jazzbo

Does anyone know what that instrument is that the blind musician plays in the first battle scene? Is that an unmodified traditional Chinese instrument, or something else?

Great score on the Pascoal---you know I love him as well! The Costa lps I don't know about but I like all the Gal Costa I've heard. The Edu Lobo/Chico Buaroque could be quite good; I like the little bit of these two gentlemen I've heard. Egberto Gismonti . . . I have three or four of his ECMs (later recordings?) and enjoy them, though their sort of an acquired taste, I think you would like them though, they have a Pascoal like differentness to their conception, though they are guitar centric and spacier, noodlier than Hermeto's work. . . . These lps may be cool.

My secret.

Thanks John!

I'm going to have to look for that "Unity" --- what a band!

Now reading Elaine Pagel's "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas". . . . I'm finding this very interesting. I hadn't until I read this seen how effective the Gospel of Thomas is in illustrating the stream of Christianity that was dammed and drained off by the Nicean agreements, and the Gospel of John does indeed serve as a great comparison with that of Thomas at illustrating the fundamental differences in the Christianity that was and the Christianity that became the orthodox after the Council of Nicea. I really find myself resonating against the Johanine/Pauline doctrine that salvation is only possible through "Christ" and that Christians that are saved are to "love one another". . . . THIS is the part of Christian doctrine that I cannot bring to life in my heart. I much more resonate with the idea of Jesus son of Joseph as rabbi and perhaps messiah in an ideological sense, and even with the christian-gnosticism that Thomas represented (Jesus as the light and the way, but the light being within everyone, and that knowledge and development of that light within everyone will bring the kingdom of God, not that the only way is individual salvation through "Christ"). I had spent years reading books on gnosticism, mystery religions, gnostic texts, the history of Christianity etc. and pulled back from that the last few years, this book is a good alarm clock to awaken some of the drive that led me to that study.

Many more happy ones and don't set sail on the ship of fools!

I ordered two CBBB MPS reissues from dustygroove: November Girl (the McRae collaboration) and Off Limits. This will upgrade some lp transfers for me. Also in this order I included the new "Elis and Tom" reissue from Brazil. I shouldn't have even ordered one of them! My finances are bad. My willpower not to buy is even worse!

Wes, maybe I'll just qualify my statement by saying that I am very much an introvert and I don't feel the urge to hang with many people at all as an extrovert might. I have a limited amount of time I can hang with other people, and an even more limited time that I can hang with other people that my wife is not interested in being around. AND I may be deceiving myself but I believe I have become pretty good over the last few decades at deciphering who I would or would not be compatible with, and I pursue compatibility not just "hey let's find out." (Time factor there again). To put things in perspective: not that many weeks ago I was not at all far away from Rolf (Weizy) in Arlington, a phone call probably could have been all it took to meet somewhere just minutes away (assuming he had any interest in meeting me, an assumption I'm NOT making). . . . I didn't make any phone calls. But he's not an enemy. I just don't choose to seek to "get to know him" better in person.

The answer is yes. I bought a dvd starring one of the actresses. That's my story.

I'm not much of a drinker, and I'm easy to please these days. . . a Heineken Dark suits me fine.

Eric, I'll buy you a beer sometime!

Yes I did. He's looking into it. His wayback machine is nearly up and running!

What does the assembled mass think. . . .What is the feeling about Ernie Watts. Can the man not play? Does the man not have a lovely sound?

What am I thinking! I really like Blues for Allah. After that is where it drops off for me pretty quickly. So I guess I'm quite interested . . . in one quarter of the box set.

NO, I definitely don't want to have a beer with Weizy. Yes, in a way JP it is about the nonmusic discussion. And it's not because of the politics per se, but because of the personality I see behind it, the jabs at people and the mockery. It's fine and dandy, more power to his right to do so, but I don't want to fraternize. But I still prefer having a place for complete conversation, not that whitewashed hall that is AAJ, etc. I'm pretty thick skinned and respectful about religion. I've lived a good share of my life within an organized belief system, and a good share outside of one. I'm a lot happier without one and can't swallow the black and whiteness of being in one. But I did live on the other side, and know how to be a good neighbor with a fence just the right height.

Man, I'm really divided about this next box set. . . . I mean I adore Wake of the Flood and Mars Hotel, but my interest after that really wanes dramatically. I'd like to have the remastered Flood and Mars, AND the bonus disc only sold through the website. . . but not the whole box. Play the waiting game I guess and hope they put out remasters of Wake and Mars soon.

couw! Why not?

I'm with Eric. I mean I know I don't ever want to have a beer with Weizy or Berigan, but enemies? Nah! I think this is a true, or SOMETIMES was or is a true, place of conversation and exchanges of ideas. Sometimes pretty, sometimes not.

Stardust Memories. .. what a movie! I just love the movie WITHIN the movie at the beginning.

Yes Charlotte. . . what a beautiful woman. And what a great voice.

Babwa Stweizand?

Personally I wish the Baby Pictures thread would go. YIKES.

Dang, that blows my number one conspiracy theory right out of the pond!

I personally feel that the Randy Weston Select is the best of the lot and essential (for MY life!)