GA Russell

Today, for the first time in my life, I saw a man walking his pet pig! And the man was wearing a Leon Redbone fedora!

Happy Birthday 2013 TF!

Happy Birthday Mike!

Yes, LW...April 16.

This might be very good... All-Star Session by Bassist/Composer Robert Hurst Due for March 12 Release On Bebob Records "BoB: A Palindrome," Hurst's 6th CD as a Leader, Features Branford Marsalis, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Marcus Belgrave, Bennie Maupin, Robert Glasper, & Adam Rudolph CD Release Concerts in Michigan: 4/5 Detroit Chamber Winds' Nightnotes Series, Birmingham; 5/3 WEMU/Sesi Motor 501 Series, Ravens Club, Ann Arbor February 21, 2013 Bassist Robert Hurst is an M.V.P. -- a long-standing member of Diana Krall's and Chris Botti's touring bands, an esteemed colleague of jazz stars like Branford Marsalis and Robert Glasper, and most recently a key player on Sir Paul McCartney's Grammy-winning Kisses on the Bottom. But Hurst's own recordings, with his compositions and his bands front and center, are especially welcome events in the jazz world. On March 12, BoB: A Palindrome, an all-star Hurst date and the fourth release on his Bebob label, will be released after an unusually lengthy gestation. Recorded in October 2001, the CD features a stellar lineup including Marsalis and Glasper as well as Bennie Maupin and Marcus Belgrave (Detroiters like Hurst), Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Adam Rudolph. It immediately follows a pair of simultaneously released, critically praised 2011 albums: Unrehurst, Volume 2, an electrifying live piano trio date recorded in 2007 featuring Robert Glasper and Chris Dave (Unrehurst, Volume 1, featuring Glasper and Damian Reed, came out in 2004), and Bob Ya Head, a politically tinged, radio-friendly studio work that delves into Afro-pop and electronica. In 2004, Hurst became an Associate Professor of Music, now tenured, at the University of Michigan. It was a positive development that required a reordering of his career priorities. He had hoped to release BoB: A Palindrome by then, but in the days following 9/11, it was difficult to find time to put all of its pieces together. Between flying back and forth between Los Angeles (where he was a member of the Tonight Show band) and Michigan, and recording and touring with Diana Krall and Chris Botti, he also needed more time to complete Bob Ya Head, which he began working on during 2007. With originals written as far back as 1985, BoB: A Palindrome draws warm inspiration from people who have played important roles in Hurst's life, and the sessions proved to be an exercise in spiritual healing. The jaunty and elegant "3 for Lawrence," which begs for a big band treatment, pays tribute to Lawrence Williams, a drummer and composer from Detroit who set an important example for Hurst before his untimely death. The patiently unfolding, powerfully climactic "Big Queen" and sweetly reflective "Little Queen" were written for Hurst's wife (and manager) Jill and daughter Jillian. "Tigers on Venus" commemorates a day on which Tiger Woods and Venus Williams both triumphed, a doubly proud moment for African Americans. Then there's "Middle Passage Suite," a lyrical, three-part meditation on black history inspired in part by Charles Johnson's prize-winning novel, Middle Passage. And the Headhunter-like "Jamming (Ichabad)," a fusion-y workout that, as literary sleuths can deduce from the parenthetical reference, has no head. Robert Hurst was born in Detroit and took up bass as a young boy after seeing the Modern Jazz Quartet perform and meeting Percy Heath. Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, a Detroit icon, was an early mentor for Hurst, who began working professionally with Belgrave at 15. After meeting drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts on a gig, Hurst was recommended by Tain to his boss, Wynton Marsalis, whose group the bassist joined after college at the University of Indiana and with whom he recorded seven albums for Columbia. In 1985, the year he made his recording debut on Out of the Blue, a Blue Note Records project featuring a group of young lions including Kenny Garrett and Ralph Peterson, Hurst began touring with Marsalis. He stayed with the band (which initially included brother Branford and pianist Marcus Roberts) for three years, appearing on such classics as Live from Blues Alley and J Mood. "That was when I started to take myself seriously as a jazz musician and began feeling a real sense of pride in being one," he recalls. In 1989, Hurst began working with Branford Marsalis and remained for five years, again recording for Columbia. Hurst continued on with Branford to California to begin work on The Tonight Show. When Marsalis left leadership of the show's band in 1994, Hurst stayed on for another six years. The bassist debuted on record as a leader in 1993 with Robert Hurst Presents: Robert Hurst (DIW/Columbia), featuring Kenny Kirkland, Branford Marsalis, Marcus Belgrave, Ralph Jones, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Most of the music on the disc was specifically written with this exact personnel in mind. The following year, Hurst released a trio session, One for Namesake (DIW/Columbia), with Kirkland and Elvin Jones. In support of BoB: A Palindrome, the Robert Hurst Ensemble will be appearing Fri. 4/5 as part of the Detroit Chamber Winds' Nightnotes Series, at Hagopian Carpets in Birmingham, MI; and Fri. 5/3 in the WEMU/Sesi Motor 501 Series at the Ravens Club in Ann Arbor. Hurst is also scheduled to headline the Detroit Jazz Festival on Labor Day weekend. More dates are in the works.

I received today this brief press release about Craig Taborn's upcoming tour supporting his new album Chants. Recently hailed by Down Beat as “one of the visionaries of the current wave” , Craig Taborn has a unique perspective on creative music-making. Just as Avenging Angel subverted expectations of solo improvised piano, so does Chants find its own response to the vast tradition of the piano trio. The pieces that Taborn has been writing for the band in the eight years of its existence are set up to generate a new group music by channelling the special skills of drummer Gerald Cleaver and bassist Thomas Morgan. “I knew that if I created a context and then deferred, fully, to Gerald’s and Thomas’s sensibilities it would inherently be stimulating and would also challenge the context. I wanted to invite that challenge: I’d much rather engage with the group, always, than have the format be ‘piano adventures with supporting cast’”. Morgan and Cleaver share the leader’s concern for compositional shape and multi-layered improvisational detail, as the music is pulled between the poles of density and spaciousness, to dramatic and thrilling effect. Chants was recorded in New York in June 2012, and produced by Manfred Eicher. 8 city US Trio tour: Friday April 26th - Minneapolis, MN at Walker Center Saturday April 27th - Columbus, OH at Wexner Center Sunday April 28th - Chicago, IL at The Hungry Brain Wednesday May 1st - Philadelphia, PA at Philadelphia Art Alliance Friday May 3rd - New Haven, CT at Firehouse Sunday May 5th - Washington, DC at Bohemian Caverns Monday May 6th - New York, NY at Roulette Wednesday May 8th - Boston, MA at Regattabar

Joe Paopao has been named the head coach of the Univ. of Waterloo's team. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416433 ***** Adrian McPherson has signed with Tampa Bay's Arena team. No link yet.

I've only had one, and in the US I think most states have outlawed a straight razor shave because the laws now demand a new blade for each customer. Mine was when I was in college, maybe 1970. It was fun and unique.

Happy Birthday 2013 Alan!

RIP, indeed. This is a passing that makes me feel old. I have a number of LPs, but no CDs. I'll go look for them.

This is an interesting album. It's very laid back, and pleasant to listen to, but there are no hummable melodies. I can't tell you why, but it reminds me of something Tom Harrell might do.

The Als confirmed that Dan Hawkins would be their new head coach today. Mike Miller, who was the Cardinals' offensive coordinator last year, will be the offensive coordinator. And Ryan Dinwiddie (!) will be the "offensive quality control coach". Like Marc Trestman before him, Hawkins has no previous Canadian rules football experience. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416300 ***** Ex-BC free agent Cauchy Muamba joins his brother Henoc with the Bombers. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416370

Happy Birthday 2013 Sandy!

January, 1970. Friends and I went to see the Lost Quintet at the Cellar Door. Miles passed by me on his way to the stage. I said, "Hi Miles! How's your wife?" He replied, "Which one?"

Happy Birthday, Hans!

This is up on Spotify today. I like it. Much of it sounds like late Miles, with the layers of rhythms.

The Beatles' first recordings were with Tony Sheridan. Their recording of Ain't She Sweet got plenty of airtime in 1964. http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-tony-sheridan-20130219,0,888898.story

It has taken a long time to decide, but the Als are expected to announce tomorrow that they have hired ESPN analyst Dan Hawkins to be their new head coach. Hawkins is a former head coach of Boise State and Colorado. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416300

Resonance Records to Release "Tommy Flanagan/Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2," April 9 Previously Unreleased 1982 Live Session Is the Second in the Label's Keystone Korner Live Discoveries Series Produced by Keystone Impresario Todd Barkan & Resonance General Manager Zev Feldman, The Music Is Available as Deluxe CD Package, Digital Download, & Limited Edition 2-LP Set February 18, 2013 Two titans of jazz piano are captured in flight on the new Resonance Records album, Tommy Flanagan/Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2. Scheduled for April 9 release as a CD with 24-page booklet, a digital download with digital booklet, and a deluxe limited edition 2-LP set, The Magic of 2 presents a 1980 concert recorded at San Francisco's celebrated Keystone Korner and the second entry in Resonance's Keystone Discoveries series. "It's a revelation, how well they played together," says Keystone's owner Todd Barkan, who co-produced the CD with Resonance Records' Executive Vice President and General Manager Zev Feldman. "They had quite disparate styles, but they share such an incredibly large vocabulary and frame of reference that it makes their language coherent. They're both referring to the same knowledge and experience of the history of jazz piano." The music is a "gift [from the past that] is both unique and stupendous," says jazz historian Dan Morgenstern, one of seven annotators in the CD package's 24-page illustrated booklet. " . . . Alone and especially together, Tommy and Jaki show us what spontaneous creation is all about." When Resonance started working with Barkan, says Feldman, on the lauded 2011 release of Pinnacle, a magnificent 1980 performance by Freddie Hubbard and the first Keystone Discoveries title, "We became aware that the Flanagan-Byard session was something Todd was absolutely passionate about." Over the past few years, Resonance has established itself as a home for such notable rediscoveries through acclaimed releases like Hubbard's Pinnacle, Bill Evans's Live at Art D'Lugoff's Top of the Gate, and Wes Montgomery's Echoes of Indiana Avenue. Each of these releases has boasted vivid sound quality and an attention to detail that attests to the label's respect and admiration for the musicians. "Resonance is trying to become a leader in historical jazz recordings and this totally fits the bill," Feldman says. "We're putting out this music because we really believe in it -- we believe in Jaki Byard, we believe in Tommy Flanagan, and we want to celebrate both of these artists for their contributions to this music. And we also want to celebrate Todd Barkan's vision." Five of the eleven tracks find Flanagan and Byard melding their encyclopedic knowledge of jazz piano history in festive fashion: "Scrapple from the Apple," "Just One of Those Things," "Satin Doll," "Our Delight," and "The Theme." The disc also features six solo pieces, split evenly between the two pianists. All three of Flanagan's three unaccompanied contributions come from the pen of Billy Strayhorn ("Something to Live For," "Chelsea Bridge," "All Day Long"). Byard leads with Stevie Wonder's "Send One Your Love," and also places his stamp on the Jule Styne standard "Sunday" and Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe." The Magic of 2 brings the listener back to that night through the loving sound restoration of label president George Klabin and Resonance's engineer Fran Gala (from cassette tapes, no less). The CD comes with a 24-page booklet annotated by Barkan, Feldman, and Morgenstern as well as jazz critic Howard Mandel, pianists Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap, and Jaki's daughter Diane Byard. Iconic images from the archive of Keystone staff photographer Tom Copi, some being published for the first time, illustrate the booklet, along with work by photographers Brian McMillen and Kathy Sloane. The new album is also available as a digital download with digital booklet (where available), and as a limited edition 2-LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl at 45-RPM by audiophile leaders R.T.I., with a deluxe gatefold, hard-stock jacket by Stoughton Press. Art direction and design was handled by industry veteran Burton Yount (Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall; Wes Montgomery/Echoes of Indiana Avenue). Additionally, in the LP edition only is a special commemorative set of Keystone Korner postcards by Tom Copi, along with a retro reproduction of a Keystone Korner punch card (which regular patrons used when attending the club). The LP edition was mastered by Bernie Grundman (Sonny Rollins/Way Out West; Michael Jackson's Thriller). All in support of the "dynamic piano duo" of Flanagan and Byard, Barkan writes, which is "heard here in psychedelic terpsichore, evoking the chemistry of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers." Tommy Flanagan b. March 16, 1930, Detroit, MI d. Nov. 16, 2001, New York, NY Jaki Byard b. June 15, 1922, Worcester, MA d. Feb. 11, 1999, New York, NY

More Free Agent signings: Edmonton - Chris Rwabukamba http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416233 Hamilton - Marcellus Bowman (despite serious off-season knee injury) http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416240

He's been a favorite of mine since I got the Mosaic box.

Lon, I'm not surprised that my old TV is the problem. Good to hear that your setup is good!

Happy Birthday 2013 bFB!

Happy Birthday 2013 Joe!

Free Agent signings: Edmonton - Odell Willis, Marcell Young http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416065 Montreal - Geoff Tisdale http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416054 Toronto - James Yurichuk http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416085 BC - Solomon Elimimian, Jovan Olafioye http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416056 Winnipeg - Mark Dewit http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=415992 Saskatchewan - Dwight Anderson http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416100 Hamilton - Shomari Williams, Brian Bulke, Evan McCullough, Deon Beasley http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416067 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416159 Saskatchewan - Weldon Brown, Tristan Black http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416180 ***** For the second straight year, the Ticats have released their leading rusher Avon Cobourne. He's a high-salary guy. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=416171