GA Russell

I received this press release today: "Road Shows, Vol. 2" Due September 13 From Sonny Rollins On Doxy/Emarcy Records New CD Contains 4 Tracks from September 2010 @80 Beacon Theatre Concert Including "Sonnymoon for Two" With Ornette Coleman, Christian McBride, Roy Haynes Plus Two 2010 Japanese Performances with His Working Band June 7, 2011 Sonny Rollins's forthcoming album, Road Shows, vol. 2, is quite likely to revive the delirious excitement stirred up at the saxophonist's sold-out 80th-birthday concert held in New York nearly one year ago. Four tracks on the new CD, which will be released September 13 by Doxy/Emarcy Records, were recorded that night; one of them is the 20-minute "Sonnymoon for Two" on which Rollins and surprise guest Ornette Coleman performed together in public for the first time in their long acquaintance, with electrifying results. "This material was not intended to be my next album," says Rollins, "but it was so strong that I felt I had to release it." Bassist Christian McBride and drummer Roy Haynes, who had previously appeared with Rollins at his 50th-anniversary Carnegie Hall concert in 2007, are special guests along with Coleman on "Sonnymoon." Other @80 selections feature trumpeter Roy Hargrove ("I Can't Get Started," "Rain Check") and guitarist Jim Hall ("In a Sentimental Mood") with Rollins's working band: guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Bob Cranshaw, drummer Kobie Watkins, and percussionist Sammy Figueroa. The remaining tracks on the new CD, "They Say It's Wonderful" and "St. Thomas," were recorded during a Japanese tour one month after the @80 concert. "I wanted this Road Shows to comprise performances from 2010," Rollins states. Volume 1, by contrast, presented a range of performances recorded over a nearly 30-year period. The historic onstage meeting of Rollins and Coleman, whom CD annotator Francis Davis describes as "the two sharpest minds in jazz," was a first, though the saxophonists are friends who used to practice together on the beach in California. Coleman was invited to play at the September 10th Beacon concert, says Rollins, "but I didn't know until the last minute whether he would accept the invitation." Indeed, his participation was confirmed just a few hours before showtime. L. to r.: Ornette Coleman, Christian McBride, Roy Haynes, Sonny Rollins. "I figured that 'Sonnymoon' would be open enough for Ornette and for everybody," says Rollins. "It could be played in a structured way or an unstructured way. It was malleable enough to suit whatever my guests wanted to do with it." Sonny Rollins (right) with Russell Malone, Roy Hargrove, Bob Cranshaw, Kobie Watkins, Sammy Figueroa. Road Shows, vol. 1 was one of the most highly-praised albums of 2008, placing at the top of many best-of lists and critics polls. Stereophile, in a five-star review, wrote that it "represents a new entry on the short list of albums that every serious jazz fan needs to own." Referring to the three-year gap between the two Road Shows CDs, the saxophonist comments that "it is my intention and desire to release more music in a much shorter span of time. I have a lot in the archives, but I am thinking about recent things. I want to capture some of Sonny Rollins 2011 -- new material that I have, and new ideas that I have and am working on, which are as yet unfulfilled and undocumented. Working in the studio is a definite possibility." Rollins, whose most recent honor is the National Medal of Arts, which was presented to him by President Barack Obama in March, is currently on tour in Australia and New Zealand. Early last month, he returned to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the first time since the mid-1990s, premiering a much-talked-about composition called "D. Cherry." Shortly after the release of Road Shows, vol. 2, Rollins will perform several concerts in California, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, as well as in Washington, DC and Nashville, before embarking on a fall European tour. Photos by John Abbott

The bargain box thread has been a hit, so I thought I would start a similar thread for DVD boxes. Secret Agent aka Danger Man, The Complete Collection (18 DVDs) has been reduced to $38.99. http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Agent-AKA-Danger-Man/dp/B003JQZY8A/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1307457905&sr=1-1

Damon Duval is signing with the Eskimos. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=368070

RIP. I had no idea that his mother was Marni Nixon. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/05/2929174/andrew-gold-singer-musician-who.html

Happy Birthday 2011 Kalo!

Happy Birthday 2011 Ray!

Jon Oosterhuis failed his physical, and the Bombers cut him. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=367865 ***** Ahman Green showed up with a hamstring injury, and the Als cut him. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/alouettes-cut-ahman-green/article2047904/

It looks like the Globe has someone new covering the league, Rachel Brady. Here's her Eastern preview: http://www.theglobea...article2047280/ Edit to add: This report mentions a few Bomber transactions I don't think I was aware of: Brock Ralph and Luke Fritz were released, and Shawn Gallant retired.

TSN Radio 1050 announced today that they will have a weekly Argos show each Monday at 7:00 pm eastern, starting this Monday. The show will feature TSN's television talent. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=367744

Thanks Lon. I'll look forward to hearing it. I ordered it today.

Herbie Mann - Four Classic Albums (2 CDs) - $5.30 Amazon has this UK (I think) public domain release of four Herbie Mann Prestige albums from 1957 and 1958. Flute Souffle Flute Flight Just Wailin' Yardbird Suite I bought the first three above in 1969 for bargain bin prices. Flute Souffle and Flute Flight are great! Mann recorded a session with Bobby Jaspar which makes up all of Flute Souffle and Side A of Flute Flight. Side B is a Jaspar session. Just Wailin' is a blowing session that I've never been excited about. Edit - Lon says that Yardbird Suite is a Savoy date.

Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Original Album Series (5 CDs) - $19.65 http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-East-West-Butterfield-Resurrection/dp/B003097AHE/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2NQ35EP9AY1BO&colid=RVSBV717YT9

http://www.michaelei...rg/blog/?p=358# Very interesting! Thanks BW!

The camps are now open, and pre-season news articles are starting to appear. Here is Allan Maki's look at the West: http://www.theglobea...article2045484/ ***** Less than 1,000 tickets are left for the Sept. 25 game in Moncton between the Ticats and the Stamps. http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4407637

So, did you get her the mixer?

Thanks, Lon!

Happy Birthday etherbored!

RIP. His 1966 Gotta Travel On with Clark Terry and Snooky Young was my second jazz album ever. I found it on lala last year and really enjoyed it, with the great music combining with the great memories.

Bob Flanigan passed away May 15. I had the pleasure of meeting him about fifteen years ago. I got his autograph for my sister, who had Five Trombones when it was new. He was 84, so he lived his biblically allotted years and then some, but I still feel like we lost a part of the 50s. I'll put on something by the Freshmen tonight. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8524476/Bob-Flanigan.html

Steve Spurrier, with the support of a number of SEC coaches, today suggested that the coaches pay the players $300 a game. That comes to $300,000 for the team for the season. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/steve-spurrier-others-propose-paying-football-players/article2043469/

Shaq has announced that he will retire. http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/06/01/shaquille-oneal-announces-retirement-web-video/

The Riders released Chris Szarka, who is now 36. Rob Bagg has re-injured his knee, and is likely out for the year. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/roughriders-endure-a-rough-day/article2043129/

The Riders' second round pick, an OL named Matt O'Donnell, is so big, at 6'11", 340, that he will first try out with the Boston Celtics before signing with Sask. He hasn't played basketball since high school, but the Celtics are giving him a tryout??? http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=367498

Happy Birthday mellowT! They're partying in San Diego!

Happy Birthday 2011 Durium!