Leeway

Lou Wasserman Frank Loesser Wendy Lesser

I have a really nice-sounding compact Denon/Mission system in the bedroom. The CD transport on the Denon gave up after a year or so. Had it repaired locally (Myer-Emco, no longer around). Been cool since. Unless the CD player is extremely cheap to start with, usually worth getting the repair done.

New York Dolls Lou Reed Nico

Grover Cleveland Jimmy Cleveland Anne of Cleves

I remember I was in Catholic grammar school. When the news was received, the nuns told us to kneel down next to our desks to pray. Many of the nuns were crying, and of course many of the kids too. There seemed a tremendous level of grief in my neighborhood, which was primarily Irish-Italian Catholic. It took a long time for the shock to wear off.

Sam Rivers Duane Eddy Dinah Shore

Giacobazzi (wine) Giacomo Puccini Pulcinella

For Paul Motian, who has embarked on that final "voyage." LE VOYAGE: Paul Motian, J.F. Jenny-Clark, Charles Brackeen (who is wonderful). ECM LP.

Neeme Jarvi Paavo Jarvi Clifford Jarvis

I think Michael was the best pianist Lacy ever had in terms of getting to the meat of Steve's compositions. I used to have that album and didn't keep it. You know Michael's music better than I do, Jeff, but I'm curious to hear your opinion. Always thought Mal was kind of the "perfect foil" but then again, he's also the pianist I've heard with Lacy the most. Others being Smith, Satoh, Cecil, Perez, and of course that "Five Facings" duets CD on FMP (which wasn't all that great IMO) with Crispell, Van Hove, Gumpert, Mengelberg, and Vladimir Miller. Let me clarify: Michael was not the best pianist Lacy ever had, but he was the best in terms of interpreting Lacy's music. He seemed to grasp Lacy's compositions and complement them perfectly. (Bobby Few also came close to this level of empathy with Steve's music.) When Waldron or Mengelberg (to pick two obvious examples) played with Lacy, their strong personalities changed things so that so that it was no longer "Lacy's music" - it was Lacy-with-Waldron, or Lacy-with-Mengelberg. Michael, on the other hand, seemed to completely give himself over to Lacy's vision. I love the Lacy/Waldron duets, and you're right - Waldron is a great foil for Lacy. But it's a completely different experience than listening to a "Steve Lacy" performance. Does that make sense? I like Five Facings more than you do, by the way. (Edited to correct spelling.) Lacy's hookups with pianists can be hit or miss. Waldron was clearly the most successful partner. On the "Five Facings," IIRC, I thought the Van Hove and Mengelberg were the most successful of the pairings. The others were not happening. I suspect from the pianists' POV, playing with Lacy was a challenge; you couldn't just comp or play easy licks. What I like about the performance with Smith is how ardently both play, the high level of interaction, and the inventiveness of the playing. Smith pushes the envelope more than I expected. In turn, Lacy seems really into it. I really don't know Smith's other work, but this album was a pleasant surprise to me. Now on to something completely different: Miles Davis "IN A SILENT WAY"--

A great long life in music; that's a beautiful thing. RIP.

My sense is this album is generally overlooked. Been awhile since I listened to it. On this listen I was really impressed by the interplay between Lacy and Smith, who really gets outside on a lot of the pieces.

Il Duce Minnie the Mooch Freddie Freeloader

Noh Yes (the rock group) OK Computer (radiohead)

Rolling Stones, EXILE ON MAIN STREET:

Midnight Rambler Midnight Creeper Midnight Cowboy

Rick Danko Danko Jones Dansko

Some John McLaughlin:

Wow, how did we miss that! Since you are such a good "Three Names" player, I will give you 3 names for your birthday present: Bill F. William Will To all 3, Happy Birthday!

I have no interest in defending Rouse, who, without his Monk connection, would be a footnote in jazz. However, if what Moms says is true, what does that say about Monk? For Monk to keep the 434th worst sax player around for years in his band, playing cardboard solos, and hack work licks, does not reflect all that well on Monk, does it? Moms hints at a Monk in decline, but also notes that Monk could come in with brilliant playing/interpretation when he wanted/needed to. There is no doubt that the period of Monk's greatest artistic ferment was already over by the time Rouse showed up. But is Rouse's presence the signal that Monk was finished? A sort of deliberate covering over by Monk of the earlier brilliance? Otherwise it makes no sense for these two wildly disparate figures to form a partnership. Perhaps Rouse lowered the bar and Monk found that convenient. Or perhaps Rouse was the dull background against which Monk could shine brightly, without having to fight for it. Sonny Rollins has done something similar to that these last several decades. Anyway, I think this argument about Rouse is also something of an argument about Monk too.

Three Musketeers Three Amigos Three Sounds

Aside from the lousy economic impact this has on the employees (and our economy), this continuing diminishment of print news has a harmful effect on us as a democratic society. Can't have a democracy without a vigorous, free press. Most of the news (not gossip, celebrity flackery and sheer opinions) on the Internet comes from what's left of the print media.

Wallis Simpson Wallace Beery Booz Allen

I think Clem is trying to steal the resident Contrarian title back from David. I think he's ahead on points