GA Russell

The NFL Network will show in the US two CFL games per week this year. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/cfl-back-on-nfl-network/article2069603/

Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Vols. 1-5 (5 DVDs) - $16.66 http://www.amazon.co...08629045&sr=1-5 Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Vols. 6-11 (5 DVDs) - $20.55 http://www.amazon.co...08629253&sr=1-4 The Best of the Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (4 DVDs) - $8.56 http://www.amazon.co...C/ref=pd_cp_d_3 The Essential Ozzie & Harriet Collection (12 DVDs, 100 ep.) - $15.99 http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Ozzie-Harriet-Collection/dp/B000SBAVIW/ref=pd_sim_d_2

Here's the link to the 2011 schedule: http://www.cfl.ca/schedule/year/2011/time_zone/0 ***** The Argos have cut PK Sam. http://www.cfl.ca/article/argos-cut-ties-with-sam-two-others ***** The Eskimos have cut Mark Mueller. http://www.cfl.ca/article/eskimos-release-canadian-qb-mueller

I received this press release today about the new Amina Alaoui release called Arco Iris, which is due out next Tuesday. ECM Amina Alaoui Arco Iris Amina Alaoui: vocals, daf Saïfallah Ben Abderrazak: violin Sofiane Negra: oud José Luis Montón: flamenco guitar Eduardo Miranda: mandolin Idriss Agnel: percussion, electric guitar U.S. Release date: June 28, 2011 ECM CD: B0015527-02 UPC: 6025 276 3758 7 “This music transcribes an Iberian peninsula carried towards a dialogue with the potential of what might be. It is a poetic geography that entertains the dream of the impossible: human horizons that transcend borders, lyrical Mediterranean idioms that are open to the universe and the intelligence of being, of mutual communication. Song and music explore this possibility in order to open up another path: original expression.” Amina Alaoui. Following her outstanding ECM debut performance as the lyrical voice of Jon Balke’s Siwan recording (released June 2009) Amina Alaoui explores a rainbow of musical possibilities on her own Arco Iris. It is an emotionally powerful album that soars through related idioms. This time, says Alaoui in her liner notes, there is “no need to discuss the origins of fado, flamenco or Al Andalusi” for the music itself investigates the common crucible of the styles: Amina’s delivery, and the performances of her superb ensemble, make the interconnections of the genres self-evident. Yet as she also points out, “you must first have assimilated your own roots, in order to absorb the culture of the other...” Historical awareness, study and discernment are essential but more is needed: “I am an artist of the present. I abstain from simply copying the styles of the past.” Singer, composer, poet and scholar of distinction, Amina Alaoui was born in Fez and originally schooled in the Moroccan Gharnati tradition, which remains a central reference in her work. She also studied European classical music from childhood onwards. While based in Paris in the mid-1980s she explored medieval chant with Henri Agnel and Persian song with Djallal Akhbari, interested, as ever, in the points of contact between the traditions. Alaoui has been the recipient of many awards including the Algerian Prix d’Interprétation du festival de Musique Arabo-andalouse d’Oran, Morocco’s Prix d’Excellence au Festrival Ghanati d’Oijda, and the Cairo Opera’s Prix d’Honneur du Festival de Musique Classique Arabe. She is also a laureate of the Villa Medicis Hors les Murs where her musicological research into the confluence of musical streams led ultimately to the work that has become Arco Iris. On this disc, recorded in April 2010 in the recital room of Lugano’s Audiorium RSI, with Manfred Eicher producing, Amina is flanked by her truly international ensemble: violinist Saïfallah Ben Abderrazak and oud player Sofiane Negra are from Tunisia: Negra has played with Alaoui for many years and has much experience also of cross-cultural collaboration – working, for instance, with flamenco singer Ines Bacan and with many jazz players. Abderrazak’s interesting resumé includes work as a physicist specializing in acoustics and sound principles as well as membership of the Symphonic Orchestra of Tunis. Guitarist José Luis Montón from Barcelona has a following amongst flamenco adherents worldwide (and an ECM solo album of his own is in preparation). Mandolinist Eduardo Miranda was born in Brazil, has lived the last two decades in Portugal, and links choro and fado styles through a vocabulary influenced by jazz. The group’s youngest member, Idriss Agnel, son of Amina Alaoui, studied music at Maîtrise Notre Dame de Paris from the age of seven. He is meanwhile renowned as a multi-instrumentalist, contributing here deft percussion and (on one track) electric guitar. The sparkling interchanges between the instrumentalists and the rapport of each of them with Alaoui make for exciting listening throughout Arco Iris. The songs are from many sources, and the texts and some of the melodies span a thousand years. Amina sets mystic poems by St. Teresa of Avila and by 11th century king of Seville Al Mutamid Ibn Abbad, and nature poetry of Ibn Khafaja. (“Nothing is more beautiful, O Andalusians / Than your luxuriant orchards / Gardens, shadow and rivers / And fountains of crystal.”). There is 20th century fado from the pen of Antonio de Sousa Freitas and the well-known 15th century text “Las Morillas de Jaén” which Amina puts to her own music (a very different rendition can be heard on the Garbarek/Hilliard Officium Novum set). The album concludes with the title track, Amina’s song of praise to “Arco Iris”, the rainbow: “Sun and rain in an embrace (…) bridging the firmament”, while “Sounds/ Of light and colour/ Weave in harmony”. CD booklet includes liner notes by Amina Alaoui in French and English, all song texts in English translation, and photos from the recording session.

