GA Russell

Week 21 picks https://3downnation.com/2023/10/27/3downnation-cfl-picks-argos-eye-greatest-regular-season-record-in-cfl-history/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/27/from-the-editors-desk-waving-goodbye-to-the-regular-season/

Each team has announced its nominees for the six CFL Awards. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/25/into-the-limelight-2023-team-award-winners/ https://rodpedersen.com/cfl-team-nominees-announced/ https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-awards-nominees-brady-oliveira-blue-bombers-1.7007661 https://3downnation.com/2023/10/25/canadian-rb-brady-oliveira-double-dips-as-cfl-teams-unveil-team-award-winners/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/25/opinion-carthell-flowers-lloyd-snubbed-in-hamilton-tiger-cats-awards-voting/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/26/rip-up-your-ballots-seven-cfl-award-nominees-voters-got-wrong/ And also for the Jake Gaudaur Award. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/26/nine-finalists-named-for-jake-gaudaur-veterans-award/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/26/another-one-bombers-rb-brady-oliveira-highlights-list-of-jake-gaudaur-veterans-award-nominees/ ***** 10/25 Checking Down https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/25/checking-down-andrew-harris-back-in-practice-for-argos/ ***** 10/26 Game Notes https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/26/cfl-ca-game-notes-williams-looking-to-join-1000-yard-club/ ***** Week 21 picks https://doorfliesopen.com/2023/10/26/cfl-beat-199/

I saw a meme on Twitter yesterday. The woman says, "I've got a terrible noise coming from my car." And the mechanic says, "Have you tried removing the Mariah Carey Christmas CD?"

Drummer/composer Mareike Wiening finds joy and hope during troubled times on Reveal, her third album for Greenleaf Music Due out November 10, 2023, Reveal features trumpeter Dave Douglas alongside Wiening’s quintet.  CD AND DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE ON NOVEMBER 10, 2023 (GRE-1106). WWW.GREENLEAFMUSIC.COM. CD RELEASE EVENT JAZZ GALLERY, NEW YORK CITY, NOV. 1, 7.30 PM / 9.30 PM Mareike Wiening - Drums Rich Perry - Saxophone Glenn Zaleski - Piano Alex Goodman - Guitar Johannes Felscher - Bass  Special Guest: Dave Douglas - Trumpet (Tracks 2, 3, 😎  As she set out to conceive the music for her third album as a leader, drummer/composer Mareike Wiening [pronounced: Mar-EYE-kuh VEE-ning] glanced around and discovered a wealth of potential inspirations in the tumultuous events of recent years. Of course, there were the global upheavals that we’ve all watched unfold with bated breath: the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, political divisiveness in the U.S., Europe and beyond. Then there were the life-altering experiences that took place closer to home: Wiening moved back to her native Germany in 2018 after six years in New York, settling in Cologne. She suffered the death of a close family member after witnessing a slow decline in health, and she’s reaching a stage of life where societal pressures to settle down and start a family begin to strongly impinge. All of this set against the backdrop of an uncertain future for the music industry as inflation soars in Germany. Realizing that such heady subjects could result in a decidedly stark and somber album, Wiening chose not to react but to reveal, searching inward for the warmth and spirit that connected her with music in the first place. On Reveal, her third album for Greenleaf Music, Wiening has crafted her richest and most deeply personal music to date. “Personally and as a musician, I’ve been in so many situations in the past few years where the future feels insecure or questionable,” Wiening says. “I really wanted to listen deep inside myself and find the joy and hope in music.” Reveal reunites Wiening once again with her longtime working band: tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, pianist Glenn Zaleski, guitarist Alex Goodman and bassist Johannes Felscher. They are joined on three tracks by esteemed trumpeter and Greenleaf founder Dave Douglas, a fervent supporter throughout Wiening’s career. Mareike Wiening - © Luke Marantz "Mareike’s become a real force on the scene and I am honored to have been called for this new record date,” Douglas says. “It felt great to play with her and all the band members.” Despite her relocation to Germany, Wiening’s musical life remains focused on New York City, and in particular on this stellar group of musicians. The quintet was formed in 2014 while the drummer was pursuing her Master’s degree at New York University and has become essential to her musical imagination over the ensuing decade. “From the beginning, this quintet has been my band,” Wiening emphasizes. “I’m not technically a composer – I’m a drummer and I compose only for my band. I know that I can write down whatever I have in my head and they’ll know how to translate it into music. I can trust them, which is very helpful emotionally. They’ve really become my family.” Reveal, like all of Wiening’s work, never indulges in the kit pyrotechnics that mark the cliché “drummer’s date.” She is a nuanced and subtle player who shapes the music with a delicate sculptor’s finesse, her playing and composing inextricable from one another, the familiar voices of her bandmates becoming an extension of her own thought process. “When I write music, the drums are usually the last thing I'm thinking about,” she says. “People sometimes point out that there are rarely long drum solos on my records or even in my concerts, but I feel like you can already hear what I want to express in the tunes, so having a drum solo on every song would be redundant.” Mareike Wiening Quintett - © Luke Marantz Wiening does take the spotlight from time to time, as in the psychedelic opening moments of “Time for Priorities,” when she pairs off with Goodman’s backwards-mutated guitar. Surprisingly this leads into a bright Latin groove, reflecting the determination to emerge from the darkness that fuels the album as a whole. Zaleski’s lush, resonant chords set the tone for “Old Beginning,” an ode to rebirth that questions how life can expect to go on when it’s so constantly disrupted by ungovernable events. Wiening switches to brushes for “Encore,” whispering beneath Felscher’s eloquent solo before bursting into an anthemic head, receding again for Perry’s gently probing turn. Goodman and Zaleski pair off for the agitated intro to “Declaration of Truth,” a dizzyingly intricate puzzle that the band solves brilliantly. The sole piece not composed by Wiening, “Balada” is an unexpected adaptation of a classical piece by 19th century Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu. Inspired by the war in Ukraine, Wiening asked a friend to recommend some Eastern European folk and classical songs. “I was fascinated by their rhythms and strong melodies,” she describes. I discovered a lot of great music that I’d never heard of before, but this ballad stood out. The melody stuck in my head for a long time, so I started to write different arrangements of it until it took the shape it has here.” Greenleaf and Douglas have also been part of Wiening’s extended family since her full-length debut, Metropolis Paradise, in 2019. (Dan Tepfer stepped in on piano for that date after Zaleski had a bicycle accident prior to the session.) Future Memories followed on the same imprint in 2021, this time with the full quintet intact. His involvement made Douglas the ideal choice for the band’s first invited guest. “I’ve always been very inspired by how prolific and eclectic Dave’s music is,” Wiening explains. “While composing, I was looking for something new, something I wanted to develop, and I realized that I wanted to add another voice. I immediately thought of Dave.” Perry, Douglas - © Luke Marantz “Mareike’s music always has a lightness to it,” Douglas says. “Not a lightness in the sense of easy or simple — a lightness of movement, fleet, and often deceptively floating through time, without being insistent. One of the things that strikes me in playing with Mareike is how much her drumming is shaped around the music without overwhelming or imposing on the music. Like the best bandleaders, Mareike’s strategy seems to be to make everyone else sound as good as they can.” As Douglas and Perry hail from a similar generation and have both been mainstays across a variety of NYC jazz scenes for decades, Wiening naturally assumed that they’d crossed paths often over the years. She was shocked to discover that Reveal would mark only their second meeting ever, more than fifteen years after recording together on pianist Fred Hersch’s 1995 release Point in Time. Wiening makes the most of the pairing on Douglas’ three appearances. She penned “Choral Anthem” with the two in mind, sketching the composition in more skeletal form than usual so as to leave plenty of space for the frontline to explore. During the mesmerizing opening the leader provides the only accompaniment, with Wiening’s drums taking on an evocative and atmospheric role. Douglas returns on the muscular, swinging title track, its bristling energy very much in the mold of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers; and on the tender closing track, “The Girl By the Window,” named for (and channeling the soft-hued style of) a painting by American Impressionist T.C. Steele. Multi-faceted and intriguing, moving and exhilarating, Reveal is ultimately exactly what the title promises: a revelation. www.mareikewiening.com // www.greenleafmusic.com Mareike Wiening studied jazz drums in Mannheim, Copenhagen, and New York City, resided in NYC for six years, and returned to Germany in 2019. Since 2022, she has been a jazz drum instructor at the Zurich University of the Arts. Mareike has performed worldwide with top-tier musicians. TRACKS 1. Time for Priorities [7:17] 2. Choral Anthem [5:55] 3. Reveal [5:44] 4. Encore [6:08] 5. Declaration of Truth [8:03] 6. Balada [5:31] 7. Old Beginning [5:59} 8. The Girl by the Window [6:18] Compositions and arrangements by Mareike Wiening (GEMA), except Balada (composed by Ciprian Porumbescu). Executive Producer: Dave Douglas | Produced by Mareike Wiening Recording dates: June 23rd and 24th, 2023 | Recorded at The Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, NY Recording engineer: Aaron Nevezie | Mixing and Mastering engineer: Dave Darlington Gaphic designer: Frank Hoeger, Ratdesign

