Season's Over

Baseball ended last night. A World Series winner, and a loser. Considering the weather the teams had to play in, I guess it's best the baseball season is finished. Hey, it's a summer sport, hate it when the game is played in cold, rain, and even snow. That's not the way it should be. But, the powers that be want extended seasons, more games, more money, to pay even more exorbitant salaries to superstar players... greed... the free market, capitalist mantra.

But beyond the business of baseball, it's sad when the season ends. No other sport compares. OK, I like football, sort of, basketball not much, hockey no longer interests... Baseball connects with my brain waves, matches my mental processes, like no other sport. Sure the games can be slow, even boring, but I like the spaces. Time to think in between the action. Most other sports require instant concentration for the constant action. Baseball lets one relax, ponder the game, or even ponder other things. More meditative, poetic even.

So, now with winter, shorter days, and no baseball, the depression begins. I have a hard time dealing with the next four months or so. I'm a creature of light, of sun, of lazy days and activities. Can't wait for the spring solstice and spring training...

Bank Bailout

This is a new site to monitor the fed bailout of our financial institutions. You know, capitalism for the profits, socialism for the losses..

Anyway, I, like most other people have serious doubts about all this... at least this site allows us to monitor the excesses, perhaps keep 'em honest (unlikely). Or, more likely, how the big financial institutions are reaming the taxpayer once again.

Cad Ass

Just walking through the Aves one day...

The Boys are Back!

After a long dry spell of decent jazz in this city, some hot young players have started playing together again.  John Henry has reformed with all the original players except Willis Clow (but with a good keyboardist as a substitute).  The boss sax player David Halliday is often part of the group.  Anchored by the rhythm section of Will Lovell and Steve Lyman, the Chisholm Bros. on horns are throwing down some very creative shit.  Also, Lyman often performs with his quartet, Kenji on guitar and Denson on bass.  So good to have this music available again, solid and creative musicians playing the real thing. 

These guys are part of the Salt Lake Alternative Jazz Orchestra, a 14 piece still holding it together after 5+ years.  I hope to have some tunes from the combos posted on the SLAJO web page in the near future.  Check it out!

Freddy King

Freddy King is perhaps the least known of the blues Kings (BB and Albert the others), but Freddy had a great instro style. His Hideaway has always been a favorite tune of mine (and frequently covered by others such as Clapton). Hideaway is a classic and unique blues style.

Now I'm not a biggie on the You Tube thing, but I have to admit, there is some incredible stuff there. I found this Freddy King video and thought I'd bring some attention to it. He plays a basic Hooker riff, almost to boredom, then suddenly digs for it, and things get really intense. A hot performance.

Oh, and check out his shirt collar. Unbelievable!

Queen of the Wild Frontier

I'm sure that Mooselini has inspired songwriters everywhere.  Here's a little ditty from the local group Free Range Chickens.

The Great Willis Clow CD

The Willis Clow CD is now out and available on CD Baby.  Some great, great guitar based jazz (although he would claim it to be rock).  I think this stuff is part of the new fusion, since it involves some country, some rock, some jazz, and is somewhat hard core in it's approach.  But that defines the new fusion.  Fusion's gotten a bad name over the years, a musical style associated with jazz that became very stereotyped, if not linked to "smooth jazz" (I want to hurl, here...).  But something is going on these days, I think it relates to today's musicians having a greater depth into all forms of music, as well as strong technical skills well beyond a specific musical niche.

So, I call the Willis Clow CD the new hardcore jazz fusion.  Fuck it, all labels are ambiguous anyway.  Just go buy this thing,  It's good.  (there's samples on the CD Baby site).  Hell, buy two or three...  we gotta pay off his student loans for the USC Masters degree!