Playlist, May 20, 2007

Set One
The Who; Overture; Tommy (1969 MCA)
The Who; Love Ain't For Keeping; Who's Next (1970 MCA)
The Who; Amazing Journey/Sparks; Tommy (1969 MCA)
The Who; I'm The Face; Thirty Years of Maximum R & B (1994 MCA)
The Who; My Generation/Magic Bus; Live at Leeds (1971 MCA)
The Who; Getting in Tune; Who's Next (1970 MCA)
[mic break 10:59 a.m.]

Interview with Jerry Vigorito about Band Together benefit concert

Set Two
Fats Waller; A Porter's Love Song; Distilled
Fats Waller; Somebody Stole My Gal; Distilled
Fats Waller; Sweet Sue, Just You; Distilled
Fats Waller; Got A Bran' New Suit; Distilled
Fats Waller; I'm On A See-Saw; Distilled
Fats Waller; (Oh Susannah) Dust Off That Old Pianna; Distilled
[mic break 11:28 a.m.]

Set Three
Christian McBride; Divergence; Number Two Express (1996 Verve)
Ray Brown/John Clayton/Christian McBride; Papa Was a Rolling Stone; SuperBass 2 (2001 Telarc)
Christian McBride; Technicolor Nightmare; Live at Tonic (2006 Ropeadope)
[mic break 12:00 p.m.]

Set Four
Sun Ra; Outer Nothingness; Heliocentric Worlds (2005 Syndicore)
Sun Ra Arkestra; Mayan Temples; Mayan Temples (1990 Black Saint)
Sun Ra & his Myth Science Arkestra; Voice of Space; Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy (1992 Evidence)
[mic break 12:31 p.m.]

Set Five
Hot Club Sandwich; Twilight in Turkey; Green Room (2007 Modern Hot)
Bethany & Rufus; Samson & Delilah; 900 Miles (2006 Hyena)
They Might Be Giants; In The Middle, In The Middle; No! (2002 Idlewild)
Frank Zappa; A Pound For A Brown; You Can't Do That on Stage Any More Volume 5 (1992 Rykodisc)
Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle; GoGo's Theme; Battery Milk (2007 Hyena)
They Might Be Giants; I Am Not Your Broom No! (2002 Idlewild)
Alex DeGrassi/Michael Manring/Christopher Garcia; Homestyle; demania (2006 Tropo)
Joel Harrison; Hudson Shining; Harbor (2007 Highnote)
The Doobie Brothers; Listen to the Music (Malibu remix); What is Hip? Remix Project Volume One (2004 Warner Bros)
The Greyboy Allstars; Pigeons Under Water; What Happaned to Television? (2007 Sci Fidelity)
[mic break 1:28 p.m.]

Set Six
Charlie Bertini's AppleJazz Band; Caravan; Classic Performances (2006 AppleJazz Records)
Robert Irving; New Momentum; New Momentum (2007 Sonic Portraits)
Dan McMillion Jazz Orchestra; Another Star; High Octane (2006 Sea Breeze Jazz)
Ryan Haines Big Band; Thicker Than Water; People & Places (2006 Sea Breeze Jazz)
John Hicks; Things We Did Last Summer; Sweet Love of Mine (2006 Highnote)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Playlist, May 13, 2007

Set One
Mothers of Invention; WPLJ; Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1969 Reprise)
Mothers of Invention; Holiday in Berlin; Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1969 Reprise)
[mic break 10:20 a.m.]

Set Two
Cecil Brooks III with Gene Ludwig; Serenade in Blue; Double Exposure (2006 Savant)
Cecil Brooks III with Gene Ludwig; Tea for Two; Double Exposure (2006 Savant)
John Scofield; Kubrick/Green Tea; A Go Go (1998 PolyGram)
Wayne Wallace; Tune Up; The Reckless Search for Beauty (2006 Wayne Wallace)
MIles Davis; If I Were a Bell; The Best of Seven Steps 1963-1964 (2005 Sony)
[mic break 10:59 a.m.]

Set Three
Zvonimir Tot; Blue Quest; Blue Quest (2006 GrooveArt)
Pamela Luss; Over the Rainbow; Your Eyes (2007 Savant)
Etta Jones; My Romance; Doin' What She Does Best (1998 32 Jazz)
Gregory Tarrdy; Blues to Professor Pickens; Serendipity (1998 Impulse!)
[mic break 11:25 a.m.]

Pledge Break 11:40-1:00

Set Four
Charlie Parker; Cherokee; Chasin' the Bird (2005 Proper)
Charlie Parker; I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles; Chasin' the Bird (2005 Proper)
Charlie Parker; Scrapple From the Apple; Chasin' the Bird (2005 Proper)
Charlie Parker; Ornithology; Chasin' the Bird (2005 Proper)
Charlie Parker; Hot House; Chasin' the Bird (2005 Proper)
[mic break 1:33 p.m.]

Set Five
Gary Burton; Open Your Eyes You Can Fly; The New Quartet (1973 ECM)
Mothers of Invention; Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue; Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970 Warner Bros.)
Ben Allison; Apostles of the Ugly; Medicine Wheel (1998 Palmetto)
Armando Rodriguez-Victor Rendon Latin Jazz Orchestra; Palabras de Mujer; Havana Blues (1998 Palmetto)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Premiums, May 6th

203-384-9756
wpkn.org/pledge

CDs ($50)

Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger, In This Room
Putumayo World Party
Putumayo New Groove

Book ($50)
Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and TImes of Doc Pomus

Playlist, May 6, 2007

Set One
The Ed Palermo Big Band; RDNZL; Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (2006 Cuneiform)
McCoy Tyner; The Greeting; Milestone Profiles (2006 Concord)
McCoy Tyner; Naima; The Greeting (1978 Milestone)
John Coltrane; Crescent (first version); The Classic Quartet (1996 Impulse)
[mic break 10:35 a.m.]

Set Two
John Coltrane; Nature Boy; Legacy (2002 Impulse)
John Coltrane; Greensleeves; The Complete Africa Brass Sessions (1995 Impulse)
John Coltrane; Equinox; The Very Best Of (2000 Rhino)
[mic break 11:05 a.m.]


Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Playlist, April 29, 2007

Set One
Charles Earland; Sister Sadie; The Mighty Burner (2004 HighNote)
Chad Rager Groove; Whipping Post; 21st Century Groove (2006 Strokelnd)
Miles Davis; Milestones; Miles in Berlin (2005 Sony)
Mark Murphy; All Blues; Bop for Miles (2004 HighNote)
Giacomo Gates; Four; Blue Skies (1995 DMP)
[mic break 10:32 a.m.]

Set Two
Miles Davis; Ah-Leu-Cha; At Newport 1958 (2001 Sony)
Frank Morgan; 'Round Midnight; City Nights (2004 HighNote)
Wayne Wallace; R.S.V.P.; Dedication (2006 Patois)
[mic break 10:55 a.m.]

11-11:30 a.m.
Interview with Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger

11: 30 a.m.
Pledge break

Set Three
Frank Morgan; Cherokee; City Nights (2004 HighNote)
Count Basie/Joe Turner; The Honeydripper; The Bosses (1974 Pablo)
John Surman Quartet; Moonshine Dancer; Stranger Than Fiction (1994 ECM)
John Surman Quartet; Running Sands; Stranger Than Fiction (1994 ECM)
Kenny Burrell; Sultry Seranade; Ellington a la Carte (1993 Muse)
Jane Stuart; It Might as Well Be Spring; Beginning to See the Light (2006 Jane Stuart)
Hendrik Meurkens; I Can't Get Started; New York Samba Jazz Quartet (2007 Zoho)
[mic break 1:31 p.m.]

Set Four
Leonisa Ardizzone Quartet; Nature Boy; Afraid of the Heights (2006 Ardijenn)
Ray Barretto & New World Spirit; Effendi; Taboo (1994 Concord)
Bob Mintzer Big Band; What Might Have Been; Only In New York (DMP)
Ricky Ford; Nigeria Blues; Tenor Madness Too! (1995 Muse)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

The making of Apostrophe & Over-nite Sensation

Parts 2, 3, 4 & 5 are also up on YouTube.
(Hat tip: Kill Ugly Radio)

Technorati tags: Zappa

Premiums for April 22nd

CDs ($50 pledge)

Wayne Escoffery, Veneration
Anais Mitchell, The Brightness (2)
Eric Alexander, It's All in the Game
Gerry Mulligan, Folio Collection
Stanly Turrentine, The Story of Jazz
Count Basie, Volume 10 - 1939
Count Basie, Volume 11 - 1939
Sonny Stitt, Folio Collection (2)
Earl Hines, At Home
Robert Cray, Take Your Shoes Off
Michael Coppolla, Monster Guitar
Andrew Lamb, Portrait in the Mist
The Real Group, Live in Stockholm
Richie Hart, Greasy Street

Playlist, April 22, 2007

Set One
Earth Wind & Fire, That's The Way of the World; The Best of (1978 Columbia)
Don Braden; You Can't Hide Love; Workin' (2006 HighNote)
Tower of Power; Ebony Jam; In the Slot (1975 Warner Bros)
Frank Zappa; Village of the Sun>Echidna's Arf; Zappa Picks by Larry LaLond of Primus (2002 Rykodisc)
The Meters; Fire on the Bayou; Funkify Your Life (Anthology) (1995 Rhino)
[mic break 10:44 a.m.]

