J Larsen

The Giants are now 6-0 after sweeping the Brewers. Don't laugh - the Brewers have been an Achilles heel for us for some time. Sort of like how we always beat the Pads and Rockies, yet the Pads and Rockies always seem to give the Dodgers fits, while the Giants and Dodgers usually play about .500 ball against each other. The Brewers just always seem to trip the G-Men up. The early five-game lead on the DBacks will prove useful at the end of the season. The best part of the game today is that the Giants went with their B lineup, resting four starters including Bonds, Durham and Santiago, three of our key offensive players. Yet they still scored five runs and committed no errors. Reuter delivered six innings of shut-out ball, and Brower (obtained in exchange for Livan Hernandez aka El Few K aka Cheeseburger) mopped up the rest. On another note: It's not so hard for me to beleive that Griffey went down again. What does surprise me is that it was his shoulder this time, and not his leg. Don't get me wrong, I feel really bad for the guy, but I have to wonder if perhaps this is the result of a soft conditioning program. I've dislocated my shoulder before (BTW, it hurts like all fucking hell) and learned afterwards that it is normally the result of being in inadequate physical condition for whatever sport you are playing. Basically what happens is the tendons that are supposed to hold your arm bone in the shoulder socket just give way because they are too weak. When you're in recovery (which usually requires physical therapy and sometimes surgery if the tendons become completely detached from the bone) they actually make you lift lots of weights and do other strenous shoulder exercises to build up strength. (It's not fun at all. I'd rather go to the dentist a hundred times than to another one of those PT appointments.) Anyway, the Reds look like they'll be in good shape. They have a ton of young outfield talent, and many of their fans wanted Griff traded to make room for the youngsters in the offseason. I bet they're kicking themselves for not doing it now.

Who would have guessed that the last two undefeated teams in baseball would be the Royals and Giants? The Giants' three young SPs all looked very shakey in their first starts this week - here's hoping that they settle down. Oh - I'm pretty sure that the record for consecutive playoff appearances is 11.

Looks like a decent-sized music collection you've got there in the background, Chuck.

Nope, I mean the recently released 2CD set of both the early and late shows from the so-called "Rainbow Bridge" concert in Hawaii in their entirety, with no editing. Get with the program, bro!

I'm letting Hendrix's Rainbow Bridge Concert (the newer 2cd edition) wake me up this morning. It's giving me a high, for sure - not so sure I'd call it a "jazz high", but it's damn good whatever it is.

We can't forget about Sheena Easton's "Morning Train (9 to 5)". (Sorry to those who missed the reference.)

Why don't the Rangers just trade for a pitcher or two?? Turn a couple of those bats into arms and they might have a chance at grabbing the wild-card.

I just looked over the thread, and actually less than half of the suggested cds are BNs. Whatever, it really doesn't matter. I agree with Rooster that it's best to keep the selection process semi-democratic.

I feel a controversy coming on...

Not everyone...

Hey, if everything had to be as good as Stevie to be worthwhile, I'd have a slim music collection.

Noj, if you're willing to compare Jamiroquai to Stevie Wonder I'll give them a try. I was just listening to "Fulfillingness..." this afternoon. I'll bite my tounge as far as Santana and the Allman Bros. go.

Noj, if you're willing to compare Jamiroquai to Stevie Wonder I'll give them a try. I was just listening to "Fulfillingness..." this afternoon. I'll bite my tounge as far as Santana and the Allman Bros. go.

I've tried to select discs that I think everyone will have or can easily get. I've also tried to pick discs that aren't too inside or outside to maximize discussion. However, a couple of these are just discs that I think I might appreciate more given the insights of fellow board members. Coltrane - Ole (outside and inside enough to interest everyone, I'd think) Ellington - Money Jungle (partly 'cuz I've never REALLY gotten it) Roland Kirk - The Inflated Tear Jackie McLean - Bluesnik Lee Morgan - Leeway Duke Pearson - The Right Touch Sun Ra - Sun Song Cecil Taylor - Love for Sale or Looking Ahead McCoy Tyner - Reaching Forth, Trident John McLaughlin - Extrapolation Kenny Dorham - Matador

Different sets of ears, I guess. I'm familiar with all the artists/tracks you mention (except Jamiroquai), but the feel is not "jazzy" to me. I like many of them, however.

Wow, I don't think I can relate to anything that's been posted so far. Don't get me wrong, I like many and possibly most of the artists mentioned so far, but none of them have anything like what I'd call a "jazz feel" to me. In fact, I've been listening to P-Funk all day, partly to give myself a break from jazz (and to give a few discs a needed workout). EDIT: Okay, some Zappa (mentioned above) I can sort of see. Captain Beefheart I could sort of see. Certain Hank Williams recordings I could see (especially in the guitar solos). Damo-era Can I could see. But as much as I love Hendrix, P-Funk and others, they were in a whole different universe as far as both approach AND "feel" to me.

C'mon dude, hurry up and pass that shit around already.

HA! After routing the Padres, the Giants now have sole possession of the top spot in the NL West. This year's supposed "small-ball" team has 7 HR in the first two games! BTW, ghost, you can get video of the games online from MLB and turn the volume down. You ought to be able to get away with that at work.

This is supposed to be coming out domestically on an indie label soon. Anyone remember the exact details? I thought this and Ghetto Music were supposed to be released very soon. Okay, I see that the domestic CDs and LPs are going to come out on May 30. I can't find the label they're being released on right now, but I distinctly recall that it is a small label and that it's not Blue Note.

I think I gave away my copy of 1+1, so you have my blessing to ditch that one. But Illumination is one of my favorite albums that I own, period! How long have you had it? If it's been years and you still don't like it, you may as well find it a new home. If you've had it a couple years or less, I'd suggest letting it rest on the shelf for a while and coming back to it later.

The "new look" Giants won, but did not look very convincing (marginal defense, lots of LOBs). That Derek Jeter injury could be huge. I hate the Yanks, but you still hate to see something like that happen. Hopefully it's not that bad of a dislocation. If there are torn ligaments involved, he could be seeing very limited action this year. Geez, what an opening day for him. Oh yeah, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine (who I think is over the hill) all got rocked and nearly every home team lost in the early games. It's just a wierd opening day all around.

I've received some HORRIBLE cds due to BMG errors. Often times these fall into the Latin pop category. (No offence intended to anyone, but this is probably my least favorite genre of music [well, it at least gives disco a run for its money]. IMO, the bass always sounds like polka to me and the accordian is one of the lamest instruments ever invented. Also, I lived in SF's Mission district for a few years where I was woken up by this music being played at incredible volumes WAY too early in the morning on the weekends.) I wonder if they do this just to try to dump off slow selling Latin discs sometimes. Another time they sent me a Boney James cd. That thing was so scary looking I never even bothered opening it. BTW, when this happens, just send them an email. They always rush the correct disc out to you and tell you to keep the errant one.

Rooster, you're right about Topdog/Underdog. They used the track from All Seeing Eye on the soundtrack. The play was a quite successful (but short-lived) Mos Def vehicle on Broadway. Mos had the starring role. He's a decent but not outstanding actor. (For those wondering, Mos Def is an underground rap star.)

I always thought this record would have been a lot better if Wayne had gone with a smaller ensemble. I think it could have been a great quartet or quintet record. With seven musicians, I find that the focus and direction often gets confused. I know I'm definately going strongly against the grain here, but I have never considered this to be one his better BN sessions. As a person with "out" leanings, I guess that really puts me in the minority!

I see where Chuck's coming from, but regardless this is one of my favorite of his 60's sessions. Definately pick it up. This isn't one you want to miss out on.