GregK

who's halftime entertainment? Wasn't it Blue Rodeo last year?

That is the same prediction as GA made. Cold weather. I'm going to go a little bit low. Montreal, total 35 points. Damn, I meant Saskatchewan!! The cold weather gives them the advantage! I posted that and didn't check the board or my email all day so I missed GA's message!

I listened to this at Marty's suggestion and my reading is very different. They have a nice rapport, lots of laughing, and while Jarrett's ego and self-importance are certainly on display (when are they not?) I don't find him the least bit disrespectful or condescending to McPartland. Also, he does not refuse to duet with her. In the course of conversation, Alec Wilder's tune "Blackberry Winter" comes up and McPartland asks Jarrett if he will play it for her, at which point he declines, saying "I don't know it well enough right now" and then, picking up an earlier thread in their conversation, he makes a lighthearted joke about not only not being able to remember his own material but other peoples' as well. McPartland then asks playfully he would be annoyed if she played it. He says "No, no, no. Why would I be annoyed?" The exchange sounds completely innocent to me, almost charming. I certainly wouldn't defend Jarrett's jerkier moments, but this show hardly qualifies. That's about the way I remember hearing it at the time, too. He seemed almost shy in conversation, and caught off guard when asked to play the tune, like he didn't want to make a mistake.

My computer is too slow to search, but I'd like to know what I picked last year. Montreal, total of 50 points

I never understood the fascination with this band. I tried listening to their output and was utterly bored. Just a bunch of 3 min or shorter songs mostly played fast with vocals that you could barely hear. I don't get it.

Really???? I may have to listen to this then. When I saw Burnett's name, I thought it was going to sound more like Sugarcane, which sounds nothing like Momofuku, which is not a bad thing just a personal preference is all. I really don't know what to compare it to. I've listened to it a few more times, and it definitely is good (a "grower", one of those awful cliched terms but I think it applies to this record), and I think I made the comparison to Momofuku because the first song is a rocker, like most of that album, and because it seems to be all over the place stylistically. But it doesn't sound like Sugarcane even though it shares some of the same players and the same producer. Actually, if you order it from his website you get a bonus EP which DOES sound a lot like Sugarcane. Odd. Oh yeah, maybe the best thing about the album, other than the fact that at this stage in his career Elvis has put out another good record, is that Marc Ribot plays a lot of good guitar on it.

I've listened to it twice so far, and I haven't heard much that is making me want to go back to it again. I'll keep trying, but it seems too much like Momufuku to me, which is alright, but I really liked Sugarcane, and I had read that this new one was supposed to be similar to that. I haven't heard the similarities at all. Elvis does folk-country well, and I was hoping for more.

happy birthday P-man!

As you would with any Blue Note album from the 50s and 60s. I do NOT get the bias against ECM. Hang around here long enough and it will drive you batty. Makes no sense!

I've only had time to listen to the first two, but I like the opener a lot. I don't hear any Garbarek.

happy birthday!

thanks! It's always harder to find time lately, with two small kids and now a puppy. We spent my birthday (yesterday) preparing for Halloween.

well, if they were considering that instead of what they have in the vaults from the 60s and 70s, I'd have to say, no great loss.

one of the most satisfying things about my 6 yr old iMac is that it still starts up in under a minute. I turn it on, pull out the desk chair, sit down, and it's ready for me to click my User name. It's really that fast. what's with Jobs ditching Flash from all upcoming Macs?

so this is what they respond to?

No, I doubt it. Those "wish lists" would make sense for fans, but for Sony, the only thing that makes sense is something that can involve a repackaging of Kind of Blue of Bitches Brew, somehow. I don't think anything truly interesting is going to happen anytime soon.

Wait, that's not your real name? I don't get the joke then. I'm clearly missing something here. Englewood Cliffs, NJ Oh, damn! So obvious now, I can't believe I missed it.

Wait, that's not your real name? I don't get the joke then. I'm clearly missing something here.

The last one was much better. Maybe because it was live, I don't know.

Then why was Belden (I think it was Bob Belden) quoted at the time as saying that the alternate of "John McLaughlin" not different enough to warrant release? Having both Miles and Shorter play on the alternate seems like enough of a difference to at least include it on the COMPLETE SESSIONS BOX SET!!

is the Taylor Ho Bynum recommended?

big change here this week. all week it was in the low 90s, then on Thursday it dropped to the 80s, then last night it dropped to the mid-50s.

I didn't "seem" to think anything. I read the same article that I posted, which said nothing about continuing the coupon mailings. What is this email everyone is referring to?

not without paying for that Borders coupon: http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/borders-upgrading-rewards-program-in-effort-to-lure-more-customers/

There's nothing within walking distance of Hart Plaza, if that's where it still is. Seriously, Detroit is empty. You'll be lucky if you can find a restaurant. I think there may be a Hard Rock Cafe a few blocks away, and there is Greektown along with the casino, but I'm not sure of the distance. This is completely false!! No, downtown Detroit is not a walking mecca ala Chicago, but there are a number of good options. Next to Hart Plaza inside the Renaissance Center, there's Andiamo's (Italian) and Coach Insignia (steak house). Across the street from the Ren Cen, is Tom's Oyseter Bar (seafood). Widening the circle to a short walk from the festival site, inside the Book Cadillac Hotel, there's Michael Symon's fantastic new place called Roast (inventive contemporary steak house with other options besides red meat too); across the street from the Detroit Opera House near the ballpark is Small Plates (tapas). Also nearby is Vicente's Cuban Cuisine. A slightly farther walk gets to the MGM Casino where there's Michael Mina's excellent seafood place Saltwater and other options. The Greektown strip is within walking distance and offers the usual fare. There are other casual sports bars/burger joints around, especially around the baseball and football stadiums. Cliff Bell's, an art deco bar, has jazz and food. It's tucked behind the Fox/Filmore theatres and it's at a distance that I probably wouldn't walk at night. But it's within shouting distance. The museums are not within walking distance -- you'd need a car or cab. Unfortunately, the Detroit Institute of Arts is closed on Tuesdays, but I think the Motown Historical Museum (in Berry Gordy's original Hitsville home) is open on Tuesdays. Again, that's a car ride. One thing to think about is the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, the incredible Smithsonian-like collection of Americana, is in Dearborn and on the way to the airport. So, assuming the museum is open in the morning, you could shuttle out to museum, check bags, hang out, and then continue on via cab to catch a flight. so, my post was not completely not false at all. You fleshed out what I said. The Opera House is, what, 10, 12 min walking distance from Hart Plaza? Is the Ren Cen even open in the evenings? It didn't seem like it was the last time I was in the area.