James Brown, Technotronic...Wild Fun !

Wild. 'hot' music can explode beautifully in the brain. There is something powerful and super-fine about bristling wild music...especially that of the powerful James Brown and the pulsin' and compulsively rockin' music of the super coolness group, Technotronic. Listening to the immortal James Brown do the fabulous number 'I Feel Good' really made my day sizzle beautifully. Then a little later it was techno time cause I listened to 'Pump Up The Jam' by Technotronic. What great musical dynamite these artists provided. Listening to the wild music pumps up my ready soul so beautifully. What a fabulous experience!

A Big Merry Christmas To All Of You!

Merry Christmas to everyone all over the world. This is a great day in our American culture. I have so many memories of the wonders of Christmas. I remember the fantastic early mornings in our Southwest Georgia house when I was a small boy enjoying the redolent smells of my mama's cooking. The family times were marvelous when we visited with all our people. Especially tremendous were the Christmas visits to my grandmothers. I loved the times with my two truly wonderful sons. They were both so kind and I loved their strong sense of creativity! Enjoy the beauty of this happy and joyful Christmas day. Show your love and happiness to everyone. It is joyful to be a Georgian and an American and to know that I am a part of this dynamic meaningful thing that is our American culture! Again.....Merry Christmas Everyone!

'Holiday Affair' Is A Lovely Christmas Film

Last Friday night I saw a Christmas-style film that made me remember what being a kid and loving Christmas was all about. The movie was 'Holiday Affair' with Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh. The little son of Janet Leigh is named Timmy Ennis and he is played by a talented child actor named Gordon Gebert. The truly beautiful thing about this joyful film is the very shiny innocence that is so strong in this 1949 classic. The director...(Don Hartman) did a marvelous job on this one. The film's story is that of a young widow and a sales clerk and the romantic vibrations really resound in this one. The single mom (Janet Leigh) gets the fine, tough guy Robert Mitchum unemployed because of her unusual shenanigans. I don't go for too much sappy film stuff but this story has so much poignancy and intensity it magically draws the viewer into the fold. The young Janet Leigh is so beautiful and engaging in this film that my, my she is truly intoxicating. Amusing semi-romantic bits are sprinkled throughout the film with the crafty old-time actor, Wendell Corey trying to give Robert Mitchum a real run-for-the-money from the romantic standpoint. When one sees two amazing actors working like Robert Mitchum and the solid dramatic soul, Wendell Corey, then it is possible to really know what the true enjoyment of great film is all about. Many years ago my youngest son attending Georgia State University took a great class in film history and he and I watched a whole grouping of classic old-style films. It was a beautiful experience for me because it rekindled my interest in the glory days of moviedom history. My youngest son, Gary, loved films and he loved to write. He was truly a marvelous writer. He passed away after a horrible 13-month violently painful battle with Stage 4 cancer in March 2005. It spread from his esophagus throughout his body. I miss my son so much. He had a tremendous creativity and loved to write and truly loved the marvelous world of the movies so very much.

Atlanta Okinawa Kenjin-Kai Party is SUPER!

Atlanta Okinawa Kenjin-Kai had an absolutely wonderful Christmas Party tonight up in Kennesaw, Georgia. I enjoyed the party so much. The Okinawan music was tremendous giving everyone the traditional melodies of the Okinawan people and there was so much marvelous dance also. There was also terrific Taiko drum dancing. The big sounds rang out and thoroughly delighted all the adults and children in attendance. One great thing was the fact one Okinawan woman is graduating from Kennesaw State University. Her parents and family came all the way from Okinawa yesterday. That family loved all this happening very much. It was delightful to see all the joyful passion that was a part of this Atlanta Kenjin-Kai celebration. But there was a truly delightful cultural blend because the little children got a thrill when there was a great experience of the arrival of Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa Claus. It is so fantastic when the diverse cultural aspects of the Southern Americans and also the Okinawan people mesh into a fine fabric of meaningful good harmony together. It does my heart good to be a part of a truly delightful and creative multi-cultural experience. This Atlanta Kenjin-Kai Party was a tremendous delight!

Blake Shelton Has Powerful Songs

Blake Shelton is a really solid country music singer. Many times I just like only a few singers of country stuff. But Blake Shelton has a way with a song as my mama used to say. I listened to a good Blake Shelton tune today....'Who Are You When I'm Not Looking.' The song really got me...as the old-time music guys used to say. This one has a good hook. Listen To B. Shelton. Enjoy!

'The Tourist' Movie Just Rocks Out!

'The Tourist' movie really rocks. I heard a lot of stuff on this film but I wanted to give it a good viewing. I saw it and it tickled me good. I like the sort of casual nonchalance that Johnny Depp has and I confess I find Angelina Jolie very interesting. This tourist movie is full of old-style adventure story action. Many of the media acerbic wits might figure this film is mundane. But I don't see it that way. Angelina Jolie comes up with a good performance in this one and so does Johnny Depp. I enjoyed the crafty Depp's work in the fine film about Dillinger a little while back and I figure Mr. Depp has come up with good work again in this one.....'The Tourist.'

Bill Evans: Vivid Improvisatory Elegance

Poetic jazz piano performances are inspiring. One of the most eloquent jazz piano artists is the passionate man of intense creativity, Bill Evans. Some of his work on the incomparable Riverside label is so profound. A veneer of resilient passion shines in the immaculate improvisatory work of Bill Evans. A strong, favorite of mine in the Evans musical portfolio is the jazz composition with so much lyrical quality....the one called 'Waltz for Debby.' Just like other elegant jazz pianists like Bud Powell and McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans is an artist of tremendous power. His penchant for grand linear keyboard work is a marvelous joy to experience.