Passionate Art Injects Thrills in Us All

Paintings are a wonderful release, a means of gaining so much true joy. I learned the news that my cousin had some of his paintings in an art show down in Bainbridge, Georgia this week. Bainbridge is a beautiful Georgia community. I am so proud of this great guy, my cousin, because I also found out he got a third place ribbon in this show. Exquisite is the best word to explain the thrill of meaningful art. Whether you love the timeless work of art giants like Whistler, Chagall, Grandma Moses, Rothko, Picasso, Gottlieb, Warhol or the magnificent Robert Rauschenberg...no matter; the most important detail to remember is ask yourself what brings you happiness and then as an Air Force buddy of mine used to say "go for it." I have been meditating a lot lately. I am enthralled with the gigantic lyrical work of the great Deepak Chopra when he talks about releasing the boundaries of the soul. Yes all of us have a crying need to jump over the inane, indeed crass intellectual boundaries we place on ourselves. The true joy of grand, powerful art is the way it can get us to truly soar over the mundane aspects that might be trying to stifle our great emotionalism. We have to do as my great cousin, the marvelous Ed White of Bainbridge did and we can show our talent as artists and thinkers who love the joy of life. Lord, let us all give a giant shoutout for the world of art, yes the great ones like Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, Picasso and Chagall.

Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler: Fun Times

Last Saturday was fun. There are times I like to have "no-think" experiences. That's what happened to me on Saturday, because it was a "whoop-it-up" Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston event. I saw the new film called, 'The Bounty Hunter.' It was a real wild and so funny kind of film. I got a kick out of all the raw, comic shenanigans. The idea of the high-voltage Gerard Butler chasing the chic Jennifer Aniston (Butler's ex-wife in the story) was a shiny, hilarious yarn as the old pundits might put it. There is no question: Jennifer Aniston has gigantic star power. She lights everything up and she looks good all the time. Her appeal is strong, indeed she kind of reminds me of the clever Natalie Wood. And the great Scot, Gerard Butler, has an engaging film charm that reminds one of another merry Scot, the one and only Sean Connery. Aniston is a reporter in the story and having had many experiences in the media business I can attest to the fact the engaging personality of Ms. Jennifer really brings her character to life in a buoyant zesty way. Also, the wily Gerard Butler as an ex-cop gone bounty hunter is a super trip, yes indeed! It is a good thing to see a wacky joyful film like 'Bounty Hunter' sometimes. It can make your day leave a real good taste. A fun time, ladies and gentlemen.

Nicholas Payton Kicks in Raw Power

Nicholas Payton, Nicholas Payton! Lord, the man is one super fantastic trumpet player. The guy knows how to make his horn really bring down the house. Gigantic, innovative and full of superior thinking man's jazz. That's what this guy's style does to us. His musical thinking is so remarkable. You listen and right away you feel ten thousand times better. I listened to an exciting Nicolas Payton and friends performance of the legendary Milt Jackson composition, 'Bags Groove' today. The straight ahead raw power of the jazz was so feisty and Lord so profound. I love the musical art of Milt Jackson, too. In so many ways the great guy of the vibes has such deep classic passion and acerbic intellectualism that I admit the palette of overall sounds truly enraptures me. The great music of Milt Jackson and the MJQ just made me so happy when I was a young guy cutting my teeth on the exciting music that is jazz. The interesting element of greatness that is found in the fascinating music of Nicholas Payton is the fact there appears to be an engaging sense of romanticism in his highly developed improvisatory lines. Yet, there is also in Payton's work a visceral raw and right-on emotionalism. This makes for a fine recipe of jazz happiness, indeed!

James Cagney rough guy stuff is so clever

Nothing quite like an old-style gangster film. Nothing quite like the brilliant acting of a clever genius named James Cagney. The truth is James Cagney filled a screen with his tough, edgy brand of style and he connected with his audience in a profound way. The other evening I watched a superior release called 'White Heat.' This wild film had jolting excitement and also there were imaginative performances by Virginia Mayo and the crafty Edmond O'Brien. In my way of thinking when you watch a strong performance from staunch individualists like Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien and James Cagney then it means a sphere a long way past the arcane world of LOL and that all is well with the wondrous world of all us film buffs. In 'White Heat' the shrewd James Cagney takes on the role of a psychopath who has developed a huge mother complex. The psycho-social dimensions Jimmy C. injects into this particular film really snare us and bring us sweepingly into the multifaceted diamond that is this given story, indeed this film can hypnotize us in its own special way sort of like what happens when one views the superb and lilting 'Double Indemnity' that was conjured up by one superior writer, James M. Cain. In'White Heat' the finesse-prone Jimmy Cagney leads his zesty gang in a big heist of a payroll. The story comes wildly to life in this film under the quickly propelled directorial work of Raoul Walsh. Indeed, Raoul Walsh is one grand director and he kind of reminds me of the careful attention-to-detail work of another intense director guy, Samuel Fuller. Get into the Cagney, O'Brien and Mayo work of 'White Heat' and it looks like you will get plenty of what we Atanta area folks call max film enjoyment.

Of Tenor Saxes, Dashiell Hammett, Spring!

Feel so good today. Can feel Spring coming. So fine a sensation. Read some Elmore Leonard and one of my favorite classic noir-style writers, Dashiell Hammett. Lord, Dashiell Hammett can really write. He is not an average writer because the man's clever grasp of definitive characterizations truly enthralls me. Hammett's book, 'The Dain Curse' is such a classic, neo-modernist little novella. But Lord the fine jazz music got me really going so slick this lovely day. I enjoyed the resounding straight ahead jazz of one of my favorite tenor saxophonists, Dexter Gordon. This guy Dexter Gordon can really produce some explosively creative improvisatory choruses. He makes the ballads grand, too. I gave a listen to the haunting, 'Green Dolphin Street' and it had just the right zing, the pick-me-up I needed. On this tune, D. Gordon was joined by the excellent piano man George Cables and Rufus Reid on the bass and Eddie Gladden on drums. The comping by piano ace George Cables was especially outstanding. This kind of good, thoughtful jazz is so stimulating to one's well being sort of like enjoying the works of Henry David Thoreau or perhaps Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Oh, another good one, today. Old wacky me listened to Dexter Gordon and friends produce a great workout on the Sonny Stitt composition entitled, 'Loose Walk.' This number had a strong percussive buoyancy that tickled my musical palette, beautifully. I came back in my downstairs area and just enjoyed so much diggin' one of my favorite pieces of art, by the innovative impresario, Alexander Calder. Yes, it is a great so marvelous Monday, today.

Kim Kardashian, Dana Carvey Big Fun Time!

Dana Carvey, Kim Kardashian duo helped me out late last night. The magic twosome were guests on Jay Leno and the combination of the incredible Dana Carvey comic cleverness and the dynamic, lovely presence of Kim Kardashian got me laughing and feelin' so good. Lord knows with all this insane Atlanta area weather tripe I needed some real pick-me-up. Good interviews and certainly solid comic routines like last night on Leno (what an interesting guy Jay Leno is) produce so many huge laughing moments in wacky old me. The bizarre essence of U.S. culture needs massive comic stimulation especially since unemployment is still soaring in my state of Georgia. I think Kardashian is kind of like watching Marilyn Monroe many years ago. The excitement and grand joy of Kim Kardashian is her vibrant mode of high energy style. Fun is the name of this culture game. Of course the wild comedy of Dana Carvey and his shrewd and so innovative good stuff is a big kick also. I love comic culture cause the vital dynamic of the genre gets me over my doldrums about bills, weather etc.

'Alice' Movie Blasts Off to Record Sales

'Alice's' debut on the nation's screens turned out totally sensational this weekend. Great news! I am so happy. This marvelous 'Alice in Wonderland' is such a remarkable achievement for Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and the supremely talented director, Tim Burton. Reports this afternoon indicate this record-breaking movie made more than $116 million this weekend in the U.S. and about $94 million worldwide. What a super fantastic triumph for Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and all the dazzling creative people who put this thrilling project together. This movie 'Alice' is such a massive delight and a great boost for all the fine people of the American film industry.

Diana Krall's music's romantic and swingin'

Today is beautiful here in the historic Atlanta area. Fun is on my mind right now. Again I snared a big helping of happiness. I got my ears tuned to the lovely voice and magical keyboard of sexy, so romantic Diana Krall. The solid up tempo work of Diana Krall got my whole mojo going nice and brisk. The grand music of Diana Krall reminds me a bit of early Ella Fitzgerald. The good Ella Fitzgerald song, 'Tisket, Tasket' has always been a tremendous favorite of mine. Well anyway music buddies and confidantes I listened to Diana Krall doing a solid, gliding and remarkably polished rendition of the finesse standard, 'Deed I Do.' This song souped up my day to a just right level of real good times. Lord, I believe in good times cause it is so much fun to savor life's excitements. That's a good 10-4 as the radio pundits say. Thanks, Diana Krall, your extraordinary and fine and romantic and glad musical sounds were just right today.

'Alice in Wonderland' arrives on the scene

I am excited. The romantic and so creative movie, 'Alice in Wonderland' opens tomorrow. When I was a child I read the Lewis Carroll book, 'Alice.' It was a wild and magical fantasy trip of a vivid reading experience. Later, when I was a college student I studied the work of the great Englishman, Lewis Carroll, in an English Literature class. The story of Alice should really be a gigantic excitement to all people who love grand, imaginative films. Of course the fact this new film has the fabulous Johnny Depp should make it an even greater joy for all women and men to delight in. I love also that Tim Burton (a fine creative soul) had the director's task on this grand project. It is romantic and so marvelous that 'Alice in Wonderland' in glorious 3-D arrives tomorrow. It should spice up all our lives greatly and certainly the film magic of fab Johnny Depp and Tim Burton should enrich tremendously all our cultural lives. Huge cheers for 'Alice' indeed a great story that has come beautifully to life in a fascinating new film.

Romantic Sounds of Peggy Lee Sparkle!

The Romantic jazz sounds of Peggy Lee just knock me out. Peggy Lee's vocals are so winsome and sleekly subtle and wow the music of Peggy Lee is so full of the romantic greatness of life. What a lot of fun it is listening to this genius artist. This lovely Wednesday I totally enjoyed two great Peggy Lee songs: 'Hey Big Spender' and 'Is That All There Is.' The wild and engaging great tones of the Peggy Lee voice were so full of romantic flavor and good meaning. What a great jazzy Wednesday this little day is!

Diana Krall makes this snow day, a delight

Putting a lot of life in a song can be a hard job for a singer. Yet, Diana Krall makes the work seem effortless. The woman can produce pleasing jazz performances that can fascinate one's soul. I love her renditions of 'Look of Love' and 'Besame Mucho.' Their delightful, pulsating romantic flavor makes these songs just an exciting musical experience. I had max fun listening to one of Diana Krall's associates also. The man I am speaking of is Russell Malone, indeed a fine guitarist. The imaginative, a bit percussive solo work of Russell Malone is so much fun, yeah it's kind of like eating good ribs or maybe shrimp and grits. The snow has come again to my part of Georgia so it is so grand to just kick in and really "dig" great musical sounds today. The magic of Diana Krall and friends made my day a good one. Cheers!