What are you listening to?

[ironguts]

Morrison is a great improviser, you're just jealous.

I've heard him improvise the same things very well for many years now.

[mats]

For vickib, Bennetts Lane Big Band at the time of recording...
Eugene Ball, Damien Maughan, Adrian Sheriff, Jordan Murray, Jamie Oehlers, Adam Simmons, Ian Whitehurst, Tim O'Dwyer, Andrea Keller, Nick Heywood & Danny Fischer

[vickibonet]

mats said:

For vickib, Bennetts Lane Big Band at the time of recording...
Eugene Ball, Damien Maughan, Adrian Sheriff, Jordan Murray, Jamie Oehlers, Adam Simmons, Ian Whitehurst, Tim O'Dwyer, Andrea Keller, Nick Heywood & Danny Fischer

Thanks Mat.

It must be a time travel thing then, Tim.

[cartman]

timothystevens said:

vickibonet said:

Morrison's inspiration for that piece was 'Nine Open Questions' I believe.

Not only can he play so many instruments, he sees into the future as well. My stars, what talent.

Dudes if James Morison can time travel does that mean he can tell me who my real dad is? waitaminute is james Morrison my real dad?

[timothystevens]

Does anyone else here watch Scrubs? I am a big fan of this show and have been since first I saw it, way back in 2001. It is consistently crucified by Channel 7, which seems to think that it's a good idea to play it in the middle of the night, sometimes on a Monday, sometimes on a Tuesday, sometimes two episodes consecutively, and often not at all. I know that among the vast number of American situation comedies the ones that are actually funny are in a severely disadvantaged minority, but this one is tremendous. Admittedly there are some slightly cheesy 'moral of the story' moments but apart from that it's full of great characters, great jokes, bizarre stream-of-consciousness tangents, the whole lot. It's fantastic.

Late last Monday evening an episode entitled 'My Musical' screened, and now I'm listening (in the sense that it's stuck in my head) to J. D. and Turk's touching duet 'It's guy love (between two guys).' Other highlights were 'For the last time I'm Dominican' and 'Everything comes down to poo.' The writing and the delivery were hugely impressive and the manner in which the stage musical genre was understood and parodied, completely without malice, made me keen to see it again.

To think that people take this much trouble over 23 minutes of television in the midst of a series that may run for over 20 episodes, is somewhat encouraging. I'd be interested to know if anyone else saw it.

[isaacs]

Tim, I watch Scrubs and like it a lot, that character who is constantly doing withering rants is a scream. But I didn't see that episode which sounds like fun.

The Simpsons is also a very good source of good-natured, cleverly done parodies of musical theatre. I remember they did a Planet of the Apes musical, one song had the most fantastic musical comedy parody lyrics

I hate every ape I see
Chim-pan-A to Chim-pan-Z
No, you'll never make a monkey.
(Chorus: You'll never make a monkey....)
You'll never make a monkey out of me

"Chim-pan-A to Chim-pan-Z" is a masterstroke! (of course use American pronunciation for the letter Z):

[vickibonet]

waiting for my flight to take off... yesterday they were playing Barney McAll (track from Release the Day) I like Barney's work but I never thought I'd hear it over the PA on a Qantas flight

[Kenny]

admin said:

The Simpsons is also a very good source of good-natured, cleverly done parodies of musical theatre.

I knew hoots all about the Simpsons 'til about a year or so ago when I started watching a few episdoes with Bennie.

I never saw it, but a fellow member on another (US) jazz board says one episode had a pizza delivery in which the pizza box had printed on it: "Jackie McLean Pizza." Seen only for few seconds - now that's class.

[timothystevens]

Today:

Chris Abrahams: Glow
Geri Allen: The year of the dragon
Geri Allen: The nurturer
Geri Allen: Maroons
The chronological Henry 'Red' Allen, 1929-1933
Arild Andersen: Achirana

Yep, I started at 'A'. The far left of the top shelf. I'll see how far I get.

[vickibonet]

In an act of pure indulgence ordered 4 more Jessica Williams cds. The solo piano recorded last year 'Billy's Theme' (for Billy Taylor) is great stuff, all original, some pieces spontaneous improvisation some more structured. She's quite an amazing talent. Highly recommended.

On the plane on Monday more Barney. Someone at Qantas is clearly a fan. The flight attendant couldn't tell me who chooses the music.

[isaacs]

vickibonet said:

On the plane on Monday more Barney. Someone at Qantas is clearly a fan. The flight attendant couldn't tell me who chooses the music.

James Morrison chooses the music for the jazz channel on Qantas.

[timothystevens]

Oops.

[andgar]

Last night I checked out New Blood (Ben Carr and Adam Simmons on saxes and Joe Talia on drums) and the Band of 5 Names at the Valley Jazz Festival - intense stuff and fantastic listening

[timothystevens]

Louis Armstrong: The Hot Fives, vol. 1; The Hot Fives and Sevens, vol. 2 and 3
Louis Armstrong vol. 4: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines
Louis Armstrong vol. 5: Louis in New York
Louis Armstrong vol. 6: St Louis Blues
Louis Armstrong vol. 7: You're drivin' me crazy
The chronological Louis Armstrong, 1931-1932

Keen to make the Armstrong last. It's so wonderful, besides which I know what comes next.

[isaacs]

1. Colin Hopkins playing music from his commission on national radio yesterday. Strikingly Scriabinesque in parts
2. Herbie Hancock Quartet live in Sydney from a few days ago still running around my head. Revelatory.
3. The incisive thoughts of Chick Corea also on national radio.
4. Vibraphone thoughts of Gary Burton

1. 3. & 4. are audio-on-demand at www.abc.net.au/rn/musicshow/default.htm, click The Music Show for Sat 28 July, both parts. With Chick, Gary and Colin probably the most jazz-centred show they have done apart from when they broadcast direct from Wang.