GA Russell

Johnny Augustine has signed with the Ticats. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/21/ticats-sign-national-rb-johnny-augustine/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-veteran-canadian-de-enock-makonzo-1.2255559 https://3downnation.com/2025/02/21/hamilton-bomber-cats-canadian-rb-johnny-augustine-becomes-eighth-ex-winnipeg-player-to-signs-with-ticats/

Free Agent analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/19/5-notable-free-agency-signings-in-recent-years/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/19/10-sneaky-good-free-agency-signings/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/20/5-noteworthy-canadian-free-agent-signings/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/20/which-team-made-the-biggest-free-agency-splash/ ***** Kerfalla Exume has signed with the Riders. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders-sign-two-time-grey-cup-champion-db-kerfalla-exume-1.2253977 https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/18/riders-sign-defensive-back-kerfalla-exume/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/18/saskatchewan-roughriders-sign-canadian-db-kerfalla-exume/ ***** Charlie Baillie has died at 90. RIP. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/18/longtime-montreal-alouettes-player-mcgill-head-coach-charlie-baillie-dead-at-90/ ***** Anthony Bennett has signed with the Als. https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/montreal-alouettes-sign-former-first-round-pick-dl-anthony-bennett-to-1-year-deal/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/18/montreal-alouettes-sign-former-first-round-cfl-draft-pick-anthony-bennett/ ***** David Mackie has agreed to become the players union's new Executive Director. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/19/recently-retired-canadian-fullback-david-mackie-hired-as-cflpa-executive-director-sources/ ***** Juwan Simpson will be an assistant coach at East Mississippi Community College. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/20/former-cfl-player-coach-juwan-simpson-hired-at-east-mississippi-community-college/ ***** Lucky Whitehead will be an assistant coach at a Fredericksburg, VA, high school. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/20/retired-cfl-all-star-lucky-whitehead-hired-as-receivers-coach-special-teams-coordinator-for-virginia-high-school/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/the-end-of-a-lucky-era/ ***** Argos analysis https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/can-toronto-argonauts-survive-another-off-season-of-great-turnover/ ***** Sask analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/saskatchewan-roughriders-top-5-breakout-candidates-for-2025-alexs-version/

GERMAN JAZZ PRIZE 2025 Introducing the Expert and Special Jury – Award Ceremony on June 13 in Cologne ● 30 high-profile professionals on the expert and special jury ● Awards in 22 categories ● Award ceremony at the E-Werk in Cologne Preparations for the German Jazz Prize 2025 are well underway. Organized by the Initiative Musik, this prestigious award, now in its fifth edition, honors outstanding achievements in jazz and improvised music. The award ceremony will take place on June 13, 2025, at the E-Werk in Cologne. 25 High-Profile Members of the Expert Jury and Five More on the Special Jury The 25-member expert jury, consisting of renowned figures from the jazz and improvised music scene, is responsible for selecting the nominees from more than 1,000 submissions. This independent jury represents the broad spectrum of the genre, bringing together artists and experts from the fields labels/publishing, venues/festivals, artist management/agencies, and media/journalism. Their collective expertise ensures that the diversity of jazz is well represented, and outstanding artistic achievements are recognized. This year, for the first time, a five-member special jury will select the four nominees as well as the prize winner in the category Composition/ Arrangement. "It was an honor to serve as a jury member in this category. It was a truly fascinating process, discovering new and interesting arrangements, compositions, and artistic expressions. The diversity, variety, and broad spectrum of innovative approaches showcased how jazz can be seen through different lenses. It was also inspiring to witness the dedication, passion, and care each jury member brought to the process of analyzing the applications." Diego Piñera, Member of the Special Jury The 21 winners in the other categories will be selected by the 17-member main jury, which will be announced at a later date. Awards in 22 Categories The German Jazz Prize, which awards a minimum of €10,000 to each winner, recognizes a total of 22 categories, including artists, recording/production, live, composition/arrangement, and three special prizes. The prize highlights the importance of achievements in jazz as a whole and aims to recognize and promote the genre alongside improvised music in all its forms. Award Ceremony at the E-Werk in Cologne on June 13 The highlight of the German Jazz Prize 2025 is the award ceremony at the E-Werk in Cologne. Outstanding musicians and artists from the jazz scene gather on June 13 to celebrate the diversity and innovative power of the genre. Further information can be found at www.deutscher-jazzpreis.de Expert Jury of the German Jazz Prize 2025: ● Anja Illmaier – Intakt Records, Director of Taktlos Festival, Association Friends of Irène Schweizer ● Daniela Siemon – PR Consultant, Owner of the Agency der Promotor ● Dennis Wiesch – Dramaturgy and Project Development at Monheimer Kulturwerke GmbH ● Dhanesh Jayaselan – Creative Director, Producer & Cultural Curator ● Isumi Rögner – Cultural Manager, Dramaturg, Translator, Jazz Advisor at Goethe-Institute Head Office ● Janis Burley Wilson – President of August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Founder/Director of Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival ● Judyth Babin – Artist Manager, Tour Agent, Label ● Karen Kennedy – Artist Manager, President and Founder 24 Seven Artist Development ● Kevin le Gendre – Journalist and Broadcaster ● Marie Blobel – Curator jazzwerkstatt Peitz & jazzexzess ● Marieke Meischke – Writer, Artistic Director Jazz Maastricht/Music Meeting Festival, Advisor Dutch Performing Arts Fund, Confidential Counsellor ●Martin Brugger – Musician and Producer, Co-Founder of Squama Recordings ● Max von Pretz – Co-Artistic Director of the Südtirol Jazzfestival Alto Adige and Artistic Director of the Jazz Program at Dekadenz Brixen ● Maxi Broecking – Journalist, Author (ZEIT, Tagesspiegel, Taz, Jazzthing), Lecturer (Columbia University, HCA), Curator, Publicist ● Michaela Drnek Bóková – Label Manager, Producer, Vocalist ● Natalie Greffel – Musician and Curator for XJAZZ! Festival ● Olga Reznichenko – Pianist, Educator ● Sebastian Hecht – Managing Director of XJAZZ! Festival ● Shannon Barnett – Musician, Composer, Educator ● Silvan Strauss – Drummer and Producer ● Sophie Emilie Beha – Music Journalist, Curator, Author, Presenter ● Tony Lakatos – Saxophonist, Composer, Producer ● Vincent Bababoutilabo – Musician, Author ● Werner Aldinger – Label Owner (enja & yellowbird records) ● Wolf Kampmann – Music Journalist, Author, University Lecturer Special Jury of the German Jazz Prize 2025: ● Charlotte Greve – Saxophonist & Composer ● Diego Piñera – Drummer, Composer, Arranger ● Django Bates – Pianist, Eb Horn Player, Composer, Educator and Professor of Jazz at Bern University of the Arts ● Gebhard Ullmann – Musician (Woodwind Instruments) and Composer ● Sylvaine Hélary – Flutist, Composer and Artistic Director of Orchestre National de Jazz GERMAN JAZZ PRIZE Since 2021, the German Jazz Prize has been honoring outstanding artistic achievements in the national and international jazz scenes. Main sponsor of the prize is Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. The fifth edition takes place on June 13 at the E-Werk in Cologne, in cooperation with the city of Cologne and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Now only $32.38!

