Spontooneous

In conjunction with Don Cherry, Rollins holds patents for three refinements to equipment used to construct bridge piers. And he makes the best turkey gravy ever.

F. Lee (Sims) LaRoca?

Everybody recognizes the strong melodic similarity in the bridge.

Sonny invented the Happy Meal in 1971.

OK, everybody sing! "Rainbows in lunchmeat and whiskers on kittens..."

I don't have the 4 CD Columbia box, and it came in for some sharp criticism on the board (if I had a faster computer I'd hunt it down and link it), but we might be stuck with that box for a long time. The old Columbia Jazz Masterpieces CD series had at least two Basie volumes, and they hit a lot of the highlights. I'm making do with them, but dreaming of something better. About 1985, CBS in France issued a fairly complete Basie, with a smattering of unreleased material but none of the alternates, on six 2-LP sets. I've got to admit, a lot of this material dampens my enthusiasm for a complete set.

Up for exposure. A few of my favorite moments here: -- Buck Clayton's gorgeous obbligato behind Jimmy Rushing on "Don't You Miss Your Baby?" This entire tune is an overlooked treasure. What other band could make the blues so smooth and beautiful without losing the bluesiness? -- Herschel Evans' earth-shaking entrance on "Sent For You Yesterday." -- Jack Washington's bari solo on "Topsy." Aw, shoot, EVERYTHING on "Topsy." This is another perfect side. -- The "Moten Swing" riffs behind Prez's metal clarinet solo on "Blue and Sentimental." -- Papa Jo's intro to "Panassie Stomp." But Papa Jo was perfect on everything with Basie. -- The last eight bars of Basie's solo on "John's Idea." And note that I only mentioned Prez once. He's the guy who ensures that this is music for all time. But to tune out the others and focus on him would be a dreadful mistake.

Rainy, you've provided reinforcement for me. Eddie's coming to Kansas City in October, and now I know I have to go.

We should not let the facts of his personal life, unsavory as many of them are, distract us from the greatness of his achievement. Because Charlie Parker was the best damn shortstop who ever lived, and that's all that really matters.

The My 'Lil Pawnshop playset is still available, though its sales numbers are being eclipsed by My First Tattoo Shop, My 'Lil Gentlemen's Club and Pierce Me Elmo.

After Parker's death, his influence was carried over to a whole new generation through the big, yellow, lovable character Yardbirdman on "Sesame Street."

He was the actual composer of "Abba Dabba Honeymoon."

He greatly offended the Parker Pen family by using that plastic Bic pen at the Massey Hall concert.

It's perfectly obvious. Jimmy Smith's "House Party." ('Cause the Herbie Nichols cut "House Party Starting" is a little too reserved for celebratory purposes.)

Hey, Clunky, check out JG's Steeplechase album!

This album's always been a big, forbidding mystery to me. I've had it for years, but haven't played it more than three times. Big mistake. Spun it again today and began to make peace with it. And fell in love with "Adagio Ma Non Troppo." I'm sure there was little rehearsal and much editing throughout, but the ensemble playing is wonderfully coherent. Also some of the best Lonnie Hillyer I've ever heard. He's WAY into it. I'll be trying to revisit this one more regularly.

The Elenco releases are not to be confused with this fine Elanco release:

Doin' Alright for me. Seems he was out to consciously make a better album than he'd ever made before, and that he came with superior material and arrangements. And the rest of the band rises to the occasion. Every cut has perfect architecture. I don't have a problem with the Go crowd, for that's one of the best blowing albums ever made. But Doin' Alright shouldn't be in its shadow. I feel almost the same about Dexter Calling.

Free For All Paul asked me to do the AOTW honors. I’m grateful. This one is a pick for the Basie centennial, albeit a couple of weeks late. Over the decades I’ve known this music, it hasn’t lost a single bit of its joyous power for me. If you’re not familiar with the sounds herein, you owe it to yourself to experience them. They're a central part of the foundation of so many things that followed — not just in jazz, but also in R&B. They're fun to listen to again and again. And in more than a few moments, they represent the cutting edge of jazz in 1936-39. I picked this anthology because it’s fairly easy to find. The material is also readily available in different packages: the three-disc Complete Decca Recordings, and some other sets on labels such as Classics and Definitive. If you’re using a different set, the cuts are: 1. Honeysuckle Rose 2. Roseland Shuffle 3. Boogie Woogie 4. One O’Clock Jump 5. John’s Idea 6. Good Morning Blues 7. Topsy 8. Out the Window 9. Don’t You Miss Your Baby? 10. Blues in the Dark 11. Sent For You Yesterday 12. Every Tub 13. Swingin’ the Blues 14. Blue and Sentimental 15. Doggin’ Around 16. Texas Shuffle 17. Jumpin’ at the Woodside 18. Shorty George 19. Panassie Stomp 20. Jive at Five 21. Oh, Lady Be Good Some possible lines of discussion: What are your favorite moments here? What have these recordings and these musicians meant to you over the years? And if you’re new to these recordings, what elements here do you connect with most strongly? More later. But right now, let’s swing out.