Follow Lindsey Stirling Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok # Artist and Track Title Time 1. Lindsey Stirling - Sleigh Ride 03:02

This is the final week. None of the games will affect playoff seedings. Week 21 picks https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/24/prediction-time-cfl-ca-writers-week-21-picks-2/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/24/weekly-predictor-who-gets-a-w-in-the-final-week-of-the-regular-season/ ***** Edmonton Year in Review https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/24/steinberg-elks-narrative-shifted-with-tre-ford/ ***** History was made last week. The Bombers' Nic Demsky and Brady Oliveira became the first Canadian pair on the same team to get 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/23/oliveira-demski-make-history-in-week-20/

New! From Oct. 18, 2023. Antonio Adolfo - The Jazziz Podcast https://www.jazziz.com/antonio-adolfo-the-jazziz-podcast/

Eric Alexander A New Beginning - Alto Saxophone with Strings Impacting May 4th, 2023 Format(s): Jazz Artist Title Time Eric Alexander 01 - Blues for Diane 04:41 Eric Alexander 02 - Embraceable You 05:41 Eric Alexander 03 - All My Tomorrows 04:54 Eric Alexander 04 - Maybe September 07:22 Eric Alexander 05 - To Love and Be Loved 04:53 Eric Alexander 06 - Anita 03:44 Eric Alexander 07 - She Was Too Good to Me 04:44 Eric Alexander 08 - Too Late Now 05:41 Eric Alexander 09 - Blues for Diane (Alternate Take) 06:49 New From HighNote Records Eric Alexander A New Beginning - Alto Saxophone with Strings HighNote Records HCD 7342 Eric Alexander – alto saxophone David Hazeltine – piano John Webber – bass Joe Farnsworth – drums String arrangements and conducting by Bill Dobbins (tracks 2 – 8 only) Airplay Starts Now • Suggested Tracks 1. Blues for Diane 4:44 • 2. Embraceable You 5:42 3. All My Tomorrows 4:56 • 7. She Was Too Good to Me 4:46 Like our stuff? Let’s hear from you. Record Company Contact Barney Fields • HighNote Records, Inc. jazzdepo@ix.netcom.com • (212) 873-2020 • www.jazzdepot.com 7342 HighN... HCD 7342-E... And from June 19, 2023. Now At #2 This Week On The JazzWeek Chart Turn Up The Spins! Louis Hayes Exactly Right! Impacting May 4th, 2023 Format(s): Jazz Artist Title Time Louis Hayes 01 - Exactly Right! 04:40 Louis Hayes 02 - Is That So 06:38 Louis Hayes 03 - Hand In Glove 06:45 Louis Hayes 04 - So Many Stars 05:34 Louis Hayes 05 - Carmine's Bridge 05:01 Louis Hayes 06 - Nerfertiti 05:18 Louis Hayes 07 - Mellow D 05:27 Louis Hayes 08 - Theme For Ernie 05:40 Louis Hayes 09 - Scarborough Fair 03:45 Louis Hayes 10 - Ugetsu 06:03 New from NEA Jazz Master Louis Hayes LOUIS HAYES Exactly Right! Savant Records SCD 2206 Louis Hayes – drums Abraham Burton – tenor saxophone Steve Nelson – vibraphone David Hazeltine – piano Dezron Douglas – bass Airplay Starts Now • Suggested Tracks 1. Exactly Right! 4:40 • 3. Hand in Glove 6:45 7. Mellow D 5:27 • 9. Scarborough Fair 3:47 And from June 19, 2023. Three Weeks At #1 On The JazzWeek Chart Plus Most Reports! Bill O'Connell Live in Montauk Impacting July 12th, 2023 Format(s): Jazz # Artist and Track Title Time 1. Bill O'Connell - 1 Do Nothing till You Hear from Me 06:29 2. Bill O'Connell - 2 Sparks 10:26 3. Bill O'Connell - 3 Moanin' 06:01 4. Bill O'Connell - 4 No Rhyme or Reason 08:59 5. Bill O'Connell - 5 One Finger Snap 09:21 6. Bill O'Connell - 6 Ripty Boom 06:41 7. Bill O'Connell - 7 Tip Toes 11:20 BILL O'CONNELL Live in Montauk Savant Records SCD 2208 Bill O’Connell - piano Craig Handy – tenor saxophone Santi Debriano – bass Billy Hart – drums Special Guest: Randy Brecker - trumpet (tracks 1 & 7) Airplay Starts Now • Suggested Tracks 1. Do Nothing till You Hear from Me (6:29) • 3. Moanin’ (6:01) 4. No Rhyme or Reason (8:59) • 5. Ripty Boom (6:40)

Best Buy has announced that it will stop selling DVDs and Blu-ray discs following this Christmas season. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rosaescandon/2023/10/20/best-buy-to-stop-dvd-sales-and-what-that-means-for-physical-media/ I guess everybody is streaming their movies as well as their music now.

Congratulations, Jim! Take a look at the news reports, and see how often the concept of winning the pennant is mentioned. I noticed some years back that that is almost ignored now.

--RELEASE EMBARGOED-- Verve Records and Republic Records Announce New Holiday Album From Seth MacFarlane and Liz Gillies We Wish You The Merriest Out November 3 First Single “We Wish You The Merriest” Out Now 13 Song Collection Arranged and Conducted by Andrew Cottee # Artist and Track Title Time 1. Seth MacFarlane, Liz Gillies - Sleigh Ride 03:18 2. Seth MacFarlane, Liz Gillies - We Wish You The Merriest 02:26 Verve Records and Republic Records announce the first holiday album from longtime friends and collaborators, Seth MacFarlane and Liz Gillies, titled We Wish You The Merriest. Embodying the spirit of classic jazz duets, this festive collection of holiday songs, arranged and conducted by Andrew Cottee, features the duo's impeccable harmonies and velvety vocals. The album will be released on November 3 and will be accompanied by select live performances. Out now is the first single from the album, “We Wish You The Merriest”. You can pre-order the album and listen to the single HERE. MacFarlane and Gillies have brought their bright chemistry and shared love of jazz and the Great American Songbook to a series of exciting collaborations, including their 2021 EP, Songs from Home. We Wish You The Merriest is sure to delight fans of both artists, as they showcase their musical prowess on timeless classics like "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Says MacFarlane of their latest collaboration: “I’ve had the privilege of working with a lot of world-class jazz vocalists throughout my career, and Liz Gillies is among the very best of the best. We had a blast recording what we can promise is the most fun holiday album you’ll hear this season.” Adds Gillies, “After collaborating for nearly a decade, I was beyond thrilled when Seth came to me with the idea of recording a holiday record. Our first official record. There is no one I know who possesses a deeper knowledge and appreciation for this era of music than Seth.” We Wish You The Merriest follows in the tradition of the Bing Crosby-Rosemary Clooney duet collections that both MacFarlane and Gillies have long admired. The album also serves as a delightful return to holiday music for MacFarlane, who previously showcased his baritone voice in his acclaimed 2014 album, Holiday for Swing, which debuted at #1 on the iTunes Jazz Charts and New Release Jazz pages. We Wish You The Merriest Track List: SIDE A 1. Happy Holiday 2. Frosty the Snowman 3. Here Comes Santa Claus 4. Sleigh Ride 5. The Christmas Song 6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 7. That Holiday Feeling SIDE B 1. Winter Wonderland 2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 4. Christmas Time All Over the World 5. A Holly Jolly Christmas 6. We Wish You The Merriest For more information on MacFarlane, follow him on social media: X | Threads | Instagram For more information on Gillies, follow her on social media: X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Week 20 Plays of the Week https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/23/incredible-catches-in-the-week-20-plays-of-the-week/ ***** Power Rankings https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/23/power-rankings-a-late-season-statement/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/23/3downnation-power-rankings-lions-stumble-off-the-podium/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-2023-week-21-power-rankings-calgary-stamps-ticket-to-playoffs-with-an-assist-from-the-argos-bombers-clinch-west/ ***** Sask has announced that Craig Dickinson will not be back as Head Coach next year, but Jeremy O'Day will return as General Manager https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/23/riders-wont-extend-hc-craig-dickenson-gm-jeremy-oday-renewed/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-roughriders-part-ways-with-head-coach-craig-dickenson-1.7005249 https://3downnation.com/2023/10/23/craig-dickenson-wont-return-as-saskatchewan-roughriders-head-coach/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/23/saskatchewan-roughriders-agree-to-contract-extension-with-gm-jeremy-oday/ ***** Sask's potential free agents https://3downnation.com/2023/10/23/the-saskatchewan-roughriders-potential-2024-free-agent-list/ ***** Sask Year in Review https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/obit-saskatchewan-roughriders-season-ends-after-another-collapse/ ***** Semi-Finals preview https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/road-to-victory-november-4-cfl-division-semi-finals-preview/