Disc One

It has begun to snow. Still light flurries. The forecast calls for three inches. This is our third snowfall of the year. I think this is the first time we've had three since I moved here in the autumn of 2001. The first was an inch that was gone in 24 hours. The second was maybe two inches that lasted a couple of days. The temp will rise to the 50s in a few days, so I expect today's to be gone quickly. There is no traffic at all. The Publix was somewhat crowded, but no apparent bread-and-milk panic buying.

Adrian Galante Declares His Arrival in the Jazz World With "Introducing Adrian Galante," Set for April 25 Release On Zoho Music Australian Clarinetist Debuts with a Collection of Standards & A Superlative Quintet Spearheaded by Pianist Tamir Hendelman CD Release Show at Birdland (Upstairs), NYC, Sunday, June 1, 5:30pm   February 19, 2025 Adrian Galante offers up his wide-open, highly expressive clarinet sound to the world with the April 25 release of Introducing Adrian Galante (Zoho Music). The 28-year-old Australian-born musician engages with an ace Los Angeles–based quintet that includes pianist Tamir Hendelman, guitarist Larry Koonse, bassist Alex Frank, and drummer Joe LaBarbera on a program of eight pieces from the Great American Songbook. While studying what has become a lesser-played instrument in jazz, Galante has absorbed the clarinet’s major voices, and it shows in his playing. Yet the more immediate inspiration for his beautiful tone and playing style is the jazz vocal tradition. “I remember hearing Tony Bennett talk about the way Bing Crosby revolutionized popular singing, getting right up close to the microphone making a very intimate sound,” Galante says. “I like to approach the clarinet in the same way.” As a result, the young clarinetist has created for himself a broad palette of interpretive and emotional nuances—and he applies them with similar breadth. “When most musicians play a song, they’re usually content to play only the music,” observes music critic Will Friedwald in the liner notes to Introducing. “Adrian, however, plays the whole song.” Sure enough, Galante brings a rare depth to his performances of pieces like Cy Coleman and David Zippel’s “With Every Breath I Take” and a brooding rendition of Cole Porter’s “It’s Alright with Me” (on both of which he plays Fender Rhodes as well as clarinet). But if his clarinet uncannily expresses the romance and wanderlust of Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse’s “Two for the Road,” on which Galante also plays the tender celeste accents, that’s no impediment to his swinging ferociously—and even bringing a little bit of bite to his tone—on “You’re All the World to Me.” It's rare for a new jazz musician to have such a fully formed and distinctive voice upon their arrival, and rarer still for that voice to be on the clarinet. Introducing Adrian Galante should find a warm welcome in jazz lovers’ collections. Adrian Galante was born October 24, 1996, in Perth, Western Australia. While he came from a classical lineage—his grandfather was an opera singer—and his parents loved pop music, Galante was from a young age drawn to the buoyant rhythms of jazz. It was at around the same time—age seven—that he was also drawn to the clarinet and began taking lessons. By 15, he was playing professionally. From that auspicious early start, Galante would follow a path that took him to Perth’s West Australian Academy of Performing Arts—which, in turn, took him to a summer program at New York University. He ultimately made the permanent move to the Big Apple in 2022, deciding to facilitate his development as a jazz artist by living and working in the music’s mecca. Meanwhile, Galante was taking advantage of the opportunity to perform across America; in August 2022, he joined L.A. pianist Tamir Hendelman in a concert in Seattle. Not long after, while Hendelman was visiting New York, he and Galante had dinner together and began the discussions that led to the clarinetist making his first recording. Hendelman recruited his California colleagues Larry Koonse, Alex Frank, and Joe LaBarbera to play on the date; Galante served as producer. The end product, of course, is Introducing Adrian Galante. It is the launch of what promises to be a stellar and accomplished career for the gifted young clarinetist from Perth. Adrian Galante will perform a CD release show at Birdland (upstairs), New York City, on Sunday, June 1, 5:30pm. Photography: Angelique Lee    EPK: "Introducing Adrian Galante"  Adrian Galante Web Site