Found this on the Web too: http://weeklywire.com/ww/05-03-99/austin_music_feature3.html

Yes, Rainy! Hooray for trains! I've been watching them all my life here in the nation's second-largest rail center. The sound helps lull me to sleep every night. Another one: Inexpensive Chinese takeout.

Probably something to do with its use in Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove." Once you see the film, you'll understand.

The sound that the birds in my neighborhood make as the dawn approaches. Tadd Dameron. Thelonious Monk. Anton Webern. Morton Feldman. Duke. The Flint Hills of Kansas. Pesto, when it's not too salty. Joyce's "Ulysses." Wheatfields at sunset, when they glow with indescribable color.

One more ... tonight only ... and especially for the Organissimo crowd. DUSTY GROOVE REVIEWS AS SPAM POETRY a percussion, jazzy two fantastic, hard-to-find great series! undertaken by project a on skips much the Fabulous with jazzy Most of the CD records of and cuts, remade -- the spirit mostly along generation edge. record, as of vocalists! in a warm, sunny, jazzy tone plays ears of a third acoustic and got Pure greatness! one the some together tuned part aglow sweet for features older Brazilian Schema! The It in few rougher very an excellent A really great little sweet of albums vintage the club jazz feel rich that 50s of Sleepwalker, raised -- on R&B all. jazz vocals, for -- plus a combined the -- guitar, and groove! The album's doo wop, a a that honk Absolute classic numbers issued variety London-to-Brazil Club as soul the group jazz, and that soars first time! bit of even with keyboards tracks are from Brasil! 23 of volume in tracks in a with light The Treniers

Tonight only...and only on Organissimo... THE BILL OF RIGHTS, IN THE FORM OF SPAM POETRY Article [i.] Congress shall abridging the necessary bear Arms, shall not be infringed. the consent effects, upon probable cause, supported by Oath to be land or public danger; nor shall any or limb; for the right to a speedy and have been process defence. Article [VII.] In Suits at by jury bail [iX.] The enumeration in the Constitution, people. Article power or equity, commenced or prosecuted against of any press; a redress of grievances. Article [iI.] of the of the people to be secure in and no be indictment of a Grand Jury, except actual service criminal without due process of law; nor criminal prosecutions, previously to be confronted with the witnesses the Assistance tried according to the rules of the cruel and the the States respectively, or to the extend to exercise thereof; or peaceably to assemble, and to petition any house, without be prescribed by law. Article [iV.] persons or things or otherwise infamous crime, unless on jeopardy of life himself, nor be deprived of life, the crime shall informed of the nature and cause right of trial re-examined in any Court of the retained by the prohibited by it to the States, Citizens or Subjects respecting an establishment of religion, or State, the right Soldier shall, in time of peace not be violated, particularly describing the place to be Militia, when in for the same offence to be [VI.] In all an impartial jury of the State and to have the value in controversy shall exceed fines imposed, nor shall not be construed to deny be construed to United States by Citizens of another freedom of speech, people the Government regulated Militia, being of the Owner, to The right houses, papers, and seized. Article [V.] capital, a presentment arising in the nor shall be against liberty, or property be taken committed, which district be of the to have compulsory shall be preserved, otherwise United States, Article [VIII.] Excessive [X.] The powers nor are reserved XI.] The Judicial Foreign State. law prohibiting the or of the people to keep No be quartered nor in time Warrants shall issue, and searched, and No person shall in time of subject twice put compelled in any the accused shall by and district shall have been of Counsel for where twenty dollars, and no fact unusual punishments inflicted. rights, or disparage not delegated to any suit in the State, or make no free to the security of a and Article [iII.] in against unreasonable searches and seizures, but or affirmation, the or naval forces, or in War person be in public use, without just compensation. enjoy public trial, wherein for obtaining witnesses in his his common law, the shall not be required, nor Article of certain others of the United States shall law one of by or the right of the for A well free war, but in a manner of their persons, shall held to answer for a or in cases the case to be a witness property, shall private