Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of you out there! This 2009 has been quite a year with all kinds of things happening. In a little while 2010 will be here. Somehow we now go into a new decade, and that's great. Say bye to so-so thinking let's get positive minded and enjoy our lives our music, arts and sports and of course most of all let's enjoy the spiritual. The Lord Bless Us All!

A Tribute to Otis Redding, Soul Star

On this big night of New Year's Eve and the start of a brand new decade I went back to my soul, my Georgia man's deep feeling. In other words I listened tonight once again to the huge awe-inspiring wonderful sounds of the magnificent Georgia man, the fantastic Otis Redding. When he belts out a fine song like 'Dock of the Bay' or 'Try A Little Tenderness' it is so much soul the man serves up. I feel so energized now having my music from the man of soul and blues--Mr. Otis Redding. So many grand music men have come out of Georgia like James Brown, Ray Charles and Little Richard but Otis Redding stands way up there on the great musical pedestal. The man symbolizes wowee soul!

Mr. Intensity: The Superstar Buddy Guy!

Buddy Guy can hit hard with some of the best rockin' and sockin' potent blues music one can possibly imagine. Tonight I listened to a superb rendition of 'Hound Dog' sung by the magnificent blues woman, Big Mama Thornton and the main backup guy was again I let you have it once more, the incomparable Buddy Guy. Big Mama Thornton has a tremendous blues shouter voice that makes your whole body want to get up and dance just as hard as you can. Oh...I also heard the good fella Buddy Guy doing a so-fine performance of a super tune, 'Sweet Home Chicago.' The man can bring the huge sound of Chicago to us all and really stir us up. What a fantastic guitar player and singer is Buddy Guy. Yeah, the man has lit up my evening just right!

'The Asphalt Jungle' Is Strong Film-Noir

When I see a significant classic of the Film-Noir genre it just blows me away. Last night I watched 'The Asphalt Jungle,' a fascinating film directed by the great one, John Huston. This sterling work (released in 1950) is a good primer on what good caper cinematic material should be all about. A giant heist goes off kilter and the people of the story go more and more intensely psychological on us. The skill of the writers is sensational because this is not just another simple cops and tough guys movie. The cynics might not like some aspects because in a bizarre way the mean ones seem strongly full of soul. There is a lilting kind of profound Joycean stream-of-consciousness about 'Asphalt.' The performances of Sam Jaffe, Sterling Hayden, Jean Hagen and a very young Marilyn Monroe are vividly accomplished. Marilyn Monroe is a shiny, gorgeous woman in this story. Perhaps one of the more interesting guys in the film is the elegant and sophisticated Louis Calhern, who is a brittle, many levels kind of personality in his role as a money man, a banker sort of overpowering the screen when he comes into the action. The work of the visceral Sterling Hayden has always fascinated me. And the wily Sam Jaffe is so genuine in his conniving and arresting mannerisms. Of course when one adds the supremely sophisticated Louis Calhern to this grand mix of souls then it is easy to see why the director, Mr. John Huston gets his film to work so beautifully. But the most interesting person in this classic is Sterling Hayden (who did grand work in Kubrick's 'Strangelove' later on). Sterling Hayden has a high level of dramatic intensity that is overpowering. Great film art like 'The Asphalt Jungle' is a marvelous experience for it brings more meaning and true 'real' definition into our creative lives.

Merry Christmas from a man of Georgia

Merry Christmas to everyone from here in the beautiful state of Georgia. The rains have gone and the weather is good. We are so blessed. The plan is to spend good times with our son and granddaughters today in Midtown Atlants. Good Christmas food and happy times. The Georgia and Southern tradition of Christmas is packed with strong religious feeling and family-oriented traditionalism. And that is good. The older I get the more I realize how important and vital is the meaning of family--one's blood. I remember reading the works of two favorite writers of mine, Charles Dickens and William Faulkner. The meaning of one's people is so deeply imbedded in the literary works of these two men. I remember my grandmother on my father's side and my grandmother on my mother's side. Both women taught me when I was very young to get strongly into having faith and having prayer and realizing what a beautiful and meaningful thing it is to be a man of the South. Now at this time in my life my religion fills up my soul and totally energizes me. My music and my art and films and jazz and culture delight me so much. The people in my life have given me so much meaning and definition and that is wonderful. So enjoy today everyone out there. As the song says, 'We Need a Little Christmas.' Please realize there is a man in Stone Mountain, Georgia who is trying to bring you emotional pure depth and soul in your lives. Enjoy the beautiful songs today: 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,' 'Deck the Halls,' and 'Joy to the World.' And also I remember the marvelous song that symbolizes today and my mother used to play it on the piano. Of course I am referring to the grand song, 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.' That dear song seems to symbolize for me the beauty and the joy and the magnificent culture that is today--Christmas. Bless you all!

My oldest son is my pride and joy!

My oldest son is a person I have the utmost pride in. He has always had a wonderful work ethic. Ever since he was eleven years old he has been working so hard, doing all kinds of jobs. It makes a Georgia man proud to see his son doing a great job of learning how to be a man. The great thing is the way that my oldest son has the ability to get along beautifully with other people. I remember when he was seven, I saw a teacher of his in a grocery store and she told me my son Ernie was such a wonderful student and she said many marvelous things. That made me swell up with pride as a father. Also later on at so many sporting events (especially soccer and swimming) I saw him put so much fantastic effort into what he was doing. He became a fine student in all his school work and also when he entered the business world he developed a tremendously articulate way of handling all things which I found absolutely great. Also now he and his wife have two marvelous daughters who are so delighted with the huge religious and cultural event that is Christmas. Indeed this represents a truly great time of the year and I give thanks with all my heart and soul for the powerfully great man who is my oldest son.

Christmas memories here in Georgia

Christmas is an exciting time for all of us. It has impact on each man, woman and child. I have so many memories of my two sons and seeing them grow up here in Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia. I especially recall the times when both sons were small and so thrilled with the Yuletide spirit and the wonderful trips to shopping malls and toy stores. My oldest son loved the toy department in a large Penney's store near us and my younger son loved all the sports things, especially the great memorable sports collectors items. And of course it was great to see the sons taking part in the church events like all the pageants and the singing sessions. The culture of those of us here in Georgia is enriched by so many interesting variables. It is good also that our culture has become more diverse with many more ethnic groups than was the case when I was a small child. Sports united me with my sons a lot for both of the guys loved soccer, basketball, football and softball. Also the younger son and I had so many marvelous trips to go see movies. I loved the way my sons both the older and the younger son truly enjoyed the huge magic that is the world of films. Most of all I have tried to inject lots of passion, meaning and human emotionalism into my boys. Now at this beautiful time of Christmas I confess that all the memories are overwhelming. But Christmas memories are such wonderful looks into the fascinating eyes of the human soul. The Lord bless us all during this exciting, pulsing cultural time that is LIFE here in the beautiful land of Georgia here in the U.S.A.

Hank Mobley kicks 'Soul' into Gear

Jazz artists on the Blue Note label have always been among the tops in the business. One of my favorites in this coterie of jazz fellas is the superb Tenor Saxophonist, Hank Mobley. I feel one of the best albums Hank Mobley made was the strong one called, 'Soul Station.' Listened to it again this wintry Monday and was blown away by its delightful, smokin' bluesy approach. Also the backup piano guy on this set is the man of gigantic jazz finesse, the one and only Wynton Kelly. The man knows how to make those "ivories" really sing. Also on this shiny set is the power drums soulful man, the percussion star, Art Blakey. In the stylin' of Art Blakey, the drums come resoundingly alive. My favorite bass player, Paul Chambers, does fine work in this set, too. I read somewhere that the sophisticated bassist Charlie Haden was so impressed with the work of Paul Chambers. I, too, am a person who much appreciates the sensitive and mysterious bass work Of Paul Chambers. This Hank Mobley and guys workout on 'Soul Station' is still fresh and true dynamic jazz. Very satisfying!

Earl 'Fatha' Hines: Poetic Man of the Piano

Polished classic jazz from the '4os has always been one of my large interests. I figure the timeless piano style of the great Earl 'Fatha' Hines has huge appeal. When you listen to how the man cuts into a classic blues rendition then it is a fabulous feeling, indeed. Another thing: the big band efforts of Earl 'Fatha' Hines have such a tremendous joye de vivre also. Many years ago friends all told me to listen only to the supra-modern big band of Dizzy Gillespie. I love Gillespie's work but Earl Hines has a delightful ability to find just the right notes and just the right chords. But I still believe I get into the high-flyin' work of one Mr. Dizzy Gillespie, also. In truth if you people out there give a man named Earl Hines a try you will love it, I'm sure.

The Vivid Guitar Magic of Bireli Lagrene

Those strings and Lord those sensual sounds. There is nothing quite like good, smokin' hot jazz guitar work. Late today I needed some guitar sounds so I listened to the exciting linear jazz guitar lines of the magnificent man from France, Bireli Lagrene. One tune was the classic 'Night in Tunisia.' Bireli Lagrene was joined on the performance by the sensational pair, Elvin Jones on drums and Joey Defrancesco on organ. The combined force of Lagrene, Jones and Defrancesco made 'Tunisia' really fiery. Another good cut I listened to was the fine song, 'Autumn Leaves.' This number had Bireli Lagrene playing with the poignant Roy Haynes on drums. 'Leaves' had some vivid, exciting Lagrene solo guitar improvisation. This kind of profound, truly tight small group jazz can send one off into a fascinating journey of fine listening. The style of Bireli Lagrene is intensely influenced by the lovely interpretations of the grand Django Reinhardt. Lagrene had memorable performance times also working with the bassist Jaco Pastorius. Their work in the realm of fusion is very unusual.

Remembering a superior music man

Music has always been a gigantic part of my life. When I was eleven I started playing tenor saxophone. (I had already had about four years of piano.) My teacher there in Cairo, Georgia was William T. Verran, a tough, old-style discipline man who just scared the daylights out of my young, skinny form. But one day, despite all his emphasis on technique with all the scales and arpeggios and his constant harping on trying to get a good tone, it suddenly hit me that this little old fellow with the harsh command voice really knew what he was talking about. He respected talents like Dizzy Gillespie and Harry James and Gene Krupa just as many big names as he could tell us kids about. I got in the high school band when I was thirteen. It was tough but it became a lot of fun a little later on. I realized later when I went into theater productions and extemporaneous speaking that having in my life a wonderful discipline man of music, this guy called William T. Verran was a magnificent thing. All of us in the town of Cairo Georgia nicknamed 'Billy Verran' 'Major.' He had never been an officer in the United States Army but he sure acted like one. In this season of memories I look back now on the man who really got me fascinated with the thrilling world of music and I am forever grateful to the guy who helped me appreciate folks like Dizzy Gillespie, Harry James and Gene Krupa.

Some Cairo, Georgia Christmas Memories

Christmas is coming on us fast. When I was growing up in Cairo in Southwest, Georgia my dad and mama were in the jewelry business (later my dad went into antique furniture and full blast into picture framing.) I especially remember the times at the little jewelry store in Cairo. The folks coming in were all so real, indeed there was nothing artificial or contrived about their personalities. It was invigorating to me and my parents, the wonderful Christmas season. Many Christmas Eves my folks would keep the store open even to Midnight to help the people who wanted to come and shop at the last minute. And even though we were tired we would go home and mama would make us a great snack and then she would take us into our cozy living room and play grand Christmas songs on the old piano she and daddy bought back in 1940. Two of her favorites were, 'It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas' and 'God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen.' I will always cherish the wonderful memories of Christmas with my sweet mama and my daddy. Grand memorable times, indeed.
One time when I was about eight one of my daddy's friends came by extremely late on Christmas Eve to bring the little boy (me) a bike. I hollered something like. "What's That Noise Out There?" and my daddy said something like "Hush. I think it might be Santa Claus Out There!" Then Mama kind of ushered me into the other part of the house so the Santa bit could take place. I will never forget those tender Christmas times there in the town known as Cairo deep in the Southwest Portion of the Magnificent State of Georgia. The Lord bless all of us with Christmas memories of our mamas and what we in Southwest Georgia called our Papas. indeed our 'Big Papas' as we said. May God Bless all our Mamas and Daddys in this unusual year of 2009 during the magic cultural American experience that is Christmas time!

Springsteen, Joel: A Truly Classic Duo

The other night I heard a powerhouse concert with two especially great performers. Yeah, the marvelous Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel put on a huge show just jam-packed with passionate musical excitement. When you get superstars like Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel together it really knocks fans out. What a total 'hip' experience! When Billy Joel really took off on keyboard and wailed that great song, 'New York State of Mind' well the emotion was so powerful it really overwhelmed me. Also a little later there was another magnificent number, 'Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher.' Yes, people this was one divine show. There is nothing quite like the superstar performers, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. Right On!

Blake Lively, Fred Armisen: Wowee Fun!

Great evening last night! 'Saturday Night Live' was so delightful. The very poised, attractive Blake Lively was the guest star and she lit up the place. What a fine young performer and with this appearance Blake Lively showed she can handle the complex mod culture world of comedy with no problems at all. The work of the extremely creative comic clever one, Fred Armisen was lots of fun, also. I especially got a giant kick out of Fred Armisen playing a Latino band leader. One bit had the cool, refreshing Blake Lively playing a charming Staten Island woman. So 'hip' that bit was. Indeed, the scenario on the Staten Island folks was so really 'right on.' And it got me so tickled. I also loved it when Blake Lively charmed everyone with her 'Cher-style' routine. Comedy is a grand, so integral part of our mod American culture and the dancin' happy whoopee guy known as me got such a gigantic kick out of the fun SNL people late, last eve. Thanks, Blake, Fred A. and friends.

Murray film brings modern Japan alive

Understanding the mindset of contemporary Japan is tricky. There are so many diverse variables composing the multicultural palette of Japanese society in this portion of the 21st Century. A film appeared a few years ago that managed to paint a very articulate picture of the urban scene in the land that is Nippon. This 'cool' film was 'Lost in Translation.' The work written and directed by the elegant Sofia Coppola had as stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. The communicative social interplay between the characters was interesting. The film had a comic tone and yet there was the refined subtle tone, also. This invigorating mode made the story ring true and the work did not bog down in pithy, meaningless melodrama that at times can become a constituent part of some film extravaganzas. The meandering bits through large city (Tokyo) life were entertaining. For those of us familiar with life in Japan, this film presented a lot of fun. And the good performances by the beautiful Scarlett Johansson and the sophisticated Bill Murray were a gigantic delight.

Mccoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard: Style Men

Profound, richly exciting piano jazz can be mesmerizing. A fella who really has this idea down to a science is McCoy Tyner. I listened today to an elegant composition written by the grand trumpet ace, Freddie Hubbard. The tune was 'Birdlike' and dedicated to the saxophone great one, Charlie Parker. On this set there was McCoy Tyner on piano, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. What an exciting musical unit of jazz superstars! I can be a cheerleader for this kind of fine, brash jazz music all day. It is amusing that when a person hears this kind of total musicality it so overwhelms most all other music modes one normally hears. There is a shiny, sparkling milieu to jazz that is so sleekly full of fascination for it is a set of sounds that provokes one and shows a maddening delicious life experiences panorama that really has a good edge. Jazz helps our psychic well-being and helps us to forget all the meaningless sloth types that might have come our way over the decades of our existence. It is a gigantic blessing letting the brain gorge itself on the trumpet of Freddie Hubbard, the bass of Ron Carter, the piano of McCoy Tyner and the drums of Elvin Jones.

Japanese Manga Has Lots of Sly Depth

I refreshed myself today by sampling some Japanese Manga. Specifically, the activities of Naruto, a provocative personality in rhe arena of modern Manga. The adventures of Naruto amount to a lot of almost-swashbuckling strong guy stuff. However, there is a lot more than meets the eye in the machinations of contemporary Manga souls. Naruto is a beacon, be cool all you boring nihilists. It is a good thing to have a positive beacon sometimes. It is imperative that our contemporary art forms such as slick Manga from Nippon and of course the multi-dimensional videos of our early 21st Century sphere indeed light up our varied art landscapes that we are now having. Manga is a fun brand of art and Naruto is one of the clever mainstays of this given art form.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow I will get up for another Thanksgiving. I feel thankful for all my relatives and friends. This culture of ours helps us to appreciate the sacredness of life. I am so proud of my oldest son, my daughter-in-law and my two granddaughters. Life is good. Music and art have always helped me so much. In my retirement years, especially. I miss my youngest son who passed away in 2005 because of esophageal cancer. May each of you have a very good day. Enjoy!

Claude Monet: His Paintings Enchant Us

Claude Monet is such a marvelous exponent of the precise soft-toned shimmering art that is characteristic of French impressionism. Indeed, Claude Monet went out and literally communed with nature in a most emotional and delightful way and his art shows incredible sensitive feelings that truly overwhelm us. It is his kind of art that can magically please us tremendously. Monet liked the work of the American painter, Whistler and he reportedly liked the at the time unusual concepts of another fine painter and one of his contemporaries, Edouard Manet. In numerous ways the engaging art of Edouard Manet is also very thought provoking. The vibrant forms of true nature come liltingly to life in the intense paintings of Claude Monet. It is a given as they say in geometry that Claude Monet had a sleek and refined sense of the strong metaphysical in his art and it certainly pulls us all in and provides maximum enjoyment for all the art fans of the world.

'Twilight: New Moon' is a powerhouse film

Fascinating concepts are really sparkling like wild fireflies in our American culture. It is unique that a powerhouse juggernaut film has taken off as a vital segment of our cultural film genres right now. I am referring to 'Twilight: New Moon.' The new film is really bringing in the money. People are so excited about the work of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and friends. It is interesting that so many people who sort of downplay the idea of filmdom's power suddenly are hit with the realization that with 'New Moon" then film as a strong, so potent form of our culture is indeed an overall creative force to be reckoned with. It is strong, overwhelming film that can bring in the huge crowds and indeed it happened with C. Bale and 'Dark Knight' and now Oh Lord, it sure is happening big time with the wild phenom film, "Twilight: New Moon.' Bless you Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, K. Lautner and friends.

Elvis Costello a "Rock Out' Guy

Elvis Costello ia a true excitement kind of music guy. The other night I heard him in a Palladia concert on TV. The fella is remarkable on guitar. His riffs are so wildly strong. Listen to his pumping up the joy kind of sounds makes me feel great. His tunes from many moons ago have such a pumping, rockin' big spectrum of super chords. Like another fave of mine Jon Bon Jovi, Mr. C. can sure get the job done. Bon Jovi and Costello, good folks. Oh Lord, yes this guy named Elvis Costello is a profound great musician. Yeah, Elvis Costello can "rock out."

Horace Silver: Magical Jazz Pianist

Some jazz artists always refreshed themselves. Getting new insights and trying for vivid new things. That was their forte. Horace Silver is a profound piano man, a guy who can embellish things in a magical musical manner. Today I decided to listen to a fine Horace Silver effort from '58. The jazz played there is still so dynamic and also tremendous in its appeal. On this set, Horace Silver was joined by the super Junior Cook on tenor saxophone. Indeed the highly lucid approach of Junior Cook on tenor is really much like reading John Steinbeck, in other words the big music just soars and soars. Also on this set were Louis Smith on trumpet, Gene Taylor on bass and the fine pulsating drummer Louis Hayes. My favorites tunes played here were 'Tippin' and 'The Outlaw.' For sure the fella, Louis Smith can come up with some elegant soaring oh so pivotally linear lines of improvisation. Jazz is a marvelous element of our highly varied modern American culture. Certainly, genius piano man, Horace Silver, grand trumpet guy Louis Smith and swingin' oh-such-a-good bop fella on tenor Junior Cook...well this group can serve up jazz dishes that are just as fine as good rib-eye steaks. Listen to the superb sound of Horace Silver and you will enjoy your life in a big way.

Booker T. and the MG's: 'Onion' Time

Once upon a time I just loved to dance. It was great to go to events and hear good music. I remember a fave of mine was the wild music of the smokin' hot group, Booker T. and the MG's. Wow! These guys could serve up a big prime rib sound that was so hot, so strong. A favorite tune of this classic unit was the super 'Green Onions.' It had a constant pulsing beat that was sensational. Another good one was the tune with the ascending sounds, 'Time is Tight.' Anyhow, I listened to the mighty Booker T. and the MG's late this afternoon. Lord, that fine bluesy Booker T. and the MG's big 'ole sound was so fantastic. The stuff really set you to swaying with the earthy, right-on raw and just right chords.

Lady Gaga: Soul of High Energy Music

A few minutes ago I went looking for some pick-me-up music. Wow, I found it. Listened to the shiny, wild sounds of the one and only Lady Gaga. The song was 'Bad Romance.' Lady Gaga is truly somethin' else. There are few performers who have that truly brash energy style. Indeed Lady Gaga has that style zeroed in. It is now a much better evening. Thanks Lady Gaga. Good wild music makes this soul a really happy camper.

January Jones, SNL: Grand Performances

SNL was so good last night. The wonderful January Jones of the super 'Mad Men' show was on as a guest and what a marvelous job she did. One segment featured January Jones in a take on the superior Hitch film 'Rear Window.' There was a lot of passing gas. It was hilarious. When a show has people like Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and the elegant and exciting January Jones, well...this is real "fun" time. Indeed Fred Armisen and Bill Hader and January Jones are all great entertainment biz people and really a lot of fun to watch.

DAWGS get goin' and win

Part of the overall culture in Georgia is the genre we call college football. For me one of the vital things is the concept of the University of Georgia. In other words, DAWGS, people. College football drives a lot of business. Lord, yes. The University of Georgia is a great place. My DAWGS won one yesterday, beating the bunch from Auburn, 31-24. It was a pleasure seeing more power and strength in the DAWGS team. I guess it makes a guy happy to see his bunch 'get 'er done' as Larry the Cable Guy says. The people in Athens must have had a real big time with the nice win yesterday. Lots of good music in Athens town last evening.

Joe Pass: The Wizard of Guitar

I got into giving a listen to some real elegance in jazz today. I dug the beautiful guitar sounds of Joe Pass. I have been taking guitar for some time and I have been working to get technique and tone going well. The amazing thing about Joe Pass is the fact he makes it all sound so easy. His smoothness and his long flowing guitar lines can really make a soul smile. Today, I just got delighted with Joe Pass and his version of the lovely, 'Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me.' Tremendous guitar playing is a marvelous joy for us jazz buffs to really love. It is particularly interesting that Joe Pass can also do a very fine job with good kickin' blues work.

Taylor Swift's Success Is Soaring

Taylor Swift is getting more and more famous. She is the big award woman of the moment. It is a grand music biz story. Normally I don't care but for only a few folks in country music. But the fascinating woman named Taylor Swift is so very special. Indeed, it is so cool that like other great women of song like Brenda Lee and Loretta Lynn, Taylor Swift is coming into her own. Loretta Lynn could do fine things with songs. So could Brenda Lee. Now, Taylor Swift is up high with the country music greats. For Taylor, it's grand success time. Way to go Taylor Swift!

To all people: 'Happy Veterans Day!'

Today is an important day in our culture. It is Veterans Day. I was in the Air Force during the Vietnam Era and I believe veterans and their contributions are a tremendous part of our overall culture. Young people now are just as important as older veterans who were a part of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Be kind to all those who are veterans, today. They are great people. The Lord bless our veterans.

Utamaro: A Japanese Art Individualist!

The art of Japan is amazing because of its rich variety of styles. I find it very interesting to delve into some of the more intricate Japanese esthetic artistic traditions. One man who is truly unique is the famed painter and printmaker, Utamaro Kitagawa. In my opinion the man is a powerful figure in art because of his exquisite sense of profound traditionalism and yet his rather abrasive modernism that he intellectually embraces at the same time. He started some of his truly powerful art projects when he went to the city of Edo (now Tokyo). Edo was the great urban center of its time. Finally, Utamaro stopped his working on prints for books and began making single portraits of female subjects. His art is fascinating because it captures in a poignant way the intense beauty of Japanese women. It is marvelous to contemplate the wonderful works of the man called Utamaro because in a brilliant way Utamaro brings us into the eyes of the soul and one can enjoy the great beauty that is indicative of most all things Japanese.

Good fish, Coleman Hawkins and 'Bird'

Eating good fish like grouper, bream or trout is so much fun. Tasty and so perfect. Kind of like diggin' good tenor saxophone playing. A favorite sax man of mine is the immortal tenor guy, Coleman Hawkins. It is hard to get a beautiful tone from a tenor, sometimes. But Coleman Hawkins could beautifully nail it each and every time. Listened today to an elegant number called 'Ballade' with Coleman Hawkins and the grand Charlie 'Bird' Parker on alto saxophone. Most people know Charlie 'Bird' Parker for his high-flying alto solos, but Mr. Charlie Parker could get mighty interesting with a slow composition, also. Good fish and super saxophone from Coleman Hawkins and his friend, Charlie Parker...well that's a "somethin' else" scene.

Clifford Brown: Trumpeter with Style

Great Sunday, today. Had fine shrimp and oysters for lunch. A short time ago, I relaxed and listened to some fantastic jazz trumpet. The horn man was the inspiring Clifford Brown. He was not around for long but he had a gigantic impact on bebop. His conception of jazz was so polished and his improvisatory approach had poignant freshness that was so superior in its burnished gold interpretations. I especially have always been impressed with the appealing approach Mr. Clifford Brown had with ballads. His work with another super horn person, Art Farmer, is quite super, also. The Lord bless Clifford Brown the truly great trumpet man from quite a while, ago. Clifford Brown and Art Farmer...two jazz greats, indeed!

Cameron Diaz, Jimmy Fallon: 'Cool' Duo

Cameron Diaz was so super "cool" on the Jimmy Fallon show last night. There is nothing quite like the great Cameron Diaz. She is one of my faves. Beauty, energy, style. She is a grand movie star. Jimmy Fallon did a wonderful interview job talking with Cameron about her new film, 'The Box' and also he chatted about the film Cameron has been making with Tom Cruise in Boston. A great portion of the show was in a charades segment. Cameron did a high-energy dance imitation of the great woman singing star, Shakira. What a fabulous night, the grand Wednesday. Two super "cool" people, the beautiful Cameron Diaz and the marvelous man of comedy, Jimmy Fallon.

Willem de Kooning: Dynamic Art in Action

I love the kind of art that is startling. For that reason I am particularly interested in the works of the abstract expressionists. One of my favorite people in this category is the Dutch-born American painter, Willem de Kooning. It is unique in the genius of Willem de Kooning that he broke through the rigorous confines of cubism and ventured out into a vivid sphere of the profane and the terrific aura of irony that tends to grab us and turn us into members of his esthetic fan club. The slick delicious aspect of the art of Willem de Kooning is his approach to comprehensive interpretations of the brisk mind-set that is indicative of contemporary anxiety with all of its odd manifestations. His series of paintings of women produced a lot of conversation because of the rather bizarre, violent imagery that he brought to his works. Much like the somewhat sardonic tone of the literary works of Henry Miller, the unusual excitement that is profoundly explosive in Willem de Kooning's works is truly fascinating for its "action painting" clever esthetic interpretation. Henry Miller was so sophisticated in his cleverness. And William de Kooning, also, is a man who has a strong intellectual dynamic that has a tremendous amount of strong appeal in our turbulent American world of the 21st Century.

Shakira generates wonderful, great times

This Sunday afternoon I got real musical excitement from one of the energy singers, the one and only Shakira. This performer serves up a grand, super-excitement meal of fantastic whoop-it-up sounds. Her slow numbers and certainly her high-speed tunes just put a gigantic smile on one's face. One super song occurs when she joins forces with the marvelous Carlos Santana. Having this kind of merry music on a Sunday is truly a fun thing to experience. Of course the creative musical technique of Carlos Santana is grand, also. The Lord bless Shakira, the wonderful woman from Colombia!

Happy Halloween! Burrell, Green, 'Wow!'

Happy Halloween! It is a rainy day here in my part of North Georgia. Last night was so great, cause I went to my son's birthday dinner in Midtown Atlanta. Great fun and my two granddaughters were doing the joyful dance of the night before Halloween. The fella named me was so excited I went home and listened to two fave jazz guitar men, both musical giants of the guitar so "right-on" stream of style elegance. I mean the fabulous Kenny Burrell and Grant Green. The sound of the sleek Kenny Burrell has so much classic bop conception and the man, Grant Green has the comprehensive expressive guitar lines that make him a great guy in the interpretation of blues. I really love the way Kenny Burrell and Grant Green do wonders with ballads. Love Kenny Burrell's work on the haunting, 'Lament.' The huge building of well-grounded musicality in Mr. Burrell and Mr. Green is so wonderful. This creation of fascinating sounds is what drew me to the grand world of jazz guitar a long time ago. Good sounds, smiling children, the beautiful colors of fall--all of these make us give a big shout out once more: "Happy Halloween!"

'Vertigo' loaded with 'Surreal' film 'chic'

Dangerous obsession is a difficult thing to capture on film. However, one of the genius individuals who excelled in this category is the master director himself, Alfred Hitchcock. The development of a comprehensive film experience is often achieved in a brilliant manner by the esteemed Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. An obsession film story is the sleek 1958 Hitchcock movie, 'Vertigo.' This story draws us into a saga of lost love and nerves just totally beaten up. The film brings the rather surreal streets of the mysterious San Francisco to life. Hitchcock has two people, James Stewart and Kim Novak, really in all kinds of strange cinematic adventures. In a sense, Kim Novak is still another one of the Hitchcock blondes, yet she is so much more than a meaningless caricature. She slips in and out of personalities sort of a human existential prototype gone a little off kilter. Indeed, James Syewart and Kim Novak are strongly drawn to each other, but they just cannot seem to get the trust element going. The lost love tone that floats like a weird rhapsody in this film work is certainly engaging. In some ways, George Clooney, among modern stars may some day get this kind of strong acting endeavor going. That's if George Clooney could have the exciting time of working with a master director like Alfred Hitchcock.

'The Letter' is a clever mystery classic

I watched a great classic film last night. It was 'The Letter.' What a fine artfully created work this one is! The story had a tremendous lead performance by Bette Davis and also grand work by Herbert Marshall and James Stephenson. This 1940 release was directed by the extremely creative William Wyler. The incredible William Wyler had a super career. The clever psychology of this mystery story really draws people in with its bizarre story structure showing the odd actions of the wife of a rubber plantation administrator. The wife (Bette Davis) has such an intense acting style that she is a real delight to experience. I feel that Warner Bros. people did a really grand job with this one. What a wonderful artistic delight especially is the fine work of Herbert Marshall who plays the part of Bette Davis' husband. Indeed, it is great fun to enjoy an eloquent mystery film like 'The Letter.'

Ate too much today

Excuse my error. Ate too much today. I have a clogged brain. On the last blog I said the U2show is tomorrow. It is actually today, Oct. 25. Forgive me. The old man has made an error again. I'm only human.

Fitzgerald, Davis, Eldridge, U2: Great Fun!

Jam session jazz music is so wild, a good 'ole whoop-t-do.' I listened today to a fine mainstream jazz session featuring the marvelous vocalizing of Ella Fitzgerald and many musical friends. This grand session from Holland had the great big bountiful sound of the super tenor saxophonist, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Roy 'Little Jazz' Eldridge on trumpet, smooth comping guitar work from the wise Joe Pass and Tommy Flanagan on piano and the steady stylish Keter Betts on the bass. The blending of incredible scat singing by Ella Fitzgerald along with sensual,joyous tenor machinations by Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis and highly thoughtful and provocative work by Roy Eldridge on the trumpet...well Lord, this was almost too much. This music was so powerhouse, so brash and "right on." This kind of jazz gives us all so much wonderful excitement it is kind of like U2 music. Lord, it gets us going. Now, can't wait for the big U2 Rose Bowl show, tomorrow. Cheers, everyone!

'Owl City' has a delightful 'Coolness'

Cool, soothing special music is a fun thing to me. I became aware of a musical unit called 'Owl City' and I confess that the melodic rather soft engaging sound was quite engaging. Sort of remindful of some of the old style pop culture styles of a long time back. I especially like the flowing and shiny sound of the 'Owl City' tune named 'Fireflies.' The electropop musical genre is a fun element of the current pop culture dynamic and I believe the compelling 'Owl City' sound is here to stay awhile. I hear the 'Owl City' project had its beginning in the good state of Minnesota. That fine state of Minnesota has a marvelous history. I know I have always had a lot of respect for the superb Minnesota Vikings, the powerful guys in purple.

Flanagan, Fitzgerald: Greatness in Jazz

Highly sophisticated piano jazz has such tremendous appeal. I listened to one of my very favorite keyboard men today, the great Tommy Flanagan. The man has pure joy going on when he is really cookin' with lilting linear lines of vivid improvisation. It's interesting how he can adapt himself. He gets some fabulous work done on the J.J. Johnson tune, 'Lament.' And also I truly find myself delighted with the sparkling really uptempo number, 'Raincheck.' Tommy Flanagan backed up the great Ella Fitzgerald for a long time. They made grand, intoxicating so joyous music together. The wonderfully honed phrasing of Tommy Flanagan on piano and the delightful vocal nuances developed by Ella Fitzgerald...well these sounds are what one might call the very pinnacle of jazz delight.

Led Zeppelin, Georges Rouault: Power Art!

Some times I find it rather good to expand one's musical horizons. So today with all this rain coming down I moved into some classic rock. I got into Led Zeppelin. That sound of Led Zeppelin is so strong, so radically with the program, people. Jimmy Page and the guys know just the right way to bring off some fire-hot iron-blood music. I recall getting into Jimmy Page and his associates a long time ago. It's good to sample the tough guy songs like 'Whole Lotta Love' once again. Steaming hot rock can shake up the doldrums we get from all this continual rain stuff. Led Zeppelin and studying the paintings of individuals like Georges Rouault of France,that's the kind of stuff that satisfies a person. Georges Rouault has so many works that seem to truly zoom into the inner workings of people. His artistic works focusing on clowns are especially unique. Led Zeppelin and Georges Rouault--two systems of esthetics that are so diverse and yet each concept is covered with an attractive post-modernism that truly delights one's senses.

Valentino designs: Elegant Artistry

The elegant work of the label, Valentino, continues to be a shiny inspiring light in the complex world that is modern fashion. The design work of the Valentino group's Pier Paolo Piccioli is so grand. The vivid world of artful design has strong appeal to most all segments of our contemporary culture. It is interesting that major red-carpet style-knowing souls like major celeb figures find the Valentino label just right. When people like Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow like the Valentino works then business types know they have a big success going. Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and perhaps Jennifer Aniston all seem to be pleased with the Valentino label. Therefore those of us who 'dig' the design arts as well as the other modes of expression can all have a marvelous delightful life for ourselves. The Lord bless the sophisticated and truly dramatic label that is Valentino.

Jay Leno: A Wow ! Guy of the Comic Arena

Jay Leno. What a clever, great man of the complicated celeb culture realm, Mr. Leno is! The cultural dynamics of witty, stand-up comic work are so complicated, yet Jay Leno brings all this exuberant comedy work off so beautifully. A friend of mine talked me into catching more Leno late-night work, recently. I need a straight ahead strong pick-me-up emotionally some times. Well, this man Leno provided so much good merry fun. I remember a fairly recent bit he did with another super-funny man of comedy, the fab one, Mr. Robin Williams. What a grand pair, Jay Leno and Robin Williams. Genius is super to watch. Let's all jump right into the big army of American comedy fans. The culture of the comic people is so delightfully, WILD!

Cannonball, Charlie and good 'ole Catfish

Hey, everyone! Remember, jazz cooked up by the small groups is some of the very best music going. The vicarious raw excitement of potent group jazz is so powerfully wild. A great example of this kind of concept is the work of the classic modernist on the alto saxophone, Cannonball Adderley. This rather chilly Georgia afternoon I listened to the delightful mainstay Adderley composition called 'Work Song.' It still sparkles like all great tunes of the past several decades. People realize when they hear the Cannonball Adderley organization that this is really what super contemporary jazz music is all about. Cannonball's brother, Nat Adderley, was right in there on the cornet. Wow, the Adderley brothers did such interesting work delving into a unique musical adventure, creating vivid fresh improvisation with just the right temperature of "freshness." Another stimulating aspect of the Cannonball Adderley group sound was the imaginative work of super-pro keyboard fellas. I have always been a fan of one of the so fine keyboard guys with the unit...of course I mean the mighty Joe Zawinul. The alto saxophone sound can be big and exciting when jazz greats get a hold of it. Charlie Parker knew how to make the alto sax soar into space and so did the explosively creative one, Cannonball Adderley. Two saxophone giants like the one and only Charlie Parker and of course the magnificent other guy, Cannonball Adderley, remind us jazz is a heady brew indeed, a kind of music that can truly thrill us with all of its exciting pulsating magical minutes. Good jazz makes me hungry. I figure we might fry some good 'ole catfish, tonight. Get the fries and honest to goodness scrumptious southern food going for the evening meal. Yeah!

Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson: Fine Jazz!

I love jazz sounds that have lots of enriching nuances. Tonight, I listened to the wonderful tenor saxophone work of the great Ben Webster and the marvelous piano stylings of Teddy Wilson. It was a superb musical experience. When one hears grand mainstream jazz artists like these guys it really puts a smile on one's face. The focused innovative lilting linear lines from these musicians are truly delightful. The Lord bless the elegant pair, Mr. Ben Webster and Mr. Teddy Wilson.

Conan O'Brien comic work dazzles

Good strong comedy is a much needed ingredient in our American culture. Last night's Conan O'Brien late-night tv show had a fabulous bit with a Conan session with the mayor of Newark, New Jersey. It was all a part of a running thing Conan has had with the Newark mayor. When Conan gets rolling he is so great. In the last few days he had comic bits spoofing the rain situation in the Los Angeles area. I have never laughed so hard as I did at this wonderful tv comic wizard material. It is grand that Conan O'Brien is getting steadily into highly creative television comic whoop-it-up wild stuff. I say keep it up, Mr. Conan o'Brien, you are making us folks of the American South really tickled.

Excuse me.

In the last post on Shakira and Lee Ritenour I spelled "and" as "amd." Excuse me, please. When I discussed the great Shakira etc, the ancient ticker of mine got shook, so again...please excuse me.

Shakira, Lee Ritenour: A Super 'Hip' Duo

Shakira is a vigorous musical personality. Her explosive singing amd dancing can really charm us all. In another cultural vein is the shiny jazz guitar work of the very satisfying Lee Ritenour. Each time I experience the marvelous energetic musicality of Shakira it gets me all excited like a little guy again. The one and only Shakira of South American ancestry is a fascinating human being. Then, later when one experiences the stratospheric superb jazz guitar work of Mr. Lee Ritenour on guitar...well that is so much total fun, also. Ritenour's 'Captain Fingers' is an especially enchanting tune. Good musical folks can bring us all big servings of happiness. Lord bless Shakira and Lee Ritenour.

'Mastersounds' and Peterson: 'Fine' music

There's rain in my Georgia again. Had to have a change-up. Looked for something fresh. Good solid straight ahead jazz. Found something I had not heard for a long time. The jazz group was 'The Mastersounds' a fine cadre of musicians showcasing the grand work of the Montgomery Brothers. A friend of mine had reminded me of their fine work. The sounds of their renditions were just right. A solid pick-me-up for a rainy day. It's interesting how sparkling jazz can make us all smile. Also, I got into the strong "groove" music of the elegant Oscar Peterson. Indeed the sleek engaging work of Oscar Peterson can really thrill a person. 'The Mastersounds' and Oscar Peterson make my kind of music--highly complex and yet so emotional, so poignantly right. Jazz is a segment of the American culture that is so refreshing and so incredibly fulfilling. Lord bless the greatness that is jazz.

Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra: 'Magic' Guys

More Tuesday evening fun, people. Gave a listen to a sleek, engaging and so refreshing male vocalist, Michael Buble. His 'Sway' and 'Save the Last Dance For Me' were especially satisfying interpretations. This Michael Buble has loads of talent and it is easy to see why the man has lots and lots of fans. His style reminds one of a young Frank Sinatra. Yes, Frank Sinatra was one of a kind but this new strong voice, Michael Buble can please us well, also.

Black Eyed Peas, Milt Jackson: 'Good Day'

Got some Black Eyed Peas music going tonight. High energy real strong stuff. That's their specialty. I confess. They helped out a lot. Had concerns about reports of huge rains coming here to North Georgia country tomorrow. Black Eyed Peas with their kickin' in high gear sounds are a pick-me-up. Say bye-bye to jumpiness. Lord help us with these floods, surely we dodn't need more like the last go-round. Also, I listened to some grand Milt Jackson work on the vibes. Yes, Mr. Milt Jackson can surely fix things up right. His form of jazz is so clear and brisk. Black Eyed Peas and Milt Jackson gave me a mighty good day. Happiness reigns.

Hitchcock was a Master of 'Twists'

One of my favorite people in film history is Alfred Hitchcock. His films were so full of all kinds of innovations. And the best thing was the fact of all the "twists" that Hitchcock could throw at you when he really got you in the core of the movie. His 1946 film, 'Notorious' is a huge favorite of mine. His dealing with the bizarre machinations of an espionage ring truly put the viewer into a strong cinematic experience. The 1951 work, 'Strangers on a Train' was also especially interesting with such a provocative interpretation of the mind of a villain. Two of his later works also appealed to me. Of course, I am referring to 'Marnie' and 'The Birds.' Indeed, 'The Birds' could vigorously shake up a person. And the superior work of the very clever, Tippi Hedren was marvelous in 'Marnie.' Tippi Hedren is an intense skillful person so well-schooled in the craft of acting. It is grand to have seen so many examples of unique film art and the good "twists" that Alfred Hitchcock gave us. The enjoyment of wonderfully grand film work is a delightful thing for a person to have. Nuances of shrewd film artistry can help us all to grow a bit more, intellectually.

Falcons, Red Garland and A Fine Evening

What a great day this is! I totally enjoyed the superb artistic performance our Atlanta Falcons mighty unit put on. This kind of jazzy so-right pro football is a joyful experience. Matt Ryan, Roddy White and company slammed the fellas from San Francisco real hard. Sorry, West Coast guys. Atlanta Falcons lookin' good. Yeah, the receiver Roddy White and the clever quarterback Matt Ryan can sure get it done. I celebrated! Wowee, did I sure get down...celebration time everyone. I listened to some powerful main brand piano jazz from the marvelous man, Red Garland. Good one, Paul Chambers on the bass--that was grand. Then there was the clever guy Philly Joe Jones on drums. The sparkling tune by Red Garland and friends ('Billy Boy') remains a big fave of mine. It certainly is a "groove" kind of evening here with this big Atlanta Falcons victory topped off with some shiny, delightful keyboard group jazz.

Conan, Jay, 'SNL' are super wonderful

Comedy is great for us all. Since I have got into Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno I have had one great time after another. It's good to be introspective but good old-style laughs from real comic artists like Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno are wonderful pick-me-uppers. Don't get too serious. Good humor can benefit everyone in this country. So have fun with 'SNL', Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. They can truly get us rockin' right along.

Paramore, Evanescence, 'SNL' energize us

I needed some real "pick-me-up" music today. I got into super performances by two so fine groups, Paramore and Evanescence. The hard-driving, high-energy sounds of Paramore just tickled me good. Especially excited by the mighty track, the number Paramore calls, "CrushCrushCrush." Then, please remember the great unit, Evanescence, gives a soul a huge wonderful send-up, too. The Evanescence number titled "Everybody's Fool" is mighty big satisfaction. True high energy music can get the old adrenalin going beautifully. Big sounds of great power music can prove so refreshing. Lord, so invigorating. I will keep the system going super strong this evening. Plan to catch some nice style-concept Turner Classic films and of course get into comic "whoop-t-do" headquarters...In other words I will "dig" oh yeah, 'Saturday Night Live' a little later on from now. 'Saturday Night Live' is so cool. Paramore and Evanescence have been super good for me today. Now, let's all get down with it and enjoy the evening.

Lester Young, Lauren, Jacobs: So 'Exciting'

Thought a lot today about the exciting arena that is art. Obviously, after many years a person realizes even meeting souls and talking, well even that sort of thing can be an awake mechanism. Art can develop for a human in so many ways. It's time we took art out of the locked in stuff of McCarthy's "Groves of Academe" syndrome. Today I enjoyed the amazing strong jazz playing of the magnificent and so highly influential, Lester Young. This giant of the tenor saxophone is an inspiration. His searing, highly articulate linear lines can totally overwhelm listeners. This man, Lester Young, what a superb solo innovator he is. When one really gets the brain into "diggin'" Lester Young, you can tell why so many greats like John Coltrane and others were so influenced by this guy. The sense of playing the exactly right notes in Young's style is much akin to the delightful artistic and grandly super work of superlatives galore people like the style artistry profound Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs. The works of Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs can inspire us all with their interesting aura of vivid creative flair. Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs are top-notch. It is a marvelous autumn afternoon here in the passionate country we call North Georgia and it is so good art is speaking so poignantly to all of us 21st Century souls.

Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga: Fun Times

More fun stuff. Such a beauty of a day kickin' right along. Had plenty of super times a little while ago cause I gave a listen to the big strong voice of Mariah Carey. Lots of so powerful real emotion there. Then it was on to the superb high energy singing style of the fun person, Lady Gaga. It is a good day when a fella can "dig" some pulsating grand singing souls like Mariah Carey and the unique one, Lady Gaga. It's super fine enjoying Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey. What a great musical "cool" time one can have on a bright October day. All is truly good here in Georgia land.

Thelonious Monk, Charlie Rouse: So 'Hip"

It is a perfect day here in North Georgia. Bright sunshine, beautiful leaves. Super good one today, so I got back into my innovative jazz fun life this afternoon. I listened to one of my all-time favorite men on the magic energy instrument, the piano. I am speaking of the fabulous fella, Thelonious Monk. His music is so compelling and yes energetic and full of the depth of marvelous jazz improvisation. Working with him on my listening material was his great sideman, the very fine Charlie Rouse on the good horn, of course I mean the tenor saxophone. I have always "dug" the unusual sounds of Thelonious Monk. And Charlie Rouse is such a merry musical prankster on sax. Monk and Rouse together are solo guys who can really get the "mod" music "cookin'" and so, oh my Lord, "hip." When Thelonious Monk and friends play his engaging 'Blue Monk' it just really sends me out in space. It has so much great "kick" and powerhouse style. Yes, Monk, Rouse and associates can surely get it done.

Kate Spade fashion, Jazz...What a Delight!

While shopping with my lady in an invigorating upscale shopping mall today, I noticed some really nice colorful bags some folks had and also some grand boots. Looked like good 'hip' Kate Spade designs. Unusual flair is characteristic of the super work of Kate Spade. This interesting cultural fashion tidbit reminds one of superb keyboard work by the sleek one, the fella named Brad Mehldau. Real super-fine keyboard work is thrilling. It goes back to the brilliant stylings of Oscar Peterson. Brad M. like Mr. Peterson has a delightful keyboard attack with not even a hint of banality. Jazz and Fashion really help each other out. Fashions of good folks like Oscar, Anna and of course Lauren are so fasinating. Grand art of all kinds lurks in so many forms these days.

Q-Tip, Norah Jones; 'Gossip Girls' Culture

Big energy day. Went looking for some whoopin' good time fun and latched on to listening to Q-Tip and Norah Jones. What a great combination, the fine music of Norah Jones and the Hip-Hop super one, Q-Tip. Sometimes it's a good idea to stretch out the branches on the huge American culture tree and have a blast of fun. What a singer is Norah Jones! And what a good pick-me-up high energy fella is Q-Tip. LOL fine times are coming tonight. Of course there is nothing quite like the grand verbal dervish, the mighty Conan O'Brien. That Conan O. can have me guffawing with his NJ stuff. Yes Conan O'Brien is so super. This is a good evening coming. Gossip Girls, the marvelous duo of Blake Lively and Leighton Meester are wowee grand. Blake Lively and Leighton Meester are so clever with their interesting shenanigans. The American Entertainment Culture world is a tremendous exciting ghoulash of so many fine flavors.

Lady Gaga, Madonna can sure 'Rock Out'

Lady Gaga and Madonna put on a wild, wonderful sketch on SNL last Saturday night. All of us music, arts and culture types surely "dug it." It's funny some people think us creaky nerds can't appreciate a good laugh, but my, my are they ever wrong. When I experienced the sly Lady Gaga and Madonna on my big-screen tv it had me breaking up like mad. Giant "whoop-t-do" comedy sketches are a real blast. Kind of huge scrumptious fun like an old time ice cream sundae. Lady Gaga and Madonna's "Whoopee" musical comedy is truly satisfying. It's great to have a kickin' good time on a relaxing Saturday evening.

Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel: Culture

Pop Culture is a very tricky proposition to understand in this country. Many people say we have too much celeb news and other social stuff happening. But there is a factor to remember. A huge number of people in this land have depression so if there is good entertainment news poppin' then it can be a great pick-me-up for folks' worn souls. The recent rash of Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel news items has been kind of interesting. Mr. Timberlake and Ms. Biel have lots of followers. Some say pondering these souls is meaningless stuff but then again diggin' this stuff about Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel can ignite some folks' tired lives. The melting psycho-chemicals making up Pop Culture can produce all sorts of artistic events. Look how a man like Pablo Picasso was influenced by the unusual goings-on of his time. Picasso could get it done. The same is pretty much true of the strong art soul, Mr. Salvador Dali. Dali and his bizarre style was grand. Let us enjoy the huge gumbo deliciousness of Pop Culture. We all need huge dollops of fun. That's a good thing.

Dali and Renoir can delight our brains

Great imaginative art can cool our brow as the old folks might say. Lord, that DAWGS-LSU thing. After having all kinds of emotional shaking-ups from the rugged UGA-LSU game I decided to go off on one of my art hang-ups late today. I studied a fine Renoir print of mine and got so relaxed losing myself in the rather shimmering colors. But then I dove into the explosive art wild man, Salvador Dali. He has a way of sending us regular people off into a completely different realm from that of the wee bit traditional fella, M. Renoir. Dali was quite eccentric and so "cool" and crafty. He delved into strange dream-like art works that seduced people because of their intensely fantasy-oriented flavor. His "surrealism" conception as an intrinsic factor in his painting drew many legions of fans with its somewhat odd fantasy-prone escalating edgy strength that was so prevalent in a number of his works. His strange paintings have brought many unique art enthusiasts to talking over the years. It is obvious our good friend Renoir with his delightful colors and charming people can enchant but then one must remember that the mystery man, Dali, can also fascinate people because of his sweeping so "mod" style. His works, "Persistence of Memory" and "The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus" are exciting, mind-blasting explosions of vintage art modernism that must be applauded as strongly as possible. To sum up: The Lord Bless the great Renoir but also remember the grand "surreal" man from Spain, the one and only Salvador Dali.

Hey DAWGS! Get With It!

Last night was a low one. The DAWGS had too many penalties and not much on many segments of the big tough game with LSU. The huge thing was what happened to the offense. For a number of years the teams of the Red and Black have had mighty fine offensive units. What's the deal with these current guys? Don't they have a sense of what the oldtime DAWG fellas did before they came along? The clever LSU guys shoved the DAWGS around and it made this ole DAWG mighty upset. I like to see a gridiron unit that has some real fire, knows how to make great things happen and for the Lord's sake don't collapse at the last. I know the DAWG defense was worn out but even in combat you can't let the other guys just crack the whip and steamroll you at the last few minutes of a brutal slugfest. Another thing...why do these berserk penalties just come falling down like bad North Georgia floods on the DAWGS. Current rules seem kooky, who knows maybe they were devised by a Peter Sellers 'Dr. Strangelove' unit. Hopefully in the next few days these fellas called the DAWGS will decide to play some classy football. Kind of get with it. When I was in Air Force training, the tough NCOs would chew and chew if you flubbed up. Maybe a military mindset is what these DAWGS desperately need.

The Dada Art Genre Draws Us All In

In the last few days, I have found myself again with a rather intense interest in the somewhat brash brand of art known as Dada. In its nihilist way, this early 20th Century movement kidded traditional art that was around then. Artists like the legendary Marcel Duchamp and Francis Picabia produced some fiery so colorful and sleekly bizarre works. Picabia's clever, hardnosed passionate work is particularly full of delicious esthetic mystery. Picabia work of the period of the early 1920s is quite fascinating. If one studies the boldness of the Dada genre, then one can recognize the fact that Dada was obviously a huge influence on other powerfully mysterious artistic conceptual mindsets like that of Pop Art. Duchamp and Picabia were quite innovative. Also, an interesting dimension to the mind of Duchamp is that he was quite into the playing of chess.

The Speedy 2: A.J. Green, Fred Biletnikoff

There is a fella playing for the mighty DAWGS now whose name is A.J. Green. The guy is almost unreal. His dynamite speed and uncanny "I'm gonna get open style" is so wily, and get-it-done EXPLOSIVE. This fine Wide Receiver gets all of us Real DAWGS fans going strong. When A.J. Green takes off like the proverbial rocket man he is, well it gets this Georgian remembering another exceedingly super player, the guy I saw many moons ago when he was the high-flying star at Florida State. Of course I am speaking of Fred Biletnikoff who finished up with the Seminoles and went on to gigantic stardom with the superb Oakland Raiders. It makes a man tingle with unrestrained glee when he sees the lightning speed of A.J. Green wowing 'em and zooming down the field. It is so wonderful for all Georgia DAWGS to experience A.J. Green and believe me just like the incredible Fred Biletnikoff he will soar to wonderful times of historic gridiron greatness. So let's all eat good trout, catfish, hush puppies and cheese grits and have ourselves a good think on the two fine speedsters, Mr. Green and Mr. Biletnikoff. The Culture of Southern football has been so enriched by Mr. G. and Mr. B.

Goddess Souls; Hello B. Holiday, D. Krall

Recent explosions of interest in fashions of a few decades ago and also the continuing love of vivid Art Deco designs have brought many of us to recall once again how delightful it is to tremendously enjoy the beautiful sounds of the female jazz singers. The day known as Tuesday has been so good for me because I got into listening to some fine tunes by the classic musical genius Billie Holiday. The brilliant style of the fantastic Billie Holiday can truly enchant people. When one has the max experience of hearing Holiday musical musings, it is such a marvelous feeling. One can hear in her dulcet tones all the intricate Art Deco lifestyles, the lovely imaginative fashions that capture all the merry mystery of those long ago eras. Oh, I also got into the sounds of another Fab singer, the grand Diana Krall. Yes, the woman named Diana Krall should make all strong music fans happy for her sleek and so introspective style is so burnished like wonderful gold. Great women of jazz can prove so exciting and give us a thrill of an esthetic experience.

Grits, a tomato sandwich and Miles Davis

Men who are Georgians (like me) enjoy eating some classic soulful food. When I was a young boy growing up in Cairo, a town in Southwest Georgia well, there was nothing better on a cool fall morning than getting up on a bright Saturday and having a huge helping of grits and some link sausage. My mother could make great breakfasts. But Lord, the grits made the day great. Then after a little while we'd have a whopping big lunch and the top item on the sparkling clean kitchen table happened to be two gigantic tomato sandwiches. One for Mama and one for me. Being a Southwest Georgia kid was a lot of fun. Soul living, that's what it was. Later, that night I would listen to some so fine jazz music from the one and only ace trumpet man, Mr. Miles Davis. The lively profound musical greatness of Miles Davis was so satisfying. Hello everyone! Realize Georgians like me know how to get down to it and dig the great things...grits, tomato sandwiches and Miles Davis. Those happy times, especially the tasty tomatoes, wonderful grits and big music of Miles Davis just made me a fella learning what being 'hip' truly meant.

Baldwin, Macy, Vegas; Electric Film Art

I've been thinking today about films that garner that special high-energy level of total hypnotizing emotional excitement. A real favorite in this category is the film called 'The Cooler.' This grand work from a few years back is an unusual story of the multi-level cultures that make up the shiny social infrastructure that is Las Vegas. Indeed the 'wowee' town that is Vegas is one of a kind. The vibrant atmosphere is so electric, yes Lord, Vegas is a truly magical city. Fine, creative souls are vital ingredients in 'The Cooler' and the bright colors capture the delicious palette of Vegas lifestyles. 'The Cooler" has masterful performances by two of my honest-to-goodness favorite actors, the so-cool, Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy. There is also delightful work from Maria Bello. Interesting is the bustling way the film moves right along with a pulse kind of a brash Nevada life rhythm that is so very compelling. Alec Baldwin is so vigorous and possessing of so much psychological depth that our friend, A. Baldwin kind of bowls us over, intellectually. It is so refreshing to experience intense, meaningful film artistry. Certainly William H. Macy and Alec Baldwin have lots and lots of this qualitative film ability. Vegas is a city where creative flow in a person can really come alive. Films like 'The Cooler' can help us to achieve some new dimensions and vivid depth and help us to get 'in sync' with the mysterious multi-structured world that is American culture.

Got carried away, my good people

On my last blog, oldtimer me got carried away and made an error on a label, not spelling Chicago right. I apologize to you good folks. Oh well, my point is Chicago Blues is truly fabulous. Chicago Blues is 'right on.'

Bold Chicago Blues powerhouse music

It's a great Sunday evening here in the historic state of Georgia. Sun's out and the flooding has gone for which we are thankful. Harmonicas with their bold blues music edge...well, that's what I needed today. Had to have some Chicago blues. Decided to listen to some fine, kickin' blues harmonica work from the magnificent, so exciting artist, Little Walter. The guy has the potent, Chicago blues sound wailing out so perfectly. His number called 'Juke' and another with the name 'Fast Boogie,' well Lord, the man can really rock out as the old-time scribes used to say. The man's music is so pulsating, so just right. Little Walter can enliven one's whole soul. That big sound of Chicago is so inspiring for us all.

Coltrane's rapture; Designers' joyfulness

Strong emotion sweeps madly over one when a person is confronted with the innovative jazz sounds of the one and only magnificent tenor saxophonist, Mr. John Coltrane. And when he has one of the profound men like Curtis Fuller on the trombone, then it is a heady libation of musical joy. That's what it is. Coltrane's work in the late 1950s had such vigor and yet such a poignant, poetic sweep. Coltrane knows how to really get a ballad going with just the right musical nuances. Great artists in jazz are just like the super artful people, the fine designers. Michael Kors, Diane von Furstenberg and of course Donna Karan all have that elegant sense of esthetic style and like the great Coltrane, Karan, von Furstenberg and Kors they have such a marvelous impact on the wonderful American arts scene. So many delicious aspects can electrify our inner beings. Indeed as the masterful French literary giant, Gustave Flaubert intimated, the furniture of the story is vital to the overall joyful pastiche. Good jazz ballads, grand fashion, literary wunderkins...all these exciting true personas of joy can bring enriched new dimension and meaning into the complex fabric of our lives.

Fascinating Film; Bacall and Sinatra

Film, design art and great music are the energetic levels that spice up a life. Last night I watched the old Noir film effort, 'The Big Sleep' with B. and B., in other words Bacall and Bogart. It was so strong, so good. This particular work, based on the clever work of the fine mystery writer, Mr. Raymond Chandler, is so marvelously overwhelming. The acting is superior. The set designs are great, sort of reminding one of grand NY interior design concepts happening now. Interior design is really exciting. Bacall has a wonderful total overall feminine look. Fascinating, a bit remindful of the very interesting fashion work of the grand Escada. While delving into fine film I went overboard turning on the magical musical vocal stylings of Frank Sinatra. That man, Sinatra, is so incredible. Man, yes, that sleek Sinatra tone is so wild and engaging. Sinatra, just like Bacall and Bogart, has that dimension of Genius, a thrilling power that's so meaningful. Great film, glam fashion, magnificent interior design--what exciting elements that possess the raw fulsome power to really energize one.

Big floods, DAWGS victors, Isley Brothers

My Georgia has been hit hard with massive flooding. People are working to get things better. When the severe floods come it's good to have some pick-me-ups in one's life. Today I got into some shiny old-style Gospel music and some super-fine hard driving music, especially some Wilson Pickett and some Isley Brothers, 'Shout!' That helped a lot. Let's all hope and pray the weather conditions here in the wonderful land of Georgia start improving very soon. One more thing, last Saturday night, the UGA QB, Joe Cox,did such a masterful job coming up with a big bunch of touchdowns and the guy had sleek Namath-styled passing. The DAWGs grand gridiron history lives on in the form of Mr. Cox. Culture is a good mix of so many things. Great music, the Georgia DAWGS, and all kinds of magical art are such very grand elements to put a delightful spark in one's life. Big flooding, please ease up. DAWGS continue rockin' out. Isley Brothers, what a marvelous sound that is. Isley Brothers, Wow!

Stan Kenton's wild music rocks the house

Hard-driving. beautiful and so magical Big Band jazz, that's what the Stan Kenton vital musical excitement truly is. When the fella takes off on the beautiful keyboard sounds and the the fella on flute kicks in with his vibrant, persuasive unusual solo, well it's the classic Kenton number, 'The Peanut Vendor' and it shines Good Lord this flashing pulsating music does shine like something made by Cartier. A beautiful powerhouse brass section and harmonically engaging saxes work on this very fine 'Peanut' number also. The sleek mysterious brew Mr. Kenton starts up with another big number--'Artistry in Rhythm'--also gives a huge, satisfying wallop of a sensual, Big Band jazz massive sensual rapture. Stan Kenton is one fantastic leader. Well. there is no doubt Stan Kenton will make folks who love superior jazz feel a whole lot better. With all the nerve-wracking heavy flooding in the Metro Atlanta area today it is really good to start digging great music men like the one and only Stan Kenton, one oh so grand musical wizard if there ever was one.

JapanFest '09 was so super 'Cool'

I am tired this evening. Thoughts of Japan are in my soul tonight. Believe me JapanFest 2009 here in Metro Atlanta was such super fun. Things of Japan are so 'Cool.' So good seeing people from all over the big South having a really great time. The little children looked great, the young and old had a lot of style. Well, it was a mighty fine experience, this JapanFest. Wonderful this chance to truly dig the fascinating culture that is that of Japan. Now to relax this evening while watching a fresh episode of 'Mad Men."

Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophone giant

Today, I got into listening to some rather different jazz music. By that, I mean I got into really digging the strong jazz music of the quite innovative, Mr. Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone. I know the bari sax is quite hard to play, cause when I was a student many moons ago a close friend played the baritone saxophone and did a truly fantastic job. The guy went on to grand things getting some very high posts in university academic circles. When I truly got my noggin' into getting right in there with Mr. Mulligan's shiny jazz solos today, well Lord it was a gigantic good feeling. Listen to the super work on that big horn, the baritone saxophone and you'll find yourself having some good 'ole whoop it up musical funtime.

Mr. Rains, Mr. Bogart and Classic Film Art

Film art can be fantastically full of powerhouse brain excitement. Last evening I watched a marvelous performance by the wonderful Mr. Claude Rains. The excellent sort of short fellow is such an interesting actor. Rains has so much depth. The film last evening had him working with another true superhero, the one and only Mr. Humphrey Bogart. Lord what a man, that Bogart. What consummate professionals these fellas are. It is a whole lot of fun delving into superior film expertise because just like the magical art of Chagall, Mondrian and Warhol it surely gets one's brain neurons electrically popping so well. Oh and even later last good night, yours truly got so tickled watching the engaging and so clever work of the magnificent genius, the one and only Robin Williams. What a fascinating super trip this guy is! All these grand images can be so much fun. I believe it was the marvelous Italian film director, Michelangelo Antonioni, whose work had such panoramic poignancy with his skillful use of images. Oh those grand images for a person's brain. They can help one out so much. Enjoy film, art and of course jazz and blues today. Put some magnificent jumpin' joy into your life's experiences.

Exciting JapanFest is Saturday, Sunday

JapanFest starts up this Saturday morning. The big event will be Saturday, 9-19 and Sunday, 9-20 at the Gwinnett Convention Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway. All kinds of super cultural experiences, great dance performances, martial arts and many fun things for the whole family to enjoy. It is grand for the good people of the South to get this marvelous look into the unusual culture of the people of Japan.

Provocative Fashion, super Piano people

Interesting how so many cultural bits are kind of wrapped together. Rather like a delicious somewhat sophisticated recipe. Fashions of design great ones like Jacobs and Lui sort of remind one of sparkling, mystery-laden good piano or perhaps I should say the mod term, keyboard artists whose works sort of engulf one. What I'm coming around to is the fact many sets of grand vibes were going in the old cranium today. Kickin' good styles from mainstream jazz, tickle the ivories guys like Teddy Wilson, Duke Ellington, Billy Taylor and Earl Hines. I was giving a listen to these fellas and well it was such a happy, exuberant sounds trip. It rained like crazy late today but it didn't bug me cause I was chillin' and diggin' the pianos. Yeah, the big jazz piano folks can put a lot of great get up and go in your system. Hey, folks and imaginative fashions are all ingredients of a big, vibrant life. True stuff... this thing we call life is a grand musical gift.

Patrick Swayze, film good soul passes

It's hard to believe the wonderful actor, Mr. Patrick Swayze has passed away. He brought us many fine film performances. His artful work was a grand accomplishment. Let's all remember the very good man. The film world and yes all of us will miss him.

Hey People! Shelly Manne, Comedy Rocks

Jazz people with super abilities regarding the beat are a great experience. Shelly Manne is one of the fantastic folks. He is one of my all-time favorite drummers. The guy gets into a compelling shrewd sense of rhythm that tickles the fancies of one's brain. Today I was so busy but I had myself a downhome lunch...some meat loaf, mashed potatoes and okra and tomatoes. Man, good meat loaf hits the spot as my daddy used to say. Well, Lord it was so satisfying. Then I finally got to my place and started digging the sounds of Shelly Manne on drums along with fine sidemen like Conte Candoli on trumpet and Richie Kamuca, one fine tenor saxophone man. What a great overwhelming happy time for yours truly, the lean guy's brain. Comedy rocks. Love my comedy. Gonna have me a good time diggin' the marvelous one, Mr. Jay Leno tonight and then Lord all's goin' to be so terrific, so right with the world.

Atlanta fashion's groovin' SWING

Cavorting around all over Atlanta neighborhoods can be a whole lot of fun. In this beautiful time of the year one of the real good times is watching the very fetching sophisticated new fashions showing up. There is nothing quite like having some grand fun experiences enjoying the spots in Atlanta's Buckhead and Midtown places especially. Good seafood, really creatively offered steaks and listening to some elegant jazz sounds from singers like Mr. Frank Sinatra and Mr. Tony Bennett are so appetizing during this shiny, so sparkling season of the year. The so heady and fantastic delightfulness of invigorating Atlanta fashion good time scenes can be so packed full of fun. This vivacious urban big wonderland called Atlanta is still swinging, just like the scat singing of the immortal, Ella F.

Wow! Dawgs win and Mr. James Brown

A huge Georgia DAWGS soul like me sure had a big time last night. The DAWGS faced a truly tough South Carolina unit. It was rough but somehow the hard-working DAWGS hung in there and got themselves a win. Lord, it was a close one. The game kept jumpin' back and forth like big jazz gettin' me going. But ah, sweet victory for the good DAWGS. Lots of mental excitement for me so I kind of got into listening to some big boss James Brown joltin' music, that 'Got You.' Man, those soulful, pulsin' high-speed, great raw, blue notes coupled with some super-grand looping, piano runs from the incredible imaginative man of jazz, Mr. Oscar Peterson...Well, bless me that makes an excellent scene for one to get motorized in. It's interesting how so many unique ingredients are bubbling around in our grand whoop it up recipe that is the real southern culture. We got all kinds of happy feelings going. Mighty DAWGS, James Brown, cracklin' strong as the dickens powerhouse jazz and ever fascinating super-grand fashions. The folks of Metro Atlanta and Athens and all of Georgia know how to get the good things going. Oh, please go strong. Listen to huge music fellas like James Brown, Oscar Peterson,Otis Redding and the like. It's the start of another great September week so kick things into gear and take off for greatness everybody.

Reminder: JapanFest blossoms 9-19, 9-20

JapanFest will start up here in metro Atlanta next weekend. Remember, the days are Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20. The grand two-day event will be at the Gwinnett Convention Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway. Japan has a long beautiful cultural history that embraces so many art forms. Lots of super dance performances showing the wide spectrum of styles from both Japan's main island of Honshu and the famed island of Okinawa will be given. Since a lot of us enjoy the interesting flavors of food from Japan, rest assured there will be lots of that delicious cooking also. People will also enjoy the martial arts demonstrations and the cultural activities. Get ready for Japan fun next weekend.

DAWGS, BLUES, make a mighty fine day

This Saturday afternoon is kind of cool, just right for getting revved up for some football fun with the famed Georgia DAWGS. Hope the fellas get some good, hardhitting stuff going on with the men from South Carolina. When the DAWGS first got really kickin' into gear back in the topsy-turvy early '60s, the most gigantic appeal of the guys' play was that bruising brand of defense. Hope they get that big kind of stuff going today. I got me some good sirloin going, fixing up my soul to cheer on the good fellas from the grand historic Georgia town of Athens. I sort of started my day up real high octane style this Saturday. The thing was I got to listening to some fine tough guy whoop it up blues music today. Yes, people I was catching on to the power styling sounds of Muddy Waters singing about that 'mojo.' Buddy, I guarantee you if you give a good hard listen to that smokin' terrific big BLUES music it will give you and your bones a mighty satisfying thrill. Let's give a big shout out on this Saturday for the wonderful feelin' of good, whoopee engulfing BLUES and also the mighty big joy that is the saga of some good guys, the DAWGS.

Wassily Kandinsky, an art superman

When I was younger, I took off on an interest in abstract art. I just loved the unusual material. I never will forget the first time I saw the work of one of my real heroic artists. Yes, the colors generated by Mr. Wassily Kandinsky truly bounced all over. Indeed, the action was very powerhouse in its electrifying bright colored tones. Kandinsky left the regular mode of representational painting behind. He was one of the first far out greats. It is still a huge joy to "dig" his work.

BB King review

I listened today to some fine sounds by BB King, the blues master. The man has that giant wild side voice that really draws the happy fans into his fold. Plus, like many super performers he has the great art of being a strong instrumentalist down pat. This powerful blues man of the Deep South is something else. What a super day it is to start with the smokin' blues of BB King, the blues master.

Japan Fest arrives 9-19, 9-20

All people in the metro atlanta area who love Japanese things are excited right now. Japan Fest is coming again to the Gwinnett Convention Center on September 19 and 20. All sorts of dance performances and good cultural activities are planned. Enjoy all the fine things of all Japan and of course Okinawa will be there. Japan smile times soon.

Rockin' good food art fun rockets in

Good warm day kicking in here. I was thinking about a fun subject of mine...the merry world of food. The artful display of fine naturally, tasty stuff like arugula, basil and roma tomato goodies can be so zinging, so cleverly right. A lucky soul am I cause the exuberant city of Atlanta and the N. Georgia scene has such a grand spectrum of super fab restaurants ranging from the fantastically delightful upscale to the vital and soulful downhome food art this grand place called the Deep South is all about. One time a long time ago I went to a Vietnam style place and its beguiling elegance was so smooth, indeed so calming. In a grand way, it reminded me of my times in Okinawa. Go out there, you happy groups of men and women. Latch on to flavor-filled salads, good red tomatoes, sleek seafood and of course the good old food art standbys of the powerful southern people, the great steaks and the wild burgers. I plan to get me some fun today studying the imaginative work of one S. Dali and also I plan to listen to good heady gospel and high energy jazz. Maybe get into some of that fine genius of the trumpet, Mr. Miles Davis. Eat real good all you art and great music fans out there.

Those groovin' lions of the word biz

Good writing is like sensational blues and jazz music. It enriches one's inner soul. A fun thing for me is to get into reading the shiny word artists like the groovin' Mr. Elmore Leonard and of course the bit of a powerful introspective one, Mr. Philip Roth. When I was a younger guy I went a little madly wild over the chuggin' along smooth prose art of Ernest Hemingway. About the same time I got into reading the elegant conversational work of John O'Hara. All these people are much like the zesty musical individualists. They got the real fire of fine art going. That means a lot just like the mystery art of Dali and Warhol. Reading Leonard now and enjoying the modal finesse notes of Milt Jackson on vibes...That is a delicious fun kind of cultural recipe, for sure. Getting in the track race with these literary lions...that's a good thing.

Bless the enormous Tenor Saxophone

I play saxophone, specializing in the big tenor. Also I manage some keyboard stuff and now I am trying my hardest at playing guitar. A long time ago, my teacher on the tenor saxophone kept harping on the importance of "tone." Later, I found out the crusty old guy knew what he was talking about. This afternoon, I got into listening to some of the extraordinary '64 stuff of Mr. Dexter Gordon who really knows how to put together some remarkable pulsing, huge saxophone grand sounds. Diggin' some pulsating, pumping good linear lines from D. Gordon has made my afternoon so wildly fresh and energetic and so dynamic. Lord bless the tenor saxophone great ones.

Johnson, Perkins, Lichtenstein... Wow!

Have Blues parties, you know super, get-togethers today. It is a fine one, this thing we all call Labor Day and Lord, it's here again, the 2009 model. Get yourself going just like me. This morning I listened to some style-loaded good southern men, the super, compelling wide-ranging sounds of the genius duo. First of all, I got into Robert Johnson, a smooth operator and then it was time for a vigorously vivid piano man, the guy called Pinetop Perkins. What a magnificent boogie-woogie keyboard fella Mr. Perkins is. All of you people, hello...? Yeah, get out there and purchase some great, joltin' big Blues and hard-drivin' jazz of every possible kind. Your brain will surely thank you. I noodled around some and got into loving the fascinating, grand colors of the elegant POP Art man, Roy Lichtenstein. His giant kind of bang, bang power art is so massively full of all the exquisite good feelings of the happy minds of the surely good times men and women of our fine working folks' country, the U.S.A. Lichtenstein and Warhol and Pinetop Perkins and Robert Johnson. What a grand bromide of joyful, gigantic joy. Fill me up, R.L. Stevenson. Put a whole lot of exciting lifetime experiences in my being, Dr. Jekyll. I remembered the time I went out and got some lovely Japanese art one day. I got extremely interesting Hiroshige prints and this clever glimmer of historic Nippon added so much flavor to my eager on a strong, intellectual quest soul. Indeed, get out there get all brands of art. For Lord, good art can put some really revved up 'hot' style in your home place. Sing a loud song of big triumph. God Bless the workin' folks all over our land. Listen to grand keyboards, guitars, super big Blues Shouters and as Jack K. might say, find a road ripping right on to the huge clouds of joy right here on this good Georgia and grand boppin' U.S.A. earth.

Labor Day, Chagall, Monet and Renoir

All sorts of brain waves are poppin' today. First, Labor Day is here again, coming on early in the morning. It brings a flood of memories cause it makes me remember what it is to be a southern man and to respect the work ethic. It is so good and real and most of all I recall what my grandfather said about respecting the value of working hard and Lord as a man of the Depression he sure knew what this wild thing called life truly means. Went to church today, a grand place in fine university environs. Heard a superior, soprano solo. The woman was so beautifully great. Thought about how marvelous our music can be with all its very intricate layers of gorgeous sounds, at times gospel, a bit of blue notes and a terrific zesty modernism that suddenly shows up giving us the vibrant surprise. The church had communion today and one old man had trouble walking but fantastically he hung in there and in his own way he was there for all to see...a symbolic representation of southern soul. After lunch I got into some art fun cause I looked over some of the imaginative works of Monet, Renoir and even the elegant perhaps a bit of a mystery persona, the vital one of intrigue, Mr. Marc Chagall. The brain is driving fast now kind of like welcome to good 'ole NASCAR, buddy. Yesterday, the DAWGS had problems but oh well. Hope things get better soon. Indeed, there is nothing quite like Labor Day, a good day for thinking over life's treasures. Those excellent vibes that flow into us from art, film, jazz, blues and culture can fill our big glass up just right. Get some good times today, people.

Of chicken, burgers and the sleek Pollock

I had a giant sized lunch today. Too much of what us southern guys might consider delicious ambrosia. In other words, chicken. Goodness gracious, I love chicken, but then again I go for the old powerhouse tradition, the hamburger, also. I enjoyed looking over some rather engaging strong, sensual art late today. I got into some unique Jackson Pollock from the early 1940s. That time frame is a sterling one for we people who dig all sorts of artistic endeavor. Certainly, the stylish work of Bogart and Bacall(two more magical denizens of that era) provides us with good, creative energy fun. The meal will be light tonight. Need some spartan mind-set, right?

Big Saturday, DAWGS, muscle cars

Today is a fine Saturday here in the bustling good work ethic state of Georgia and the great scott (hi l. scott, huge hero in the florida game) marvelous deal is UGA football fires up fresh and filled up with joltin' joy today. The DAWGS scrap with the fellas from Oklahoma State. Looking forward to the work of the sleek receiver, A.J. Green. Tell you people something, Mr. R. has done a great job since leaving Bowden's gridiron combat hq down in north Florida. Lord knows I did so many errands early today but while I was driving my blue, ancient vehicle I was listening to the full, pulsating sensational tones of one of the real blues masters, of course the truly big soul, the one and only Mr. Lightnin' Hopkins. Hearing the man sing about his "big car" and all of its raw, soulful style was such a blast of a total trip as the young men say. Kind of like watching the huge powerhouse of hardnosed good gridiron men like the clever DAWGS that we all get our feisty motors going with. It is such a popping, energetic Saturday. The neighborhood kids are riding their bikes and hollering. This bright big arena of a world here in the Deep South is cram full of huge resounding vitality. Get it on big smokin' jazz and blues wild and wily people. Today is a great time to relish good tailgatin' and what we Georgia guys call the huge one. In other words, I'm saying. the 'good life.'

Grand art of Okinawa, Hopper, Warhol

A little special recipe of sweet culture shock produces delightful electric thrusts in one's brain waves. I used to enjoy seeing the old masters paintings in the museums but then a little later in my life I found myself jumping for joy kind of like listening to early Basie. My joy came about because I got in the know about very brilliantly simplistic artists like the strange genius, the soul known as Edward Hopper. His works possess a sensitive tone that are infused with the vigorous machinations of a very sleek sense of mystery. Then of course there is the clever iconoclast of American art the man named Andy Warhol. Just studying one of his rather regular guy kind of art works can of course refresh the human mind. Culture is such a blend of crafty ideas as well as incredibly depth-filled hours of just looking at all the wondrous stuff. Once in a while I go off into the massive ocean that is the culture of the Japanese. It is so fantastic when one experiences the thrill of seeing the folk dances of Nippon. Of course a huge favorite is seeing the tremendous cultural delights of the Ryukyuan people, those dances are so unusual and full of human interest. It is great this sleek pastiche of grand works coming from Okinawa, in other words the main island of the Ryukyuan archipelago. This fine island is now part of Japan. What a glorious cocktail it is, this grand modern libation that is contemporary culture.

Magnificent, this great time of fall

Right now in my Georgia stompin' grounds the leaves have got so much gold, green brown and a bit of red. A huge cornucopia of all kinds of delicious naturalism. Setting all pistons firing is the fact big football Georgia style is about to spring forth. I got so many memories of the wild games. Never will forget the power running all systems go and the intense gladiator-style defensive units. Listened to some truly steamin' good blues style licks by the great one today. I'm speaking of Mr. Stevie Ray Vaughan. What a man for getting all the right sounds and truly punching it home.It is not too scalding hot today. It's great the big artistic bonanza that is fall has now come upon us. How invigorating is this scenario they call the time of early September.

Some gorgeous, super-happy people

Two beautiful people. That was the grand elegance of the ladies of marvelous acting ability, the fine ones with great flair, of course the enchanting, energetic Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate. When they worked together in "Sweetest thing' wowee it was such a super delight. The supercharged duo with great hair, they were moving the film enthusiasts of the good old world to new positive delights. Like walking through Nieman stores for a long time. Happy memories just like good Art Blakey drum solos...they energize one's life and like a joyous artist suddenly one has a superior palette of colors to employ in the construction of one's life painting.

Film comedies smack us with max 'Cool'

One of my favorite film people is the witty director, Mel Brooks. The first time I saw his mod western tale, 'Saddles' it blew me away. The zing of his tight, stinging urban comic films is so tantalizing. But truly my favorite Brooks work is the intense, rather incongruous, bizarre 'Young Frankenstein.' The delightful wily, Mr. Wilder is such a bloomin' huge joltin' laugh fest in this thing. It is a true statement we all need a lot more humor. Grand, zinging and so fulfilling film comedy can surely help smooth out the rough edges in our brains.

September in Georgia's passionate land

September is a magnificent time in Georgia. The lush green of the giant pine trees, the flowers showing up in this tender autumn, well all of that is so good and doggone strong. When I was a little kid growing up in south Georgia, even though I was a "townie" I enjoyed going out in the country and seeing the crops and all the good things that make Georgia a good full of fine flavor place. One grand memory was being in town on Saturday and hearing some old guys playing harmonica or harp as the sleek pundits say. Later on in life I got heavily into listening to blues masters, like the sizzlin' Sonny Boy Williamson II. Lord, how he could play that harmonica. The way his sound resonated and entranced a soul was so immensely powerful. Such a profound dose of art. Again I say, Lord what a great musical time this is here in September in the history-laden state of Georgia.

Renoir, Calder and intricate, fine music

Today the art juggernaut has gripped me again. I studied two marvelous prints I have in my place. One is a great soft shimmering work of the man named Renoir. The other is a clever, mysterious kind of piece. It is an A. Calder of the 60's, I believe. Eating good peach ice cream and staring and really studying these works of art with their intricate machinations is a profound experience sort of like reading a great book from the wonderful man from South Carolina, Mr. Pat Conroy. Art, good books and jazz and blues are marvelous for the human mind.

Atlanta, UGA, Sinatra, Fashion, Good Life

Today, the one known as me got back into the jazz life's somewhat mainstream. I got really happy listening to the beautiful chords of the great tenor saxophone men, the immortal John Coltrane and Stan Getz, the ballad master musical painter. The sexy, sleek magnifico tenor sounds were so wrapped up in a pulsing, pleasing passionate package that it was a walk on the great side, a monumental trip into the delicious world of musical art. Also, I got into listening to the timeless fascinating totality of sound that is the elegant artist Mr. Sinatra of the famed whoop it so high NYC area and of course a conveyor of good times just about all over this big land. Also, it hit me how cool and at times scalding hot music can so heavily influence the fashion world. It is amazing how many times, the power folks in the design world came up with joltin' just right clothing looks because of the highly influential conundrum that is the sparkling set of musical libations coming from the total tonic musical magic that is blues, jazz, gospel and the like. When I was a young guy I got a kick watching the wistful quickly changing bright colors of good fashion over at the University of Georgia, but then later when I came to the wowee land of metro Atlanta I was also knocked out by the great total look fashions of this so cool, boppin' and invigorating place. Let's all have super good times today. To paraphrase old Rabelais, enjoy man, enjoy.

Dancin' and prancin' good 'ole Athens

Once upon a time there was a good 'ole town called Athens, Georgia. So many blips of time ago (when I was there in the early and mid 1960s) there was a ferocious yet innocent sleek ambiance about the nice so kickingly good town. Going to the big ga. dawgs games were really something else. I had a class with a sensational defensive player named George Patton. The man named Patton had true style. He was one of the first guys coached by a defensive footballin' genius named Erk Russell. This joyous town knew what fun was all about. The games with their bright-colored outfitted men and women in the old stands...well they were a real lark. But Lord after the gridiron battles the sounds of the wild would surely come forth. The boogeyin' down at places like the grand Allen's on the historic street known as Prince was something fierce and right on to see. Nothing like those doggone bright green madras coats, the girls in the a-line fashions and of course the tons of weejun shoes. The main kind of music then was a brilliant whoop it up tonic of tough, strutting blues. Nothing like good Georgia memories. For a long time, they'll stick right there with you.

Powerhouse piano, glory gospel, shiny jazz

Big pulsating chords coming from a good piano soul...well they're so powerful so stirring, getting your heart smiling like you were a little kid again. It is interesting if you really get yourself into it, how the sleek overwhelming drive of so much good piano jazz is so incredibly gospel-based. Last night I was digging the punctuating lusty sounds of one fine keyboard man, the wise one named Junior Mance. He was backed by the marvelous Ron Carter on the bass and Mickey Roker on drums. The sound was so provocative, so kickin' and truly right. The sound of strong gospel pops up in the straight ahead classic work of moderns also like the powerhouse himself, the famed Art Blakey on drums. His gospel is that of a man who knows how to fire the musical strongman cars up really smokin' and sensually vivid. When a soul hears Blakey on the drums along with the soaring master, Mr. Freddie Hubbard on the trumpet and the total sax man Mr. Wayne Shorter on his bossman tenor then buddy all is so right on with this great big wild man music world of ours. Atlanta has so many good sounds and one fine thing is the fact men and women of the south know how to really get it together in their enjoyment of true strong music with its overtones of blues and big gospel and the mesmerizing sphere that is the song of the wild, yes man I'm speaking of jazz.

That 'ole Georgia raw Atlanta sound

A long time ago I went to the University of Georgia in Athens. I went so wild over the music there because there was some great stuff. Some guys were already talking about the Atlanta sound, a kind of raw hot, sizzling brand of music that would get in you and turn you into a firebrand of a dancer even if you figured you were not. Lord, the first time I heard a live show by the late great James Brown, well my, my it was so raw so right. It made the merry town of Athens get up and dance like the good wild folks of north Georgia know how to do. I loved the big tough guy sound but most of all it hit me one day that this place Georgia was so packed full of tone and superior music history. Well anyway it made me swell up with total pride. The thunderous raging violent beat, the cascading downright stompin' blue chords. well the magnitude of that good, 'ole awesome sound could make a grown man bawl. So many of us when we went across the pond still remembered the smokin' strutting soul of the great music guys of this good dawgstate, this place we call Georgia. I got into the word business because I wanted to try to capture some of these strong musical magic times and put some words together and try hard to tell how much this powerful music really means. Memories of wild music stick deep inside the soul for a lifetime.

The bliss of exciting piano jazz art

The keyboard sound is so exciting and filled with tremendous energy. A few nights ago I listened to some old King Cole Trio (some people don't realize Nat King Cole was also a fantastic piano man) and also some totally fascinating keyboard jazz from the great man from Canada, Oscar Peterson. This kind of brashness and sleek almost ultra-percussive stylin' is just a wild and wooley cool breeze if there ever was one. Kind of reminds me of the happy dipsy times long ago when I was in my teen years playing with a group. Two guitar buddies played some sizzling licks with the hardnosed impishness that basically strong vivid south Georgian fellas know how to do. Then when I heard Mr. Cole and Mr. Peterson the other night it just brought so many tons of wonderful memories. A friend once said I said the words oh my goodness and wonderful too many times but really sometimes those regular words tell the truly real story better than all the usual claptrap or mundane psycho babble. The boundless energy of good music helps so many of us. One friend of mine digs country sounds like those of Mr. Haggard and Mr. Cash. I try to stretch my brain capacity as much as possible because it feels so slick, yes indeed. So good. I read the brilliant prose of great wordsmiths like Elmore Leonard and V. Nabokov because they always have a tendency to remind me of the importance of tone. Yeah, it's not what you say cause sometimes it all comes back to the sound the human has. In other words what kind of vigorous jazz chorus are you creating. The weather is cool tonight and I am full of bliss knowing things are so good.