Thanks, guys! You've given me a number of ideas.

Has anyone come upon a relatively new browser he likes?

Christoph Irniger's Quintet PILGRIM with HUMAN INTELLIGENCE LIVE CD AND DIGITAL FORMATS AVAILABLE ON MARCH 21, 2025. INTAKT - CD 434/2025, EAN 7640120194345 WWW.INTAKTREC.CH Christoph Irniger - Tenor Sax Stefan Aeby - Piano Dave Gisler - Guitar Raffaele Bossard - Bass Michael Stulz - Drums   The quintet Pilgrim, founded by Zurich-based tenor saxophonist Christoph Irniger, has become one of the most exciting ensembles in young European Jazz over the years and will present their sixth album Human Intelligence Liveon Intakt Records in March 2025. In their gorgeously considered, but luxuriantly open music the quintet uses ambiguity as a tool. Some compositions are freely improvised, while others are completely notated, yet most lie in between, with an elasticity that reflects a life of freedom, where informed choices are made spontaneously. The accompanying soundtrack oscillates between enigmatic reflection and wild eruptions, although the band creates a dense, all-round sound which is hard to categorize. The music on this album defies all things artificial. Human Intelligence is a complete live concert performed by Christoph Irniger’s Pilgrim at Red Horn District in Bad Meinberg, Germany, in November 2023. The set is captured from beginning to end, with no changes in the running order of the songs and just a few minor edits made to the final audio. Christoph Irniger with Pilgrim © Jonas Ruther Irniger says in the liner notes: “It is definitively an album for a listener who is able and likes to take his time to dive into the music,” says Irniger. “I think the power of this live album lies in the fact, that the listener can hear how things evolve, how composition melts into improvisation (and vice versa), how the music processes through different stages of emotions. Since the set list was built on the spot, you even notice sometimes musicians deciding differently, going different ways and finding each other again. There are doubts and questions, leading into resolution and common energy. The path is not always straight and needs rethinking or reflection sometimes, but because of the trust, common idea and subordination of the ego of everyone, the music can develop always. It’s like living together in society, or what I’d wish for it to be.” And Kevin LeGendre adds: "The quintet is as cohesive as it is imaginative, as much a triumph of advanced ensemble chemistry as it is the precision of each player." The five members of the group, which was formed in 2010, come from different parts of Switzerland. They also play in various other groups, throughout the world and their work as leader, sideman or composer is documented on various records. Pilgrim Live © Frederic Laverriere “Hendrix” - This new song features a stellar slow burning guitar solo by the one and only Dave Gisler over a meditative world of endless chords. It honors Jimi Hendrix and artists (like Thelonious Monk for example) who can combine simplicity with complexity, which is one of the key elements for me as a composer and improviser. “Calling the Spirits” - The song was released on the studio album Ghost Cat. The song is about coming together as a band, family, community, or the world to celebrate music. “I believe that music is always here, but you must find your way to it. It's like higher spirits in whatever form it may be.” “Secret Level” - The song was released as ghost track on the studio album Ghost Cat. It is about a secret level, like computer games used to have. Opposite to those secret levels which are hard to find, where you can get all the money and leave strong, this secret level is easy to find, but hard to get out of. It's easy to get lost. The tune “Emergency Exit" on this record is about finding your way out of that level. “Human Intelligence” - This is a new song which is kind of an interlude of reflection. The music makes a step back in complexity and density to leave space for personal thoughts. It gives time to process, ask questions and find answers. It is about a calm, mindful and human way of evolving, leading into resolution and common energy. The piece occurs first out of the Secret Level as short Interlude and is played later in the set in its full version. “Seven Down Eight Up” - The song was released on the studio album Ghost Cat. It is inspired by the book Listening by Nik Bärtsch. In one chapter he talks about the Aikido principle of falling seven times and standing up eight times. “At the time I wrote the song, I had very serious back problems which led to surgery, and I had to pause for six months. I found it very inspiring to see this not as a problem, but more as a situation to solve, which gives me the chance to find new ways and learn something new. As reference there is a "module-Ish" part in the middle of the piece (Nik Bärtsch calls his songs "modules").” “The Kraken” - The song was released on the live album Big Wheel Live and appears only as little snippet, developing from the song played before (and the band decided on the spot not to play it thru then). “It is one of my Wayne Shorter tribute pieces. The image therefore is Wayne Shorter (with his Quartet) who was able to embrace a whole concert hall like an octopus.” “Emergency Exit” - The song consists of a 10-bar form with a melody, chords and bassline. It is played as a suite with different parts that use combinations and improvisations with and over the material. It is basically always the same musical material but sounds totally different in each section. It’s about situations in life that occur and feel very differently, depending on the perspective. In this context it tells the story of the protagonist finding its way out of the Secret Level, going thru different emotions (hope, fear, joy, etc..) and coming to a resolution in the end. “Back in the Game” - The song was released on the first quintet album Italian Circus Story and is always great to close the set with, since it has the quality of exit music in a film. It is inspired by the movie with the same name by Clint Eastwood. The song is about believing in the big wheel of life which keeps on turning, trust that things will come as they have to and feel good about it. https://christophirniger.bandcamp.com | Christoph Irniger Name Pronounciation (upper right corner) TRACKS 1. Hendrix (Christoph Irniger) 5:31 2. Calling the Spirits (Christoph Irniger) 14:27 3. Secret Level (Christoph Irniger) 3:38 4. Human Intelligence (Interlude) (Christoph Irniger) 2:18 5. Seven Down Eight Up (Christoph Irniger) 13:06 6. The Kraken (Christoph Irniger) 1:48 7. Human Intelligence (Christoph Irniger) 6:14 8. Emergency Exit (Christoph Irniger) 12:25 9. Back In The Game (Christoph Irniger) 5:23 Total: 64:04 All compositions by Christoph Irniger. Live recorded on November 29, 2023, at Red Horn District, Bad Meinberg, Germany by Christopher Opelt. Mixed in September 2024 in Berne by Christoph Utzinger. Mastered in November 2024 in Zug by Alex Huber. Cover art: Jamie Breiwick, Graphic design: Paul Bieri, Liner notes: Kevin Le Gendre, Photos: Markus Ecker. Produced by Christoph Irniger and Intakt Records.  Christoph Irniger with Pilgrim © Frederic Laverriere

I'm surprised that 25% of gamblers bet on soccer. Perhaps they are all immigrants. And I didn't know that anybody bets on tennis.

Power Rankings! https://3downnation.com/2025/02/17/3downnation-cfl-power-rankings-elks-off-season-splash-creates-ripple-but-doesnt-moisten-podium/ ***** Free Agent analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/17/mmqb-favourite-west-division-free-agency-moves-so-far/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/riderville-roundup-february-16/ ***** Al Valdes has died at 89. RIP. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/15/stampeders-leading-rusher-in-1957-al-valdes-dead-at-89/ ***** His new contract with the Ticats makes Kenny Lawler the league's highest-paid non quarterback. I love Lawler, but he's getting old. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/16/hamilton-tiger-cats-make-kenny-lawler-cfls-highest-paid-non-quarterback/ ***** This comes as a surprise to me. The Elks' Robbie Smith's new contract makes him the league's highest-paid defensive player. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/17/edmonton-elks-make-robbie-smith-cfls-highest-paid-defensive-player/ ***** Brandon Barlow has signed with the Elks. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/16/elks-sign-dl-brandon-barlow-after-ticats-release-prior-to-offseason-roster-bonus/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/hamilton-tiger-cats-to-release-american-dl-brandon-barlow-expected-to-sign-with-edmonton-elks-1.2253504 https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/a-line-in-the-sand-tiger-cats-release-de-brandon-barlow/

Episode 38 https://artpepper.bandcamp.com/track/straight-life-audiocast-episode-38

Here we go! Last year's contracts expired on Tuesday, so there were lots of signings and team-hopping this week. Let's begin with the overall picture. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/a-team-by-team-look-at-2025-cfl-free-agency/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/12/grading-every-teams-free-agency-so-far/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/12/each-cfl-teams-additions-and-subtractions-in-free-agency-thus-far/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/tsn-ca-cfl-free-agency-blog-recapping-day-1-1.2250570 https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/blue-bombers-stampeders-open-second-day-of-free-agency-with-early-moves-1.2251246 ***** Some specific analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/13/landrys-10-free-agency-takeaways/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/13/4-top-free-agents-still-on-the-market/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/13/5-impactful-free-agency-signings/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/14/6-free-agency-matches-made-in-heaven/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/14/5-under-the-radar-free-agency-signings/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/14/5-pff-approved-free-agency-signings/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/hamilton-tiger-cats/breaking-down-the-tiger-cats-free-agency-haul-new-additions-wr-lawler-db-stubblefield-and-dl-garbutt/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/tiger-cats-free-agency-roundup-secure-five-free-agents-including-db-amos/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/bombers-agreeing-to-terms-with-numerous-players/ ***** Some particularly noteworthy moves Derrick Moncrief to Edmonton https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/report-stampeders-agree-to-deal-with-lb-derrick-moncrief/ Peyton Logan to Winnipeg https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/bombers-sign-running-back-returner-peyton-logan/ Tommy Stevens to Sask https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/riders-sign-quarterback-tommy-stevens/ Hergy Mayala to Toronto https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/argos-sign-hergy-mayala-darrius-bratton-celestin-haba/ Micah Awe to BC https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/lions-sign-linebacker-micah-awe-to-two-year-contract/ Jeremiah Masoli to BC https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/veteran-qb-jeremiah-masoli-signs-with-lions/ Damon Webb to Calgary https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/stamps-sign-defensive-back-damon-webb/ Adam Auclair to BC https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/lions-sign-lb-adam-auclair-db-deontai-williams/ David Foucault to BC https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/lions-add-national-ol-david-foucault/ Adam Konar to BC https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/national-lb-adam-konar-agrees-to-one-year-contract-with-lions/ Tunde Adeleke to Ottawa https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/redblacks-sign-adeleke-lyon-henderson-to-one-year-deals/ Tevin Jones to Calgary https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/stamps-sign-american-receiver-tevin-jones/ Matt Shiltz to Ottawa https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/quarterback-matt-shiltz-signs-one-year-deal-with-redblacks/ Shawn Oakman to Montreal https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/als-sign-defensive-lineman-shawn-oakman/ Jeshrun Antwi (my favorite punter) to Calgary https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/stamps-sign-national-rb-jeshrun-antwi/ Liam Dobson to Hamilton https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/ticats-sign-ol-liam-dobson-to-two-year-contract/ Royce Metchie to Edmonton https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/11/defensive-back-royce-metchie-among-elks-six-free-agency-moves/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/its-official-the-edmonton-elks-sign-db-royce-metchie-on-a-two-year-deal/ Shea Patterson to Winnipeg https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/12/bombers-sign-quarterback-shea-patterson-to-one-year-deal/ Geno Lewis to Ottawa https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/12/redblacks-eugene-lewis-agree-to-two-year-contract/ Sean McEwen to Sask https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/12/riders-sign-veteran-offensive-lineman-sean-mcewen/ David Beard, Jake Ceresna, Tyrell Ford to Edmonton https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/12/elks-sign-ford-ceresna-beard-smith-brinkman/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/12/official-edmonton-elks-sign-all-cfl-db-tyrell-ford-twin-brother-of-qb-tre-ford/ Ciante Evans to Toronto https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/12/argos-sign-four-including-anthony-lanier-ii-and-ciante-evans/ Steven Dunbar to Edmonton https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/13/receiver-steven-dunbar-jr-signs-with-elks/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/american-receiver-steven-dunbar-jr-rejoins-the-edmonton-elks-1.2252458 https://3downnation.com/2025/02/13/trying-again-edmonton-elks-bring-back-receiver-steven-dunbar-jr-for-second-stint/ Cody Grace to Edmonton https://3downnation.com/2025/02/13/official-edmonton-elks-sign-former-all-star-punter-cody-grace/ Kenny Lawler to Hamilton https://3downnation.com/2025/02/13/kenny-lawler-believes-leaving-winnipeg-for-hamilton-a-better-move-than-edmonton-foray/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/13/blue-bombers-gm-kyle-walters-winnipeg-priced-out-on-free-agent-losses-lawler-dobson-ford/ ***** David Mackie has retired. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/13/canadian-running-back-david-mackie-announces-retirement-from-cfl/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/13/fullback-david-mackie-announces-retirement/ ***** Lucky Whitehead has retired. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/14/former-all-star-cfl-receiver-lucky-whitehead-retires-from-pro-football/ ***** The Als announced their football operations staff for this year. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/14/als-announce-football-operations-staff-for-2025/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/14/alouettes-gm-danny-maciocia-hires-daughter-bianca-as-football-operations-assistant/ ***** Wally Gabler has died at 80. RIP. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/13/former-cfl-quarterback-wally-gabler-passes-away-at-80/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/former-cfl-quarterback-wally-gabler-dies-at-the-age-of-80-1.2252475 ***** Sask analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/roughriders-running-back-room-requires-resolve-in-riderville/

I lived in Pittsburgh at the time. In my experience, it was by far the best distributed.

Disc One. This is the best George Coleman I've heard. Does anyone know why he left the group? Was it his idea or Miles'?

With a Dixieland touch. You might enjoy it, but it's not my cup of tea.

This sounds much more like Baker's PJ work with Russ Freeman than his Barclay album with Twardzik.

Thank you Jim!

