Pete C

If I were starting a Canterbury band I'd call it Archbishop. Either that or Archie and the Bishops. I had no idea Richard Thompson ever recorded with Kaiser & Frith. I'm not familiar with French. What does that animal sound like (the album, not French)?

Hardly. Since more people like what he doesn't do best, they're the one's who'll have to ignore him, but they'll only ignore him if he does what he does best...

Thursday through today at the Festival Internationale de Louisiane in Lafayette: Sonny Landreth, Bombino (Touareg from Niger, "desert blues" a la Tinariwen & Tartit), Robert Randolph Family Band, Khaira Arby (Northern Mali--she's related to Ali Farka Toure), Cheikh Lo, Lindigo (Reunion Island--disappointing; nothing like Rene Lacaille, who recorded with Bob Brozman), Pine Leaf Boys, Gary Clark Jr., Red Stick Ramblers, Debo Band ("Ethiopiques" from Boston), Vishten (P.E.I.), Lost Bayou Ramblers, Corey Ledet & his Zydeco Band, Destination Gospel Choir, Savoy Family Cajun Band, Feufollet, Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners, Canailles (Quebec). And there was so much tempting stuff I had to miss. I passed on Seun Kuti, Texas Tornadoes, Chico Trujillo (Chile) and Slavic Soul Party since I've seen them all in Brooklyn, and I wanted to catch acts I haven't seen before, though I have previously seen Cheikh Lo, Robert Randolph and Sonny Landreth.

Try to avoid anything with a high bagpipe ratio.

Ray Davies: Other People's Lives and (especially) Working Man's Cafe. I sort of like his Kinks Choral Collection but I haven't heard his opportunistic new album with younger rockers, but his brother Dave is on record saying that Ray has become a karaoke act Levon Helm: Dirt Farmer & Electric Dirt Van Morrison: A number of his albums of the last 10-15 years. All depends on what you call late career. Was On the Corner late or mid-career Miles? Shorter's quartet albums of the past 10 years are pretty vital as far as I'm concerned.

I think we should let her speak for herself. Somehow I have a feeling her intellect and emotions are more nuanced than you give her credit for... By the way Allen, just so this back and forth isn't mistaken for animosity, I suspect I'd like you if we met, and I love your music, which gives you one up on the late Brookmeyer. I did like his music...

Even if Walter Bishop, Jr. deserved millions, it ain't Herbie's millions. Completely different career trajectories. You're either a dreamer or a nut job.

Was that before or after Lundvall recorded and relased an Albany album on Elektra, and what were you expecting him to do?

Well, Allen set us straight: Lundvall isn't Jesus. Who the hell gave him the right not to be Jesus?

Slouch, of course. I hope you can make it. I saw Ran at least 3 times, twice at Cobi Narita's wonderfully intimate loft space, like being in someone's living room. He really clicked with me when I heard him live, much more than previous listening did for me.

Hey, maybe you and Albertson can combine your lists.

Rick Laird Jack Bruce Dave Holland

Conjecture is your alleged deity-given right.

Wouldn't that be a variant on "Ducky," as Marlene Dietrich use it in Witness for the Prosecution?

Maybe for 16 RPM talking books? I remember asking someone what the 16 speed on my turntable was when I was a kid and was told it was for recordings for the blind. So where's the feeling factory?

Then you'd need another set of notes.

I visited South Wales once, but I didn't make it to Llareggub. If you're a word maven and you don't know Michael Quinion's World Wide Words, you ought to. http://www.worldwidewords.org/

So, is it Ba-Tzik, Ba-Chik or something else?

Yeah, a very consistent output, as is Rava's ECMs. I think L'Affrontement is my favorite album of his as leader. That was one amazing group.

When he's mentioned how is his last name pronounced?

I almost mentioned Minasi, but maybe he's a bit to the left of straight ahead. I saw him once live and found him to have lots of Ornette in his conception. I'm not that familiar with Joe Diorio but I like him on Eddie Harris's Come On Down.

I guess because it's a romance language borrowing. I like how venerable sounds.

Your next project should be a blank cd with great notes.

I always find Sclavis interesting, but I'm unfamiliar with the other musicians. http://www.inclinaisons.com/artists/index.php?ref=louis-sclavis-2&id=161 I think I've seen him play 5 times: NYC w/ Texier & Romano (Alliance Francaise), NYC 2 nights back to back quintet w/ Matinier on accordeon (Dans La Nuit with film at Alliance Francaise, and music from Affrontement des Pretendants at Tonic), Quartet w/ Dave Douglas (North Sea), and maybe best of all, a quartet with Michel Portal, Henri Texier and Daniel Humair at Montreal Jazz Festival.