Happy 30th Birthday CJ!

Happy Father's Day to all here who are dads!

Happy Birthday Adam!

In listening to the four games this week, I ascertained the radio stations of all eight teams. You will need Windows Media Player to listen to them. All games are available on the internet free of charge. Montreal Alouettes - CJAD http://www.cjad.com/ Toronto Argonauts - (CHUM) TSN 1050 http://www.tsn.ca/radio/ Hamilton Tiger-Cats - CHML http://www.900chml.com/ Winnipeg Blue Bombers - CJOB http://www.cjob.com/ Saskatchewan Roughriders - CKRM http://www.620ckrm.com/ Calgary Stampeders - CHQR http://www.qr77.com/ Edmonton Eskimos - CHED http://www.630ched.com/ BC Lions - Team 1410 http://www.teamradio.ca/ ***** I have determined that at least two teams will have weekly shows (each on their respective station) - the Argos and the Ticats. Both shows are Monday at 7:00 pm eastern.

Toronto Argonauts 31....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 12 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=369339 Glenn didn't dress. Both Lemon and Bell did OK.

Alan, I like them all, but my favorite by far is Vol. 2 of the Unreleased Art series, The Last Concert. Roger Kellaway on piano makes it special, I think.

I got my copy of Blues for the Fisherman this week. Four CDs is too much for me to handle all at once, so I'm going to ease my way into the whole set over time. But what I've heard so far is great.

Amazon now has the mp3 downloads of Blues for the Fisherman (4x$8.99), but I don't see the CDs yet. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=Art+Pepper+blues+for+the+fisherman&x=20&y=18

Police Woman - The Complete First Season (5 DVDs) - $9.49 http://www.amazon.com/Police-Woman-Complete-First-Season/dp/B000E1EHPY/ref=pd_ys_qtk_general_recs_5?pf_rd_p=1286318242&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=home&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=179CBXK8YXE32KVS56H7

Saskatchewan Roughriders 23....Edmonton Eskimos 22 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=369292 A fun game. Durant and Ray didn't dress. Two weeks ago, the Esks opened camp with four veteran kickers, and Jamie Boreham and Louie Sakoda have already been let go. With the score 23-21 on the last play of the game, Derek Schiavone tried a 55 yard field goal which went wide for a single point. Their fourth kicker is Damon Duval, who will probably get the job. The wind in Regina gusted to 80 kph (that's 48 mph)!