Rodney Jordan Sends a Love Letter to His Hometown With the March 14 Release of "Memphis Blue" On Baxter Music Enterprises Bassist Leads a Stellar Quintet With Pianist Louis Heriveaux, Trumpeter Melvin Jones, Saxophonist Mark Sterbank, Drummer Quentin E. Baxter Through a Blues-Informed Set of Originals and Standards   February 12, 2025 Rodney Jordan, born and raised in the city known as the “Home of the Blues,” rightly channels that heritage on Memphis Blue, his personal tribute to the “soulful people of Memphis,” due to release March 14th on Baxter Music Enterprises. Now based in Tallahassee, Florida, Jordan is joined by his fellow Memphian, trumpeter Melvin Jones, as well as a group of first-rank collaborators who evoke the full spectrum of the South: Atlantan pianist Louis Heriveaux, Charleston-based saxophonist Mark Sterbank, and native Charlestonian Quentin E. Baxter on drums. Memphis Blue includes originals by Jordan and Jones as well as standards by Gigi Gryce, Johnny Mercer, and Mulgrew Miller. It reflects the flavor and spirit of the blues in ways that can’t be denied. “Not a typical blues recording, but if you listen closely every piece has that thread running through it,” says Jordan. “There’s an optimism in the way we play that embodies the blues spirit.” Certainly, if one takes Willie Dixon’s famous line that “the blues is the truth” as a credo, we find deep and unvarnished truths in the original tunes: the moody hope of Jones’s “The Storm Will Pass,” the sweetness and yearning of Jordan’s “Escapatoria,” and the soulful celebration of the bassist’s “The Art of Blakey.” Yet there’s no less a channeling of the blues in their haunting transformation of “Autumn Leaves,” a truly unique rendition that calls forth the power of a Bessie Smith or a Robert Johnson in its stark, deconstructive arrangement. The album also includes “Small Portion,” a composition by Mulgrew Miller (who attended Memphis State University) whose blues and soulful immersion is obvious from the beginning. The same is true of Gigi Gryce’s “Minority”; though the late alto saxophonist never lived in Memphis, his tune has more than enough tasty morsels for the musicians to cook with it. If Memphis blues imparts anything to Jordan and the other movers and shakers behind Memphis Blue, it’s the music’s combination of a plainspoken message with its spirit of community and camaraderie. “There’s nothing pretentious about the way we play,” says Jordan. “It’s always about the group, and we are really happy to be playing together…. This recording is a look back and salute to Memphis.” Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Rodney Jordan was nurtured from the beginning by the rich musical heritage of that city. He played bass in church, performed in the Memphis Youth Symphony, and studied the instrument in the music programs of Memphis City Schools (in part under the tutelage of legendary Memphis musicians and educators Charles Harris and Emerson Able). While still an undergraduate at Mississippi’s Jackson State University, Jordan reaped the benefits of his lifelong classical music education by becoming the assistant principal bassist for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. However, he never confined himself to the classical tradition: His teachers in Mississippi included the explorative jazz musicians London Branch, Alvin Fielder, and Kidd Jordan (New Orleans), who cultivated his mastery of the bebop idiom as well as the outward-leaning experimental avenues that sprang from it. With a degree in Music Education in hand from Jackson State, Jordan duly became an educator himself, chairing the string program for Dougherty County (Georgia) Public Schools and earning the principal bass chair for the Albany Symphony Orchestra. In his off-hours, he would travel a few hours north to work as a freelance bassist in Atlanta. In 2001, however, the Jazz Studies program at Florida State University came calling. Jordan moved to Tallahassee, FL to become the school’s Professor of Jazz Bass and Coordinator of Jazz and Commercial Music. There he met another faculty member, the celebrated pianist Marcus Roberts, of whose trio Jordan has been a member (with drummer Jason Marsalis) for more than 15 years. He also tours regularly with esteemed vocalist Rene Marie. Jordan has staked out a career as a composer as well, including the 2024 commission The Medgar Evers Suite. As a leader, he recorded his debut, Playing Jazz, in 2017; Memphis Blue is his second album. Photography: Reese Moore    EPK: Rodney Jordan "Memphis Blue"  Rodney Jordan Web Site  

Free Agent analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/10/mmqb-3-burning-questions-ahead-of-free-agency/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/08/each-cfl-teams-additions-and-subtractions-in-free-agency-thus-far/ ***** The Argos and Redblacks traded one American for another today. What is interesting is that between them they have one game in the league. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/10/argos-trade-db-craig-james-to-redblacks-for-dl-andrew-chatfield/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/10/toronto-argonauts-ottawa-redblacks-complete-rare-cfl-player-for-player-trade/ ***** Robert Priester has signed with the Redblacks. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/10/redblacks-sign-db-robert-priester-to-one-year-deal/ https://3downnation.com/2025/02/10/official-ottawa-redblacks-sign-grey-cup-winning-db-robert-priester/ ***** Bruno Labelle has signed with the Argos. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/10/toronto-argonauts-sign-former-saskatchewan-roughriders-fb-bruno-labelle-one-other/ ***** Yesterday's Super Bowl Canadian television ratings fell 15% from last year. https://3downnation.com/2025/02/10/canadian-television-ratings-for-super-bowl-lix-fall-15-percent-year-over-year/ ***** Sask analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/riderville-roundup-february-9/ *****

