Dr. Rat

Thanks a lot! --eric

I've often wondered what the objections were to Schuller's definition of Swing from the Swing Era. Anyone care to outline that? --eric

But for this we need to train! --eric

Oh yeah! I've even developed a real taste for Billy Banks, whom I hated on first listening. But I've since come to terms with show biz, and now I'm all about "Oh, Peter." Yet another conversion story! --eric

Allen was defintiely something else. I really liked the self assurance of his playing on "Queer Notions" with Henderson. I used to have a collection of his stuff he did for Columbia? or RCA when they were running him as their version of Armstrong, and those recordings struck me as rather self-conscious and uncomfortable. It's too bad Allen didn't get to play more in the sort of context Eldridge had with the small band he put together with his brother Joe. (Who, by the way, is another guy who I really like on "swing modernism" sort of pieces.) --eric

I find stretching cold muscles is dangerous. I've hurt myself a couple of times while stretching (not badly, but . . .). If I'm going to play soccer I usually run around and pretend like I can handle the ball or play hacky-sack for a few minutes and then stretch, then more running around and more stretching. You can feel that it is more effective this way. No major muscle injuries yet, knock wood. --eric

In my youth I wrote an essay about why I thought Chombo Silva was the best, why he had the perfect feel for combinig even four and clave. A very solid and not-enough recognized player. Swithched mostly to playing violin later in life, on which he was much less distinguished, I thought. --eric

The same thing happened with records. Besides, how many people download lots of jazz? I think most jazz fans still buy records and CDs. A musician once told me that jazz is downloaded way more often (proportionately) than it gets bought. --eric

Oh I've been working a crazy thesis over in my mind that there are a lot of parallels between the movements of Osama bin Laden and that of Jesus Christ. I am not, btw, interested in pursuing this thesis with an eye to mocking Christianity, but rather from the perspective of the interaction of empire and intense sectarian ideology. So I'm interested in knowing as much as I can know about the context and development of the founding Christian texts. Also, the subject is fascinating in and of itself. The textual scholarship tradition he draws from (what one Amazon review calls "pure speculation" when really it's impure speculation!) is also interesting to me. I remember reading a book about the text of Piers Plowman and how one comes to be authoritative at the expense of others, how one text comes to eb the source for another, and how texts that no longer exist are inferred from demonstrable chains of influence. Not terribly firm ground to be on, but they get a lot more miles to the fact than I'd ever have expected. --eric

Jazzbo- You seem to know a lot about this stuff. I am casually interested in Textual scholarship of the bible and I was wondering if you'd read/had an opinon on/heard an opinion of a book called "Who Wrote the Gospels?" --eric

I recently picked up a five-cd set in the bargain bin from French Verve called "The Soul of Jazz," which covers Verve's more (to my ear) Ray Charles-influenced version of the sound (as opposed to BN's Horace Silver/Blakey sound). There's occasional intrusions by late-twentieth century Verve signings, some of whom don't fit, but all in all it's a good set (especially for $20). --eric

Actually he just seemed to be reading from the same script, so he sounds like them either solo, tutti, or harmonizing. As to the split personality, he does have that slash in his monicker. That should say something. --eric

If a=b and c=b then a=c so a=b and c, see? --eric

Why? You sound like a coupe of kids I know! --eric

Three. That's my standard stupid answer to stupid "how many" questions. --eric

This the right link? I get an article about RIAA commando raids. --eric

I think you've discovered the Neo-Con bible. No, Machiavelli advised doing smart ruthless things. If Machiavelli is their bible that don't read any too good. --eric

Just about to head out and have one on my own dime . . . but I'm hoping Bright Moments comes round to clarify before tomorrow morning. I love Nicolo. --eric

I was going to say in another thread that one of the joys of knowing the lord is that he's always good for a fiver and he'll stand you a round at your local. Remember the wedding of Caana! or was that at Caana? --eric

Does that mean you're going to buy me a beer? --eric

And Jim- See all we had to do was go through a measly bit of carping and complaining and BS and now we get a group hug. Doesn't it make it all worthwhile? --eric

Guess I better scratch you off my list. RDK was high on my list, too. Right after Nomar Garciaperra. --eric

I can't say about berigan, but I'd have a beer with weizy! I bet he's got a line on some nice places to drink, and as long as he's buying . . . --eric edit: change my version of winky emoticon to graphic

Quick definition of "politically correct," please. First there's Machiavelli references I can't figure out and now the great nebulous insult "politically correct" rears its ugly head. Am I damned never to know what the hell anyone else is talking about? Or who they are, even? Criminy! --eric

Really? Enemies? I've probably got pretty sharp elbows, but I'd hope that there are no lasting hard feelings stemming from spirited discussion. I might get mad--I tend to get more mad at folks on my side of the political fence--but that's certainly not an enemy thing. This true of others? Or am I insensitive? I think we've certainly played the religion deal out, much as we played out (to make a connection to a somewhat bruising thread I was involved with) the "Late Coltrane" deal (which also had some pretty serious religious overtones). I don't hate anyone from that thread--in fact I have a lasting admiration for some of the folks I sparred with there. And I don't bother to refight that battle every time someone posts something praising late Coltrane, either. We've pretty much said what has to be said (and a whole lot more) I respect their viewpoints, and I hope they can mine and that's that. And I still don't see the Machiavelli connection. --eric