Set Two
Duke Ellington; Skin Deep; The 1952 Seattle Concert (1995 RCA)
David "Fathead" Newman; Caravan; Chillin' (1999 HighNote)
Duke Ellington; Caravan; The 1952 Seattle Concert (1995 RCA)
[mic break 11:05 a.m.]

Set Three
Duke Ellington; Harlem Suite; The 1952 Seattle Concert (1995 RCA)
[mic break 11:25 a.m.]

Fundraising

Set Four
Eric Alexander; It's All in the Game; It's All in the Game
John Pattitucci; The Root; Line by Line (2006 Concord)
John Pattitucci; Agitato Line by Line (2006 Concord)
John Pattitucci; Circular; Line by Line (2006 Concord)
Etta Jones; Second Time Around; Sings Sammy Cahn (1999 HighNote)
Bobby Broom; Can't Buy Me Love; Song and Dance (2007 Origin)
[mic break 1:24 p.m.]

Set Five
Fats Waller; My Mommy Sent Me to the Store; The Indespensable Fats Waller vol. 9/10 (1993 BMG)
Fats Waller; Fats Waller's Original E-Flat Blues; The Indespensable Fats Waller vol. 9/10 (1993 BMG)
Emerson Lake & Palmer; Toccata; Welcome Back My Friends (1973 Manticore)
Dean Schmidt; Pop Star; I Know Nothing (2007 OA2)
Frank Zappa; Dog Breath; Zappa Picks by Jon Fishman of Pfish (2002 Rykodisc)
Emerson Lake & Palmer; Piano Improvisations>Take a Pebble; Welcome Back My Friends (1973 Manticore)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

A Whale Blows in Brooklyn

The Gowanus Lounge updates a report on a whale sighting in Brooklyn. Not in the ocean off Coney Island, mind you, but in the infamous Gowanus Canal. Will wonders never cease.

Marine biologists are on the scene and say the whale appears to be in good health. They also say the whale will be hard to coax away from the Gowanus unless he/she actually wants to leave.

It's probably nothing to worry about unless the whale shows up in Park Slope pushing a double-wide stroller.

Previously: Breaking: Whale in the Gowanus Canal.

UPDATE: Sludgie died late Wednesday afternoon. WCBS-TV also points out that the whale was in Gowanus Bay, but not the canal itself.

Technorati tags: whales, Brooklyn, Gowanus Canal

Flood

I got water in my basement. Not a lot, but the couple of inches I got were enough to ruin my office and make a big mess. Blogging will be very light until I get back to normal. At this point I don't even know what I'm going to learn between 11 p.m. and 12 midnight.

Technorati tags: flood

Playlist, April 15, 2007

Set One
The Greyboy Allstars; What Happened to TV?; What Happened to Television? (2007 Sci Fidelity)
The Bob Florence Limited Edition; Mirror Images; Eternal Licks & Grooves (2007 Mama)
Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra; Miraflores; Meeting of the Waters (2007 OA2)
Woody Shaw; Rashaan's Run; Live Volume Two (2001 HighNote)
[mic break 10:38 a.m.]

Set Two
Illinois Jacquet; Diggin' the Count; Jumpin' at Apollo (2002 Delmark)
Illinois Jacquet; Bottoms Up; Jumpin' at Apollo (2002 Delmark)
Illinois Jacquet; Ghost of a Chance; Jumpin' at Apollo (2002 Delmark)
David Chevan's Yizkor Project; Yizkor for Martyrs
Warren Byrd/David Chevan; Water From An Ancient Well; This is the Afro-Semitic Experience (2002 Reckless DC)
[phone interview with David Chevan]
[pledge break 11:30]

Set Three
Randy Crawford & Joe Sample; But Beautiful; Feeling Good (2007 PRA)
Randy Crawford & Joe Sample; Rio De Janiero Blue; Feeling Good (2007 PRA)
Kurt Elling; Change Partners/If You Never Come to Me; Nightmoves (2007 Concord)
Alain Pérez; Donna Lee; En el Aire (2007 Ayva)
Dean Schmidt; Suffering Through the Beauty; I Know Nothing (2007 OriginArts)
Larry Willis; Insidious Behavior; Blue Fable (2007 HighNote)
[mic break 1:31 p.m.]

Set Four
Sarah Golden; Boopy Doopy Doo
Reuben Wilson; Funk Farm; Movin' On (2007 Savant)
Don Braden; The Vail Jumpers; Workin' (2006 HighNote)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

iTunes Signature Maker!

Dig this! The iTunes Signature Maker (iTSM) analyzes your music collection and creates a short audio signature to represent who you are and what you listen to. I'll post my signature when I can figure out where to put my audio files.

Blind Faith

Nice.

Chloe

Mary Lynn Rajskub was featured in a recent Geek magazine interview. There are some great pictures, if you're into that kind of thing. Next to Jack, she is my favorite character on 24.

Technorati tags: 24, Jack Bauer, Chloe O'Brian

The strangely-colored chip

We went to T.G.I. Friday's the other day. The chips are branded in company livery, white and red. The red chips have a disturbing scarlet color. It looks kind of orange here, but the actual color is a brighter red.

Technorati tags: food

Playlist, April 8, 2007

Set One
Wayne Escoffrey; I Waited For You; Veneration (2007 Savant)
Greg Osby; Diode Emissions; Channel Three (2006 Blue Note)
Hal Galper/Jeff Johnson/John Bishop; Naima; Furious Rubato (2007 Origin)
[mic break 10:32 a.m.]

Set Two
Misha Tsiganov; Dark Eyes; Always Going West (2007 PowerLight)
Rebecca Parris; Alone Together; You Don't Know Me (2007 Saying It With Jazz)
The Stryker/Slagle Band; Bird Flew; Latest Outlook (2007 Zoho)
Pete BarenBregge/Frank Russo; New Joy; A Thousand Eyes (2007 Summit)
[mic break 11:05 a.m.]

Set Three
Robert Glasper; Canvas; Canvas (2006 Blue Note)
The Bob Florence Limited Edition; Invitation; Eternal Licks & Grooves (2007 Mama)
Andy Narell; Tabanca; Tatoom (2007 Heads Up)
Steve Herberman Trio; Be Nimble; Action:Reaction(2006 Reach Music)
Wallace Roney; Stargaze; Mystikal (2005 HighNote)
Wallace Roney; Just My Imagination; Mystikal (2005 HighNote)
[mic break 12:08 p.m.]

Set Four
Nick Moran Tio; The Secret Life; The Messenger (2006 Consolidated Artists Productinos)
The Greyboy Allstars; Old School Cyclons; What Happened to Television (2007 Sci Fidelity)
Bob Mintzer Big Band; Not Quite Yet; Old School New School (2006 Manchester Craftmen's Guild)
Sonny Stitt; Four; It's Magic (2005 Delmark)
Sonny Stitt; On Green Dolphin Street; It's Magic (2005 Delmark)
Kate McGarry; Blue in Green; The Target (2007 Palmetto)
Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts; 25 Years of Rootabagas (2006 Pamletto)
Hal Galper/Jeff Johnson/John Bishop; Milestones; Furious Rubato (2007 Origin)
[mic break 12:58 a.m.]

Set Five
Curtis Fuller; Western Sunrise; Keep It Simple (2005 Savant)
Bebo Valdés Trio; Romance en La Habana; El Arte del Sabor (2001 Blue Note)
Django Reinhardt; Debussy's Reverie; Django in Rome (2003 JSP)
Django Reinhardt; Night and Day; Django in Rome (2003 JSP)
The Nate Najar Trio; Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most; I'm All Smiles (2006 Blue Line)
Anat Cohen & The Anzic Orchestra; Samba De Orfeu/Strutting' With Some Barbeque; Noir (2007 Anzic)
Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Hieroglyphics; Shotgun Bouquet; It Is Written (2005 ACT)
[mic break 1:43 p.m.]

Set Six
Blues River Orchestra; Transference; Blues River Orchestra (2007 Phoenix)Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger; Caravan; In This Room (2007 Tymoni)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Birds

Temperature: 39°F

I haven't done a bird post in a while. Today there was a red-winged blackbird at the feeder, but he flew away before I could get my camera. I'll try again.