Mack Avenue Music Group & Strata-East Announce Strata-East Reissues Pharoah Sanders - Izipho Zam (My Gifts) Record Store Day Exclusive 180-gram Vinyl Release Available April 12, 2025 Charlie Rouse - Two Is One, Charles Tolliver’s Music Inc - Live at Slugs’, Vol. I & II, Stanley Cowell - Musa: Ancestral Streams Available April 25, 2025 All Albums Available on CD and Digitally (for the first time) on April 25, 2025 The Strata-East Vinyl Reissues are Pressed on 180-gram Vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), Mastered by Kevin Gray with Audio Transferred Direct from the Original Analog Tapes + New Liner Notes & Never-Before-Seen Photos Strata-East: The Legacy Begins Digital-Only Anthology Available February 21, 2025 Last month, Mack Avenue Music Group announced its partnership with Strata-East Records, the influential jazz label known for artistic freedom and high production standards founded in 1970 by Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell. Following the digital-only anthology Strata-East: The Legacy Begins, available February 21, 2025, Strata-East will reissue Pharoah Sanders’ Izipho Zam (My Gifts) as a Record Store Day exclusive vinyl release on April 12, 2025. Pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) on 180-gram vinyl and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio with audio transferred directly from the original analog tapes, the vinyl edition comes in high-quality, glossy tip-on gatefold jackets. It also includes new liner notes by Harmony Holiday and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike. On April 25, 2025, Strata-East will release vinyl and CD reissues of Charlie Rouse’s Two Is One, Charles Tolliver’s Music Inc.’s Live at Slugs’, Vol. I & II, and Stanley Cowell’s Musa: Ancestral Streams, also pressed at RTI on 180-gram vinyl and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio with audio transferred directly from the original analog tapes. Pharoah Sanders’ Izipho Zam (My Gifts) will also be released on CD at this time and all 4 albums will be available digitally for the first time ever. Also April 25, 2025, Mack Avenue Music Group will digitally release, for the first time, 32 albums from the Strata-East catalog. Strata-East: The Legacy Begins celebrates the revolutionary spirit of one of the most influential artist-owned independent jazz labels in history. This anthology brings together iconic tracks that embody Strata-East’s commitment to artistry and creative freedom. Featuring the explosive brilliance of Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell, the soulful expressions of The Heath Brothers, Charlie Rouse, Shamek Farrah, Pharoah Sanders, and more, the collection showcases cult classics from the label’s deep catalog while honoring the extraordinary artists who shaped its legacy. This release not only marks the launch of the partnership between Strata-East and Mack Avenue Music Group but also delivers the label’s highest-quality audio anthology and is available digitally for the first time. A reflection of Strata-East’s dedication to spiritual jazz and social consciousness, this compilation invites listeners to rediscover classics or experience them anew. Strata-East: The Legacy Begins celebrates the timelessness of this music while marking the start of an exciting new chapter. "Strata-East Records is very proud to be partnering with Mack Avenue Music Group, whose passion, values, total commitment, and deep love for the music, mirror ours," Tolliver said. "This is an exciting time and together with Mack Avenue we can’t wait to bring you, our fans around the world, new essential high-quality masters of the Strata-East catalog. We’ve gone back to the origins so that you can totally immerse yourself in this great music, the emotions, artistic and creative freedom that exemplifies Strata-East. There is a lot more to come and to be announced, so stay tuned!” Will Wakefield, Senior Director of A&R for Mack Avenue Music Group, said: "We are excited to partner with Charles, Ched, and the Strata-East team to bring this beloved music to the world with the highest quality audio and care taken to preserve its purest form. We can't wait for everyone to hear what we have coming." Specializing in avant-garde and post-bop jazz, Strata-East’s notable albums include Tolliver's Music Inc, Cowell’s Musa: Ancestral Streams, Charlie Rouse’s Two is One and Billy Harper's Capra Black. Strata-East addressed social and political themes resonant with the Black Arts Movement. Its pioneering approach to artist rights has inspired generations of musicians and independent labels, cementing its place in jazz history. Strata-East's roster featured timelessly influential musicians who intertwined music with spoken word in response to their cultural moment. This includes Sanders, known for his spiritual and avant-garde explorations that inspired a shift in mainstream jazz offerings. Despite its short period of recorded music output, Strata-East's commitment to artistic freedom and high production standards earned it a revered place in jazz history. Its pioneering approach to artist rights and control has inspired generations of musicians and independent labels, contributing to a vibrant and diverse musical landscape. More information on individual albums: SES1973325 | Pharoah Sanders | Izipho Zam (My Gifts) Pharoah Sanders' Izipho Zam (My Gifts) is a groundbreaking jazz masterpiece. Recorded in 1969, two years after John Coltrane's passing, and released in 1973 on Strata-East, the album features a 13-member ensemble, including Sonny Sharrock, Lonnie Liston Smith, Cecil McBee, and Leon Thomas. Blending Eastern influences with expansive jazz, Sanders’ genius is highlighted with "Prince of Peace,” showcasing Thomas' unique vocals, and the 28-minute title track, offering an exploration of dissonance and harmony with West African percussion and meditative chants. For the first time ever, this seminal work from a legendary saxophonist will be available on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. Pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, the vinyl edition comes in high-quality, glossy