Konitz gets plenty of blowing time, but from where I sit this is a Brad Mehldau album. When I first heard Mehldau ten years ago I didn't like him. But over the years I've gotten used to him, and I like him now as something different. Chuck, if you don't like Mehldau, I don't think you're going to like this album. The six songs are standards, but it doesn't take long for Konitz and Mehldau to go far afield. I should admit that I am predisposed to like those increasingly rare ECM's that are made up of the traditional sax, piano, bass and drums lineup.

OK, thanks guys. An enquiring mind wanted to know! ***** Honey West - The Complete Series (4 DVDs) - $15.73 http://www.amazon.com/Honey-West-Complete-4pc-Full/dp/B001B0H7DG/ref=wl_mb_recs_24_dp I Spy - Season 1 (5 DVDs) - $7.00 http://www.amazon.com/I-Spy-Season-Bill-Cosby/dp/B0012EBV88/ref=pd_cp_d_3

Stingray - The Complete Series (5 DVDs) - $6.41 http://www.amazon.com/Stingray-Complete-Nick-Mancuso/dp/B003XMKU3Y/ref=pd_ys_qtk_general_recs_5?pf_rd_p=1286318242&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=home&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=08ZAEH6A3VQFVSC5V488

My first thought was the lady laughing at an inopportune time during Bill Evans' I Loves You Porgy at the Village Vanguard.

I don't see the Secret Sessions box. Maybe they are sold out already. Are Second Spin's products new, or are they all used?

Montreal Alouettes 27....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 15 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=369190 Calvillo didn't dress.

Nilsson Sings Newman is now to be had for $2.49. http://www.amazon.com/Nilsson-Sings-Newman-Anniversary-Deluxe/dp/B0012GN2YW/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1308273168&sr=1-1

I received this press release yesterday: HALF NOTE RECORDS ISSUES A NEW RELEASE by RANDY BRECKER The Jazz Ballad Song Book featuring The Danish Radio Big Band and the Danish National Chamber Orchestra AVAILABLE IN STORES AND ONLINE JULY 19, 2011 New York, June 15, 2011 - Half Note Records is pleased to present trumpeter Randy Breckerʼs latest musical venture, a collaboration with the Danish Radio Big Band (DRBB) and the Danish National Chamber Orchestra. This formidable partnership provides a special opportunity for Brecker, actuating what many will consider to be a "career record." Breckerʼs incomparable contribution to contemporary music spans several decades. The Jazz Ballad Song Book explores the contours of 10 compelling American songs, penned by a cadre of jazzʼs premier arrangers, including Grammy winner Vince Mendoza. The record is both cinematic and intimate, reflecting perfectly the scope of Breckerʼs emotional play. Evergreen tracks inlcude "Cry Me a River," "All Or Nothing At All," "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "Skylark." Jeff Levenson, EVP of Half Note Records and long-standing admirer of Brecker, says: "Randy has achieved true emeritus status. He remains a figure who embodies the soul of jazz trumpet. His partnership with the DR Big Band is a perfect marriage, featuring pointed, often wistful, solos measured against hip arrangements, beautifully executed." For further information on the artist please visit his website here Track Information: 1. All Or Nothing At All 2. Cry Me A River 3. Someday My Prince Will Come 4. Foregone Conclusion 5. Goldfinger 6. Skylark 7. I Talk To The Trees 8. This Is All I Ask 9. The Immigrant/Godfather 10. Round Midnight

Here's a question for you: An hour's worth of a color movie has more bits of data than an hour of a black and white movie, right? So, can more hours of black and white fit onto one side of a DVD than color?

TSN has posted its previews of the eight teams. I love the newspaper issues with the pre-season previews! Montreal Alouettes http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44761 Toronto Argonauts http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44629 Hamilton Tiger-Cats http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44658 Winnipeg Blue Bombers http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44455 Saskatchewan Roughriders http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44684 Calgary Stampeders http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44712 Edmonton Eskimos http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44517 British Columbia Lions http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=44547

The two weeks of pre-season games began last night. British Columbia Lions 24....Calgary Stampeders 0 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=369087 Not many starters after the first quarter. Calgary kept to a vanilla defence.