Technorati tags: birds

Let's Go Mets!

How satisfying is it to be 3-0, see the World Series Champion Cardinals 0-3, and leave St. Louis with a sweep? We're picking up where we left off last season, with good pitching, solid defense, and some run-scoring.

No baseball tonight, but you can groove to your choice or early or late Dead from this date in history.

April 5, 1969 - Avalon Ballroom
April 5, 1991 - The Omni

Technorati tags: Mets

The Great American (Idol) Songbook

I finally got what I've been wanting to see--standards on American Idol. Melinda and Lakisha knocked it out of the park as usual. There never has been any doubt it will be these two in the final. Sanjaya gave us a nice reading of "Dancing Cheek to Cheek," and Phil got stuck with a crooning, sweetened arrangement of "Night and Day" that completely took the shine off the song.

Back to pop next week, but it was nice to hear the songs I like for a change.

UPDATE: Jordin's turn with "On A Clear Day" was also star quality. Most poignant moment: Gina Glocksen singing "Smile" after being eliminated.

Technorati tags: American Idol, Cole Porter

Premiums for April 1st

CDs ($50 pledge)

Sonny Stitt, Folio Collection
The Bluelights, Rub That Rhythm
Chad Rager Groove, 21st Century Groove

Playlist, April 1, 2007

Set One
John Coltrane; Acknowledgement (Live); A Love Supreme (2002 impulse!)
John Coltrane; Resolution (Live); A Love Supreme (2002 impulse!)
[mic break 10:29 a.m.]

Set Two
Hiromi's Sonicbloom; Time Difference; Time Control (2007 Telarc)
Ximo Tebar; My Evidence; Eclipse (2006 Omix)
Jack Foster; Nirvana in the Notes; Evolution of Jazzraptor (2003 Muse-Wrapped)
The Ed Palermo Big Band; Mom and Dad/Oh No; Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (2006 Cuneiform)
[mic break 10:59 a.m.]

Set Three
Mothers of Invention; Absolutely Free; We're Only In It for the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Mothers of Invention; Flower Punk; We're Only In It for the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Frank Zappa; Purple Haze; The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
Frank Zappa; Sunshine of Your Love; The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
Frank Zappa; Let's Move to Cleveland; The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
Mothers of Invention; Who Needs the Peace Corps?; We're Only In It for the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Grateful Dead; Morning Dew; Ladies and Gentlemen... (2000 Arista)
[mic break 11:31 a.m.]

Pledge break 11:30-12:45
12:45-1:30 p.m. Conversation with John Motavalli and listeners about the latest Iran hostage crisis.

Set Four
Hiromi's Sonicbloom; Time and Space; Time Control (2007 Telarc)
Chad Rager Groove; Whipping Post; 21st Century Groove (2006 Strokeland)
Grace Kelly; East of the Sun, West of the Moon; Every Road I Walked ((2006 Pazz)
[mic break 1:54 p.m.]

Wayne Wallace; El Duende Africano; The Reckless Search for Beauty (2006 Patois)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio, Iran

Today in history

Fifteen years ago I met my wife. Somebody brought her to a bar to see my band play, and we began flirting immediately. Two years later we were married.

Also on this date, in 1986, I went to a Grateful Dead concert in Portland, Maine after a long winter of personal turmoil and despair. The snow snapped me out of my depression and started me on a new path. It was a major turning point in my life.

While the 3/28/86 show was good, this gem from 3/28/73 is mind-melting.

Rats

There's been a big turnover this week. We had a massive die-off last week, and the toll included my favorite rat Jenny, her son Vanilla, and three pink-eyed whites. Joining us this is a family of four Siamese rats. I'll post pictures when I get a chance.

On the wild side, I found a defunct intruder in the basement a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately the concrete floor was very cold, and she was well-preserved at the time of discovery. Last week also saw the removal of an unhappy cherry tree in the yard and a large brush pile that was home to a lot of rats. This opens up a whole new area of what used to be the disreputable corner of my property. I'm still seeing some rats running around, but as I block their tunnels I hope they move along.

Technorati tags: rats

Playlist, March 25, 2007

Set One
The Ed Palermo Big Band; Sleep Dirt; Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (2006 Cuneiform)
Chie Imaizumi; A Change for the Better; Unvailing Kindness (2006 Capri)
Don Braden; I Hear a Rhapsody; Brighter Days (2001 HighNote)
Larry Willis; Insidious Behavior; Blue Fable (2007 HighNote)
[mic break 10:28 a.m.]

Set Two
The Jodie Christian Trio; How Insensitive; Reminiscing (2001 Delmark)
The Stryker Slagle Band; Latest Outlook; Latest Outlook (2007 Zoho)
Pete Christlieb with the Lori Mechem Quartet; You've Changed; Live at the Jazz Cave (2006 Cognito)
Coleman Hawkins; I'm Beginning to See the Light; The Best of (2004 Fantasy)
Coleman Hawkins; Greensleeves; The Best of (2004 Fantasy)
Gene Bertoncini; Greensleeves; Body and Soul (1999 Ambient)
The Nate Najar Trio; I'm All Smiles; I'm All Smiles (2006 Blue Line)
[mic break 11:15 a.m.]

Set Three
David "Fathead" Newman; Naima; Life (2007 HighNote)
Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger; If You Love Somebody Set Them Free; In This Room (2007 Tymoni)
Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger; Black Coffee; In This Room (2007 Tymoni)
[phone conversation with John Motavalli and listeners]

Set Four
Russell Gunn; Bitches Brew; Plays Miles (2007 HighNote)
Wallace Roney; Shadow Dance; Prototype (2004 HighNote)
James Taylor Quartet; When In Rome; Message from the Godfather (2001 Ubiquity)
Shirley Scott; Oasis; Oasis (1990 Muse)
[mic break 1:45 p.m.]

Set Five
Roni Ben-Hur; Minor Fable; Anna's Dance (2001 Reservoir)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Playlist, March 18, 2007

Set One
Renaissance; A Trip to the Fair; Scheherazade and Other Stories (1975 Sire)
Bobby McFerrin; Fertile Field; Beyond Words (2002 Blue Note)
Rebecca Parris; My Ship; You Don't Know Me (2007 Saying it with Jazz)
Jeff Baker; Stolen Moments; Shopping for Your Heart (2007 OA2)
[mic break 10:35 a.m.]

Set Two
Thelonious Monk; All the Things You Are; Criss Cross (2002 Proper)
Oscar Peterson; Oscar's Boogie; Genesis (2002 Proper)
Count Basie; Broadway (1940); America's #1 Band (2003 Sony)
Count Basie; Clap Hands! Here Comes Charlie (1940); America's #1 Band (2003 Sony)
[mic break 10:54 a.m.]

Set Three
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messenters; Lester Left Town; Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter (2004 Columbia)
Weather Report; Palladium; Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter (2004 Columbia)
Hard-Bop Saxophone Quartet; La Fiesta; Don't Step On Your Neck (1999 Sea Breeze Jazz)
Stanley Turrentine; Stuff You Gotta Watch; Do You Have Any Sugar? (1999 Concord)
Stanley Turrentine; Too Little Love; Do You Have Any Sugar? (1999 Concord)
Jeni Fleming; Lush LIfe; Acoustic Trio (2004 Jeni Fleming)
Art Farmer/Jim Hall; Blig Blues; Big Blues (1979 CTI)
[mic break 11:39 a.m.]

Set Four
Charles Earland Tribute Band; Deja Vu; Keepers of the Flame (2000 HighNote)
Charles Earland Tribute Band; Memorial Day; Keepers of the Flame (2000 HighNote)
Charles Earland Tribute Band; What Love Has Joined; Keepers of the Flame (2000 HighNote)
[mic break 12:08 p.m.]

Set Five
Art Farmer/Jim Hall; Pavane for a Dead Princess; Big Blues (1979 CTI)
Jim Hall; Concierto de Aranjuez; Concierto (1975 CTI)
[mic break 12:47 p.m.]

Set Six
Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger; Caravan; In This Room (2007 Tymoni)
Typhanie Monique & Neal Alger; Never Can Say Goodbye; In This Room (2007 Tymoni)
Dean Schmidt; Harry Whodeanie's Magic Impromptu Blues; I Know Nothing (2007 OA2)
Dean Schmidt; The Farewell Song; I Know Nothing (2007 OA2)
Toni Jannotta; Midnight Sun; Jazz at the Rance (2001 TCoB)
Randy Johnston; The Hat Man; Hit & Run (2002 HighNote)
[mic break 1:26 p.m.]

