fasstrack

Thanks!

Love him. I'd rather hear Johnny Cash tell a story singing certain jazz instrumentalists giving recitations or trying too hard to be slick and 'hip'. It all depends who and what, naturally. I repeat: I love Johnny Cash... I reimagined Folsom Prison Blues as a slow blues a la the Red Garland Trio... Call it my tribute...

Holding steady and getting decent sleep with Lorazepam. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth...

Some of you may know that I lived through some rough times in recent years. Well, things have turned around for me in every way. My latest news is that I have moved (after living in a hellhole with dangerous roommates for 3 and 1/2 years) into a comfortable, clean apartment in the Norwood section of the Bronx. Roommate is a nice guy, and I can practice and compose---no sweat! Good shopping and accessibility to trains in the neighborhood, too. I am a happy man today...

Worth a shot...Thanks.

We've really had our ups and downs here in N.Y.C.. Sunday we had an arctic, bone-chilling 2 degrees. Yesterday, snow to freezing rain. Today, steady rain but 54 degrees. Go figure...

Holding steady and getting good sleep the past few nights. One catch: I'm using the Lorazepam. It's a trade-off. Don't want to get in too deep, but it's at least working. I'll take the sleep I got the last two nights and run like a thief...

I doubt that, respectfully. Too low to be a trumpet. I'll listen again, though... Wow, he's really in low tessatora (sp.). Right in the Buck Clayton range. Fooled me twice... Love that half step above the chord he plays at the very end...

I guess. I'm going to have to do the work, whether I see a specialist or not. So the research continues. 'I have not yet begun to fight'...

I walk. Long ones. Haven't been at it lately. Busy as hell. I know that's no excuse. Last night, having woken up after sleeping 2 hours and change, I resorted to Lorazepam again. At least I slept through the night. As long as I don't make a habit of it... My doctor---who I actually like a lot---was the one who prescribed Lorazepam (at my behest). There's little else she can do but listen, or perhaps send me to a sleep specialist.

Peggy still wins, IMO. 3:03 of fat-free mini-drama. Rosie is runner-up. Of course, they are all worthy... Yes, good chart. Who did it? great trombone on Peggy's. Who is it? I like the way he goes out of the chord at the end, and imitates the piano before.

...And the battle continues. Last night choppy but decent sleep. No drugs besides Melatonin. Still needed coffee to focus on the day today. It's now 2:44 NYC time and my energy hasn't flagged from lack of sleep. We'll see what tomorrow brings...

After reading your post I did some web research to see if I had sleep apnea also. The symptoms do not match mine, however. The beast I'm wrestling with is old fashioned insomnia, and it has persisted for about a month now. I tried Melatonin, which was ineffective, and Lorazepam, which works somewhat, but is addictive. Today was the first day I succumbed to the condition by cancelling my plans for the day and trying to take a nap---a worrisome thing, especially if it continues. I am now sitting in the library, pondering going out tonight to sit in with friends. When I come back, if I go, it will be midnight and I will be wide awake. I'm getting worried...

The vulnerability of Rosie's version is something else. And what a voice! Nice somewhat Ellingtonian chart, too. Really. (On the vulnerability) ...And Peggy Lee gets the prize. A perfect mini-drama in 3 minutes and 3 seconds.

I cat napped this afternoon, but that's only going to keep me up tonight. In other news, the Melatonin was a complete flop for me. Not sure what to try next...

Melatonin=Uselesstonin. At least for me. Think I'll try coitus

Thanks, everyone! For the funny stuff, too...

Yes, I should...

I'm looking to investigate/learn the tune Black Coffee. I usually go with vocal renditions true to the melody. I've heard Sarah Vaughan's rendition. Could anyone recommend other good vocal versions of this tune? Thanks in advance...

I hope someone writes a book next. That'd be great...

I tried 2 capsules, and still awoke after 2 hours. 4 hours total sleep. I'll try it again, though...

I resorted to the Lorazepam last night after waking up after only 2 hours. I was staggering it, using it every other day, and just didn't want to operate on 2 hours sleep today, so I succumbed.. To not go down that road to addiction, and on the recommendation of people I respect, today I purchased Melatonin. Trying it tonight for the first time, and will keep you posted as to its efficacy. Thank you all for your interest and concern, and I wish a good night's sleep to all of you. Joel

I heard him Saturday night with a 'hard bop' (boy, do I hate these terms) group led by trumpeter Valerie Pomanarov. Sounded good. FWIW the crowd ate him up... Good player. That's as deep as I get with this.

Not when you're playing gently, without thinking, and just trying to get a groove. That can be mesmerizing, and lull one back to sleep. I probably should have said playing, not practicing. My mistake.

Ha. He appeared in Chris's sitcom with him. I guess no good deed goes unpunished...