GA Russell

This is the album I always associated with him as well! I stumbled upon it just a few weeks ago on YouTube Music. Does anyone know how to pronounce Budimir? RIP.

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/vinyl-comeback-continues Apparently this number does not include the sales of used albums. The article suggests that most of the digital downloading is for songs rather than albums. And interestingly, only half of the LP buyers own a turntable.

Don Aliquo Expands His Creative Horizons With "Growth," To Be Released February 17 On Ear Up Records Acclaimed Nashville Saxophonist Pushes the Envelope With 8 Open, Edgy Original Compositions with 2 Piano-less Quartets Featuring Trumpeter Rod McGaha or Guitarist Steve Kovalcheck CD Release Show at Rudy's Jazz Room, Nashville, Saturday, February 18   January 12, 2023 Saxophonist Don Aliquo lives up to the title of Growth—his eighth album, set for a February 17 release on Ear Up Records—with a trial by fire. Armed with his tenor sax and bass clarinet, as well as two venturesome, piano-less quartets, the Nashville area-based artist pushes past his established comfort zone and into more precarious and challenging improvisational territory. Aliquo’s eight original compositions are equally audacious. They are simultaneously complex and wide open, signaling that the leader is broadening his boundaries not just as an instrumentalist and improviser but as a composer as well. “I wanted to go beyond basic variations on bebop and hard bop and embrace other sounds, including avant-garde,” the reedman explains. “I definitely wanted to write and perform some pieces in a more open context that would stretch me.” More than a charting of his personal development, Growth doubles as a chronicle of the burgeoning Nashville jazz scene, with songs highlighting the more colorful corners of the aptly nicknamed “Music City.” It’s also apt that Aliquo (a Pittsburgh native) should be joined on this expedition by the cream of the jazz crop in his adopted hometown. His companions include trumpeter Rod McGaha, guitarist Steve Kovalcheck (since transplanted to Denver), bassists Jacob Jezioro and Jonathan Wires, and drummers Marcus Finnie and Danny Gottlieb. Having taken down the musical guardrails (especially on the tracks without Kovalcheck, which leave only the bass for a harmonic outline) doesn’t mean that Aliquo shies away from the precipice. Whether somersaulting his way across a marathon solo on “Lower Broadway Rundown,” staking out rhythmic freedom on “For the Vulnerable,” or charging through the structural labyrinth of “Salt and Light,” Aliquo takes seriously the proposition of Wayne Shorter (an important influence on Growth) that “Jazz means ‘I dare you.’” Yet strong melody and groove remain priorities as well. In particular, “Woman Clothed in the Sun” and “Blues for Duffy and Doug” each boast memorable hooks, the former moving in a confident strut and the latter with easy swing. Challenging, adventurous music, Growth reminds us, can still be fun to listen to. Don Aliquo was born May 10, 1960 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, Don Sr., was (and is) a much-in-demand jazz saxophonist in Pittsburgh and introduced his son to the music at an early age. Don Jr. began his own musical practice on the clarinet in elementary, but his father convinced him that the saxophone would allow him to get more work in jazz. Indeed, he was soon able to get his dad’s work—sitting in on gigs with Don Sr.’s bands. By the time he had finished high school, however, Don Jr. had carved out a niche for himself in Pittsburgh’s rich jazz tradition, working with the likes of trumpeter Benny Benack as well as jamming with saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. He enrolled in 1978 at Duquesne University, then moved on to Berklee College of Music in Boston (along with Duquesne classmate Jeff “Tain” Watts), but quit Berklee to go on the road with the Tommy Dorsey Band. After leaving the road, Aliquo returned to Duquesne for his undergrad and master’s degrees. Though he was throughout that time a reliable and esteemed saxophonist on the Pittsburgh scene, working with drummer Roger Humphries, among others, it wasn’t until 1997 that Aliquo recorded his first album, February Regrets, following it up two years later with Power of Two. Shortly thereafter, he left the Iron City, co-founding (with pianist Dana Landry) the Jazz Studies program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. His artistic career, however, soldiered on in his new home. He appeared on Landry’s 2002 recording The Journey Home (also featuring legendary vibraphonist and educator Gary Burton); the pianist returned the favor by performing on Aliquo’s albums Another Reply (2003) and Jazz Folk (2006, featuring bassist Rufus Reid). The 2010s brought forth the 2010 recording Sun & Shield; 2015’s New Ties and Binds, co-led with trumpeter Clay Jenkins; and 2019’s Live at Hinton Hall (The Innocence of Spring), a duo with pianist Michael Jefry Stevens. The decade also brought opportunities to play and teach in China and Colombia, with a performance in Spain following in 2021. It’s all been part of a remarkable growth cycle for Aliquo, in personal as well as professional terms. “Nashville has come a long way in the past 20 years,” he says, “and in many ways I think I have as well.” Don Aliquo will be performing a CD release show on Sat. 2/18 at Rudy’s Jazz Room, 809 Gleaves Street, Nashville, with Rod McGaha, tpt; Jacob Jezioro, b; and Chester Thompson, d. Photography: Rod McGaha     Don Aliquo EPK: "Growth"  Don Aliquo Web Site  

The Mega Millions jackpot is up to $1.1 billion.