Set Seven
Rich Wetzel's Groovin Higher Jazz Orchestra; Polka Dots and Moonbeams; Live! (2002 Rich Wetzel)
Frank Zappa; Cruisin' for Burgers; Make a Jazz Noise Here (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
Renaissance; Ashes Are Burning; In The Beginning (1978 Capitol)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Make-The-Mets-O-Meter

I love Eric Simon's prospect tracker at Amazin' Avenue. If you're a Mets fan, check out his Make-The-Mets-O-Meter. It lists the players, their chances of making the team (up, down, or even), and a pithy yet piquant comment.



Let's go Mets!

Rats, Philly style

These rats are right at home in the Philadelphia subway.


Technorati tags: rats, subway

Playlist, March 11, 20007

Set One
Nick Russo; Little Hands; Ro (2007 Nick Russo)
Nick Russo; Come Home; Ro (2007 Nick Russo)
Chie Imaizumi, Adversity; Unfailing Kindness (2006 Capri)
Frank Zappa; Food Gathering in Post-Industrial America; The Yellow Shark (1993 Barking Pumpkin)
Frank Zappa; Welcome to the United States; The Yellow Shark (1993 Barking Pumpkin)
Frank Zappa; A Pound for a Brown/Exercise #4; The Yellow Shark (1993 Barking Pumpkin)
Edsel Gomez; The Minetta Triangle; Cubist Music (2006 Zoho)
[mic break 10:53 a.m.]

Set Two
Frank Sinatra; New York, New York (with Tony Bennett); Duets (1993 Capitol)
Bobby Broom; Can't Buy Me Love; Song and Dance (2007 Origin)
Grant Stewart; Lush Life; In the Still of the Night (2007 Sharp Nine)
The Great Global Warming Swindle (introduction); UK Channel 4
Frank Kimbrough; Lucent; Play (2006 Palmetto)
Dr. John; Come Rain or Come Shine; Mercernary (2006 Blue Note)
Dr. John; Perdido; Duke Elegant (2000 Blue Note)
Wayne Wallace; Chromatic Love Affair; The Reckless Search for Beauty (2006 Wayne Wallace)
Dave Brubeck; Indiana; Essential Dave Brubeck (2003 Sony)
Dave Brubeck; Perdido; Essential Dave Brubeck (2003 Sony)
[mic break 11:51 a.m.]

Set Three
Bobby Broom; Little Rascals Theme (Good Old Days); Song and Dance (2007 Origin)
The Detroit Swingtet; Minor Swing; Gypsy Djazz (2006 Ranch)
Andrew Distel; Embraceable You; Stepping Out of a Dream (2007 Andrew Distel)
Miles Davis; There is No Greater Love; Love Songs 2 (2003 Sony)
[mic break 12:27 p.m.]

Set Four
Miles Davis; Oleo; In Person...at the Blackhawk (2003 Columbia)
Red Garland Trio; Perdido; At the Prelude (2006 Concord)
Red Garland Trio; Bye Bye Blackbird; At the Prelude (2006 Concord)
Miles Davis; Bye Bye Blackbird; In Person...at the Blackhawk (2003 Columbia)
[1:03 p.m.]

Set Five
Hal Galper/jeff Johnson/John Bishop; Chromatic Fantasy; Furious Rubato (2007 Origin)
From The John Gibson Show, March 9 2007: Maryscott O'Connor of My Left Wing goes after that "centrist" Markos
Larry Willis; Rhythm-a-Ning; Blue Fable (2007 HighNote)
Frank Zappa; The Torture Never Stops (Part Two); The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
[mic break 1:47 p.m.]

Set Six
Emerson Lake & Palmer; Hoedown; Return of the Manticore (1993 Rhino)
Dean Schmidt; Eme Efe I Know Nothing (2007 Origin)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

My LaunchCast station

This is old news, but I've been listening to my customized Yahoo! Launch radio station for years. It has more prog rock and things that you don't hear frequently on my WPKN program. It's nice for times when I want to hear music I like in a random way.

My station.

Technorati tags: Yahoo, radio

Rats enjoy a day in the Sun

The New York Sun has an article about rats today.

Many watched last month as rats nearly turned a Greenwich Village KFC/Taco Bell into a Cirque de Soleil stage, resulting in subsequent fast food restaurant closings and the removal of a health inspector.

The article mentions a friend of ours who adopted two of our baby rats a couple of years ago.

One who does not hate rats is illustrator Drusilla Kehl, who has 23 so-called fancy rats as pets. She said domestic rats are as different from street rats as a pedigreed dog is from a wild dog. One thing the pet and wild rodents have in common is "they live short and breed fast."

I don't have any tattoos, but if I were ever to get one, it would be a rat drawn by Drusilla's partner Matt. (The article got his name wrong.)

Oh, a note for the Sun editor: if something is "so-called," then so call it.

Funeral

We said goodbye to my wife's uncle today. He was old and sick, and just wasn't himself any more. He sure didn't look like himself in the casket. That's one more reason why I want to have a Jewish funeral; no makeup and nobody seeing me look like a bad mannequin of myself.

It was bitter cold at the cemetary, perhaps 15°F with a nasty wind. Everybody behind the immediate family crushed into one big huddle to keep warm, and people were trying not to laugh as the priest said his final words into the wind.

The reception was nice. There was another funeral in the next room of the restaurant behind a glass partition, and one guy really looked like Elton John. Despite the sad occasion, we enjoyed being with each other and remembering the departed.

Playlist, March 4, 2007

Set One
Dean Schmidt; Pop Star; I Know Nothing (2007 0A2)
Dean Schmidt; Days of Guns and Roses; I Know Nothing (2007 0A2)
Scott Colley; Usual Illusion;l Architect of the Silent Moment (2007 CamJazz)
McNeely/Sill/Spencer; In Your Own Sweet Way; Boneyard (2007 Origin Records)
Pat Metheny/Brad Mehldau; Ring of Life; Metheny/Mehldau (2006 Nonesuch)
[mic break 10:34 a.m.]

Set Two
Al DiMeola; Red Moon; Consequence of Chaos (2006 Telarc)
Al DiMeola; Cry For You; Consequence of Chaos (2006 Telarc)
Mordy Ferber; Formerly With No One; All the Way to Sendai (1990 Enja)
Bill Frisell/Ron Carter/Paul Motian; Raise Four; Bill Frisell/Ron Carter/Paul Motian (2006 Nonesuch)
Wayne Wallace; The Reckless Search for Beauty; Tune Up (2006 Patois)
Wally Dunbar; Nardis; Jazz Eleven; Everything in Time (2001 Consolidated Artists Productions)
[mic break 11:12 a.m.]

Set Three
Andrew Distel; What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life; Stepping Out of a Dream (2006)
Jane Stuart; It Might As Well Be Spring; Beginning to See the Light (2006 Jame Stuart)
The Leonisa Ardizzone Quartet; You Go to My Head; Afraid of the Heights (2006 Ardijenn Music)
Jeff Baker; Yardbird Suite; Shopping For Your Heart (2007 OA2)
[mic break 11:36 a.m.]

Set Four
The Leonisa Ardizzone Quartet; Anthropology Afraid of the Heights (2006 Ardijenn Music)
Eddie Jefferson; Ornithology; Godfather of Vocalese (100- Muse)
Charlie Parker; 52nd Street Theme; The Complete Live Performances on Savoy (1999 Savoy)
Charlie Parker; Salt Peanuts; The Complete Live Performances on Savoy (1999 Savoy)
Joe Lovano; Abstractions on 52nd Street; 52nd Street Themes (2000 Blue Note)
Joe Lovano; 52nd Street Theme; 52nd Street Themes (2000 Blue Note)
[mic break 12:09 p.m.]

Set Five
Alister Spence Trio; Mercury; Luminescence (2006 Rufus)
Chie Imaizumi; A Change for the Better; Unfailing Kindness (2006 Capri)
The Ed Palermo Big Band; Mom and Dad/Oh No; Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (2006 Cuneiform)
[mic break 12:42 p.m.]

Live in-studio performance: The Bluelights

Set Six
Shirley Scott; Alone Together; Oasis (1990 Muse)
Thomas Mariott; Sky Dive; Both Sides of the Fence (2007 Origin)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Renaissance

"Carpet of the Sun" unplugged.


Renaissance was one of my absolute favorite prog rock groups, and a defining part of the soundtrack to my sophomore year in high school. I recently downloaded "Tales of 1001 Nights." My wife and daughter were both taken with the music and Annie Haslam's voice. Then a strange thing happened. On Thursday night, I listned to Renaissance on my iPod before going to sleep. On Friday morning, my radio came on just as "A Trip to the Fair" was playing on WPKN (big thanks to Art Bell for that wonderful coincidence).

In some ways, the group was overblown and a bit pretentious. The pseudo-classical arrangements were rather elementary, and the ostinato grooves not all that impressive. On the other had, it had all the right elements for a laid-back prog rock band: the simple rock arrangements topped with sometimes very interesting orchestral arrangements (especially Jimmy Horowitz's work on Turn of the Cards); acoustic piano and guitar over Jon Camp's rocking Rickenbacker bass; and of course, Annie's amazing voice.

Word is that there is soon to be a live DVD from one of their 1970s concerts.

Technorati tags: Renaissance, Annie Haslam

Birds

They are loud this morning, but that's because I'm much closer to them. The street flooding spilled over into my basement office, and I'm working in the kitchen with a nice view of the feeding station. They don't seem to mind the weather.

I am disgruntled. Water poured into the corner behind my office wall and spilled onto the finished floor. It's a mess, and my peel-and-stick tiles are all peeling and unsticking. There's a big project ahead involving moving the desk so I can replace the tiles.

Birds

Temperature: 32°F

A bunch of chozzers, they are. I filled the tube feeder two days ago and the sparrows cleaned it out. I filled it again today along with the window feeder, and they're still going at it.

One house finch was at the window a couple of days ago; the only one I've seen since the fall.

Technorati tags: birds

No show today

It's the last Sunday in February, time for the annual Black History Month special program. I'll be back next week.

Hell Yeah! Goalie Fight!

Sabres vs. Senators. Best hockey fight this season. Now if we could only get Senators Clinton & Obama to put on the skates & sweaters.

Well-fed rats

The Gothamist reports on the New York TV news swarm upon the discovery of rats in a Taco Bell-KFC location on Sixth Avenue at 4th Street. I'm shocked, shocked to see rats in a New York restaurant!

Technorati tags: rats

Prisoner of War

I posted earlier about the state of war between the rats and me. Yesterday I caught my first prisoner. She was a female with what appeared to be a broken back. I don't know how she was injured. She was sitting on the floor, shaking, either too scared or in too much pain to move. I put her in a cage with some food, water and a towel for nesting. She died a few hours later.

Technorati tags: rats

Birds

Temperature: 11°F

While I was watching the large breakfast crowd this morning, I caught a flash of brilliant red in the bush. Mr. Cardinal was in the neighborhood, and much to my delight, landed on the snow. He flew away quickly, but almost immediately after I received another surprise: a large patch of rust in the bush. Robins don't usually hang out near the feeder, but for some reason there was one today.

Technorati tags: birds

Playlist, February 18, 2007

Set One
John Hicks; The Things We Did Last Summer; Sweet Love of Mine (2006 JazzDepot)
The Leonisa Andizzone Quartet; Anthropology; Afraid of the Heights (2006 Ardijenn)
Chad Rager Groove; Squid Cakes; 21st Century Groove (2006 Strokeland)
Reuben Wilson; Wait A Minute; Movin' On (2006 Savant)
Ken Nordine; Cat and Bird Blues; A Transparent Mask (2001 Asphodel)
Ondar; Kargyraa Rap; Back Tuva Future (1999 Warner Bros.)
Neville Brothers; Fever; Live at Tipitina's (1999 Rhino)
[mic break 10:40 a.m.]

Set Two
Count Basie; Seventh Avenue Express; Brand New Wagon (1990 BMG)
Art Tatum; Tea For Two; The Complete Capitol Recordings Volume 1 (Capitol)
Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio; Ballad Medley; Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio (1958 Verve)
Oscar Peterson; Teach Me Tonight; Oscar Peterson and the Bassists (1977 Pablo)
Oscar Peterson; Teach Me Tonight; Oscar Peterson and the Bassists (1977 Pablo)
[mic break 11:17 a.m.]

Set Three
Oscar Peterson Jam; Perdido; The Jam Sessions (Montreux '77 various artists) (1977 Pablo)
Dizzy Gillespie Jam; Here 'Tis; The Jam Sessions (Montreux '77 various artists) (1977 Pablo)
Count Basie Jam; Freeport Jump; The Jam Sessions (Montreux '77 various artists) (1977 Pablo)
[mic break 11:48 a.m.]

Set Four
Dizzy Gillespie; Cool Eyes; Diz Big Band (1954 Verve)
Dizzy Gillespie; Confusion; Diz Big Band (1954 Verve)
Dizzy Gillespie; Pile Driver; Diz Big Band (1954 Verve)
Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Orchestra; Con Alma; Dizzy's Business (2006 MDG jazz)
Mingus Big Band; Wham Bam; Live in Tokyo (2006 Sue Mingus)
Mingus Big Band; Opus Four; Live in Tokyo (2006 Sue Mingus)
[mic break 12:31 p.m.]

Set Five
Mingus Big Band; Celia; Live in Tokyo (2006 Sue Mingus)
The Ed Palermo Big Band; Dwarf Nebula Processional March & Dwarf Nebula; Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (2006 Cuneiform)
Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Orchestra; Blue "N Boogie; Dizzy's Business (2006 MDG jazz)
Jeff Baker; Billie's Bounce; Shopping for Your Heart (2007 Origin Arts)
Jeff Baker; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; Shopping for Your Heart (2007 Origin Arts)
Andrew Distel; The Window Across the Way; Stepping Out of a Dream (2007)
The Bobs; Through the Wall; The Bobs (1983 Kaleidoscope)
[mic break 1:18 p.m.]

Set Six
Jeff Baker; All Blues; Shopping for Your Heart (2007 Origin Arts)
Wycliffe Gordon; Shhh!!! (The Band is Trying to Play); Cone's Coup (2006 Criss Cross Jazz)
Kenny Garrett; Tsunami Song; Beyond the Wall (2006 Nonesuch)
Yonder Mountain String Band; Girlfriend is Better; Mountain Tracks Volume 4 (2006 Frog Pad)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

State of war

A state of war now exists between the rats and me.

The upstairs rats are adorable pets for the wife & kids, but the downstairs rats are destructive beyond belief.

A couple of days ago I noticed water on my basement floor. I quickly figured out that it was coming from the condensate pump on the furnace. After making a call and finding out it was $99 for a tech to come out, I took a closer look at the pump. The drain tube leading from the furnace to the pump had been chewed away above the pump, no doubt by a varmint looking for a water supply. It was an easy repair, and I had the right tube on hand.

As Bugs Bunny (and Groucho Marx) was known to say, "Of course, you know, this means war."

Technorati tags: rats

Birds

Temperature 24°F

• WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY
• ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON, WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NO LONGER IN EFFECT
• WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING

Nasty weather, but it's not stopping the birds from visiting the feeding station.

Technorati tags: birds

Just because you can doesn't mean you should

Robot plays Coltrane

Here we have a creepo, many-fingered Japanese robot playing John Coltrane's solo from "Giant Steps." Sure, he's got the chops, but just doesn't seem to capture the emotion of the piece. After the robots dominate the human race will they torture us with such lifeless renditions of all our once-sacred tunes?

Technorati tags: Coltrane, robots

Birds

Temperature: 16°F, winter storm warning tonight.

The little gray songbirds are out in force today--several nuthatches are loading up on food, along with the chickadees and titmice.

Technorati tags: birds

Playlist, February 11, 2007

Set One
Grateful Dead; Weather Report Suite; Dick's Picks 14 (1999 Grateful Dead Productions)
Renaissance; Things I Don't Understand; Turn of the Cards (1974 Sire)
Dar Williams; Comfortably Numb; My Better Self (2005 Razor & Tie)
Bethany & Rufus; Samson and Delilah; 900 Miles (2006 Hyena)
Coinrag Herwig; Seven Steps to Heaven; Sketches of Spain y Mas (2006 Half Note)
[mic break 10:57 a.m.]

Set Two
Dave Holland Big Band; Happy Jammy; Overtime (2005 Dare2)
Eliane Elias; Nostalgia in Times Square; Everything I Love (2000 Blue Note)
The Persuasions; Ain't No Sunshine; A Cappella Dreams (2003 Chesky)
Ellas Fitzgerald; Night and Day; The Cole Porter Songbook vol. 2 (1984 Polygram)
Bob Dylan; Rainy Day Women #12 & 35; The Best of (2005 Columbia)
Dr. John; It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing; Duke Elegant (2000 Blue Note)
Tonty DeSare; Kiss; Last First Kiss (2007 Telarc)
Lou Lanza; Break On Through; Opening Doors (2004)
[mic break 11:44 a.m.]

Set Three
West Montgomery; Twisted Blues; Impressions of Paris (2000 Recall)
Jackie McLean; I Can't Get Started With You; Nature Boy (2000 Blue Note)
Coleman Hawkins; April in Paris;
Chick Corea; Tones for Joan's Bones; The Best Of (1993 Blue Note)
Hendrick Meurkens; I Can't Get Started With You; New York Samba Jazz Quintet (2007 Zoho)
[mic break 12:26 p.m.]

