Dr. Rat

I've probably always enjoyed Henderson's playing less than most everyone I talk jazz with--most of these folks being musicians. But my first question would be, aside from the technical standpoint (an innovative technique being of possible use to other musicians) what difference does it make whether Henderson (or Shaw or anyone) is innovative. Why is this such a quality to be sought after and valued. Would a musician rather be "innovative" than "beautiful" or "listenable" or "impressive," etc. I suppose the "innovative" might get you the esteem of you colleagues, but is that what jazz fandom is: music by advanced musicians for advanced musicians, others can come along and enjoy if they like? I'm not throwing accusations around, just a feeling I've got that the standards we apply to past musicians and, more importantly, to young contemporary musicians are kinda narrow and musician-oriented rather than listener-oriented. --eric

Chipotle tabasco sauce: This stuff disappears around my hous ein like 3 days. You'd be amazed how many things taste better with roasted red jalapenos on them. --eric

I'd strongly urge all you canned kidney bean users out there to strongly consider switching to dried pintos, they don't take that long to cook, and I do think they make it all better! --eric

Since hunting season is also right around the corner (i don't hunt, btw, I just eat!) I wanted to post this excellent Mark Miller recipe for Venison & Black bean chili. But you can wing it easy enough: Cumin--a rounded tablespoon or so, or more if you're game, pan roasted and ground. About a pound of ground venison, fried up before hand in something nice--olive oil, and some chopped small onions and a lot of garlic. Black beans, cooked with bay leaf and some hot peppers toward the end A can of chipotles in adobo a few anchos, toasted over the burner and skinned & seeded. Mexican oregano -- I suppose it's just powdered oregano--also roasted (careful, you'll choke the cat) Salt Edit to add: can of diced tomatoes and small can of paste. It's good. I'll post the real recipe tamale. --eric

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