RIP. Am I the only one who used to confuse Burt Young with Richard Castellano?

Week 20 results Calgary 41....BC 16 Surprise! The Stamps looked like world-beaters. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/21/recap-calgary-41-bc-16/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/21/lions-succumb-to-the-darkness-in-blowout-loss-10-other-thoughts-on-the-regular-season-finale/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/21/stamps-make-roadkill-of-lions-with-dominant-run-game-and-seven-other-thoughts/ ***** Toronto 29....Sask 26 Not a well-played game, but it was interesting. The Argos scored a touchdown with a minute to go to win it. With Sask's loss, Calgary clinched third place, and the Riders were thus eliminated. And so the streak of the two Alberta teams' never having missed the playoffs the same year continues. Last year and this year, the Riders have failed to win after Sept. 4. I think they ended both years with seven-game losing streaks. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/21/recap-toronto-29-saskatchewan-26/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/22/third-times-a-charm-for-cameron-dukes-12-thoughts-on-torontos-comeback-win-over-saskatchewan/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/toronto-argonauts-eliminate-saskatchewan-roughriders-playoff-contention-set-franchise-wins-record-1.2024142 ***** Winnipeg 45....Edmonton 25 The Bombers finished the year 8-1 at home, where they will host the Western Final. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/21/recap-winnipeg-45-edmonton-25/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/21/demski-reaches-milestone-as-blue-bombers-trounce-edmonton-elks-10-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/22/two-steps-forward-one-step-back-eight-thoughts-on-the-elks-regular-season-finale/ ***** Playoff Scenarios https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/17/playoff-scenarios-riders-stamps-battling-for-final-west-spot/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/21/calgary-stampeders-clinch-final-playoff-berth-with-riders-loss/ ***** Edmonton's potential free agents https://3downnation.com/2023/10/22/the-edmonton-elks-potential-2024-free-agent-list/ ***** Standings BC, Sask and Edmonton have finished. https://www.cfl.ca/2023standings/

Quite a lineup!

Week 20 picks https://3downnation.com/2023/10/20/3downnation-cfl-picks-can-the-riders-playoff-hopes-survive-the-weekend/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/20/from-the-editors-desk-shouting-out-some-edmonton-elks/

Classical music box sets, up to 60% off https://classical.centerstagestore.com/collections/box-sets