tip-on gatefold jackets. It also includes new liner notes by Harmony Holiday and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike. SES197225 | Charles Tolliver | Live at Slugs’, Volume I & II For the first time ever, Charles Tolliver’s Live at Slugs’, Volumes I & II will be released together in one set, presenting the full power of these historic performances in a unified collection. Recorded live in 1970 at the legendary Slugs' in New York City, the albums feature Tolliver’s fiery trumpet alongside an all-star lineup: Strata-East co-founder Stanley Cowell on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jimmy Hopps on drums. These high-energy recordings capture the raw intensity and innovation of the Music Inc. quartet, showcasing their technical brilliance and cohesive interplay. Remastered in stunning detail, this release unites two of the most celebrated live albums in jazz history for the first time on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. The digital release features 3 never-before-released bonus tracks, totaling 41 minutes of unreleased music. Pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, the vinyl edition comes in high-quality, glossy tip-on gatefold jackets. It also includes new liner notes by Marcus J. Moore and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike. SES1974325 | Stanley Cowell | Musa: Ancestral Streams Featuring stunning solo piano work by Strata-East co-founder Stanley Cowell, Musa: Ancestral Streams is a landmark album in jazz, celebrated for its intimacy and innovation. Recorded in 1974, it stands as one of the most significant solo piano albums of its time, blending jazz with classical, African, and Eastern influences. Cowell’s pioneering use of both electric and acoustic piano expands the expressive range of the instrument, creating a deeply personal and spiritual experience. Musa: Ancestral Streams is a cornerstone of the Strata-East discography, reflecting the label’s commitment to artistic freedom and genre-defining works. It not only highlights Cowell’s extraordinary vision as a musician but also exemplifies Strata-East’s role in championing boundary-pushing, artist-produced records. For the first time ever, this pioneering solo work from the famed pianist will be available on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. The digital release features an alternate take on the classic “Travelin’ Man” as well as 3 additional never-before-released bonus tracks. Pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, the vinyl edition comes in high-quality, glossy tip-on gatefold jackets. It also includes new liner notes by Nate Chinen and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike. SES1974625 | Charlie Rouse | Two Is One Charlie Rouse’s groundbreaking album Two Is One is a funk-infused exploration of jazz that embodies the innovative spirit of Strata-East Records. Originally recorded in 1974 and transferred from the original analog tapes, Two Is One fuses sophisticated soul jazz with post-bop and spiritual influences while highlighting stellar collaborations with guitarists George Davis and Paul Metzke, Cal Scott on electrified cello, and the incomparable Stanley Clarke on electric bass. For the first time ever, this classic from a saxophone legend will be available on CD and digital platforms, as well as on 180-gram vinyl. Pressed at Record Technology Inc. (RTI) and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, the vinyl edition comes in high-quality, glossy tip-on gatefold jackets. It also includes new liner notes by Syd Schwartz and never-before-seen photos, making this release a must-have for jazz enthusiasts and collectors alike. Strata-East: The Legacy Begins Read the full press release here. Track List: Billy Harper – “Sir Galahad” Clifford Jordan – “John Coltrane” Stanley Cowell – “Equipoise” Charles Tolliver & Music Inc – “Felicite” (live) Shamek Farrah – “Watch What Happens Now” Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell – “On the Nile” Charlie Rouse – “Hopscotch” Pharoah Sanders – “Prince of Peace” The Heath Brothers ft. Stanley Cowell – “Smilin’ Billy Suite: Part II” Cecil Payne – “Martin Luther King, Jr. I Know Love” Charles Tolliver & Music Inc – - “Drought” (Live) Charles Brackeen – “Rhythm X” Charles Tolliver & Music Inc – “Spanning” (Live) Charles Tolliver & Music Inc – “Truth” (Live) Cecil McBee – “Voice of the 7th Angel” Harold Vick – “Don’t Look Back” Charles Tolliver – “Lil’s Paradise” The Piano Choir – “Effi” John Hicks – “My One and Only Love” John Gordon – “Step by Step” Charles Tolliver – “Ruthie’s Heart” (Live) .Charles Tolliver – “For Love of What” (Live) Stanley Cowell ft. Billy Harper & Reggie Workman & Billy Hart – “Sweet Song” The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe & Bill Lee – “Two Songs for a Boy Named Mark: a) Little Bitty Baby, b) Soliloquy to a Man-Child” The Brass Company & Bill Lee – “Alias Buster Henry” Charles Tolliver & Music Inc – “Earl’s World” Stanley Cowell – “Lullabye” The Piano Choir – “Barbara Ann” Billy Parker – “Get With It” Shamek Farrah & Sonelius Smith – “The World of the Children” Charles Tolliver & Music Inc Orchestra – “Impact” The New York Bass Violin Choir & Bill Lee – “John Coltrane” John Hicks – “Hell’s Bells" Strata-East: The Legacy Begins Mack Avenue Music Group/Strata-East · Release Date: February 21, 2025 Pharoah Sanders - Izipho Zam (My Gifts) Record Store Day Exclusive Vinyl Release + CD Compilation Mack Avenue Music Group/Strata-East Release Date: April 12, 2025 Vinyl and CD Reissues: Charlie Rouse - Two Is One, Charles Tolliver’s Music Inc. - Live at Slugs’, Vol. I & II, Stanley Cowell - Musa: Ancestral Streams Mack Avenue Music Group/Strata-East Release Date: April 25, 2025 For more information on Strata-East, please visit: www.serecs.com  # # # # # #

Free Agent analyses https://www.cfl.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-2025-cfl-free-agency https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/07/top-10-moves-during-the-free-agency-communication-window/ ***** These are interesting. They are the work of a fan whose handle is CFL Stats Geek.

RIP Claude!