Little Feat does Big Al
http://www.connpost.com/ci_11336797
Best Jazz of 2008
http://www.courant.com/entertainment/music/reviews/hc-bestjazz2008.artdec31,0,5128240.story
Courtney Pine sighting
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7804638.stm
The year's best mashups?
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/6187667.html
And life in jazz after "Night Music"
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/dec/30/neapolitan-sanborn-proves-hes-more-just-smooth-jaz/
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year's Eve Music Digest
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday Music Digest
R.I.P. to jazz great Freddie Hubbard
http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/features/22956.html
Stanley Clarke scores
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19084959
How-to for digital music geeks
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-to.gadgets30dec30,0,2868832.story
R.I.P. to Stupid Music fiddler Bob Boatright, whom I saw play with the Texas Playboys in 2000
http://www.star-telegram.com/855/story/1116220.html
And the best soundtrack tunes of 2008
http://buzzsugar.com/2644999
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday Music Digest
How to celebrate New Year's Eve in N'Awlins
http://blog.nola.com/festivals/2008/12/special_events_surrounding_new.html
A jazz festival in South Africa gets cancelled
http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=282330
2008 music in review
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/1229glyirmusic.1bfd5eb.html
Bo Dollis gets his:
http://offbeat.com/artman/publish/article_3458.shtml
And a visit with an NFL coaching legend, who also happens to play the ookelele
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2008/12/the_invisible_legend_a_nearrec.html
Tech Woes
The internet has been experiencing some "Level 3" difficulties the past 2 days, and I am no exception. I have been having connectivity issues big-time, as well as some browser issues. As a result posting may be limited.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Last Waltz?
Word from Proco at Planet Proctor is that the Firesign Theatre's 2009 Nick Danger show may be their grand finale live performance. Click on the post title to go into orbit.
R.I.P. Delaney Bramlett
Delaney worked with Eric Clapton and George Harrison. He was best-known for writing Clapton's classic "Rain", and with Leon Russell co-wrote "Superstar", which became a huge hit for The Carpenters.
He and his wife Bonnie also toured with Clapper as "Delaney and Bonnie and Friends".
Sunday Music Digest
1000 recordings to hear before you die
http://blog.nola.com/cest-la-nola/2008/12/1000_recordings_to_hear_before.html
Musical RIPs for 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-obits2008-popmusicjazz-2008dec28,0,3687142.story
Best world music of the past year
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008557730_toptenjazz28.html
A lab for musicians in Tokyo
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/travel/28surfacing.html?ref=travel
And another Top 10 list, this one from Chi-town
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/1351594,cst-sho-dero28.article
Saturday, December 27, 2008
O'ahu Lights Coming Back On
Crews gradually restored electrical service across parts of Oahu on Saturday after a power failure blacked out the island's population of about 900,000 and thousands of visitors including President-elect Barack Obama.
Saturday Music Digest
2008 Monterey Jazz Fest sampler
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=31422
Best classical tunes from the past year
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/26/PKKL14MP58.DTL
And the best 2008 Jazz releases, including one from NRBQ's Terry Adams
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/26/PKPK14OEJC.DTL
Putting a Hirt on...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=27493
And Watermelon Slim sighted
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/features/local_story_360221742.html
Friday, December 26, 2008
Let It Snow
I brought back the Saddle Hill snowfall total on the sidebar, right below the "View From" picture, which this month has been from well north of here with the hiking fox.
This is the grand total of snowfall here on the Hill since December 1st. However, it should be noted that we do have freeze and thaw cycles here even in winter, so the actual amount on the ground at any given time will vary.
For example, we lost quite a bit of the snowpack here over the past few days and will lose more this weekend as Sunday will have a high temp in the low....50s?
Friday Music Digest
Some Indie music jewels from 2008
http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2008/12/24/2008-12-24_five_indie_musical_jewels_from_2008.html
Spooky Tooth sighting?
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2008/12/lost_tuneage_spooky_tooth.php
The best of what music-makers had to say this year
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Music/2008/12/24/7842596-sun.html
Help!
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ajKn4ERsfFko&refer=us
And 12-bar protest songs
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08359/937230-42.stm
Thursday, December 25, 2008
We Travel The Spaceways, Santa Edition
Fox Fur, a Unicorn, and a Christmas Tree
Credit & Copyright: R Jay Gabany
Explanation: Clouds of glowing hydrogen gas fill this colorful skyscape in the faint but fanciful constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn. A star forming region cataloged as NGC 2264, the complex jumble of cosmic gas and dust is about 2,700 light-years distant and mixes reddish emission nebulae excited by energetic light from newborn stars with dark interstellar dust clouds. Where the otherwise obscuring dust clouds lie close to the hot, young stars they also reflect starlight, forming blue reflection nebulae.
The wide mosaic spans about 3/4 degree or nearly 1.5 full moons, covering 40 light-years at the distance of NGC 2264. Its cast of cosmic characters includes the the Fox Fur Nebula, whose convoluted pelt lies at the upper left, bright variable star S Mon immersed in the blue-tinted haze just below the Fox Fur, and the Cone Nebula at the far right. Of course, the stars of NGC 2264 are also known as the Christmas Tree star cluster. The triangular tree shape traced by the stars appears sideways here, with its apex at the Cone Nebula and its broader base centered near S Mon
Mele Kalikimaka
Back in the early part of the 20th century, my great-aunt and her family gave room and board at their house to a bright young college student from Hawai'i who was attending Cornell. He would remain their lifelong friend.
His name was Robert Alex Anderson, but to friends he was "Andy". He also made a daring escape across Europe during World War 1 (later made into the classic film "The Dawn Patrol") and became a hugely successful Hawai'i businessman.
But he was most famous for his hobby-writing songs. His best-known one celebrates Christmas in Hawai'i and is called, of course, "Mele Kalikimaka".
Click on the post title for more about Andy.
Mele Kalikimaka Music Digest
An interview with Lester Paul
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=27435
Berklee College going to Spain!
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2008-12-25-voa2.cfm
New Year's Eve with Big Al Anderson
http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/republican/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1230106922196670.xml&coll=1
The Ukesperience
http://www.times-standard.com/entertainment/ci_11308311
And fueling a funk firestorm in New Orleans
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/25/z1w25varga101748-cover/?zIndex=27459
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve Music Digest
Christmas tunes from off the beaten path
http://www.examiner.com/x-1274-Boston-Music-Examiner~y2008m12d23-20-more-Christmas-songs-from-off-the-beaten-path
Christmas records time forgot
http://www.chartattack.com/features/64471/christmas-records-time-forgot
Christmas with the big trombones from N'Awlins
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2008/12/bonerama.php
Christmas with the New Orleans Music Station, WWOZ
http://www.wwoz.org/blog
And a review of this past year's 10th All-Starr Band
http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2008m12d20-2009-That-was-the-Beatles-year-that-was-Ringos-10th-AllStarr-Band-tour
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday Music Digest
The best Christmas music internet stations
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/scienceinbc/archive/2008/12/22/the-best-internet-radio-stations-for-christmas.aspx
Take 5's top 5 jazz cds of 2008
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98597232
Wavy Lines of Sound
http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/21809/page1/
Oasis pays tribute to George Harrison
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20081222_Oasis_salutes_its_musical_influences.html
And a new book about a jazz-playing priest
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20081223/LIFESTYLE/812230307
Cleanup Continues...
Sorry for the dearth of posts recently-as previously mentioned I am phasing in a new monitor and it takes some getting used to. In addition we are still busy cleaning up after the massive dump of snow we got last week-between the Friday and Sunday storms we got about 28 inches of Global Warming here on the hill.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday Music Digest
Keeping New Orleans music alive (hint, go there)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/getaways/12/22/new.orleans.music/
Best American music CDs of 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a3xBmtPpcnjo&refer=muse
An old Jaco Pastorious group surfaces-pre Weather Report
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=31395
Stupid Music from fiddler Liesel Schoenberger
http://www.semissourian.com/article/20081222/NEWS01/712229963
And a hand-carved fish guitar?
http://www.southtownstar.com/neighborhoodstar/tinleypark/1340694,122108tpbeatcolumn.article
Sunday, December 21, 2008
"Looks Like a Big Fried Egg!"
Some friends and I lived in Newmarket, NH, just north of Exeter, in the late 1970s-early 1980s. Exeter is what is known as a "UFO Window".
In fact, we ourselves saw UFOs out by the exact train tracks mentioned in this article...
Scary Flying Story
An 89 year young Australian flight instructor safely lands after a mid-air collision...
Frightful!
Statement as of 4:36 PM EST on December 21, 2008
Snow will fall at rates of one to two inches per hour this evening with thunder snow possible... Snow will continue to be heavy through the late evening hours across western Maine and much of New Hampshire.
Expect snowfall rates to be one to two inches per hour at times... reducing the visibility to near zero. There will be blowing and drifting of the snow as winds gust as high as 35 mph. Thunder snow is also possible through 8 PM... mainly near the coastline.
Avoid all travel tonight.
UPDATE: Click post title for updates
Winter Solstice Music Digest
A visit to The Fillmore
http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/us/california/articles/2008/12/21/years_later_their_trail_of_notes_still_enthralls_fans/
Christmas at Graceland
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/12/21/graceland.html
R.I.P. jazzman Buddy Charles
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-hed_charlesdec21,0,6414610.story
A bio of the man behind Charlie Brown's music
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?JSESSIONID=p1GKJNTLGLGbQ3492pSwpwtsDP2j6LqnG26WMNy47WHFx0Md0tQT!-1253635258&pid=6660
And dancing thru Cajun country
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/36399094.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUq9_b9b_jEkP:QUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Worst Hawai'i Visitor Numbers Since Great Depression
Auwe!
“There has never been a time like this in Hawaii's visitor industry," said Ed Hubennette, Marriott International's vice president of North Asia, Hawaii and the South Pacific.
Saturday Music Digest
A visit to the Blues and Brews Fest
http://www.telluridenews.com/entertainment/x1049865078/The-little-beer-festival-that-could-Blues-Brews-wins-best-fest-award
The state of pop music circa 2008
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/pop-music-in-20.html
"I told Bob Dylan he was dead"
http://www.stmgrts.org.uk/archives/2008/12/i_told_bob_dylan_he_was_dead.html
A new CD from lap steel guitarist Chris Haughen
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/19/DD5O14Q60H.DTL
And Van Halen intros a new line of guitars
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/van_halen_unveils_new_guitar_line.html
Friday, December 19, 2008
Dave's Not Here
An interview with Cheech and Chong...
How did you get George Harrison, Carole King, Billy Preston and all those people to play on Basketball Jones?
Cheech: They were in the next studio as we were recording it. Lou Adler went in there and said: "Hey! Come here. I want you to play on this tune." And they'd go, "Oh, OK!" and do it. George Harrison said: "Oh, those are very good chords. I'll have to nick those."
Chong: We ended up on Joni Mitchell's album (Court and Spark). We were all on A&M Records at the time. It was a bit of a family affair there. Whoever was in the studio at the time would just walk over to the other studio and play on the side.
Friday Music Digest
A new teenaged harp genius
http://www.starbulletin.com/features/20081219_exceptional_talent.html
More Cool Yule tunes
http://www.idahostatesman.com/entertainment/story/608378.html
The history of jazz piano
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=30944
A new Willie DVD
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/12/18/011308.php
And a look at this weekend's benefit for NRBQ's original guitarist, Steve Ferguson
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/18/190000/fx-local-bands-play-to-help-founding-member-of-nrb/
Thursday, December 18, 2008
In The Garden
The Gardens of Lawa'i...I was forced at gunpoint to stay 1/4 of a mile east of here in May 2003.
Kaua'i Teevee Tour
The new season of TVLand's "High School Reunion" starts in February and was filmed on Kaua'i. The class comes from a high school in Arizona.
Thursday Music Digest
The 2009 Blues Music Awards nominees are out...
http://www.livedaily.com/blog/3060.html
Where's Homer Simpson? Next year's Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp faculty lineup is announced
http://www.therockradio.com/2008/12/rock-n-roll-fantasy-camp-lineup.html
Dion DeMucci sighting
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=2424d1ef-c1cc-48ad-9789-66a21de43453
When George Harrison met Ralph
http://www.newspostonline.com/entertainment/beatles-once-kept-a-pool-of-george-harrisons-vomit-for-two-weeks-2008121820051
And a look at some Big Easy jazz music greats
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kuar/.artsmain/article/10/1036/1443244/Programs/New.Orleans.Jazz.Pioneers.&.Their.Legacy/
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Under Construction
FYI blog posts will be limited today as I will be doing some computer hardware changes-new monitor and adding a UPS.
Wednesday Music Digest
Another Grammy nomination for the slack key guys
http://www.haleakalatimes.com/2008/12/17/slack_key_masters_nominated_for_fourth_grammy/
A Stupid Music Christmas in Texas
http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/local/local_story_350173529.html
Sax man Bill Evans sighted:
http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/12/17/bill-evans-sax-the-path-of-least-resistance
R.I.P. to Bay Area jazz singer Frances Lynne
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/16/BAA514PC0J.DTL
And the lineup for the San Francisco Jazz Fest is announced.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=26987
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
3 Strikes And You're Out
The Honolulu baseball team was the Islanders in the 50s and 60s. Their announcer for a few years in the early 1960s was Harry Kalas, who was then replaced by an infant named Al Michaels.
The Isles moved to the mainland long ago, and now are the farm team for the Colorado Rockies.
Sad to say, another Major League Baseball experiment is history, as the Hawai'i Winter Baseball League has been phased out.
Too bad, as it generated a lot of talent.
2008 New Orleans JazzFest Lineup Announced
As usual, a cast of thousands!
Aretha Franklin; Los Lobos, Dave Matthews Band; Earth, Wind and Fire; Tony Bennett; Joe Cocker and Bonnie Raitt are some of the national headliners that will join local stalwarts like the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas.
Click the post title for the complete list.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Test Pattern
I am still doing a re-config of various bells and whistles so the "Music Digest" will be down for a day or so...
Meanwhile, here's the folks getting us back on.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Frightful! Goes Hawaiian Part 2
While we had ice here, Hawai'i had the following. No links now but I will put them up tomorrow.
1. Blizzard on Mauna Kea
2. Massive rain/floods/landslides/power outages/sewage in Kailua Bay on O'ahu
3. Possible tornado on Kaua'i?
Stay safe, folks!
Firesign Theatre Reunion Show
The Firesign Theatre will be performing April 24, 2009 in California.
Tickets can be purchased on-line; click the post title for info
On Ice!
Things here on Saddle Hill are slowly getting back to normal after the Great Ice Storm of 2008-this was the worst ice storm here on the hill since the January 1998 storm, which left us without power for 8 days. This time we were "only" without power for about 58 hours, but we were extremely lucky, as only one wire was down.
To our south and west, in the most densely populated parts of New Hampshire, it's a different story-on Friday morning almost a half a million NH people were without power, and many will not have power until later this week-some may even be without until after Christmas. In terms of total number of people knocked off, this is 10 times worse than the storm of 1998, which mainly hit central and northern New Hampshire where far fewer people live.
I will be uploading a few pictures of the damage later today, and am also going to throw up a separate blog page with more images.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Frightful! Goes Hawaiian
Speaking of frightful weather, it's Makahiki time in Hawai'i. Major rain. Flooding. And some rockslide action as well.
Frightful!
From NWS: Snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Ice accumulation of one half of an inch to one inch.
Craig sez: 1 inch of ice is a LOT. One has to have lived thru it (as we did here in the Great Ice Storm of 1998, where we lost our power for 8 days).
Crawfish Heaven
Vermont Public Radio is doing an 11 day tour in April 2009 to Louisiana to visit the Lafayette Music Festival, followed by a week in New Orleans for the final weekend of JazzFest. You even get to work rebuilding houses in the Big Easy for a day...
Thursday Music DIgest
Cape Town Jazz Fest celebrates 10 years
http://www.artzone.co.za/template_level2.asp?parentseq=5851
Yet more new holiday music releases
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/ent_index/270880
An elementary school gets some ookeleles
http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=9494316
A music museum as muse
http://www.jewishjournal.com/tommywood/article/las_new_grammy_museum_a_museum_as_muse_20081210/
And a guy is charged with using a guitar as a deadly weapon?
http://www.wwnytv.net/index.php/2008/12/10/police-man-uses-guitar-as-dangerous-instrument/
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Pricey Real Estate for Sale
A couple from Kailua are offering a $100,000 bonus to anyone who can find a buyer for their properties. One is a house in Hauula on the Windward Coast, and the other is a 38 acre undeveloped parcel of land on the Big Island in the Keeau area.
"The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said it was the first time it had heard of such an offer and urged all parties to check with an attorney to make sure it doesn't violate laws."
Today's Music Video
"The Price of Silence" features the voice of the great Hugh Masekela and is introduced by Lawrence Fishburne...
Wednesday Music Digest
More boxed sets reviewed
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/jonathan_takiff/20081210_Jonathan_Takiff__Box_sets_available_for_music__TV_and_film.html
Some "innocently bad" music groups
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20081210_Sometimes__it_s_not_so_bad_being_bad.html
A singing NFL quarterback
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20081210/ENTERTAINMENT06/812100399/1005/ENTERTAINMENT
Once again it's Wednesday, so Uncle Tom is Gabbin'
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg_article/uncle_toms_gabbin145/
And Tulane University will now offer a degree program in...New Orleans music!
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9495547
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tuesday Music Digest
The music of America
http://www.informativepost.com/2008/12/09/The-Music-of-America-Jazz-2738.htm
USC honors Brian Wilson
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/two-of-the-grea.html
The little radio station that could
http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x776476743/The-little-radio-station-that-could
Kiko sighted
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=26601
And a new animated version of Bob and Doug's "12 Days of Christmas"
http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/9315
Monday, December 8, 2008
Got Heat?
Our esteemed weather gurus said the low temperature here in Meredith this morning would be 14 degrees.
In reality, it was 2 degrees below ZERO.
Currently, it's a tropical 3.7 degrees above zero here on the hill.
But as this is New England, just wait a minute. The day after tomorrow, the high temperature will be 52 degrees. Above zero.
Monday Music Digest
An Edison Jazz Music Award for the Brad Meldhau Trio
http://nonesuch.com/journal/brad-mehldau-trio-live-earns-edison-jazz-music-award-2008-12-05
An interview with the cast of the new movie "Cadillac Records"
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-The-Cast-Of-Cadillac-Records-11135.html
Traveling Wilburys T-shirts for sale
http://www.kwtx.com/entertainment/headlines/35618229.html
A review of recent music DVD box sets
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/05/PKDG14G27U.DTL
And British Columbia's Langley Ookelele Ensemble is headed to Italy, after they cut a Hawaiian CD
http://www.canada.com/langleyadvance/story.html?id=fea497a5-bd8c-4bf6-b8cc-a0b91e04e437
Sunday, December 7, 2008
VOG
Click on the post title for a great satellite image of VOG over the Big Isle, taken 4 days ago...
Pearl Harbor-No Coded Warning
A new report debunks the long-hold claim that the US received the famous "winds execute" shortwave radio news broadcast in the days before the attack.
Mister Leon Goes to Washington
The ultimate Stupid Music concert-81 year young Leon Rausch and Bob Wills' Texas Playboys have been invited to play the Texas State Society's Black Ties and Boots Ball in Washington D.C. on January 19.
"I thought they’d forgot all about us," said Rausch, 81, of Fort Worth. "We do some special events, but we don’t play all the beer joints like we used to. We wait for special events."
Sunday Music Digest
A roundup of new music books-
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2008470103_musicbooks07.html
Jazz pianist David Benoit channels Vince "Charlie Brown" Guaraldi
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=116634
Stupid Music Deluxe: a review of the new cowboy music box set
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1324370.html
Another fine tribute to Mama Africa
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/112008/11302008/427527
And the Beatles made more $ than Madonna. Good for them!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5299214.ece
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Picture Book
A book review of the new photo collection just published by country musician Marty Stuart.
New Pearl Harbor Monument
New World War II monuments in 4 states...the Hawai'i sites include the mooring quays on Battleship Row, memorials for the USS Utah, USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma, and six chief petty officer bungalows on Ford Island.
Saturday Music Digest
Guitarist Joe Satriani sues the band Coldplay
http://www.collegenews.com/index.php?/ear_candy/satriani_sues_coldplay_1242008/
Speaking of guitars, China has one called the "Pipa":
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/pipa-chinese-lute-guitar-tang-8123.html
R.I.P. to well known Hawai'ian musician Pat Sylva
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081206/NEWS01/812060352/1001/localnewsfront
Genesis of a Louisiana "super-group" that also includes members from Down Under
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20081205/BIGFUN/812059889/1184?Template=bigfun
And "Blame it on the Bossa-Nova"...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-mcgowan/blame-it-on-the-bossa-nov_b_148597.html
Friday, December 5, 2008
Today's Music Video
Sad to say I am behind on these as well-here's a great one from Carlene Carter's old show on CMT, featuring some friends of hers.
George Kuo on Radio Australia
Slack key man George Kuo will be featured on "The Sunday Planet" on Radio Australia this weekend. Click on the post title to figure out how to listen online and when.
Happy Birthday to Little Richard
Mr. Penniman turns 76 today!
Here are some other artists doing his stuff
The Everly Brothers do "Lucille"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u23DzzhwMM
McCartney and the Beatles do "Long Tall Sally"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj0THqkPSHs
And (!) Zappa and Sugar Cane Harris do "Directly to My Heart From You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn9w47c3JOg&feature=PlayList&p=E235A38316D19A61&index=0
Click on post title for his bio
Friday Music Digest
Fun with LP covers
http://themoderatevoice.com/general/24803/lp-cover-parodies-and-the-fine-art-of-self-deprecation/
New Orleans JazzFest recordings get 3 Grammy nominations...
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9463127
A look at two new movies about Chess Records
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/04/AR2008120403552.html
Reviews of some more recent boxed set releases (including "Box of Danger")
http://www.courant.com/features/hc-webboxedsets.artdec05,0,2970102.story
And the strange story of a jazz singer in Botswana!
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=7&aid=27&dir=2008/December/Thursday4
Thursday, December 4, 2008
When Hawai'i Was "Cheap"
I have been clearing out my mother's attic this week, as we are getting ready to sell her house. I have stumbled across a treasure trove of items she saved from our years in Kailua, including some pristine-condition photo negatives of our house.
I also came across an old issue of a tourist newspaper, "The Waikiki Beach Press", which I picked up on our way home from Hawai'i for the last time in early June 1966, and an issue of "Sunset" Magazine from 1968. Both had some wild ads!
First up, from "Sunset", an ad for the then-new Sheraton-Kaua'i at Poipu notes that room rates are...$9 to $10 per night. Air fare from the West Coast to the Garden Isle was $100, and if you wanted to stop over in Honolulu it was 5 bucks more.
Two years earlier, Hawaiian Air Tour Service offered a 1-day tour of all 8 islands for $75. This included an early-morning flight from HNL, with a flyover of the Pineapple and Forbidden Islands, then touchdown at Kailua-Kona for breakfast and a limo tour. After a short hop to Hilo and a limo tour of the Rainbow Falls and orchid gardens, the plane then flew over the Valley and Friendly Isles on its way to Kaua'i. After arrival on the Garden Isle, the tour included a visit to Lihu'e, followed by a short trip up to Wailua to take the Smith's Boat Tour to the Fern Grotto. After takeoff from LIH, the plane flew up to the North Shore, down to the Na Pali Coast, and then a flyover of Ni'ihau before the trip back to Honolulu, just in time for dinner. Such a deal!
In the same issue, their competitor, Sky Tours Hawai'i, charged 10 bucks more for an all-day tour, but it had some things the HATS tour missed-after takeoff from HNL and a flyover of Lana'i and Mau'i, the plane landed in Hilo for the same orchid and waterfall tour-but then flew back to Mau'i to Kaanapali, for a ground tour of Lahaina and lunch at the Sheraton there. Then it was back on the plane for a short hop and ground tour of the Kalaupapa colony on the Friendly Isle. Finally, they flew west over Ni'ihau and clockwise up the Na Pali coast, before landing at LIH. Then the touristas got a candlight dinner at the Kaua'i Surf Hotel. This is now the Marriott.
Sounds like both tours were worth doing!
More golden oldies tomorrow.
Click on the post title to see the HATS planes.
Pricey Small Towns
Haleiwa, on the North Shore of Oahu, made the list with a median home sale price of $898,538. The town has a population of 2,226 and a median household income of $39,643, according to the report.
Hawai'ian Music Grammy Nominees
Some familiar faces missing, like the Caz Brothers and Na Leo...
This year's nominees for best album are:
" 'Ikena," Tia Carrere & Daniel Ho (Daniel Ho Creations);
" 'Aumakua," Amy Hanaiali'i (Ua Records/Concord);
"Force Of Nature," Led Kaapana & Mike Kaawa (Ledward Kaapana & Mike Kaawa);
"Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Masters Series Vol. II," various artists, Chris Lau & Milton Lau, producers (Rhythm And Roots Records);
And "The Spirit Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," various artists, Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers (Daniel Ho Creations).
Also nominated for a Grammy yesterday was Saint Louis High School graduate Dean Pitchford. Pitchford was nominated in the Best Spoken Word Album For Children for "The Big One-Oh."
Thursday Music Digest
"White Noise" heading to Broadway
http://blog.nola.com/davidcuthbert/2008/12/white_noise_from_new_orleans_t.html
Critics' pick music for Thursday
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/12/04/critics_picks___music
Jazz and the sounds of Puerto Rico
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/arts/music/04zeno.html
Live musical scores for silent films
http://www.mercurynews.com/movies/ci_11129156
And why Dad's Stupid Music matters!
http://media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2008/12/03/TheEdge/Classic.Rock.101.Why.Dads.Music.Matters-3567730.shtml
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Christmas at Ulupalakua
Ulupalakua is the upland area of Mau'i but the name was also stolen by a developer on O'ahu for the street my family lived on in the 1960s. Here's what they have coming up...
PS, Ulupalakua is supposed to have a bunch of glottal stops, but I am too lazy to put them in right now.
Cowboy Flavor
A preview of this year's Monterey (CA) Cowboy Poetry and Music Fest. Wonder if the teevee cooking guy with the long moustache is doing the catering?
Getting Lucky!
After too long, finally a release from one of Hawai'i's most beloved entertainers, Robert "Lucky" Luck, will hit the stores December 9th. Includes his classics "Magic Pua Dog" and "Mynah Bird", as well as his inimitable reading of "Numbah One Day of Christmas".
R.I.P. Odetta
(Folk Music Archive photo)
We lost "Mama Africa" a couple of weeks ago. Now her American counterpart has also departed.
Interestingly enough, in November of 2007 Odetta gave one of her final concerts at a church in Oswego, New York. She was introduced by "Mama Africa's" ex-husband Hugh Masekela, who noted that it was the first time in his 47-year career that he and Odetta had shared a stage...
Wednesday Music DIgest
Come sail away...
http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/music/amfm/blog/2008/12/come_sail_away_on_the_ukulele.html
Uncle Tom's weekly gabfest from Kaneohe
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg_article/uncle_toms_gabbin144/
A new orbit is out from the man of a thousand voices, Firesign Theatre's Phil Proctor-
http://www.planetproctor.com/
A look at Elvis Costello's new music series, which starts tonight on cable!
http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-elviscostello3-2008dec03,0,6838646.story
And some rarely heard Oscar Peterson music...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122826658148674493.html
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Gabby 1961
"Tracking down real roots music in Hawaii, amidst all the hotel lounge acts and tourist fare, is about as easy as finding a good surf spot in Bolivia. But if you persist, it can be done. I know, because I came back from the islands with a suntan and a stack of Gabby Pahinui records."
Tuesday Music Digest
Just say Los-a new PBS special celebrates Latin music
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20081201/LIFESTYLES09/812010305/1026/news12
A roundup of new holiday music releases
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2008446867_carols30.html
A video of the Wellington Ookelele Orchestra
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/utr/artists/A/1081/N/Wellington-International-Ukulele-Orchestra.utr
Using "Air Guitar Hero" to help amputees test out their new arms
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2008/12/01/air-guitar-hero-helps-amputees-test-out-new-arms/
And yet another "interesting" band name-Bitch and the Exciting Conclusion. Auwe!
http://www.villagevoice.com/events/bitch-and-the-exciting-conclusion-shelley-nicoles-blakbanduuml-she-747615/
Monday, December 1, 2008
Surf's Down?
"What’s expected to be the start of the biggest swell of the season churned out strong winds, choppy surf and rain…forcing surfers and beachgoers out of the water Saturday."
12/1 Music Digest
The Honolulu Symphony makes a rare trip to the Garden Isle
http://www.starbulletin.com/features/crescendo/20081201_crescendo.html
Wayne Shorter sighting
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/11/30/his_path_his_pace
BB King visits Atlantic City
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/113/story/332069.html
A new movie about the rich history of Chess Records
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/1304430,SHO-Sunday-Chess30.article
And Happy 75th B-day to Pat O'Brien's piano bar in New Orleans. I'll have a Hurricane to go!
http://blog.nola.com/anguslind/2008/11/pat_os_turns_75_this_week.html
Sunday, November 30, 2008
On The Air Again
WKRP is back on the air in Cincinnati — but this time it's teevee, not wireless.
A low-power TV station has changed its call letters to WKRP, the same as the fictional radio station in the 1970s hit series "WKRP in Cincinnati."
Herb: “I sold Les boat insurance.”
Bailey: “Les doesn’t have a boat.”
Herb: “I sold him mine.”
Les: “You never know when there’s going to be a flood.”
Cheap Eats on Kaua'i
Ono!
This tour visits 20 cheap eateries, and starts up in Hanalei, circling the island clockwise. Included: the best deal on the island, Sueoka's Snack Shop in Old Koloa Town, where I got a great teri-beef plate lunch in 2003 for the ghastly sum of $4.00
George Harrison-The Undercover Interview
Saturday was the 7th anniversary of George's passing. Here's an interesting interview he did with Paul Cashmere.
Not only does Hari talk about his rare "Wonderwall" album, but claims that he had Ray Charles' voice in mind when he wrote "Something"!
Sunday Music Digest
An interview with Marshall Crenshaw
http://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/?pid=19&id=7036
A Mississippi blues tour
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/lifestyle/travel/story/2e93e9c28b4df6978625750c00785d92?OpenDocument
Speaking of blues music, a look at its African origins
http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/11/30/how_blue_can_you_get
Some new pop releases reviewed
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/11/30/critics_picks___pop_music
And a look at the early touring years of the Fab 4
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5257493.ece
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Holiday Tune Alert
Public Service Announcement!
A couple of the music blogs I link to on my sidebar, namely Ernie (Not Bert) and also Music You (Possibly Won't) Hear have started to post holiday tunes as downloads.
LOTS of good stuff there, and be sure to follow their sidebar links to some of the other great Christmas Music blogs.
They are worth their weight in frankeincense, incense, myrhh, et al, yada yada, ad infinitum e. pluribus unum
Small But Dangerous
A visitor from Nevada has been critically injured at Kipu Falls on Kaua'i...this is a rather small waterfall (15 feet?) but has a rope swing which apparently was the root of the problem...
Saturday Music Digest
A Stupid Musician makes the Grammy nominee list
http://www.chickashanews.com/features/local_story_330150043.html?keyword=secondarystory
Beatles music on iTunes? Delayed again...
http://www.betanews.com/article/Talks_stalled_over_The_Beatles_on_Apples_iTunes/1227640171
Goon Show legend Spike Milligan's estate gets auctioned
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7749594.stm
R.I.P. to Bay Area jazz pianist and educator Rae Imamura
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/26/BAFN14CAAO.DTL
And in search of "authentic" New Orleans music
http://www.projo.com/travel/content/TRV-OFF-BOURBON_11-30-08_ADCD2TK_v10.ef860b.html
Friday, November 28, 2008
Aloha Airlines To Fly Again?
Interesting...
"Mesa Air Group announced Friday that it has settled an Aloha Airlines lawsuit and will license the name of Aloha if the former controlling shareholder can get it in a bankruptcy court auction."
New Hawai'i Stamp Unveiled
To be issued in 2009, the 50th anniversary of Statehood. Click on the post title for the story, and below to visit the stamp artist.
http://herbkaneart.com/
"And there's hamburger all over the highway in Greenwich, Connecticut"
From across the pond:
Part of the M42 has reopened after a six-vehicle crash sent marshmallows and beer spilling out onto the carriageway.
Reviewed-New CD Box Sets
Including the new "Box of Danger" set from Firesign Theatre, which the reviewer lovingly describes as "like a wet kiss at the end of a fist.".
Island Mele
Reviews of some new CDs from Hawai'i, including the new release from Kaua'i singer Leilani Rivera Bond. She's great!
Friday Music Digest
Jazz music in the movies
http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/opinion/article/114034
Best (and worst) of the new holiday CDs
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=743754&category=ARTS
"Radio Deluxe"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/26/AR2008112604211.html?hpid=sec-artsliving
Remembering Steve Goodman
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081125&content_id=3693523&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
And Paul is still not dead
http://www.thetyee.ca/Music/2008/11/27/EggMan/
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Another Music Blog Sighted
For you fans of classic pop music vocalists, here's a great blog by "music fan" Kenny Harrelson. He's not to be confused with the former Boston Red Sox player, who's now a play by play announcer in Chi-town.
Hugh Says Farewell to "Mama Africa"
from London:
"The majestic presence of Hugh Masekela brought proceedings to a vibrant climax. Dedicating the concert to the memory of his late wife, Miriam Makeba, he unwound a smouldering set of intelligent jazz fusion, his flugelhorn sounding more burnished and imposing than ever. I have lost count of the number of times I have heard him perform Stimela, his homage to South Africa's migrant workers, yet this version, full of anguish and thwarted hopes, was the most haunting of all."
Turkey Day Music Digest
New Orleans music in Taiwan
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/11/28/2003429737
Alabama Slim sighting
http://www.al.com/music/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/122778093122030.xml&coll=1
Former Car Greg Hawkes turns to the ookelele
http://www.wickedlocal.com/burlington/fun/entertainment/x415854901/Real-School-of-Music-welcomes-Greg-Hawkes
New Orleans piano-pounder Henry Butler, whom we saw at Lowell a couple of years ago, has a new album:
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20081127/FEAT0509/811270304/1334/FEAT05
And slack-key comes to Monterey!
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20081126/OFFSIXTYEIGHT07/811280305
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sir Paul: "We Love Ringo"
Paul McCartney has defended Ringo ‘the grumpy Beatle’ Starr after the drummer refused to sign any more autographs for fans.
New York Dolls Heading to Hawai'i
Classic 1970s band The New York Dolls, who started a comeback 2 years ago, will travel to Kaua'i in January to start recording a new album at Todd Rundgren's North Shore studio...
Wednesday Music Digest
It's Wednesday, which means that Uncle Tom is gabbin' again...
http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg_article/uncle_toms_gabbin143/
Looking at this year's crop of Christmas TV shows
http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/tv/35115224.html
A Jamaican review of Taj Mahal's new album:
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081125/ent/ent3.html
Another jazz school with a name that starts with "Berk"?
http://www.dailycal.org/article/103707
And a review of some gypsy guitar...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/arts/music/25wrem.html?ref=arts
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Poi Boy Blog
Just stumbled across Ron Jacobs' ono blog, and will include it as a link. Ron of course entertained us via K-POI Radio when we lived in Kailua in the early 1960s.
Up The Creek
(Craig on Saddle Hill photo)
A new review of the Smith's Wailua River boat trip on Kaua'i...
Christmas On Saddle Hill
In honor of our first measurable snowfall (now being washed away by rain) here's a review of some new holiday music releases.
Tuesday Music Digest
A new radio documentary about New Orleans piano professor James Booker
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=25979
Ray Davies has a new forum devoted to all things Kinky
http://raydavies.3.forumer.com/
An all star tribute to Doug Sahm is in the works
http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=2320
African music needs to listen to...Nashville?
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A891763
And a chat with legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb
http://offbeat.com/artman/publish/article_3423.shtml
Monday, November 24, 2008
Natural Selection?
"The Natural History Museum in London recently opened a new exhibit that features mockingbirds that Charles Darwin collected during his travels around the Galapagos Islands in 1835. He observed they were unlike the mockingbirds in other South American regions."
Fast Food
A look at diners in Jersey...the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton was a fixture of my childhood visits to nearby Nutley!
Monday Music Digest
Monk-Fest reviewed
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/arts/music/24monk.html
And another review-Aretha at the LA House of Blues
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/11/live-review-are.html
A rare copy of the Beatles' White Album sells
http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=6969
A chat with Dion
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081124/ENT04/811240306
And a look at musical instruments on the International Space Station...
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=25974
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Don't View Before Eating
Or you will lose your appetite!
from the NRBQ e-mail list:
"Some perverse Swede actually collects photos of the Swedish show bands of the 70's and their wonderfully hideous matching outfits....My favorite outfits and most questionable name : "The Schytts" "
Scorsese Does Hari?
Film director Martin Scorsese, fresh off his Rolling Stones movie, wants to do one about George Harrison...
Sunday Music Digest
Belly dancing time...
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/nov/23/1123_bellydance/
Nevilles sighted
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/11/23/pop_music/
Christmas Stupid Music in Texas
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/nov/22/rodeo-christmas-ball-coming/
Elvis sighting
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-22-voa2.cfm
And acoustic blues in Maine
http://knox.villagesoup.com/AandE/story.cfm?storyID=135771
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Classic Music Video
Here's today's birthday boy (and Hawai'i resident) Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods, from the old "Hollywood Palace" teevee show. Enjoy!
Saturday Music DIgest
Ookelele babes in New Zealand
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4767314a6497.html
Monk meets Mingus
http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Section/section_id/11?module=article&story_id=13842
Jazz from Abu Dhabi
http://www.tribune.com.ng/21112008/fri/weekend.html
Lost George Harrison interview found:
http://www.nme.com/news/the-beatles/41216
And a review of some recent blues collections
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20081121/TUSK02/811200277/1005?Title=MUSIC_REVIEW__Blues__jazz_collections_hit_the_right_note
Friday, November 21, 2008
Kaua'i Flood Indictment
Retired car dealer Jimmy Pflueger was indicted by a Kaua'i Grand Jury today on 7 counts of manslaughter in connection with the deadly Ka Loko flood.
Desert Island Flood Alert
The "Forbidden Island" of Ni'ihau, which is mainly desert, is currently under a flood advisory.
The Mother of All Stupid Music Box Sets
The best music Bob Wills ever did, the Tiffany Transcriptions, will be released in their entirety in January 2009.
Friday Music Digest
Concert Vault for iPhone reviewed
http://www.macworld.com/article/136963/2008/11/concertvault.html?t=206
Layers of composition
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/62054-layers-of-composition-an-interview-with-andy-milne/
Smooth jazz on the high seas
http://www.ejazznews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9997&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Tracing the spiritual path of George Harrison
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-etledex5933008nov20a,0,705044.story
And another great new band name-Frogs Gone Fishin'!
http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/nov/21/frogs_gone_fishin_working_its_way_business/
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Frightful!
Current conditions 46 miles to my north...
Temperature -3.9°F
Wind 42.3 mph
Direction 296° (NW)
Wind Chill -34.8°F
Scary Flying Story
A flight attendant helped to land a 767 after the co-pilot had to be "relieved of duty" on a trans Atlantic flight...
Thursday Music Digest
Demystifying classical music
http://www.al.com/entertainment/press-register/arts.ssf?/base/entertainment/1227176157184620.xml&coll=3
Musicians bringing musicians home:
http://www.pluginmusic.com/news/archive.php?id=4329
Unchaining African melodies
http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?newsid=7780§ion=7
A tribute to a tortured soul singer
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122713666134442381.html
And a new music blog series from Nevada
http://www.fstribune.com/blogs/1268/entry/22261/
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Global Warming
It was a balmy 16 degrees here on Saddle Hill this morning...warmed up to 23 this afternoon, but that's about it.
This is an outbreak of much colder than normal air-it's 15 degrees colder than usual here for this time of year.
Hawaiian Law 101
Did you know that it's illegal to park your car on a roadway and advertise it for sale?
Wednesday Music Digest
A guitar man teaches "critical thinking"...
http://dailyadvocate.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=127314&TM=84666.36
Speaking of guitars, a new carbon-fibre number:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/11/carbon-fiber-gu.html
Botswana remembers Miriam Makeba
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=7&aid=11&dir=2008/November/Tuesday18
Accordion invasion in Moklahoma
http://www.newsok.com/accordionists-squeeze-into-edmond-jazz-lab/article/3322816
And film makers struggle to make music biopics:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996042?categoryId=3342&cs=1
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
They Travel The Spaceways
A lunar probe from India's first unmanned moon mission Chandrayaan-1 has landed on the moon and started sending back its first images.
We Travel The Spaceways
How decades-old NASA images of the moon are being brought back to life.
"Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of magnetic tapes."
The Greatest Layover in American History
A writer gets stuck on a 6 hour layover in Honolulu, so decides to visit Big Mo.
Tuesday Music Digest
A new music licensing firm in New Orleans
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl111708tpsetup.1c29bfd39.html&ct=ga&cd=tMe_ilPG6W0&usg=AFQjCNEPurtbe-JYpataV9QKYZeiA11adQ
Another great band name-"The Old Spice Boys"
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0811/S00168.htm
Arlo sighted
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/nov/18/1118_Guthrie/&ct=ga&cd=qymzDdVO-_s&usg=AFQjCNFr66tAxN8L8h-IuiTvVe--pCfwVQ
Pandolele?
http://www.telegram.com/article/20081118/NEWS/811180555/1006/NEWS07
And Stupid Music pops the pond
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/reviews/The-Swing-Commanders.4700867.jp
Monday, November 17, 2008
"Carnival of Light"
An unreleased, experimental track by The Beatles could be made public 41 years after it was recorded at Abbey Road studios, ex-member Paul McCartney has said.
Monday Music DIgest
A slack-key sighting
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Paradise-Coast-Consulting-Announces-Grammy/story.aspx?guid=%7B39D160A5-2051-4679-B566-BC9EEA97B2ED%7D
The latest from Dave Alvin
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/6115983.html
Jazz Xmas music
http://eurweb.com/story/eur48701.cfm
Some new CD box sets:
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/recordings/2008/11/24/081124gore_GOAT_recordings
And Stupid Music news from Arizona
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=61406
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Gold Coast
This article is a couple of months old, but explores the pricey real estate market on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Sunday Music Digest
New holiday releases
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/story/493647.html&ct=ga&cd=867cEpWubvM&usg=AFQjCNG0fwQDgrW7sTtKDKw3Pesbg4ilDg
Allen Toussaint Brunch in New Orleans
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/events/rock-pop-soul/210831/allen-toussaint&ct=ga&cd=i6ln0-1ap9Y&usg=AFQjCNHTmqfH2jU0ZAqI2RZVxLo9SRuJWA
Ookeleles in Spokane
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/local/story.asp?ID=268816
Jazz made easy
http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailfeatures.asp?fileid=20081116.H01&irec=8
And a sighting of blues great Charlie Musselwhite
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5140437.ece
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday Music Digest
Music of the Americas
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/34490104.html?elr=KArks:DCiUo3PD:3D_V_qD3L:c7cQKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Vietnam hosts a European music fest
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/culture/141108/culture_eu.htm
The sound of woodwinds
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/arts/music/16schw.html
Jake gets Toys for Tots
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081114/GETPUBLISHED/81113078/-1/sportsfront
And Monty Python meets George Harrison
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-screen_scene_1114nov14,0,2661984.story
Friday, November 14, 2008
We Travel the Spaceways
For the first time, astronomers have photographed individual planets from another solar system. Pics at the link.
Friday Music Digest
Tributes to Mama Africa continue
http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/3174/266/
Belgian jazz in Vietnam
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/2008/11/813545/
John Goodspeed pays tribute to Stupid Music
http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/34363004.html
R.I.P. Stupid Musician Jody Reynolds
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-reynolds14-2008nov14,0,3704687.story
And new music from across the river
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.sunherald.com/entertainment/story/954258.html&ct=ga&cd=11bVPIiDoX0&usg=AFQjCNHw204ddqQibwLnpYXyRjzzDQaFSQ
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Cooking on the Island
Season 5 of "Top Chef" started Wednesday night on the Bravo channel, and this season is set in New York City. Lo and behold, the show kicked off with all of the contestants hopping on the Governors Island Ferry, and then being herded into our old back yard behind Buildings 111 and 112 to compete to see who got to go home first.
This first episode, called "Melting Pot", will be repeated a few times this week, notably Friday Nov. 14 at 12 noon Eastern.
Python Ancestor Found
A direct ancestor of Monty Python's renowned "Dead Parrot" sketch has been found in a book of jokes dating back to Greece in the fourth century AD.
Thursday Music Digest
NRBQ's Terry Adams says "Meet Me in St. Louis"
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-blender/the-blender/2008/11/terry-adams-of-nrbq-fame-booked-for-euclid-records-performance/
Stupid Music review: Mark Kreitzer
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/78188/
Duke Ellington in Britain
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/dawn-of-the-jazz-age-sir-duke-ellingtons-adventures-in-britain-1015212.html
Preview of the "Nearly Famous Festival" in Canada-
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastlife/story.html?id=f8932e9f-7931-4593-8f58-6de2f6c9a046
And Mac's back, and I don't mean Rebennack...
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/entertainment/macs-back/2008/11/12/1226318727593.html
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell, the drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead this morning in his Portland OR hotel room.Mitchell, 61, apparently died of natural causes, the Multnomah County Medical Examiner said.
Air Kaua'i Grounded
Photo by Craig on Saddle Hill, on-location, May 4, 2003
Sad news from the Garden Isle-tour helicopter operator Air Kaua'i stopped flying last week, after the bank reposessed their two helos. The company has since filed for Chapter 11, which may allow them to keep flying. The hearing is today.
The two helos were new ones purchased last year.
UPDATE: AK got the helos back today. See my later post.
Weds. Music Digest
Caz gets cash:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081112/NEWS01/811120324/1190/LOCALNEWSFRONT
Happy 90th to jazz great Bebo Valdes
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/11/11/entertainment/e134821S96.DTL
KISS's Gene Simmons invents a new guitar toy:
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3171227
Guns "N' Roses in China
http://www.nme.com/news/guns-n-roses/40986
And speaking of guitars, Heidi Klum gets whiplash!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3439644/Heidi-Klum-gets-whiplash-filming-Guitar-Hero-advert-in-her-underwear.html
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Stupid Music For Your Health
Listening to music that makes you happy, especially if it's country music, may be good for your heart, a new study suggests.
Les Paul Week in Cleveland
93-year-young Les Paul, known as the "Father of the Electric Guitar," will be honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's annual American Music Masters series, a weeklong event that starts Monday.
R.I.P. Herb Score
(Baseball Almanac photo)
After a great career on the field, Herb had a just as great career as one of the best broadcast baseball play-by-play announcers of all time. Not many of those great announcers are left now...
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