Kevin Bresnahan

What have you heard about the 2014 (Polaris built) Victory that would turn you away? It can't simply be that it is Polaris, as their Victory motorcycles have a much higher reliability than most other makers (domestic & foreign). Their latest offering is finally putting a Chief into a price range I could consider ($19K vs $32K). I may even be enticed to get back on a bike with these machines.

There's no such thing as a "fender bender" on a bike. Your ass is usually the only fender involved and it loses in a battle with steel.

US Lowenbrau has been brewed in Germany for many years now. It's not as good as the stuff you get in Germany but it's miles ahead better than the stuff that Miller produced for decades. I agree that Hofbrau's beers in general are some of the weakest German beers shipped to the US. Generally, I drink German Oktoberfest biers. Most American brewers seem to miss. I'll have to see if I can find a couple of the ones listed here to see if they've gotten better. Right now, all the stores around here are filled with various pumpkin flavored brews. Not my cuppa tea (or beer). FWIW, I think Hacker-Pschorr got bought by Paulaner years ago and I seem to have tasted a difference. I don't usually buy Hacker-Pschorr any more and I've never been a big Paulaner fan.. Now Ayinger. Erdinger & Weihenstephaner - now you're talking!

Don't you love it how young talent looks all moody and shit for album covers, and then when they age they get all smiley and friendly for the covers, when the odds are very good that in real life it works just the opposite way? A smiley young person on an album cover is creepy, and a scowling old fuck is just scary. I guess that's why. Do a Google search - Aimee Mann still doesn't smile too much. On top of that, one of her albums is titled "@#%&*! Smilers".

The CD has some nice bonus material. Rock flashback playing now - 'Til Tuesday - Voices Carry (Epic). A Boston band that seemed to get a lot of local airplay (back in the days when there was such a thing).

Just finished - Lem Winchester - Winchester Special (OJC) Now playing - Lew Tabackin - Black & Tan Fantasy (JazzAmerica Marketing). And yes, the title of this album is "Black & Tan Fantasy", not "Jazz $5.98".

I sent a little your way Jim. Kevin

This is a bummer from Lew Tabackin's Facebook timeline: "Can you say bootleg? I guess musicians don't have to be paid, and just be thankful to have their career boosted. At least ask permission. LT" http://www.uptownrecords.net/home/store/94.html Apparently, Lew doesn't believe that this should be released?

Just finished: John Lennon - Imagine (Apple) Just started: Pat Travers - Go For What You Know (Polydor). I haven't heard this in decades!! I found it in a cheapie bin at local store and picked it up for nostalgia sake. Boom boom - out go the lights!! Ha ha ha.

Stanley Turrentine - That's Where It's At (dark blue label with VAN GELDER in the deadwax). I don't know why, but I've always dug this date. Nice & bluesy. I guess I don't understand the times, because I find the liner notes fanciful. I don't see what's so different about this date that would somehow make it knock Rock And Roll off it's axis. Edit: Is it "that's where it's at."?

Steely Dan - Aja (Cisco). Everyone over on the Hoffman forums raves about the sonics on this LP but to my ears, it's OK, but not great "the best record in my collection" that some of them claim. It seems to be getting big bucks these days so maybe I should sell it. I actually have two copies (found a 2nd cheap & thought maybe it would be cleaner) and neither one is dead-silent. Surface noise abounds, right out of the sleeve. Always worse on the lead-in grooves too.

I like these dates and I agree with Lon that the latest Japanese issues sound better than the old Fresh Sound CDs. Neither version is "audiophile", but the Fresh Sound versions sound muffled by comparison.

I'm not a huge fan of "Wailin'". The electric piano is "meh" and the tunes are just OK. It's not worth paying the big bucks it's going for these days.

I've got a lot of CDs with Mabern on them. Not a dud in the bunch. If you like George Coleman with him, be aware that Eric Alexander was George's student and as mentioned above, he uses Mabern on a lot of his dates, so look at Alexander's discography for some great Jazz. Also, check your local club for the next time Alexander comes to town. Harold Mabern is incredible live. Some favorites of mine Harold as a leader: Don't Know Why (Venus) Kiss Of Fire (Venus) Straight Street (DIW) With Eric Alexander: Summit Meeting Extra Innings Heavy Hitters The First Milestone Up, Over & Out I keep meaning to pick up the CD of Mabern's "A Few Miles From Memphis" but I've yet to find an affordable copy. The Prestige vinyl is very nice. Kevin

I love this record, happy sounding and free wheeling. I think Richie needed a haircut though.

Just finished - Richie Kamuca - Richard Kamuca Quartet 1976 (Jazzz) Now playing: The Jazztet And John Lewis - Featuring Art Farmer And Benny Golson (Argo) EDIT: The cover above is correct. They printed it in black & white, which caused the two 'J's and the 's' to disappear. Pretty ugly.

I forgot another one: The 12th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert Before the show, they announced that Miles had died earlier in the day. They had Naima in the audience too. Memorable concert if only for the fact that it's not often that anyone attempts "A Love Supreme" in its entirety very often.

It's weird when you read that story about the trip to South Africa and realize that both Andrew Gold & Don Grolnick are both gone now. Too young for both of them. BTW, I think that's Grolnick with the big gut in your picture.

Back in the day, I bought some of Ronstadt's albums for the covers and wound up keeping them for the music. The lady could sing. I've never even heard the Riddle LP. At the time it came out, it was not in my wheelhouse at all. Maybe I should give it a spin now.

I only know of a couple. Jim Hall's "Grand Slam: Live At The Regattabar" and Masada's "Live In Taipei 1995".

Tubby Hayes - A Tribute: Tubbs (Spotlite)

I don't know why Dusty Groove is Da Bastids. You're the guys that just cost me $70! TOCJ-66621 [CD]Cannonball Adderley / The Happy People [Limited Release] 1143 yen TOCJ-66622 [CD]Guitars Unlimited - Laurindo Almeida - Howard Roberts / Quiet Nights & Brazilian Guitars [Limited Release] 1143 yen TOCJ-66626 [CD]Clare Fischer / Manteca! [Limited Release] 1143 yen TOCJ-66627 [CD]Bud Shank & Clare Fischer / Bossa Nova Jazz Samba [Limited Release] 1143 yen TOCJ-66628 [CD]Bud Shank / Brasamba! [Limited Release] 1143 yen Subtotal 5715 yen Shipping 1100 yen Total 6815 yen

That doesn't work on the double hubs - the ones where the single hub holds two CDs together. I had one Mosaic CD crack because of those double CD cases. I was so careful too but *crack*, and that was it. BTW, since that day, I usually shave off some of the "hook" that holds the CDs to the hub. I use an Exacto blade and shave off enough that I can easily pull the CDs off the hub. I've also swapped out the Mosaic cases for different ones. They use the worst kind.

Dave Brubeck - Anything Goes! The Dave Brubeck Quartet Plays Cole Porter (Columbia) 2 eye stereo. Better than I thought it would be. Well spent $5.

One of the best live Jazz shows I've ever seen in my life was when I saw Jackie McLean at the Village Vanguard in a quartet setting. The rhythm section was Cedar, David Williams & Billy Higgins. What an incredible night that was. I'll always remember that night. Me & Josh Heisler sitting right in front of Jackie, so close that we could read "Jackie McLean" etched into his alto's bell.