fasstrack

I hear you. Kenny is something. Needs to put turn on the self-editing apparatus sometimes, but a seriously bad MF.

That's a good title right there: The Day.......That's gold, Jerry. Gold.

I love dat.

My colleague and one of my favorite guitarists, Chris Flory, is also on that, making it even more appealing.

I'm Born Again myself. Just got this on CD last week! I'd be afraid to listen to them, after getting help from Christian groups lately. Even though I'm not a believer, if I listened---with my luck---who knows? Not sure what I'm afraid of, but I can somehow see the Fallen Angel himself emerging from the vinyl to get me

I think he should change his name to Flo Rida. Is that like Flo Kennedy?

Not just discovering, but realizing exactly how heavy he is IMO: Warne Marsh.

Agreed. Superb.

A great way people could misjudge Chet is to read a bullshit claptrap of a 'biography' that came out a few years back---by a guy named James Gavin. I really wish people would boycott such sensational garbage, but the smarter ones will realize where it's at after a few sentences. A much better one came out by a Dutch author. I can't remember his name (someone help me out, please) but the guy knew about music, didn't talk out of his rear end, and it never sidestepped the addiction thing or other less appealing factors, he just didn't try to sell books with it. I felt the same way about that movie that came out in '89 or so (Let's Get Lost) as about Gavin's book: shameful image-pimping by an exploitative music no-nothing. But it had a great version of Zingaro, at least. Just thought I get it off my chest. Hope it wasn't a bringdown, but we've had enough sensational idiocy that gets a pass b/c people just don't know enough about music or the lives of its practitioners.

Same old versions, just more sun tans and shorts. And dinner at 4 ... p.m. True. Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode when Jerry went to a later dinner with his parents and then they got ragged on for missing the "early bird special". My wife and I really made out like bandits Saturday night on the Early Bird at Sal's, a "neighborhood Italian" franchise that actually serves decent food. Sue was heading to Hollywood at 6 PM for a night out with a couple of girlfriends so we had an early dinner using a new coupon - buy one early bird, the second is .99! $10.98 for salad, garlic rolls, entre and dessert for two! The old folks have it pretty good! And that place was slammed with blue hairs. Edit to say: You know what that will cost you after 6? $11.98?

And reply sent, sir........

On my first post on the wild and crazy Branford Marsalis forum I got hammered. I deserved it for being antagonistic. After that people either liked or hated me, and likewise. I still have friends I made there, and the 'enemies' have long receded into the 'who gives a f&*k' backwater of my brain. I mostly use the Web now the way a lot of musicians do: for free crass self promotion. But when I do participate in a forum as here, I don't antagonize and avoid anyone who rubs me the wrong way. Making friends and helping this art is what this is for. Heated discussions are cool, too, but when it gets ugly all one has to do is stop writing. I also made friends with a certain well-known journalist who gets whacked around here and other places regularly---by reaching out after I myself went too far, and he reaching back in appreciation. He's a big boy with a thick skin and himself no stranger to throwing bricks, and people are, obviously, much more (or much less) than their Internet posts. But everyone has feelings, he, you, I. One has to know the depths of the waters and one's drowning point before diving. You seem like you can handle this. These people are serious jazz fans and players, so strong opinions come with the territority. Take things from where they come and speak with veracity and knowledge and anything that doesn't sit right with you will not be your problem.

That's b/c he is.........Best ears ever.

in W. Palm Beach, Fla. area. The book closed on a rough year in NY, and straight ahead. If anyone from down this way wants to say hi, by all means do. Long as I'm here I would not be at all adverse to making music biz contacts, too. All help or best wishes are appreciated. You guys know me well enough, I think. Thanks, Your Web knucklehead-buddy Fasstrack

Plays Sinatra (with strings) among a host of others. Just google him. You really can't go wrong. He was an ingenious little pixie with a great musical wit that took Pops and some other heros somewhere very personal. He was also hilarious generally, like on a record date a guy was taking his ax out of the case and he told him 'that's too f%$ing loud already. A guy that worked with Ruby that I know told another guy that was about to and was kinda nervous b/c of Ruby's reputation for a sharp tongue 'you're gonna play with Ruby? Don't worry if he hates you. He hates everybody'....A curmudgeon but with a heart of gold, I think. The funniest Ruby story I heard was that he was in the hospital in a coma and someone tried to rouse him by playing Pops singing Wonderful World. He woke up, said 'that's a f&*ing alternate take', and went right back under.....

We're all old. That's why we're putzing around the Web instead of getting some. There was a joke going around about Tom Harrell: Someone asked him how is love life was and his reply: 'Oh, man....Even my left hand hates me.' Don't come after me. it's a joke. Tom is married, and to a great person.

He was, and still is. He was an origianal in an age when that word became a joke. If this weren't a 'nation of barbarians' as the late, great Bill Finegan told me once, there would be a statue of George erected. But he had a great life and his music will always be here. No one ever is gonna write a piece like Sister Clara (probably the wrong name, it was on the RCA Jazz Arrangers' Workshop, featuring Hal McCusick. George's music was teeming with life, imagination, and humor. And his craft was flawless.

Oh boy. And George Russell around the same time, Bill Finegan (my friend who I sorely miss) last year. I guess even the greatest of shows have to have final curtains......

Mr. Cedar Walton is a frequent guest on the radio show of Earl Caldwell, Fridays at 3 PM, EST. WBAI FM, 99.5 FM and www.wbai.org He's always on when he plays the Vanguard late in Dec. thru New Years.

I hope you play Manhattan Memories featuring my old friend and influence guitarist Eddie Diehl. It also has Jamil Nasser and Frank Gant. Terrible sound, good music. BTW the title tune is actual Eddie's and is called Be-Bu, written for organist Bu Pleasant. he recorded it under his own name on a CD called "Well, Here it Is..." (featuring Hank Jones, and a nice date also). Strings Attached with Jimmy Raney is excellent, too. Also an old (Folkways?) trio date called "Jazz Will-o-the Wisp" Al Haig, like Hampton Hawes, was a pianist that came out of bebop proudly, but never stopped listening and absorbing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/arts/music/26play.html Hi, Laurie. Well done. Check your personal messages for a shout out from yours truly.......

Michael never mention working with Sonny. I'll ask him. I know he worked with Blakey for a minute. Woody Shaw was in the band. Landlords have their problems, to be sure. Mine is kicking my ass out, but we're staying friendly b/c I know i did wrong. But too many are greedy SOBs, and the tide is turning against them. I worked for a boss who never invested a dime in her product---car service vehicles---just let the cars rot, and to hell with the customers. Someone at the base opined that she's full of it for saying she doesn't have the money, she should cut into the profit margin and take a short-term loss. She never will, and will lose the business for sure, b/c she's a greedy idiot. Customers don't want to be treated like shit, and the good thing about capitalism is the open market system: competition. Landlords do the aforementioned all the time, go for, in the words of the great economist Terry Malloy the 'short end money'. And NY is going to hell b/c of their mercenery asses. Soon even the rats are going to have to move to Newark.

I gave it away at Fat Cat, to a couple that were celebrating an anniversery. I didn't ask of what. Let's hope it wasn't for embracing Satanism or that infamous Baby Watson cheescake-eating contest that ended in bloodshed .

Yes, that was it.

The landlord went for the money. Nobody was doing anything untoward and it was a great restaurant. Michael is very much alive and sounding very well.