jazzbo

Interesting Robert. I really connect with Prince. Never connected with Michael or Madonna. I can really respect Micheal's talent, but his work has done little for me. Prince I'm in awe of his talent and really have enjoyed his work since his first LP. Life is good, there is so much music to explore, and some of it GREAT.

Two new Cannon reissues from Dusty Groove label now available: https://www.dustygroove.com/item/788179 https://www.dustygroove.com/item/788181

Cool.

One episode of Dr. Who maybe? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1013087/?ref_=tt_cl_t1

The Leftovers, Season 2, on Blu-ray. This is superb TV. Hope Season 3 airs soon.

Well I didn't talk much about music in the 'seventies because I was into shit no one around me was and I just paid lip service to Floyd and Foghat and the stuff around, enjoying some of it (Yes, Bowie), sick of most of it. No one to talk to, no one who cared to listen. But I still wouldn't have done the Ellington parallel to Stevie I don't think. And really I did mean more "an Ellington for our time" than "the next Ellington," I shouldn't have phrased that that way. There are many parallels to Duke in Prince and that self-determination is a big one. There's a look in the eye, know what I mean smirk, that subversive twinkle. And now it's dimmed. Sad.

I should have better phrased my feeling as "an Ellington of our time." There are a lot of parallels and a lot of differences of course. I don't see Stevie Wonder in that way at all, but Prince, yeah, I do.

IMO the genius in the music isn't quite there as with EKE, but EKE didn't have the genius sing and dance and present music as I feel Prince did. There are parallels in "the stockpile" and "the vault," the abundant touring and the composing and performance and recording as a sort of daily ritual, the religious/spiritual thang, etc. I never had Duke as a strong cultural force in my everyday world the way that I had Prince. I wish I did. I missed Duke. I'll miss Prince.

Oh it's a great set. Several of the recording sessions feature more material in this set than were originally released on LP. Roulette (imo) did some excellent stereo recording of the Basie band, and the mastering on this Mosaic set highlights this. And this is a great period for Basie with Joe Williams out front on many numbers doing possibly his best work, great soloists, and wonderful arrangements. The whole orchestra played well together and with that unique beat and feel.

It's fine if you don't hear it or see it, doesn't upset me. Just my impressions, and I've thought of it for a bit of time.

I begin to think of Prince as the next Duke Ellington. A painter of the blues. A composer who had his fingers on all that is going on but had his own vision to impart with the tools and forms of all that is going on. A seeker and developer and employer of talent to work within his orbit. A lover of beauty in many forms including the human. Someone who will last the ages.

Yes, I have been enjoying this box and also a lot of Basie reissues from Warner Japan of the Roulette material. And that made me dig out Joe Williams releases. Just such wonderful music.

Now we have to keep Ed Motta healthy. He's like the remaining Prince to me and he needs to stick around. But I don't want him to change. . . no personal trainer.

Yes I know she'd done some work along those lines. Haven't seen them. I'm watching "Spy" with Melissa McCartney, Jason Stratham and Rose Byrne. Nicely done.

Yes, that's right, first time I saw him as well. And I like him.

I used to watch that on broadcast because Helen was a fan. It wasn't too bad. . . and that was the first place I saw Melinda Clarke, who isn't a bad TV villainess. Watched last night's Scandal, The Catch and The 100 today before I got busy.. . hope to get to Vikings tonight.

It's interesting that many seem to have stopped at Musicology and earlier. . . I have pretty much stopped listening to Musicology and before, and have listened this decade to the newer material. There were different Prince fans, and perhaps different Princes. The way that guy danced in heels, I don't doubt a lot of physical pain especially in his fifties. I just turned sixty and I can imagine, though I don't have to, I just have to do one tenth of what he does to feel the pain.

It's unfortunate that you got that stuff about Jimi, it's not true but I do hear it bandied about by those who are not as old as we are. . . . I love Jimi, and no one will convince me of his "unimportance." That said I'm a big Prince fan and he's far more than a "Jimi wannabe". . . far more. I got in on Prince early, with the first album, and was swept up in the "Revolution" wave and really like that stuff. . . but I actually like Prince of a later vintage, his work in the 'nineties and this century is very interesting. It's sad that he has died so young, especially if it is opiate drug related, as may be the case. I expected him around for quite some time.

What the !!!! I'm a big fan. Sad.

Storyville was if I recall correctly reissuing entire shows as they were broadcast, which is cool. I also have entire shows on cd from another label.

Just finished the season 2 finale of Better Call Saul. Wow. Such an amazing show. Such a great wrap up to the season. It's going to be a long wait til Season 3 is here.

Many more happy returns Mr. L!

Many happy returns Flurin!

Game of Thrones Season 5 on Blu-ray.

That's a lot of stuff to mix, I hope it's safe. I would check with a professional myself before I'd do that. Luckily, I sleep great, night after night. My next youngest brother says it's because I don't drink. Who knows, I know it's a lucky thing. There was a time in my working career where my agency was being reduced in force over the course of three years from 850 employees to 475. That was three years I didn't sleep as well. . . . Luckily that was now more than a decade ago.