Set Four
Vic Juris; Dancing Shadows; Blue Horizon (2004 Zoho)
David Hazeltine; Somewhere; Modern Standards (2005 Sharp Nine)
Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle; The Blame Game; Battery Milk (2007 Hyena Records)
Dr. John; Caravan; Duke Elegant (2000 Blue Note)
Mike LeDonne; Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?; Mike LeDonne
Sonny Stitt; You Are The Sunshine of My Life; Work Done (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 1:23 p.m.]

Set Five
JC and the Jazz Hoppers; Our Delight; Chillin' at Home (2007Jazz-Hop)
Easy Star All-Stars; The Great Gig in the Sky; Dub Side of the Moon (2003 Easy Star)
Mothers of Invention; What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?; We're Only In It for the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Stravinsky; The Augurs of Spring: Dance of the Young Girls (Le Sacre du Printemps); Michael Tilson Thomas/Sanfrancisco Symphony
Frank Zappa; Reagan at Bitburg; Civilization Phaze III (1993 Barking Pumpkin)
Grateful Dead; Stella Blue; Dick's Picks 14 (1999 Grateful Dead Productions)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Separated at birth?

Morris O'Brian and Squidward Tentacles

Technorati tags: 24, Squidward

Birds

Temperature: 19°F. The air may be arctic, but the bright sunshine and blue skies of winter high pressure makes this one of my favorite times of year.

Technorati tags: birds

Birds

Temperature: 16°F
I have one starling picking relentlessly at the suet today. These guys can make short work of a suet cake when they get together. He has a bright yellow bill, but some spotting on his plumage. It's hard to tell if he's breeding or not.

It's not quite 55°F in my basement office, and I am going to have to abandon it for upstairs where it's warmer. It's just too hard to type down here.

Technorati tags: birds, starling

Playlist, February 4, 2007

Set One
Sonny Stitt; How High the Moon; It's Magic (2006 Delmark)
Daniel Smith; Sister Sadie; Bebop Bassoon (2006 Guild)
Michael Rabinowitz; Star Eyes; Bassoon on Fire (1995 Cats Paw)
Woody Shaw; Bye Bye Blackbird; Live Volume Four (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 10:34 a.m.]

Set Two
Cedar Walton; Skylark; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
Cedar Walton; Every Time We Say Goodbye; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
Cedar Walton; On Green Dolphin Street; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 10:57 a.m.]

Set Three
Paquito D'Rivera; A Night in Tunisia; The Jazz Chamber Trio (2005 Chesky)
Clarinet Summit; Perdido; Southern Bells (1987 Black Saint)
Eric Dolphy; Densities; Vintage (1994 GM Recordings)
Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray; One World Family; We Is (2004 Delmark)
Benny Goodman; I Got Rhythm; Live at Carnegie Hall (1938/1988 Columbia)
Benny Goodman; I Got Rhythm; Live at Carnegie Hall (1938/1988 Columbia)
Duke Ellington; Red Shoes; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
Duke Ellington; Red Carpet Part 1; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
David Murray Latin Big Band; Blue Muse; Now Is Another Time (2003 Justin Time)
[mic break 11:51 a.m.]

Set Four
Dave Valentin; Easy Street; Come Fly With Me (2006 Highnote)
Hubert Laws; Windows/Fire and Rain; At Carnegie Hall (1973 CTI)
Yusef Lateef; Love Theme from The Robe; Eastern Sounds (1961 Prestige)
Yusef Lateef; The Three Faced of Balal; Eastern Sounds (1961 Prestige)
The Jazz Crusaders; Latin Bit; The Young Rabbits (1975 Blue Note)
[mic break 12:31 a.m.]

Set Five
Steve Turre; My Funny Valentine; Keep Searchin' (2006 Highnote)
The Jazz Crusaders; Congolese Sermon; The Best Of (1993 Capitol)
New Yorkestra Big Band; One Finger Snap; Urban Soundscapes (2002 Sea Breeze)
The Brecker Brothers; Dream Theme; Collection Volume One (1990 BMG)
Flat Earth Society; Anthem 2004; Psycho Scout (2006 Rykodisc)
Michael Murray; Prelude in C major ("Fanfare"), BWV 531 (J.S. Bach); Bach Organ Blaster (1995 Telarc)
Radam Schwartz; Serenade In Blue; Conspiracy for Positivity (2004 Blue Ark)
University of Kentucky Mega-Sax; It's Lovely Once You're In; Full English Mower (2004 Sea Breeze)
McNeely/Sill/Spencer; Ernie Banks; Boneyard (2007 Origin)
[mic break 1:23 p.m.]

Set Six
Groove Holmes; Minor Inconvenience; Blues All Day Long (1989 Muse)
Duke Ellington; Tymperturbably Blue; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
Brian Melvin Trio; Tokyo Blues; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
Pat Metheny; Sirabhorn; Bright Size Life (1976 ECM)
Frank Zappa; RDNZL; You Can't Do That On Stage Any More, vol. 2 (1988 Rykodisc)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Yum-o!

I'm concerned about what my children eat for snacks.



Exhibit A: Oreo Snack Packs. Exhibit B: Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo.

Separated at birth? You decide.

Technorati tags: Mr. Hankey, Oreos

Upstairs, Downstairs

They're all rattus norvegicus, but there is a world of difference between the two.

Upstairs, they are pets. We call them fancy rats; hooded, masked, Berkshire, with or without "dumbo" ears. They come in white with dark hoods, beige, fawn, silver and brown. We hold them and walk around with them on our shoulders.

Downstairs, they are pests. Their color is agouti brown. It's a hard-knock life, but they are infinitely skilled and resourceful. They tunnel into crawlspaces and push through hardware cloth. Block one hole and they emerge from three more. They are especially fond of ramen noodles.

I have company in my basement. As I type in my office, I hear a critter happily rustling among cartons that should be cleared out. I have considered poisoning it, but I did that in November--with predictably unhappy results. (When you have a cluttered basement, you really don't want a dead rat.) Eventually I will have to call in the Neutocrete guys to seal the crawlspace--probably the only thing that will keep the downstairs critters out.

Meanwhile, I have my respectable upstairs rats to play with.

Technorati tags: rats

Birds

Temperature: 30°F

I broke the plastic hook for my window feeder trying to move it from inside the house. I was able to replace it with the hook from one of the thistle feeders, which hasn't seen any action lately. There is still one thistle feeder up outside the kitchen in case we get little yellow visitors.

I had a dentist appointment on Monday with Dr. Richard Epstein (Sometimes Classical, 2nd, 4th & 5th Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.). His office looks out over a large garden with plenty of feeders, including a window feeder in the room where I was. It was better than television, except maybe 24.

Technorati tags: WPKN, birds

Birds

Temperature 22°F

Score one for the little guy. Two chickadees have been enjoying a late-morning breakfast while a few white-throated sparrows clean up underneath.

Technorati tags: birds

Playlist, January 28, 2007

Set One
Pat Metheny; It's For You; Works (1994 ECM)
Weather Report; A Remark You Made; Heavy Weather (1977 Columbia)
Steely Dan; Reelin' in the Years; Alive in America (1995 Giant)
Eyal Maoz; Chita; Edom (2006 Tzadik)
Reuben Wilson; Slick Willie; Movin' On (2006 Savant)
[mic break 10:36 a.m.]

Set Two
Miles Davis; Four; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Miles Davis; Seven Steps to Heaven; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Woody Shaw; Rashaan's Run; Live Volume Two (2001 Highnote)
Steve Turre; Sanyas; Keep Searchin' (2006 HighNote)
Al Grey; Lester Leaps In; Bewitched (1995 Telarc)
Al Grey; Centerpiece; Centerpiece (1995 Telarc)
[mic break 11:30 a.m.]

Set Three
Sai Ghose Quartet; Little B's Poem; New Blood (2006 Summit)
Matt Wilson; Little B's Poem; The Scenie Route (2007 Palmetto)
Larry Coryell; Little B's Poem; Tributaries (1989 Novus)
Various; Little B's Poem; One Night With Blue Note Preserved (Volume 1) (1985 Blue Note)
[mic break 12:02 p.m.]

Set Four
Mathias Lupri Group; Wondering & Wandering; Metalix (2006 Summit)
Mathias Lupri Group; (another) Lost Creek; Metalix (2006 Summit)
Gong; Shadows Of; Expresso (1976 Virgin)
Ed Mann; One of Us; Perfect World (1990 CMP)
Andy Summers; Passion of the Shadow; Charming Snakes (1990 Private)
Frank Zappa; Sinister Footwear 2nd Movement; Make A Jazz Noise Here (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
Frank Zappa; Echindna's Arf>Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?: You Can't Do That On Stage Any More Vol. 2 (1988 Rykodisc)
M'Boom; Caravanserai; Live at S.O.B.'s-New York (1992 Max Roach Productions)
Red Norvo Quintet; When You're Smiling; The Forward Look (1991 Reference)
[mic break 1:05 p.m.]

Set Five
Jim McNeely; Speak Low; Boneyard (2007 Origin)
The Bill Melvin Trio; Morning Star; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
The Bill Melvin Trio; So What; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
Miles Davis; So What; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio; Pennies From Heaven; Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio (1959 Verve)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Birds

Temperature: 8°F

Blackbirds are large and in charge again today. I noticed several cowbirds mixed in with the grackles. These hangers-on don't perch on the feeder, but wait for seeds to drop to the ground. The grackles aren't aggressive, but they are visually intimidating with their huge wings and tails. The smaller songbirds have been staying away, except for a few enterprising birds who use the window feeder along the southwest wall.

I put out a suet cake yesterday and the downy woodpeckers were very happy, except they too are intimidated by the grackles. Starlings have started coming aroound, which is a bad thing. They can wipe out an entire suet cake in a day or two.

UPDATE: He's happy.


Technorati tags: birds, woodpecker

Birds

Temperature: 26°F.

There has been a lot of activity this morning as the cold front approaches. Sparrows have dominated the feeder today, with just a flash of blue-gray from one titmouse. The noise level has been higher than usual. I was surprised to see a large flock of grackles in the yard. They swarmed the feeder and circled the yard before moving on.

UPDATE: I just spotted a hawk perched in the back yard. He was over the compost and brush piles, no doubt looking for a nice, juicy rat for lunch.

Technorati tags: birds

Guilty Pleasures Department

Yes, I've been watching the American Idol auditions. It's equal parts for the goof and for the hope of seeing a good singer in the rough. There have been some pleasant surprises and good laughs and unfortunate people, but nothing particularly outstanding.

First off, it's very difficult to sing anything unaccompanied and make it sound good outside the tiled cloister of the shower. Try listening to the contestants sing while tapping the beat and humming a bass line. Many of the contestants pick songs that are dependent on the arrangement to make them happen; one person's rendition of Disco Inferno just didn't have the context to make it happen.

Second, I have never been a fan of the currently in vogue style of flogging the hell out of every melodic line with grace note and labrynthine runs. A large number of contestants try to emulate this style, with the results being that everybody sounds the same and the melodies are beaten to an unrecognizable pulp.

Finally, just once, I would like somebody to get up there and sing a jazz standard. Out of the tens of thousands who enter, some contestants must do this, but if they have they never make it past the editors. It would make my night to hear somebody attempt "Night and Day" or "All of Me."

UPDATE: They did it. One of the last contestants sang "Fly Me to the Moon" and moved on to the next round. I didn't care for his singing but it was nice to hear a standard.

Technorati tags: American Idol

Busy day at the feeding station

I'm not sure what caused the rush on my feeder this morning, but there were lots of visitors. Several white-breasted nuthatches and tufted titmice were at it, battling the woodpeckers. My son's favorite was the cardinal on the ground. He'd never seen a redbird before, and was captivated. When spring comes, I will have to explain that the feathered kind is good, but the bat-wielding kind is bad.

Technorati tags: birds

Playlist, January 21, 2007

Set One
Bill Heid; Tsun Hun; Wet Streets (1999 Savant)
John Scofield Trio; Alfie; EnRoute (2004 Verve)
Steve Turre; Reconciliation; Keep Searchin' (2006 HighNote)
DePaul University Big Band; Juniflip; Clark Terry Express (1996 Reference)
[mic break 10:24 a.m.]

Set Two
Clark Terry/Frank Wess; Shiny Stockings; Big Band Basie (1995 Reference)
Clark Terry/Frank Wess; Jumpin' at the Woodside; Big Band Basie (1995 Reference)
The Taylor/Fidyk Big Band; Full Count; Live at Blues Alley (2006 OA2)
The Ed Palermo Big Band; G-Spot Tornado; NPR Studio 4A
McCoy Tyner Big Band; Fly With the Wind; The Turning Point (1992 Verve)
[mic break 11:00 a.m.]

Set Three
James Spaulding; Judy; Songs of Courage (1993 Muse)
Miles Davis; Frelon Brun; Filles de Kilimanjaro (1969/2002 Columbia)
Chick Corea; Concierto de Aranjuez/Span; Rendezvous in New York (2003 Stretch)
[mic break 11:31 a.m.]

Set Four (the Michael Brecker side man set)
Chick Corea; Quartet No. 2, Part 1; Rendezvous in New York (2003 Stretch)
Diana Krall; Just the Way You Are; Live in Paris (2002 Verve)
John Abercrombie; 3 East; Night (1984 ECM)
Charles Mingus; Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting; Me Myself an Eye (1979 Atlantic)
Eddie Gomez; Puccini's Walk; Discovery (1987 Columbia)
Charlie Haden; Travels; American Dreams (2002 Verve)
Pat Metheny; Every Day (I Thank You); Works (1994 ECM)
[mic break 12:38 p.m.]

Set Five
Jaco Pastorius; Liberty City; Word of Mouth (1981 Warner Bros.)
Jaco Pastorius; I Shot the Sheriff; Live in Italy (1986/1999 Jazzpoint)
Monty Alexander; Exodus; Goin' Yard (2001 Telarc)
[mic break 1:19 p.m.]

Set Six
Groove Holmes; Satin Doll; Somethin' Special (1997 Capitol)
Charles Earland; Unforgettable; Unforgettable (1992 Muse)
Shirley Scott; Sonnymoon for Two; Memorial Album (2003 Prestige)
Geoffrey Keezer; Navigating by Starlight; Falling Up (2003 MaxJazz)
Coleman Hawkins; Moonglow; The Hawk Relaxes (2006 Concord)
Ella Fitzgerald; It's Only a Paper Moon; The Best of the Concert Years (2003 Fantasy)
Frank Zappa; Sofa; The Best Band You Never Heard in Your LIfe (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Israel unfreezes $100M before summit

Israel said Friday it had paid $100 million in frozen tax funds to the Palestinians and rescinded a contentious decision for a new West Bank settlement, strengthening the hand of moderate President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of crucial weekend talks in Damascus with his Hamas rivals.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said the payment, the first such transfer since the militant Islamic Hamas won control of the Palestinian government in March 2006, was made Thursday night.

In other news, Olmert announced that Israel will spend $70 million to build bomb shelters near the Gaza border.

Olmert told a group of municipal leaders he made the decision after determining six years of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza was threatening the "inner balance" of the communities, YNetNews reported.

That should come in handy with $100 million worth of rockets and mortars headed their way.

New Haven Coliseum, 1972-2007

It was a small-city arena that never hosted a major-league team. In fact, it was never completed. The New Haven Coliseum was to have had an exhibition hall and street-level stores, but ended up as a rectangular seating bowl topped by a bare-bones parking garage.

Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley performed there. Pat Benatar and Van Halen released concert DVDs from there. The Grateful Dead performed there 11 times between 1977 and 1984, and the Dick's Picks Volume 25 contains most of their 5/10/78 concert. My first Dead show was there (17-minute Uncle John's Band), as was my last Yes concert (the 90125 tour) and the second of two Zappa shows I saw in 1984 (the first Apostrophe of the tour and a nice encore including WPLJ and Sharleena).

What's left of the Coliseum--the parking structure and a small stepped hint of the seating bowl--will be imploded tomorrow morning.

UPDATE:

Google redraws maps, attempts to rewrite history

Zombietime's latest post reports the following:

Google Earth, the zoomable satellite photo program produced by Google, shows the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as not being in Israel, but being entirely as part of the West Bank (Palestinian Territories). In fact, the entirety of East Jerusalem is shown as not being part of Israel.

Israel made a horrible error in 1967 when they gave control of the Temple Mount to the Waqf. What has followed is destruction of antiquities, and obliteration of the archaelogical record of ancient Israel.

After September 2000, the Muslim Waqf closed off the Temple Mount entirely to any archeological oversight by the Israel Antiquities Authority. Then, in order to complete new underground mosques at the site, it removed to city garbage dumps some 13,000 tons of rubble from the Temple Mount that included archeological remnants from the First and Second Temple periods.

The intention is to turn the entire 36-acre Temple Mount compound into an exclusively Muslim site by erasing every sign, remnant, and memory of its Jewish past, including the destruction of archeological findings that are proof of this past.

In a country where construction projects may be held up for months out of concern for the preservation of antiquities, the free hand given the Muslim Waqf to destroy Jewish artifacts at Judaism's holiest site is hard to comprehend.

If Google Earth says it's so, it must be so. Say hello to my little friend.



Technorati tags: Jerusalem, Temple Mount

Air checks

I recently organized the past few years' air checks and I've been listening to them in order. Every now and then there are some wonderful surprises. Today's gem, from 11 August 2002:

• Jana; Stairway to Heaven
• Dread Zeppelin; Stairway to Heaven
• The Coasters; Charlie Brown

It doesn't translate well to print, but the sequence made for some interesting listening.

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Frigid at last!

I never thought I'd be happy to feel an icy wind outside, but it's a relief to have some seasonal weather at last. My goth Weather Pixie is taking it in stride.

What Does a Kiss Taste Like?

One day a teacher had a taste test with her students.

She picked a little boy to do the first test. She blindfolded him, put a Hershey kiss in his mouth and asked, "Do you know what it is?"

"No, I don't," said the little boy.

"Okay, I'll give you a clue. It's the thing your Daddy wants from your Mom before he goes to work."

Suddenly, a little girl at the back of the room yelled, "Spit it out! It's a piece of ass!"

R.I.P: Alice Coltrane & Michael Brecker

Two notables left us this weekend: Alice Coltrane & Michael Brecker.

Alice Coltrane, the jazz performer and composer who was inextricably linked with the adventurous musical improvisations of her late husband, legendary saxophonist John Coltrane, has died. She was 69.

Coltrane died Friday at West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in West Hills, according to an announcement from the family's publicist. She had been in frail health for some time and died of respiratory failure.

Though known to many for her contributions to jazz and early New Age music, Coltrane, a convert to Hinduism, was also a significant spiritual leader and founded the Vedantic Center, a spiritual commune now located in Agoura Hills. A guru of growing repute, she also served as the swami of the San Fernando Valley's first Hindu temple, in Chatsworth.

For much of the last nearly 40 years, she was also the keeper of her husband's musical legacy, managing his archive and estate. Her husband, one of the pivotal figures in the history of jazz, died of liver disease July 17, 1967, at the age of 40.

A pianist and organist, Alice Coltrane was noted for her astral compositions and for bringing the harp onto the jazz bandstand. Her last performances came in the fall, when she participated in an abbreviated tour that included stops in New York and San Francisco, playing with her saxophonist son, Ravi.

Saxophonist Michael Brecker dies at age 57

Michael Brecker, a versatile and much-studied jazz
saxophonist who won 11 Grammys over a career that spanned more than
three decades, died Saturday at age 57.

Brecker died in New York of leukemia, according to his longtime friend
and agent, Darryl Pitt.

In recent years, the saxophonist had struggled myelodysplastic syndrome,
a cancer in which the bone marrow stops producing enough healthy blood
cells. The disease, known as MDS, often progresses to leukemia.

Becker, who had a home in Hastings-on-Hudson, was born in 1949 in
Philadelphia and had won 11 Grammys for his work as a tenor saxophonist.
He was inspired to study the tenor saxophone by the work of jazz legend
John Coltrane, according to his Web site.

He and his brothers led a successful jazz-rock fusion group called the
Brecker Brothers. Throughout his career, he recorded and performed with
numerous jazz and pop music leaders, including Herbie Hancock and Joni
Mitchell, according to the site.

His technique on the saxophone was widely emulated and taught. Jazziz
magazine once called him "inarguably the most influential tenor stylist
of the last 25 years."

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

Playlist, January 14, 2007

Set One
Frank Zappa; Twenty Small Cigars; Chunga's Revenge (1999 Rykodisc)
Mothers of Invention; Absolutely Free; We're Only In It For the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Mothers of Invention; Flower Punk; We're Only In It For the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Joe Jewell Quartet; La Catedral (Prelude)/Estaté; Every Note Counts (2006 Joe Jewell)
Dave Valentin; Come Fly With Me; Come Fly With Me (2006 HighNote)
Bob DeVos; Mojave; Shifting Sands (2006 Savant)
[mic break 10:37 a.m.]

Set Two
Barbara Sfraga & Center Search Quest; Timelessness Frozen in Time; Hang On, Fly Home (2006 SyncTimiCity)
Kyle Eastwood; Every Little Thing She Does is Magic; Now (2006 Candid)
Mark Egan; Plane to the Trane; As We Speak (2006 Wavetone)
Irene Reid; Here's That Rainy Day; Movin' Out (2003 Savant)
Rez Abbasi; Thin Elephant; Bazaar (2006 ZOHO)
Miles Davis; E.S.P.; Cool & Collected (2006 Columbia)
[mic break 11:27 a.m.]

Set Three
Miles Davis; It's About That Time (Remix); Cool & Collected (2006 Columbia)
Miles Davis; Great Expectations; Big Fun (1974 Columbia)
[mic break 12:05]

Set Four
Michael Brecker; Song For Bilbao; Tales from the Hudson (1996 Impulse)
The Brecker Bros.; Skunk Funk; Collection vol. 1 (1990 BMG)
Michael Brecker; Sound Off; Time is of the Essence (1999 GRP)
Brecker Bros #3
[mic break 12:38 p.m.]

Set Five
John Coltrane; Iris; Stellar Regions (1995 impulse)
John Coltrane; Offering; Stellar Regions (1995 impulse)
Alice Coltrane; Translinear Light; Translinear Light (2004 Impulse)
[1:00 p.m.]
Live broadcast from the Pequot Library
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio

RIP Sneaky Pete

Steel pedal guitarist "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow, a founding member of The Flying Burrito Brothers and contributor to FZ’s Waka/Jawaka album, has died.

(by way of Kill Ugly Radio)

Wow! Talk about insanely great...

Apple unveils iPhone

After more than two years in the making, Apple CEO Steve Jobs Tuesday announced the company’s intention to enter the mobile handset market, unveiling the new Apple iPhone. The iPhone brings together several features of the iPod, digital camera, smart phones and even portable computing to one device, with a widescreen display and an innovative input method.

I followed the liveblogging of the keybote speech this afternoon with my jaw on the floor. It was my good fortune to be in a room with two other Mac enthusiasts. The device is pricey--$500 $600, but it will change the mobile communications industry by the time it ships in June.

“Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything,” Jobs said.

Absolutely.

Playlist, January 7, 2007

Set One
War; Low Rider; The Best of War...and More (1991 Rhino)
Christian McBride; See Jam, Hear Jam, Feel Jam; Live at Tonic (2006 Ropeadope)
Christian McBride; Out Jam/GIve it Up or Turnint Loose; Live at Tonic (2006 Ropeadope)
Tom Waits; Step Right Up; Used Songs (2001 Rhino)
Victor Wooten; Bass Tribute; Soul Circus (2006 Vanguard)
[mic break 10:58 a.m.]

Set Two
Geri Allen; La Strada; Timeless Portraits and Dreams (2006 Telarc)
Jason Moran; Refraction 1; Artist in Residence (2006 Blue Note)
Manu Katché; Lullaby; Neighbourhood (2005 ECM)
Taylor/Fidyk Big Band; My One and Only Love; Live at Blues Alley (2005 OriginArts)
The Ed Palermo Big Band; RDNZL; Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (2006 Cuneiform)
[mic break 11:35 a.m.]

Set Three
Roberta Gambarini; Multi-Colored Blue; Easy to Love (2006 Groovin High)
Charlie Hunter; Frontman; Copperopolis (2006 Ropeadope)
Béla Fleck & the Flecktones; Weed Whacker; The Hidden Land (2006 Columbia)
Béla Fleck & the Flecktones; Couch Potato; The Hidden Land (2006 Columbia)
Béla Fleck & the Flecktones; Chennai; The Hidden Land (2006 Columbia)
Béla Fleck & the Flecktones; The Message; Three Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1993 Warner Brothers)
Weather Report; Madagascar; Night Passage (1980 CBS)
[mic break 12:21 p.m.]

Set Four
Don Braden; You Can't Hide Love; Workin' (2006 HighNote)
Vincent Herring; Norwegian Wood; Ends and Means (2006 HighNote)
The Shook-Russo Quartet; Waltz for Nanami; The Shook-Russo Quartet (2006 Summit)
John Hicks; One Peaceful Moment; Sweet Love of Mine (2006 HighNote)
Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra; The Long and Winding Road; Ray Sings Basie Plays (2006 Concord)
Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra; Look What Theyve Done To My Song; Ray Sings Basie Plays (2006 Concord)
[mic break 1:01 p.m.]

Set Five
Miles Davis; 'Round Midnight; Cool & Collected (2006 Columbia)
Sonny Stitt; Put Your Little Foot Right Out; Low Flame (1999 Prestige)
Eric Alexander; Open and Shut; It's All in the Game (2006 HighNote)
Alpendub vs. The Man Cable; Jaga Ode (Dubtronik); The Rough Guide to Yodel (compilation) (2006 World Music Network)
Steve Turre; Da Blues; Keep Searchin' (2006 HighNote)
Vincent Herring; Caravan; Ends and Means (2006 HighNote)
[mic break 1:47 p.m.]

Set Six
Hasidic New Wave & Yakar Rhythms; Spirit of Jew-Jew; Belly of Abraham (2002 Knitting Factory)
[2:00 p.m.]

Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio