Peter Johnson

It doesn't work.

Weird, no posts in this thread since March 18. Has anyone heard from Couw?

Indeed--he was unreal. All over the keyboard while still making musical "sense".

I absolutely love this album. Something makes me feel surprised that it's held up so well over time--but it has. The playing and the arrangements are top notch; it's in fairly regular rotation in these parts. Any fan of organ/jazz/soul/funk ought to pick this up; it's genre-straddling for sure, but doesn't lose sight of hard bop either. Terrific stuff!

Great to hear from you, Brownie!!! Don't be too much of a stranger!

Filet of white salmon (Yum!!!) simply done: Season the fish with salt & pepper Heat a smear of olive oil and some thin slices of garlic in a pan Slide the garlic out of the way Toss in the fish, skin down, sear for 2 minutes Pour out the oil and garlic Toss pan under broiler for 7-8 minutes dill on top, a little lemon juice--YUM!!!

Just got back from the Stanko quartet show at the Triple Door in Seattle. It was a 90 + minute show--one set, three encores. Terrific stuff. Were any fellow Organissimites there? This is the first time I've been to a jazz show without having heard _anything_ by the musicians in advance. This board hipped me to Stanko, and I missed him in Philadelphia last year, so when I saw his name resurface in connection with his recent record, I made a mental note to be sure to go. I'm certainly glad I made it. I don't know his repertoire, so my thoughts are really more from an impression point of view--the playing was all over the board, as far as straight ahead, free, slow, fast...you name it. The quartet was clearly able; the pianist (sorry, don't know names, although I've seen them mentioned elsewhere here) played, for lack of a better comparison, in a sort of post-herbie-hancock herbie hancock vein. The drummer? I've seen the comparisons here to Tony Williams, and I get that, but I think the better comparison is early PMG Paul Wertico. The bass player didn't leave me with anything, other than a thought that he was quite able. Stanko himself? I admit my perception was a bit colored by all of the "Miles Davis derivative" stuff I've heard (not here so much as popular press, "everyone who owns KOB should buy...blah blah blah" and I'm here to tell you, this shit is NOT derivative. Stanko has really got his own thing going--if there were a single Miles comparison it would be that this guy can play so...far...behind...the...beat that he's almost in front of it. His phrasing had me on the edge of my seat ("shitmanhe'sgottaendthatnotesometimeandnow...wait...ishechangingtoanotherone?") Brilliant! The concert opened with (and freqently returned to) a tune that began with a nice, interesting bass ostinato over which the pianist came in with chords, setting up a mood for Stanko to blow some long phrases over. I don't think the key changed for a good five minutes, but it was very interesting (this sort of thing doesn't usually grab me, but it did here). By the time my first glass of bordeaux arrived, the band had kicked it up a notch and was really interacting nicely; I mean, they weren't trading fours or anything, but there was synchronicity and Stanko clearly has much respect for his pianist (as he should have, the guy was amazing) because he frequently laid out when the pianist really had something going. Halfway through the show the bassist pulled out his bow and my heart sank--arco usually drives me up a wall--but he held my attention with (I'm stealing someone's, Ubu's??? description here, sorry/thanks) a very intricate, almost chamber music duo with the pianist. It was haunting, and the audience _got_ it--well, except for the 22-year old blond with superpointyshoes who fell on the stairs next to me at that exact moment (she was okay, she walked it off)--and listened raptly as the song built and built and ebbed and flowed and the drummer appeared out of nowhere and then Stanko came in with crazy chromatic runs and goddamn it was just amazing, amazing ensemble work...this band has clearly got a vibe that they're comfortable with, and they use it to their advantage (and the advantage of the audience members who are paying attention!). Speaking of the latter, my second glass of bordeaux was marred slightly by the presence of three middle management schlubs who decided to walk halfway into the room, stand on the side, and talk loudly. Now in Philadelphia, you can imagine what would have happened next, but this being Seattle, the waiters and hosts just stepped around them, doing nothing. My blood started to boil, and they got louder, so I got up, walked up (feeling many pairs of eyes watching the back of my skull) to them and asked them politely to shut the fuck up (in so many words). One of them, a shorty with glasses and a combover lipped off a bit, but he said his piece and they slunk away. Sheesh!!! The encores were equally brilliant, and I was told by my table mate that they comprised material from their latest record on ECM. Which I would have bought for fifteen dollars, had they not run out. All in all, a terrific show, a terrific night, go see Stanko if you can, ditch the preconceptions if you have them, and hope with me that that asshole wakes up with a hangover! PJ

Seattle from the Space Needle today...blech...rain...

Enjoy! Have a great day Peter. Thanks, Tony--wish I could be biking with you on Sunday--a nice long spin through the English countryside would be good for the soul!

Met my my first friend from college and her husband for lunch; going to hit the market and figure out something for dinner; come back, go for a run; cook; eat; and around 7:00 head up the street for the Tomasz Stanko quartet!

I agree... Rest assured, Jeff, you'll never be on my ignore list!

Happy Birthday, Tom!

Paypal sent for Lawrence of Arabia!

Tjobbe-- Just got The Jazz Message of Hank Mobley in the mail today. Yippeeee! This is a terrific CD--I would have had a hard time getting my hands on it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! PJ

Damn-it...FOUR days before I'm next east...

Ouch! How long did it take you to stand up?

Needed a laugh like that wrt this board today! Thanks, Tom!!!

Brad should be banned.

So Aric's boot-out was the defining ratings moment? Everyone loves a trainwreck.

Uhhhh...I'm so confused...is it still available, Paul, and if so, may I have it?

Get us right back into it: (1) can of Spanish Tuna packed in olive oil; (2) slices of bread, smeared with Escargotine*, toss under broiler for ca. one minute, remove, and eat; (3) glasses Oregon Pinot Noir, Knudsen Erath vintage 1999. Ahhhh, bachelor life!** * French "paste" of escargot, salt, parsley, garlic and butter. YUM!!! ** Thank god my 3,000-mile-away-wife isn't a member of this board!

Wildflowers has a new home! PM on the way...

Fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pepper. Mix & enjoy!