnation.com/2018/01/08/stampeders-dave-dickenson-part-2018-college-football-hall-fame-class/#comments

Each "listen" button will provide one track. ******* Bobo Stenson Trio Contra la indecisión Bobo Stenson piano | Anders Jormin double bass | Jon Fält drums A decisively beautiful new album on which the great Swedish trio of Bobo Stenson draws upon a wide range of source materials So strong is the group’s character and the musical identity of each of its members that the integration of this material always feels organic and logical. Stenson’s lyrical touch, Jormin’s folk-flavored arco bass and Jon Fält’s flickering, textural drumming are all well-displayed on Contra la indecisión, the trio’s first new recording in six years. John Surman Invisible Threads John Surman saxophones, bass clarinet Nelson Ayres piano | Rob Waring vibraphone, marimba Saxophonist and clarinettist John Surman is often characterized as a quintessentially English improviser and composer, and hints of folk music and a pastoral ambience are well-loved attributes of his music. Yet he also has a long history of working with musicians from other countries and cultures, players united by such invisible threads as a shared feeling for melody that transcends the idioms. Thomas Strønen / Time Is A Blind Guide Lucus Ayumi Tanaka piano | Håkon Aase violin | Lucy Railton violoncello Ole Morten Vågan double bass | Thomas Strønen drums, percussion Norwegian drummer/composer Thomas Strønen presents a revised edition of his acoustic collective Time Is A Blind Guide, now trimmed to quintet size, and with a new pianis. in Wakayama-born Ayumi Tanaka. Tanaka has spoken of seeking associative connections between Japan and Norway in her improvising, a tendency Strønen seems to be encouraging with his space-conscious writing for the ensemble, letting in more light. As on the group’s eponymously-titled and critically-lauded debut album there are excellent contributions from the string players – the quintet effectively contains both a string trio and a piano trio – and Manfred Eicher’s production brings out all the fine detail in the grain of the collective sound and the halo of its overtones, captured in the famously-responsive acoustic of Lugano’s Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in March 2017. Kit Downes Obsidian Kit Downes church organs with Tom Challenger tenor saxophone Kit Downes’s previous ECM appearance was as pianist on the debut recording ofTime Is A Blind Guide in 2015 and he’s critically-regarded as one of the UK’s outstanding young jazz talents. In reviewing a recent concert of this material, critic John Marley of Jazz Views conjured the following: “Imagine that you are stranded in an alien and hostile environment. The sound you hear is constant, yet ever changing. It evolves, creeps, terrifies and fascinates. A slow rumble resonates through the air like the mechanical revolutions of a distant engine. Organic sounds emanate from the church organ. Kit Downes patiently manipulates the instrument to draw out a succession of pules accelerating frequencies and violent distortions. Brisk forays across the keyboard come and go. The notes run across your path like a creature, so quick they are almost unidentifiable….Hypnotic…” © 2017 ECM | ECM Records USA | 1755 Broadway, 3rd floor | New York NY 10011

The commissioner has cleared Johnny Manziel to play in the league. Here is the latest news of the situation. http://3downnation.com/2017/11/08/johnny-manziel-sporting-non-football-dad-bod-recent-photos/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/04/cfl-deadline-for-johnny-manziel-process-extended-into-january/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/05/ticats-ceo-mitchell-on-the-future-of-collaros-masoli-and-manziel/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/07/ticats-coach-june-jones-ripped-saying-manziel-best-player-ever/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/13/cfl-commish-feels-johnny-manziel-has-come-to-a-good-place-in-his-life/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/13/new-b-c-gm-ed-hervey-chirps-the-media-talks-lulay-and-johnny-football/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/21/cfl-commissioner-rooting-johnny-manziel/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/28/cfl-clears-johnny-manziel-play-next-season/#comments http://159.203.52.247/2017/12/28/ticats-have-10-days-to-offer-johnny-manziel-a-contract/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/28/ticats-cleared-to-sign-johnny-manziel-if-the-team-wants/#comments http://www.3downnation.com/2017/12/28/3downpodcast-happens-next-johnny-manziel/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/28/milton-ticats-will-get-something-manziel-one-way-another/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/29/ticats-qb-options-now-johnny-manziel-kinda-fold/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/29/argos-marcus-ball-on-johnny-manziel-nobody-cares-about-what-you-used-to-be/#comments http://3downnation.com/2017/12/30/als-need-new-face-franchise-johnny-manziel/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/02/might-johnny-manziel-get-paid-cfl/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/02/brandon-banks-manziel-stopping-talking-someone-hasnt-prove-nothing/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/03/kent-austin-keeping-close-contact-johnny-manziels-agent/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/austin-ticats-would-be-foolish-not-to-offer-manziel-a-contract/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/3downnations-justin-dunk-on-sn590-the-fan-discussing-qb-happenings-around-the-cfl/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/ticats-vp-kent-austin-johnny-manziel-wants-to-play-unequivocally/#comments

Here is an update from two weeks ago, listing the ten brands with the largest percentage decline. Budweiser is #5. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/beers-americans-no-longer-drink/ss-BBH9Xwe?OCID=ansmsnnews11#image=1

San Francisco Bay Area Guitarist/Composer George Cotsirilos To Release "Mostly in Blue," His Sixth Album, January 19 on OA2 Records CD Features His Working Trio of Bassist Robb Fisher & Drummer Ron Marabuto + Pianist Keith Saunders February CD Release Shows Planned for Several San Francisco & East Bay Venues January 3, 2018 Jazz guitarist/composer George Cotsirilos had previously recorded mostly in a trio setting with longtime associates Robb Fisher on bass and Ron Marabuto on drums. For his forthcoming sixth CD, Mostly in Blue, he expanded to a quartet, with pianist Keith Saunders, to shake up his approach a bit but also in the interests of being true to the music he was hearing in his head. OA2 Records will release the new CD on January 19. "I started hearing a little different sound connected to the tunes I was writing," Cotsirilos says. "It seemed more amenable to a quartet, with a little more harmony underlying the melody line." The trio tested out its chemistry with Saunders, a mainstay of the New York jazz scene with whom the guitarist had never played but both Fisher and Marabuto had. "When we first got together, it wasn't hard to tell it was working," he says. "We kind of jelled immediately. In the studio, even before we started playing tunes, when we were playing to get the sound, the chemistry was there. It's stunning how quickly Keith was there, on top of everything." Every track on the album was recorded in one or two takes. In addition to six Cotsirilos originals, the repertoire includes a luminous arrangement of the Harry Warren-Mack Gordon classic "I Wish I Knew," where Saunders's presence liberates the stylistically wide-ranging guitarist to play legato more than he usually does. Another highlight is a feverishly fast performance of the Charlie Parker classic "Crazeology." The band worked as their own producers in collaboration with engineer Dave Luke, a decorated veteran of Fantasy Records with whom Cotsirilos had worked several times. "We wanted the album to have a live feel," says Cotsirilos, and this live-in-studio sound can be heard as much in the playing as in the engineering, whether on Bird's bebop burner or the guitarist's slinky "Ms. Luna," written for his "troublemaking" cat. "Blue Dusk," another Cotsirilos original, is a darkly shimmying tune with a swaying movement that puts the listener in the best kind of mood to greet the evening. And then there's "Down, Not Out," which in speaking to and for the underdog in these agonizing times suggests a cure for the melancholy many people are feeling today. George Cotsirilos was born in Chicago in 1951. Under the influence of his aunt, a classical music devotee, he chose violin as his first instrument. His involvement in jazz was elevated when an uncle who'd played drums with the Woody Herman Orchestra took him to hear Louis Armstrong. Seeing Oscar Peterson and Erroll Garner play at Chicago's venerated London House turned him on to the piano. But during his teen years, with local notables including the Butterfield Blues Band and Michael Bloomfield making a national noise, he became strongly involved in blues guitar. In 1969, Cotsirilos enrolled at UC Berkeley as a sociology major. He taught himself blues riffs, using his background in piano to improve technique. A turning point for him came when he commenced music studies with Warren Nunes, a phenomenal jazz guitarist and prolific writer of guitar books. Nunes shifted Cotsirilos's attention to jazz and had him listen not just to great guitarists such as Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass but also luminaries on other instruments, among them John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Bill Evans. Cotsirilos studied classical guitar privately as well through the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Music wasn't the only thing vying for Cotsirilos's future. Born into a family of lawyers -- his late father, George, Sr., the son of Greek immigrants, was a prominent Chicago defense attorney -- Cotsirilos acquired a law degree with thoughts of getting involved in social causes. He became an assistant public defender, then moved on to a successful criminal defense practice in San Francisco and a faculty position at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, where he taught criminal trial practice for fifteen years. At the same time, Cotsirilos continued to practice, perform, and record jazz, releasing co-led quartet and quintet albums featuring venerated drummer Eddie Marshall, and, in 2003, his first solo album, Silenciosa. He subsequently released three trio recordings with Fisher and Marabuto. While he finally retired in recent years from practicing and teaching law, he has remained deeply involved in music. "I have done what I have for a number of reasons, both personal and socio-philosophical," he reflects. "Involvement in criminal law, while still trying to maintain and grow as a musician, was a life experience that was intense, often very rewarding, but also frenetic. Music, which was always there as a salvation, really, remains and now gets my full attention." The George Cotsirilos Quartet will be performing CD release shows at the following: 2/10Bird & Beckett, San Francisco; 2/18 St. Albans Church, Albany, CA; 2/25 Chez Hanny, San Francisco. Photography: Billy Douglas George Cotsirilos "Mostly in Blue" EPK Web Site: georgecotsirilos.com Follow:

BREAKING: The Riders have released Kevin Glenn http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/riders-release-quarterback-kevin-glenn/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/bombers-eskimos-to-be-in-the-mix-to-sign-qb-kevin-glenn/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/04/riders-release-quarterback-kevin-glenn/ ***** BREAKING: The Argos have signed James Franklin. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/04/argos-agree-to-terms-with-qb-james-franklin/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/04/argos-franklin-agree-extension/

BREAKING: The Ticats have traded Zach Collaros to the Riders for the tenth pick in the draft. http://3downnation.com/2018/01/03/ticats-trade-qb-zach-collaros-riders/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/03/riders-acquire-zach-collaros-ticats/ https://www.tsn.ca/ticats-send-qb-collaros-to-roughriders-1.957824

Paul, it was much more than an NYC thing. I remember asking my Bostonian mother about it fifty years ago when I was in high school (though I don't now remember why).

Guys, with the New Year I am retiring from looking up everyone's birthday each day. If any would like to take over that pleasure, it is all yours!

Jim, I'd be very surprised if there is a single regular poster who wouldn't be happy to pay his fair share. How many regular posters are there now?

Kevin, I had forgotten that you like the Blue Jean cables! I pulled the trigger on the Pangea Vulcan rack this evening. Thanks again for your opinions.

Happy Birthday 2017 LW!

Happy Christmas Birthday Pim!

Here's where I am now: Mail order store Audio Advisor currently has a sale on Pangea racks. http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PGVULRK My receiver is an Onkyo TX-8255. My turntable is a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. Amazon has the Pro-Ject pre-amp for $79.00 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YEK1AQ/ Audio Advisor has been promoting its Pangea cables, which are the work of a guy named Jay Victor. Perhaps you know and have an opinion of him. http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PGICCARR ***** TTK, the visual aesthetic which affects my perception is what the bill looks like!!!

Kevin, I am slowly building my system when things go on sale. So nothing has been played yet. By the way, isn't there somewhere here a discussion of cables, and whether good ones are worth the price?