RIP. Legendary American Musician Dead At 87 (msn.com) Carla Bley, 1936-2023 Our good friend Carla Bley has died, aged 87, after a long illness. One of jazz’s great composers, she was a stubborn and witty individualist who heard and wrote and played things differently. “She works in many forms,” critic Nat Hentoff noted, “and her scores for big jazz bands are matched only by those of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus for yearning lyricism, explosive exultation and other expressions of the human condition.” The large ensembles, remarkable as they were, were but part of the story. The originality of Carla’s writing was evident already in the early 1960s as musicians including Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, Art Farmer, and George Russell began to play her pieces. Many of the tunes she wrote then have acquired the status of contemporary standards, among them “Jesus Maria,“Ictus," “Sing Me Softly of the Blues," “King Korn," “Vashkar," and more. “There are so many of them, each as well-crafted as pieces by Satie or Mompou—or Thelonious Monk for that matter,” as Manfred Eicher has observed. “Carla belongs in that tradition of radical originality.” The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra, of which Carla was a founder member, recorded her epic Escalator Over The Hill, described by down beat as “a masterpiece…maybe the most extensive and ambitious piece ever to come out of the jazz world.” In 1973 Carla and Michael Mantler launched the WATT label which would be the primary platform for her work in the 20th century, with formats ranging from duos with Steve Swallow to Very Big Band and idioms including Fancy Chamber Music, Christmas Music, Dinner Music, and the Dada-esque I Hate To Sing. Her arrangements for Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra graced The Ballad of the Fallen, a 1982 ECM session with luminous settings of songs associated the Spanish Civil War and with revolutionary movements in El Salvador, Chile and Portugal. Carla Bley’s last albums were the ECM recordings made at Lugano’s Auditorio RSI with the exceptional group with Andy Sheppard and Steve Swallow: Trios, Andando el Tiempo, and Life Goes On. As well as the group interaction, each of the recordings also emphasized the unique qualities of Bley’s pianism. Carla’s relationship with the instrument she had played since the age of four was sometimes troubled. “I would rather write music than perform it,“ she would often insist. “I’m at a disadvantage when I improvise since jazz solos are instant composition and I’m a slow and thoughtful composer. By the time I’ve thought of the next note, the chorus could easily be over.” Her admirers – count us in - waved away such protests. Any hesitations in the determined search for the good notes only added a touch of drama and Zen allure to the playing. In later years, Carla herself seemed to be reframing her reservations: “There’s nobody that plays like me — why would they?” she asked The New York Times. “So if I’ve had an influence, maybe it would be if they decided to play like themselves. In other words, the whole idea of not playing like anybody else is a way of playing.” She will be sorely missed.

Power Rankings https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-2023-week-20-power-rankings-the-east-postseason-picture-crystalizes-west-puzzle-still-unsettled/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/16/power-rankings-reality-checks-on-deck/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/16/3downnation-power-rankings-riders-sink-to-new-low/ ***** Playoff Scenarios https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/17/playoff-scenarios-riders-stamps-battling-for-final-west-spot/ ***** 10/18 Checking Down https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/18/checking-down-schoen-misses-practice-for-bombers/ ***** 10/18 Game Notes https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/18/cfl-ca-game-notes-betts-looking-to-set-new-record/ ***** Week 20 picks https://doorfliesopen.com/2023/10/19/cfl-beat-198/ https://rodpedersen.com/week-20-cfl-picks-2023/ https://officepoolswire.com/football/cfl-week-20-predictions/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/17/prediction-time-cfl-ca-writers-week-20-picks-2/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/17/weekly-predictor-taking-the-bc-lions-2/ ***** Current Standings https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/standings ***** This thread's current view count is 225.5 thousand, and increase of 1,100 since Sept. 24!

Week 19 results Plays of the Week https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/16/must-see-action-in-the-week-19-plays-of-the-week/ Play #2 was what stuck in my mind. ***** BC 33....Hamilton 30 With the Ticats' loss, Montreal clinches second place. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/13/recap-bc-33-hamilton-30/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/14/entertaining-and-gut-wrenching-10-thoughts-on-hamiltons-33-30-loss-to-the-b-c-lions/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/14/lions-redeemed-as-dane-delivers-nine-thoughts-on-b-c-s-walk-off-win-over-hamilton/ ***** Calgary 26....Sask 19 The Riders have been bad for quite some time. They could have clinched the last playoff spot with a win, but it wasn't in them. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/14/recap-calgary-26-saskatchewan-19/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/14/not-dead-yet-six-thoughts-on-the-stampeders-ugly-win-over-the-riders/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/calgary-stampeders-remain-in-cfl-playoff-hunt-with-win-over-saskatchewan-roughriders-1.2020811 ***** Montreal 35....Edmonton 21 The Als remain undefeated against the five teams worse than them. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/14/recap-montreal-35-edmonton-21/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/15/the-alouettes-flip-the-script-in-edmonton-five-other-thoughts-on-montreals-win/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/15/seven-minutes-in-hell-seven-thoughts-on-edmontons-implosion-against-montreal/ ***** Toronto 40....Ottawa 27 The Argos finish undefeated at home for the first time since 1997. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/10/14/recap-toronto-40-ottawa-27/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/15/toronto-sack-exchange-hits-record-high-12-other-thoughts-on-the-argos-comeback-win-over-ottawa/ https://3downnation.com/2023/10/15/redblacks-still-cant-beat-the-east-nine-other-thoughts-on-losing-to-the-argos/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/kelly-throws-td-pass-scores-2-point-convert-to-rally-argos-past-redblacks-40-27-1.6996693 ***** More later.

