Leeway

That "Obbligato" album got a decidedly mixed reaction among folks I know who consider themselves fans of Rainey (I am). It's an all-standards album, and that seems to have thrown some folks. I haven't heard it myself, but I have a lot of confidence in Rainey's musicianship, so am interested in hearing it. Seems like it passed muster with you on first hearing. Any more thoughts on it, Ubu?

Sure thing. I mostly use it for artist searches and then the related discographical information on the fly, like when I'm in a record store. Also will check the reviews for a particular release, when available. I find its artist search a lot better than it's title search. I don't bother with some of its other features, like what's recommended, etc. YMMV as we like to say.

It's an actual app (All Music by Rovi). I'm pretty sure I downloaded it from the Apple Store. It functions differently than the web site. If you get it, there's one little trick you need to learn to make sure previous search entries are cleared, otherwise it works pretty well.

Topo Gigio El Topo Topper

MARTHA QUEST - Doris Lessing (1952) . A little digression from Muriel. A bildungsroman of young Martha Quest, in Pre-WWI South Africa, from the ages of about 15-19. Martha is bookish fiercely independent, adventurous, idealistic, liberal. She leaves her farm home and goes to the nearest city, itself nothing much more than a frontier town, but a place where youthful, urban adventures are possible; these are mostly drinking, dancing, and having sex. The novel ends with her ill-starred marriage and Europe on the very brink of WWII. This is the first novel in a group of novels under the heading of "Children of Violence," although I believe each stands on its own. This novel has been compared to those of D.H. Lawrence. I can see that. I found the novel to be very well-crafted. The problem I had with it is the title's heroine was difficult to really take an interest in, as she funks every moral, personal and political test put to her (or that she puts to her self). Typically, she says one thing and does another. She espouses high ideals but rarely supports them in action. She resists bad things only to give in to them later. She is angry inside but puts on the charm to those around her. The novel ends in a complete crack-up: a bad marriage and a world war. Fun! The novel does draw an interesting picture of South Africa under British rule, and the treatment of the native population (kaffirs). Lessing is adamantly critical of English and Afrikaaner social and racial mores. So is Martha Quest but when confronted with several scenes of social injustice, she fails to act with integrity. Perhaps Martha comes into her own in the later novels in the series. Lessing is a challenging writer, earnest, full of ideas, minutely crafted, but a little like literary broccoli, good for you but not always tasty. Still, this seriousness will probably draw me back to others of her works sometime later.

Oddly enough, I tend to use their app more than the online site, but I haven't had much in the way of problems with either, although getting around the site can be a bit clunky at times.

Doris Duke awards for 2014, $225,000 to $250,000. Some very very worthy recipients: http://ddpaa.org/artists/

Horace Pippin Scottie Pippin Philip Pirrip

A long and inspired creative life, there at some of the key moments in the history of jazz. Thank and RIP.

"The Mandelbaum Gate" is reputedly the most problematic of her novels. I haven't read it (yet), so can't speak from experience. I spent a lot of time in that Powell's in Hyde Park (57th St?) when I lived in Chicago, both buying and selling books to/from them. The stock used to be mostly upmarket items, very nice, a bit pricier than the average. Their discards are probably pretty good. I love picking $1.00 carts, store discards, etc. One can find a lot of classic literature in that way; that stuff just flies under the radar mostly. I always poke around the Strand carts outside when I am in NYC. There's another store in Brooklyn where I usually leave with an armful of books just from the dollar cart.

No Neck Joe Jughead Jarhead

The Ministry of Silly Walks Knights Who Say Ni Dead Collectors

ENCHANCE - Billy Hart - Horizon/A&M. Very tasty. Billy Hart (dr,perc); Oliver Lake (as,ss,fl); Dewey Redman (ts)(not on 5.); Hannibal Marvin Peterson (tp,koto); Eddie Henderson (tp,flh,el flh)(1,3,5); Don Pullen (p, el p); Buster Williams (b)(1,3.5); Dave Holland(b)(2,4,6,7); Michael Thabo Carvin (perc)(5)

I expect FIFA will try not to deal with it, so it will be up to the players to seriously press the point. I'm not sure what the solution is though I read that rugby helmets, which would seem applicable, are not much good at preventing concussions. Perhaps a rule change to start so that any blow to the head could result in a PK, depending on the circumstances. That should reduce a lot of deliberate hits, or at least make players more careful.

I was a teenager when Pink Floyd made its appearance. It was considered "head music" at the time by a lot of people, i.e., music to smoke marijuana by. Not a criticism; indeed a rather hallowed niche. I think what imprinted PF on the minds of American teens was that (in)famous phrase "Careful with that axe Eugene." A lovely phrase for crazed youth.

The article has whetted my appetite for this, which I began today. I'll probably break off from time to time to read other Spark novels. Yes, I noted the Stannard; now on my list. My recent used book hunt, which turned up "Territorial Rights," also turned up: I need to dip into it a bit. Also, don't forget "The Comforters"-- that first book is quite revealing and often the template for what follows. Here's the article-review in the Washington Post. As I guessed, it is by Michael Dirda, the "belles lettres" guy in DC. He likes the essays and is a fan of the novels: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/michael-dirda-reviews-the-informed-air-essays-by-muriel-spark/2014/07/09/7f83a936-fbd7-11e3-932c-0a55b81f48ce_story.html

George Gallup Edward Hopper Run DMC

Hula Girls Chiquita Banana Mr. Peanut

THE FLAM - Frank Lowe, Joseph Bowie, Leo Smith, Alex Blake, Charles Bobo Shaw. Black Saint. Love this one.

Why would LeBron go back to Cavs? I wondered the same thing. Money aside (it may be more or less, IDK), I think it's because he was a god in Cleveland, and not so much in Miami. It's nice to be worshipped and not just applauded. But I think he'll find "You can't go home again."

Yep, totally bonkers Another thumbs up for 'Girl from Ipanema'. As mad as David Luiz's defending and just as entertaining. One of the very first Jazz albums that connected with me and I suspect that track had a lot to do with it Coming at the end of the same side as "Malcolm," there is an added cognitive dissonance-- I tend to like those!

NIGHT FIRE - John Carter Quintet - Black Saint. Excellent group and record: Carter, Bobby Bradford, James Newton, Roberto Miranda, William Jeffrey.

I wish Mosaic would do a John Carter box. I can foresee difficulties in obtaining the various rights, but such a box set would have a lot of artistic value.

Love the mad version of "Girl from Ipanema.

Sole Survivor" Tribal Council Last Survivor