CI seems to be making a special effort to clear out its inventory before the end of the fiscal year. Until January 31 no matter what you buy (tobacco and non-tobacco) no matter what sales discounts you are getting for orders over $99 get an additional 20% off and free shipping. Code: P1311A

Thanks, Jim! You're the first.

Ian Tyson (of Ian & Sylvia) has passed away at 89 RIP Folk legend Ian Tyson, known for ‘Four Strong Winds’ as part of Ian & Sylvia, dies | National Newswatch

Episode 33 https://artpepper.bandcamp.com/track/straight-life-episode-33

A Christmas Miracle - free https://artpepper.bandcamp.com/album/freebie-a-christmas-miracle

You may recall that maybe twenty months ago the price of copper jumped, and soon after the price of stereo cables did too. For the past week Amazon has been offering various Pangeia interconnects at the old prices or slightly below.

WBGO will have a Christmas music marathon from 12/23 6:00 pm through "Saturday Christmas Day." Christmas is Sunday, so who knows when it will end.

Thanks, Jim! At first glance, that doesn't look too complicated.

Now that we are recalling Dick Morrisey gossip, I don't think I have mentioned this before. Following the first four If albums, the group broke up, and Morrisey created a new band with the same name, and issued an album called Double Diamond. https://www.amazon.com/Double-Diamond-If/dp/B0B123WBHN/ He then broke that band up, and created a third band called If, which released two albums. The first of these was called Not Just a Bunch of Pretty Faces. https://www.amazon.com/Just-Another-Bunch-Pretty-Faces/dp/B001PIBZXC/ As I recall, it was in late '74 (maybe early '75) when that band toured promoting that album. He was autographing the album at a mall in suburban DC, so I went and picked it up. He told me that he was not impressed by the singer of the Double Diamond band because he wanted to spend more time working on his motorcycle than practicing with the band. Can you imagine someone not appreciating the opportunity to work with Dick Morrisey?

Now that you mention removal, Chuck, maybe I can just take a screwdriver and remove the key. As I say, it's something I never use.

Was Terry Smith's Fontana release you are referring to called Fall Out? I see that it was released on Philips. Now on Sunbeam. https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Out-TERRY-SMITH/dp/B000E6EO7A/ ***** I also see an LP made with J.J. Jackson called The Greatest Little Soul Band in the Land. Used for $14.00. https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Little-Soul-Band-Land/dp/B008O8L4OG/ Perhaps this is the same recording as J.J. Jackson's Dilemma, which we have discussed before. https://www.amazon.com/J-J-Jacksons-Dilemma-JACKSONs-DILEMMA/dp/B019G2CZS2/ ***** I seem to recall a Terry Smith album on Verve, but I'm not seeing it tonight. Maybe it is the same as Fall Out.

I would like to disconnect at least one key on my keyboard. Is that possible? My problem is the caps lock key. I never use it. But frequently I accidentally bump it, and then unknowingly type a sentence all in caps. As an alternative, is there a way that I can highlight all the capital letters, and then with one key stoke reduce them to lower case? Thanks!

Thanks, Dave. That hadn't occurred to me.

Good luck, Dan!

Thanks sgc!

Last year I vowed to decrease my time on the internet. This year I plan to reduce it much more. The problem is not that I am wasting time on the computer, but rather that I have not spent enough time doing many other important things. Anyone else have any resolutions?

I receive catalogues from Audio Advisor. Recently I have seen stereo components with USB and ethernet ports. Is there any purpose for these other than plugging them into your computer or the internet?

I have decided to start following favorite threads. Is there a way to follow specific members as well? Thanks!

This semi-annual deal is up today. The selection of cigars is different. Most of them are pretty strong.

You're very welcome, Al! It's great to see that at least a few things hit the spot!

Chuck and Dan, I'm sorry to hear of your problems. Glad to hear that apparently in both cases there were no very serious injuries. Doesn't it seem like December is usually when these things happen, just when you don't need any extra aggravation or expenses?