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.