Highly recommended, if you are interested in premium cigars.

Disc 2

GRAMMY Best New Artist Winner Samara Joy Announces ‘A Joyful Holiday’ EP Listen to “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” Out Now D2C Exclusive “Verve Vinyl Collection” Also Announced # Artist and Track Title Time 1. Samara Joy - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 03:46 2X GRAMMY winner Samara Joy is set to release a holiday EP ‘A Joyful Holiday’ next month. The 6-song collection of seasonal favorites is an extension of her latest album Linger Awhile and features a similar cast of jazz musicians - Pasquale Grasso on guitar, David Wong on bass and Kenny Washington on drums - plus Sullivan Fortner on piano. The tracklist includes previously-released singles “O Holy Night” (performed with multiple generations of her family) and “Warm in December,” in addition to a new recording of Stevie Wonder’s “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” and both a studio and live version of “The Christmas Song.” Produced by Matt Pierson, the EP is set for release on October 27 via Verve and will be available as an exclusive D2C emerald green color variant LP. Pre-order / Pre-save ‘A Joyful Holiday’ HERE. The “Verve Vinyl Collection” - comprised of Joy’s 3 Verve LPs ‘Linger Awhile,’ ‘Linger Awhile Longer,’ and ‘A Joyful Holiday’ - has also been announced, set for release on November 17. Pre-order HERE. Samara Joy has unveiled a lightly-swinging arrangement of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Listen HERE. The holiday EP continues a whirlwind year that saw Joy take home the auspicious Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album awards at this year’s GRAMMYs. Since her breakout wins, Linger Awhile has reached #1 on Amazon Best Sellers, Billboard Jazz, Pandora Trendsetters, iTunes and Amazon’s digital-music and CD sales, and more. Joy has garnered over 1 million followers on social media, and her tour dates all over the world have rapidly sold out. Her voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her legions of fans in addition to millions of likes on TikTok — cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star. Throughout the remainder of 2023, Samara Joy will be touring across the globe, making stops in Athens, Berlin, Paris, London and more. The “A Joyful Holiday Tour” featuring members of the McLendon family kicks off December 1 in Houston, and includes shows in Nashville, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and two highly-anticipated hometown shows at the Apollo Theater in NYC. For all upcoming tour dates, please visit https://www.samarajoy.com/. ‘A Joyful Holiday’ Tracklist 1. Warm In December 2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Me ft. Sullivan Fortner 3. The Christmas Song 4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 5. O Holy Night 6. The Christmas Song (Live) Samara Joy 2023 Tour Dates 10/18 – Easton, PA @ Williams Center for the Arts / Performance Series 10/20 – Storrs, CT @ Jorgenson Center 10/22 – Brookville, NY @ Tilles Center 10/24 – Columbia, MO @ Missouri Theater 10/25 – Iowa City @ Hancher Auditorium 10/27 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Symphony Orchestra 11/3 – Zurich, Switzerland @ TVD 11/5 – Athens, Greece @ Megaron Athens 11/7 – Hamburg, Germany @ Elb Philharmonic 11/8 – Berlin, Germany @ TBD 11/12 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon 11/17 – Bologna, Italy @ TBD 11/18 – Milan, Italy @ TBD 11/19 – London, UK @ Barbican Center, London Jazz Festival 12/3 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall, UT Austin 12/4 – Nashville, TN @ Nashville Symphony 12/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts 12/8 – Santa Barbara, CA @ The Granada Theater 12/12 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory 12/14 - 12/15 – New York, NY @ Apollo Theater 12/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall 12/22 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kimmel Center 12/23 – North Bethesda, MD @ Strathmore Connect with Samara Joy: Website / TikTok / Instagram / Facebook ***** # Artist and Track Title Time 1. David Foster & Katharine McPhee - Carol Of The Bells 02:54