ghost of miles

Can't wait!

Listened to it for the first time last night and absolutely loved it. Am going to listen again in the next day or two and will try to report back in more specific detail as well... but I'm really glad that they went ahead and put this out. My first impression is that it really does hold together as an album--beautiful, wild and trippy--and does not sound simply like a collection of well-done fragments or sessions. I mean, I think he actually pulled it off and just didn't know how to quit 40+ years ago... or just had another even higher level in mind that he couldn't quite reach. But the album as is is pretty wonderful.

If you're at all into truly soulful, old-school Dexter Gordon-ish tenor-sax bop, then I think you'll dig this: Blues for Pekar He's playing at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis tomorrow night with the Steve Allee Trio. Sure wish I could drive up to see him, but I'll be on the air for fund-drive.

Used to play guitar with the most basic of skills--took lessons for several months when I was a kid. Used to write songs on guitar from time to time, something I think I'd like to take up again... not to mention taking up guitar again as well. Have doodled around a bit on piano but never really learned to play (something else I'd like to do), and I have an alto sax tucked away in the closet, still vainly awaiting any kind of dedicated effort from me. Thanks for the thread--may help inspire me to return to these things. I think playing music, at whatever skill level, is enormously beneficial for one's mental health and creative state of mind. (Of course, playing it for a living is a whole 'nother ballgame!)

Same here, and Jsngry, I will definitely keep that invitation in mind. Quite a ride for the last few weeks of the MLB season. Over at Yahoo Sports Steve Henson writes: Cardinals win World Series the easy way

I'll be pulling for the Rangers. It would cap an incredible comeback story for the Cards if they win tonight, but I'd really like to see Texas pick up its first-ever WS title.

I was thinking about that when he was up in the bottom of the 10th and had two strikes on him with two outs--it certainly was an A-Rod 2010 ALCS final moment waiting to happen for you guys.

Nice: See you tomorrow night

The Washington Post's Thomas Boswell, who covered 1975's Game 6, seems to think last night's game was actually more dramatic and memorable than the storied Reds-Red Sox epic: 2011 Game 6 Anthony DiComo says it ranks among the best WS games ever and points out that

Dave: I saw 1975 Game 6 as well, from start to finish; quite a big deal that my father let me stay up to watch all of it on a school night. I agree that it's the gold standard, but this game certainly gets within winking distance of it; at least, that's my dime-store quickie analysis. If St. Louis somehow manages to win Game 7, I nominate this fellow for overall postseason MVP.

Wow!!! I think it has. I've certainly gotten my wish regarding a great series that goes seven games.

Wow--this game may end up giving 1975 WS Game 6 a run for its money.

The Symphonic Ellington. It's also included in Mosaic's Ellington Reprise set.

Here's a Take Five list I wrote for NPR's A Blog Supreme: Five Hauntingly Hip Sides For Your Jazz Halloween

Though regional factors incline me towards St. Louis, long-term American League partisanship and a desire to see the Rangers win their first title make me hope for Texas in 7. Still, it's already been a great series, which is what I was hoping for most.

Detroit Free Press music critic, Organissimo board member, and native Bloomingtonian Mark Stryker will be on our weekday afternoon jazz program today from 3:30-5 p.m. EST to discuss Detroit jazz both past and present. I'll be hosting; here's the link to the WFIU page: WFIU Just click on the "Listen Live" options for WFIU-HD1 on the righthand side of the page.

From last night, the Rangers' 9th-inning rally.

Rangers just tied it 1-1 in the top of the 9th and have Andrus at third with one out. Man, these first two games have been 1960s throwbacks or some such... really digging this WS so far!

Excellent game last night--hope we get to see six more like it!

The most recent Night Lights show is now up for online listening--a look at the big-band little bands led by Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Gene Krupa and others: The Big Bands’ Little Bands

A few more feet on that Freese flyball and it would be 4-0; I think C.J. and the Rangers will be doing well to get out of this inning with only two runs given up.

Playlist for today's Just You and Me: Pete Rugolo Pt. 2 I'd forgotten how much good Rugolo there is on that mid-1940s Kenton Mosaic set.

Playlist for yesterday's "Just You and Me" (WFIU weekday afternoon jazz show that I now host): Tribute to Pete Rugolo Pt. 1 More today where that came from.

Just found a like-new set from a reputable seller online for $90 and bit... this is one that I always regretted missing, even though I picked up some of the material on individual CD reissues.

Don't forget these gems: