Inland Sea

Little Pond, Sandwich NH June 29, 2009

Last Day of June Music Digest

How Jimmy Buffett met Jake Shimabukuro

http://www.austin360.com/event/events2/etc/userEventDisplay.jspd?eventStatus=Approved&eventid=250504

R.I.P. to Canada jazz icon Jackie Washington

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/658669

Quincy Jones remembers Michael Jackson

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/06/quincy-jones-on-michael-jackson-we-owned-the-80s-and-our-souls-would-be-connected-forever.html

Investors rescue a music hall in South Carolina

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2009/06/29/daily9.html

And New Orleans' Ponderosa Stomp comes to NY City

http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2009/06/29/676007.aspx

Happy B-Day Kirch!

Today's ace guitarist Bill Kirchen's birthday-he's also a mean guy on the slide trombone, as evidenced by this shot I took of him getting in my face a few years back at the Lowell Folk Festival.

Stormy Monday Music Digest

A review of Hugh Masekela and Friends in concert

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1025420

Preview of the Elkhart Jazz Fest

http://www.fox28.com/Global/story.asp?S=10608384

Bronson Arroyo hangs up his guitar

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090628&content_id=5575826&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

Janis Ian at the Bluebird Cafe

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/be-my-guide-janis-ia-4759/

And ookelele night in Connecticut

http://www.myrecordjournal.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=20337727&BRD=2755&PAG=461&dept_id=592709&rfi=6

Sunday Music Digest

R.I.P. to New York guitarist Bud Cerio

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090628/NEWS01/906280341/1002/NEWS

A Hollywood composer working in the Big Easy

http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2009/06/working_in_new_orleans_is_both.html

A new VH1 "Storytellers" episode features ZZ Top

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/06/27/2009-06-27_storytellers_tells_zz_tops_40year_story_from_a_to_zz.html

Motown founder Berry Gordy recalls discovering Michael Jackson

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/26/eveningnews/main5117610.shtml

And a preview of Freihofer's Jazz Fest in upstate New York.

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/jun/28/0628_jazzfest/

Saturday Music Digest

Jake hits the road with Jimmy Buffett

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/06/26/buffett8217s_breezy_feel_good_vibe_still_resonates/

Banjo's roots in African music

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/nyregion/28musicwe.html

Is jazz dead?

http://www.canada.com/jazz+dead+stretching+festival+definition+jazz/1736323/story.html

Hawaiians remember Michael Jackson

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/20090626_King_of_Pop_ruled_musical_hearts_of_many_isle_fans.html

And Los Lobos hits New England!

http://www.bostonmusicspotlight.com/article.php?id=2325

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

(Guardian UK photo)

Click post title for an appreciation.

Friday Music Digest

Music to play at your next luau

http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2009/6/25/White_House_luau_Obama_great_Hawaiian_albums

Previewing this weekend's birthday party for Hugh Masekela

http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1023947

The man of a thousand chords

http://www.examiner.com/x-14743-San-Antonio-Local-Music-Examiner~y2009m6d26-Man-of-1000-chords--Take-Note-of-Javi-Garcia

Radio Australia explores the ookelele

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/intothemusic/stories/2009/2574963.htm

And designing the perfect fingerstyle guitar

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/intothemusic/stories/2009/2574963.htm

Sky Saxon R.I.P.

Sky was the lead singer of legendary 1960s band The Seeds.

"Hey, Boys, It's a Wild Weekend!"

Big Al Anderson and many of the former members of NRBQ will be starting a 3 night stand at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton MA tonight. Little too far away for my blood (3 1/2 hours one way) but highly recommended if you have the moolah! $75 a ticket in advamce, $100 at the door!

Thursday Music Digest

The Stanford Jazz Festival celebrates year 38

http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_12679871

A new streaming interview with NRBQ's Terry Adams

http://www.bubblesinthethinktank.com/next/terry-adams-on-wmnf

R.I.P. to former Jimmy Buffett lead guitarist Tim Krekel

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090624/SCENE04/906240390/1011/SCENE/Musician+Tim+Krekel+dies++sendoff+planned+at+8+tonight

A bass once owned by Kurt Cobain goes on the auction block

http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/2009/06/24/auctioned-bass-guitar-hints-at-kurt-cobains-humble-start/

And Elmo makes music on Mau'i

http://www.haleakalatimes.com/2009/06/24/news/Arts_Entertainment/elmo_makes_music_coming_to_the_macc/

Oh, Poi!

A look at the shopping list for the first-ever White House luau...

Free Music!

Click the post title to stream the new Levon Helm album!

Got Gumbo?

A review of the new mecca for southern cuisine in the Boston area, Tupelo. This is located in the same space as Magnolias, which we have visited for years.

Wednesday Music Digest

Your mission: buy 10 airplane tickets for 10 ookeleles!

http://www.sleafordstandard.co.uk/news/Council-helps-pay-ukulele-air.5393007.jp

Sharing music the old fashion way

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124579665335344085.html

African music goes digital

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/410/23/37157.html

Jazz, an up and down groove

http://www.independent.com/news/2009/jun/23/jazz-and-down-groove/

And Uncle Tom Moffatt checks in

http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/

Reduced Transmitter Power!

Sorry for the reduced posting over the past week, but I have been busy with a work project and also have been working the kinks out of my new Facebook page, which I will be linking to here eventually. Stay tuned!

Tuesday Music Digest

Australia may hold a ookelele festival

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/06/20/48305_lifestyle.html

50 years of music from Bra Hugh

http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/4001/266/

A new jazz series in Maine

http://www.mainetoday.com/event.html?event_id=88164

The 2009 awards dinner for jazz journalists

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=33280

And it might get loud-a new movie about guitar gods!

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/28812175/guitar_gods_crank_it_up_for_new_doc_it_might_get_loud

Monday Music Digest

The nylon music tour

http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/06/all_that_glitters_patrick_wolf.php

Unusual musicians in the Big Apple

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/22/2009-06-22_odd_instruments_make_sweet_music.html

Remembering the 49th State Record Company

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090621/STATEHOOD01/906210351&template=statehood/50th+anniversary+memorabilia+scarce

The Voice of New Orleans

http://www.kentucky.com/964/story/837678.html

And some unreleased George Harrison music is on its way

http://www.411mania.com/music/news/107891/Album-Of-Unreleased-George-Harrison-Tracks-Coming.htm

Summer Solstice Music Digest

Extended Allen Toussaint interview

http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2009/06/allen_toussaint.php

A new update to George Harrison's website

http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m6d20-George-Harrison-website-adds-new-area-in-honor-of-Let-It-Roll

Stupid Music with the Red Dirt Rangers

http://www.tulsaworld.com/Scene/article.aspx?subjectid=269&articleid=20090621_270_D3_RedDir38983

A guy who sells Stupid Music on vinyl

http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090621/FEATURES01/906200353

And wrapping up the Rochester Jazz Fest

http://www.rnews.com/content/top_stories/475305/jazz-fest-closing-on-high-note/Default.aspx?RegionCookie=2004

6/20 Music Digest

The top 10 states for country music

http://www.countrystandardtime.com/blog/countrymike/entry.asp?xid=382

An upcoming jazz benefit show

http://culturekiosque.com/travel/item15033.htm

Waimanalo Blues

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/opinion/20sat4.html

A Phoenix museum buys a rare Les Paul guitar

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/06/19/20090619phx-guitar0619.html

And a New Orleans JazzFest photo gallery

http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004960.html

Rainy Friday Music Digest

New custom guitars from Sonic Youth

http://www.aversion.com/news/news_article.cfm?news_id=12896

Farewell to the Oscar Mayer jingle instrument

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10559607

Janet Klein, ookelele chanteuse...

http://www.independentweekly.com.au/news/local/news/entertainment/cabaret-festival-review-janet-klein-ukelele-chanteuse/1544614.aspx

Tom Waits sighting

http://thecelebritycafe.com/cd/full_review/14235.html

And a Dan Hicks sighting as well!

http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_12626770

Saving Kailua's Fireworks

A 60 year tradition is in jeopardy...Kailua's 4th of July fireworks.

Thursday Music Digest

Stupid Music alert-Ray Price has been sidelined by health worries and won't be playing at the Stupid Music Fest in Wichita Falls. He'll be replaced by...the Texas Playboys.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/jun/18/headliner-cancels-ray-price-sidelined-by-health/

Defending the polka

http://www.houstonpress.com/2009-06-18/music/defending-the-polka/

Fighting to keep a jazz radio station alive

http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_12609017

Time for the Steel Guitar Fest in Hawai'i

http://www.haleakalatimes.com/2009/06/17/news/News/henry_kaleialoha_allen_hawaiian_steel_guitar_fest_includes_concerts_workshops/

And an appreciation of the late guitarist Bob Bogle

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2009/06/an_early_guitar_master_gone.html

Wednesday Music Digest

Uncle Tom Moffatt checks in as usual on Weds.

http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/

A preview of the London Ookelele Festival

http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=136&title=be_a_ukelele_world_record_breaker&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Learning about jazz in Trinidad and Tobago

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_features?id=161491991

The Soul of 1959

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/262164/

And Chris Gaffney earns an All-American farewell

http://blog.cmt.com/2009-06-16/chris-gaffney-earns-an-all-americana-farewell/

R.I.P. Bob Bogle

(Japan Times photo)

Bob (shown with Doug Wilson on the left) was the co-founder and lead guitarist of the legendary guitar band The Ventures. He was 75.

Visit to "The Forbidden Island"

A rare interview with the Robinsons, who own the tiny island of Ni'ihau, off the southwest coast of Kaua'i. The family also owns large tracts of land on the Garden Isle itself, including the "Jurassic Falls" waterfall.

Says co-owner Bruce: "We're dirt farmers that's it. that's all we are. if i'm not in the dirt I'm not happy."

Tuesday Music Digest

Air guitar record set

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2009/06/15/brutal-legend-fans-break-air-guitar-world-record/

Jazz at the White House

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/arts/music/16jazz.html?em

A review of the Ojai Jazz Fest

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/06/eighth-blackbird-at-ojai-festival.html

Choral music in Hawai'i

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090615/GETPUBLISHED/906140387

And blues harmonica in jazz

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1517409/KPLU.Local.News/Beyond.the.Blues.Blues.Harmonica.in.Jazz

6-15 Music Digest

A gift with strings attached!

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/gift+with+strings+attached/1694433/story.html

Ramsey Lewis unveils a poem...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0615-ramsey-ovnjun15,0,7164396.story

A live review of the Playboy Jazz Festival

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/06/live-review-playboy-jazz-fest.html

The Pussycat Dolls hit Hawai'i for their first show there

http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Pop-Sensations-The-Pussycat-Dolls-Perform-in/NY3lJcby_ka98A39o89q7Q.cspx

And Dick Dale, who now has cancer, isn't over the hill quite yet...

http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_12585855?nclick_check=1

Eric and Stevie!

A review of last night's 3rd show from the Eric Clapton-Stevie Winwood tour.

Sunday Music Digest

The rise of Austin as a music center

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jun/14/texas-college-town-rises-as-a-new-music-center/

End of a music venue in CT

http://www.courant.com/community/news/hfd/hc-second-look-agora0614.artjun14,0,2532029.story

Uncle Floyd sighting

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/entertainment/1620429,SHO-Sunday-laughs14.article

An update on the US Air Guitar Championships

http://denver.metromix.com/events/concert/us-air-guitar-championships-downtown/1227922/content

And Bonnaroo gives to the Big Easy

http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/06/bonnaroo_donates_to_the_big_ea.html

Kinks!

Yikes, a review of the new Kinks tribute with a chorale!

Used Art

Figment comes to Governors Island

Saturday Music Digest

R.I.P. to jazz guitarist Hughie Long, aged 105

http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/1431229.html

A new Springsteen exhibit

http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/06/12/entertainment/doc4a322bc791343124656290.txt

Ookelele meets karaoke

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/clubbing/article-23707165-details/Karaoke+with+a+ukulele+twang/article.do

Bonnaroo!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/bonnaroo-katzenjammer-plays-that-tent/?hp

And singing the praises of green guitars!

http://www.reuters.com/article/mnGreenGadgets/idUS301151469020090612

Friday Music Digest

Sandy-shuffled Stupid Music-a preview of the 22nd Annual Legends of Western Swing Music Fest in Texas

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/jun/11/swing-west-young-man/

Hot Club!

http://www.uticaod.com/mid-yorkweekly/x862905475/Hot-Club-of-Cowtown-comes-to-EOH

5 drummers whose time is now

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/arts/music/12drummers.html?ref=arts

Ornette Coleman has a meltdown

http://globespotters.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/ornette-coleman-has-a-meltdown/

And the Brothers Cazimero go to Washington

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/47818992.html

Still Grazin'

A new interview with Brah Hugh

Thursday Music Digest

How The Beatles destroyed rock and roll?

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-book11-2009jun11,0,6306516.story

Checking in with Benny Green and Bucky Pizzarelli

http://www.mercurynews.com/eyeheadlines/ci_12561716

First review of the Playboy Jazz Fest

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/06/playboy-jazz-festival-plays-to-wide-audience.html

Los Lobos has a new record label

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/los-lobos-find-new-home-at-shout-factory-1003983592.story

And a preview of this summer's ballpark tour with Dylan, Willie, and "Little Bastard"...

http://www.bostonmusicspotlight.com/article.php?id=2271

Smooth as Glass

Hamlin Park above Lake Wicwas, June 9 2009

The immediate shoreline on this section of the lake was developed starting in 1960 or so, but since there were only so many lots available there thankfully are only 15 or so houses there.

My maternal grandmother's brother bought the very first lot here, and it's still in the family. Later on, my mother and her brother paid a piddling amount to buy the second smallest island in the lake. It's still in the family as well.

The ridge shown above is accessed via the trail shown when you click the post title. "Hamlin Park" comprises hundreds of acres above and behind the homes, and is now abutted by the "Eames Conservation Area", which is accessed thru Hamlin.

Phil Spector Unplugged

Wait til after you've eaten to read this!

Hoku Awards

The big winner at the Hawaiian version of the Grammy Awards was the group Pali, which won 3 out of the 5 awards they were nominated for.

Complete list of winners and photo gallery at the link.

Wednesday Music Digest

Wednesday = Uncle Tom Gabbin'

http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg/

New tromboneage from Roswell Rudd

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102907913

Stupid Music from Steve Ripley and The Tractors

http://www.newsok.com/steve-ripley-the-tractors-are-throttling-up-ready-to-plow-again/article/3376370

KC's Jazz in the Woods turns 20

http://www.kansascity.com/shawnee_mission/story/1242372.html

And a new ookelele player named...Tippy Canoe?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/offtherecord/detail?entry_id=41464

A Day Late, But Happy Birthday, Les!

(FromTheVaultRadio.org image)

Electric guitar inventor Les Paul turned 94 Tuesday. He still plays every Monday night at the Iridium in NY City!

Crossroads

"You can't get there from here!"

Chemung Road, June 2009

New Orleans Singer Marva Wright Ailing

Marva is in hospital after suffering a stroke. Healing beams!

J'ai Ete Au Bal

Previewing the upcoming Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival, which will be held this weekend at the French Market in N'Orleans.

Jazz Age Lawn Party

A photo essay of last weekend's festivities on Governors Island in New York Harbor...when this party started a few years ago, it was held in the backyard of Building 111, where my family lived in the 1960s, but that space is much too small now!

06-09-09 Music Digest

An interview with Mountain's Leslie West

http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/Features/mountains%2Dleslie%2Dwest%2D608/

Just say Moe

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/column/moe/454133

Hoyle Nix, a Stupid Music original

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2009/06/lonesome_onry_and_mean_hoyle_n.php

Stupid music review: Merle Haggard live

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/2009/06/review_merle.aspx

And a summer camp for jazz musicians

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0609-jazzjun09,0,5891575.story

Monday Music Digest

An interview with the late Koko Taylor

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/koko-taylor-604

A roundup of assorted new releases

http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/story/695585.html

Kyle Busch smashes his guitar

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/194313-busch-smashes-guitar-in-nashville

Terry and Tom from NRBQ sighted on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPsO9p0-ot8

And a salute to Mel Torme!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/arts/music/08lyri.html?ref=musi

Champ Sighting?

"Looks like a Big Fried Egg!"

Elektra Records Reborn

This story is buried in the article at the link so doesn't say much except that the reborn label, which went out of existence 5 years ago, will be releasing material from new artists.

As I recall, Collector's Choice Music now has the license and reissue rights for a lot of the classic old Elektra stuff, but not all of it-the Doors stuff is untouchable, of course.

Sunday Music Digest

NASCAR Guitar Fest?

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jun/06/kyle-busch-looks-to-add-guitar-to-collection/

A new album from NRBQ fan Terry Anderson

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20090607_New_Recordings.html

Looking at the Red Bank Blues and Jazz Fest, held in Count Basie's home town:

http://www.app.com/article/20090607/NEWS/906070345/1004/NEWS01/Red+Bank+jazz+and+blues+fest+hits+its+groove

A review of a new live album from Willie and Wynton

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32982

And New Orleans comes to New Jersey

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=33126

Sweetness Moving East

King's Hawai'an Sweet Bread family is slowly moving into NH. I saw their grinds at a local Shaw's and promptly bought them out!

Trombone Alert

Slide............................................................................................................................................................

Gabby's Son Talks Story

Cyrill!

06-06-09 Music Digest

Aaron Neville goes "High Natural"

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Playlist/story?id=7760304&page=1

Persian passion VS Spanish Guitar

http://www.iranian.com/main/node/66640

74-year-young Huey Buxton's still playing Stupid Music!

http://therecordlive.com/article/Hometown_News/People_and_Places/Million_dollar_musician/53546

As is 27-year old Kristy Kayln, who was singing "Roly Poly" when she was only 2!

http://www.star-telegram.com/340/story/1417939.html

And speaking of Stupid Music, a Texas critic unearths some old 78s...

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/06/a_recent_late-spring_clean-up.php

Let's Go Get Stoned

The geology of the New England stone wall.

I may have to start a daily feature with New England stone wall pictures, as we have them coming out the wazoo up here.

New Clouds?

No way.

Gone Fishin'

A 10 inch fish caught near the Kaua'i Coffee Plantation has coughed up...a gold watch.

Friday Music Digest

Preview of Pennsylvania's Bethlehem Guitar Fest

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/music/index.ssf/2009/06/expresstimes_file_photodick_bo.html

Remembering Arthur Godfrey and his ookelele...

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=402594

The Hag recovers from lung surgery, and promises more Stupid Music fiddling! He's even using a fiddle that Bob Wills gave him...

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jun/04/music-haggard-after-surgery-back-less-lun-20090604/?subscriber/national

Preview of the upcoming jazz festival in Ochi

http://www.flcourier.com/news/2009-06-04/Entertainment/Annual_Jamaica_Ocho_Rios_festival_9_days_of_cool_j.html

And a look at this weekend's Berkeley World Music Festival

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2009-06-04/article/33042?headline=Berkeley-s-World-Music-Festival-Begins-Saturday

We Travel The Spaceways

Confirmed-travel in space, turn into George Costanza

Return to Peyton Place

Province Road, June 4 2009

No More Polka???

(SCTV.org photo)

The rocket scientists who run the Grammy Awards have dropped a musical category from consideration-POLKA music!

"I don't like to see it happen," legendary bandleader and three-time Grammy winner Walter Ostanek said Thursday from his home in St. Catharines, Ont.

"There's room for our music."

John Gora, who's been nominated four times in the polka category but has never won, was more blunt.

"That sucks," he said from Burlington, Ont. "Of course I'm disappointed."

Yosh and Stan Schmenge could not be reached for comment.

Cah Wash

Washing the rolling stock at the New Hampton NH FD, Memorial Day Weekend 2009.

Note the skinny tower behind the fire station...that's the decades-old siren that used to sound whenever there was a fire (before the days of scanners). Reminiscent of the tsunami sirens that still stand in Hawai'i.

R.I.P. Sam Butera

Another link to Las Vegas’ storied past was cut Wednesday morning with the passing of legendary jazz saxophonist Sam Butera, sideman to another Vegas legend, Louis Prima.

Thursday Music Digest

A new interview with Jake Shimabukuro

http://rochestercitynewspaper.com/entertainment/guides/2009/06/JAZZ-FEST-09-Interview-Jake-Shimabukuro/

Speaking of ookeleles, a new band of Eskimos are playing them-meet Nive Nielsen

http://www.filter-mag.com/index.php?id=19096&c=1

The Army Fife and Drum Corps goes Hawaiian

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090603/BREAKING01/90603075/Army+s+Fife+and+Drum+Corps+to+visit+Oahu

A new jazz blog from National Public Radio

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=36865

And the legendary Cotton Patch Ranch in Texas once again has Stupid Music!

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/jun/03/yl_sl_cotton_patch_060709_52968/?entertainment

High Altitude

I've been remiss in doing updates on all of the recent Everest ascents, so just click on the link for hours of briefings.

Guitar Fest

Epiphone, in cooperation with the Gibson Guitar Custom Shop, has announced the second in its series of Epiphone Custom Historic USA guitars, the 1962 Wilshire Reissue in White.

R.I.P. Koko Taylor

(Lowell Summer Music Series Photo)

Koko Taylor, a sharecropper's daughter whose regal bearing and powerful voice earned her the sobriquet "Queen of the Blues," has died after complications from surgery. She was 80.

Sue Me, Sue You Blues

Cher, joined by Sonny Bono's heirs, are going after their old record company...

End of the Line

This 400+ year old Red Oak tree at the end of Gordon Hill Road in New Hampton was a casualty of Sunday night's windstorm. It is now being turned into firewood.

Tech Difficulties...

I was having problems with Firefox yesterday, hence the lack of blog posts. Sorry about that!

Wednesday Music Digest

Latest in music from the Bayou State

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2009/06/allen_toussaint_headlines_twin.html

A new Spinal Tap video

http://www.nola.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/06/loyola_film_studies_professor.html

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club turns 50

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/ronnie-scotts-at-50-1695411.html

Former NRBQ manager Captain Lou Albano has a new book out

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2009/05/26/9573756.html

And it must be Wednesday...Aloha, Uncle Tom!

http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/utg_article/uncle_toms_gabbin170/

Tuesday Music Digest

An ookelele festival in Nevada

http://www.recordcourier.com/article/20090601/NEWS/906019995/1062&ParentProfile=1049

Another in a long list of great band names...Bang on a Can

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/arts/music/02bang.html

Outdoor jazz in Michigan

http://www.freep.com/article/20090602/NEWS05/906020325/1007

Preview of an upcoming Stupid Music Festival in Texas

http://www.utsa.edu/today/2009/06/tffnew.cfm

And Eddie Van Halen on avoiding beef!

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/28478547/eddie_van_halen_on_rocking_sober_avoiding_beef_and_the_future_of_van_halen

Beyond Scary Flying Story

(NASA Photo)

This is the weather the missing Air France Airbus flew into Sunday night. As Ernie Gann used to write, the thunderstorms that are generated off of the West Coast of Africa are the worst in the world.

So far, I have found the blog linked at the post title to be highly informative on this story...

Manifestivus!

Coming to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom in July, the 7th annual Sol Harvest Festivus. This year's lineup features music from Mali and Jamaica! Click on post title for more info...

June 1st Music Digest

Check out Levon Helm's latest:

http://levonhelm.com/video/electric_dirt_epk.htm

Yet another great new band name...Backyard Tire Fire

http://www.earvolution.com/2009/06/mondays-earful-backyard-tire-fire.asp

Previewing this year's Playboy Jazz Festival

http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur53629.cfm

The next generation of blues fans

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=224106&format=html

And a Pat Metheny sighting

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/story/1221607.html