Pianist Hank Jones passes at 91

A great man passed away today. The wonderful man of jazz piano, Hank Jones, left us at the age of 91. He was a powerful force in music for about seven decades. Also, he worked with some superstars like John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald. We all will truly miss this legendary performer.

'Iron Man 2' rocks out and swings hard!

Had a "cool" day yesterday. Saw the marvelous new fun film, 'Iron Man 2' and it made me so tickled. The thing had plenty of old-style rock-em, sock-em wild stuff. I especially enjoyed the truly superb performances of the wily Robert Downey Jr. and the strong fellow, Mickey Rourke. When you get a tough, intense stand-off in a cinematic story the experience can prove remarkable. I liked the way Robert Downey Jr and Mickey Rourke square off in this one. Also, there is the matter of the women....Yes, the good performances of the delightful Scarlet Johansson and the lovely G. Paltrow are lots of fun for the moviegoer. They are stunning. Fascinating. The crafty and slick workouts our buddy, director Jon Favreau, did on this project are intensely remarkable. I really recommend this film because the story really cracks right along and makes an individual smile. Yeah, enjoy the IRONMAN everybody.

Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Mr. Roth

So many memories do I have when it comes to the sometimes confusing instrument that is the saxophone. When I was a real young guy I started trying to learn how to play that pesky nemesis that is the saxophone, but like a truly brash kid I opted for the tenor saxophone also telling myself I liked the tenor's big sound. I worked and worked but I had a dickens of a time trying to learn all the fingerings and most of all I had a teacher who believed in pounding into folks the importance of tone. I worked and huffed and prayed and moaned and then tried harder and harder. Finally I started to get the hang of it and started playing in a group with some friends on guitar and a mighty fine drummer guy who was one year older than me. Man, he could really kick it on those skins. Well, what I am leading up to is the fact I have a passionate respect for the really boss great tenor s. men like Sonny Rollins and the man of such fantastic jazz soul the one and only John Coltrane. When an individual listens to the super guys, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane it is a magnificent total joy. Today yours truly listened to a vivid sparkling Sonny Rollins rendition of the superior jazz tune, 'St. Thomas.' I just totally love the composition, 'St. Thomas' cause it has such a magnificent kickin' good feeling to it. On this Rollins workout there was also the fascinating keyboard work of the man of deep poignancy, Tommy Flanagan and there was also the tasteful but certainly appropriately feisty work of the sensational Max Roach on drums. What a fine super Friday this is everyone. When I get back to the great gigantic jazz sounds of the tenor saxophone then I feel the same way as when I read a multi-layered work by the brilliant Mr. Philip Roth. Magnificent that is Philip Roth. Saxophones and Roth...what a wonderful world this is as Louis A. used to say.

Hey, Everyone.....Happy Mother's Day!

A fantastic Happy Mother's Day to everyone! It has been a superb, so gorgeous day in my portion of the country, the great place that is known as Metro Atlanta. Son, daughter-in-law and son's two daughters invited us for a truly grand lunch today. Felt so magnificent when the girls showed me some of their marvelous art they had created in school. It is so fine when one realizes the young ones are getting into the splendid world of art just like yours truly. Perhaps, the remarkable scenarios of youthful Georgia O'Keefe and Pablo Picasso and of course Salvador Dali and Joan Miro will soon be theirs. Georgia O'Keefe is a grand joy. It is a good, enthralling essence this portion of our Southern cultural infrastructure that assists us in revving up the excitement and getting in there and truly enjoying Mother's Day. When I was a boy my grandfather and my father and mother took me to church and I will always remember seeing the proud men in their white shirts wearing the red flowers (mother living) and the white flowers (mother deceased). The culture of the South teaches us the intrinsic value and the deep passion that is an integral part of us and our relationship to our mothers and of course to our fathers, too. Indeed the great Atlanta newspaper columnist Celestine Sibley (a marvelous genius of a woman) used to write often about the delightful times with her mother, the one she called, "Muv." I recall many conversations I had with the grand one, the poignant and passionate Celestine Sibley. She taught me great things, like learning how to be good to all people and reaching out to everyone and yes, be friendly with everyone. Indeed Mother's Day is a day of wonderful love and passion and in a definitive sense it brings so much rich soulful flavor into our lives kind of like realizing the fresh, invigorating joy of encountering Mark Rothko or Alexander Calder art. Happiness is filling me up today and I am so tickled with the fact this has been a truly great Mother's Day. The Lord bless you all!

'House Across the Bay' is a real film delight

'The House Across the Bay' is a superior 1940 film with the incomparable George Raft and the very fine Joan Bennett. I saw this one recently and I say the thing really charmed me. It is a strong drama about a gangster (George Raft) who overplays his hand and gets himself in prison. Naturally because of the love of the woman, Brenda Bentley (Joan Bennett) she takes an apartment across the bay in San Francisco because she wants closeness with him. The dramatic work of Raft and Bennett is quite remarkable. Also, the very distinguished Walter Pidgeon is an aircraft business man in this film. Pidgeon is powerfully attracted to the woman Brenda Bentley, also. Indeed, Walter Pidgeon personifies maximun sophistication. I find delightful the way the film sweeps right along and it is good there is very little prattle dialogue to slow down the story. George Raft is not a tall man, but wow! he projects a lot of dramatic energy and strength.

M. Haggard, W. Nelson: 2 Great Ones

Surprise! I like country music, too. Especially, the rough-hewn kind. My friends might find it hard to believe but I just truly dig Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. Lord when I heard Merle Haggard do 'Okie' today it was just right. Then, when Willie Nelson did 'Stardust' well Lord, that was so fine, too. I get the feeling that country music is moving on up what with CMT really picking up steam. Oh me, oh my...the Lord bless Mr. Haggard and Mr. Nelson.

Atlanta Hawks Fly So High Today!

Pro basketball is a vital and so integral part of our Metro Atlanta culture. And this afternoon a great thing happened. What a super playoff game! The mighty Atlanta Hawks played fantastically and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 95-74. Congrats to Coach Mike Woodson and all the great guys like Josh Smith, Jamal Crawford, Mike Bibby and well just this whole team of great guys. This win has made me so happy!