Sunday Sleep In ~ “Wine Dark Lullaby” ~ Neil Ardley/Ian Carr/Don Rendell

This whole album was an absolute stunning British Jazz work of art.

Pianist Neil Ardley directed the first half with an entire orchestra of musicians, a total of six songs.

Saxophonist Don Rendell played on three tracks of the albums 13 …. but when it came to this particular number with my love for Noir it was Ian Carr’s composition that infused the inner core of my brain.

A seducing walk down a dark alley or street either following or being followed not knowing the conclusion, but hoping it ends in the arms of a lover…. Brian Smith’s sexy sax takes it even further… of course you’d have to add a little drizzle or at least some mist.

I have no idea if Wine Dark Lullaby was ever used in any film noir considering it was released in 1970 and not its hey day of the 40’s and 50’s but man did it capture that era and mood. But many fit the bill and followed over the years… and if not somebody completely missed the boat here. This song as a theme or for just a scene would be to perfection.

From the album Greek Variations & Other Aegean Exercises…

… make it any fantasy you want.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Freedom Vessel” ~ George Kahn.

George Kahn has kept west coast jazz alive and this the second time I’ve featured this talented artist, earlier in the year with a phenomenal rendition of Woodstock.

Born in New York he moved to California in the mid 1970s when he got hooked on John Coltrane. As with many like Dave Brubeck he studied classical when young and became a jazz natural. Love his sound and improvisational playing.

He wrote this song in dedication to Miles Davis.

 

President Elect Insanity Trump… “the millions of people who voted illegally,”

 

“In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally,”

twittly, twittly dum.

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally
3:30 PM – 27 Nov 2016

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

It would have been much easier for me to win the so-called popular vote than the Electoral College in that I would only campaign in 3 or 4–
3:34 PM – 27 Nov 2016

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

states instead of the 15 states that I visited. I would have won even more easily and convincingly (but smaller states are forgotten)!
3:41 PM – 27 Nov 2016

 

My God, is this really what kind of President the United States of America needs?

More proof of how mentally unstable he is. Donald Trump will never be right in the head and he certainly will never be a representative of what a president is or stands for. Leadership.

Again I look to the Electoral College and ask them to cast their votes on Dec. 19th for Hillary Clinton. She may not be a saint but at least she is SANE!’

 

Trump Claims, With No Evidence, That ‘Millions of People’ Voted Illegally

He won and is still crying and going twittering mad. This is a  not a President, this is a Crazy Person.

The USA doesn’t need these appointments either to take us back to the darkest hour in time of this country.

 

 

Leon Russell…. And when my life is over.

 

When I listened to this song today I literally cried.

And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you

Another gem from the Woodstock Generation lost.

God what a grand time it was, so much overflowing talent from every aspect of the world. From Ravi Shankar’s India, UK, USA and in-between. Leon was an instrumental part and force of that musical equation, his song writing impeccable.

When George Benson’s rendition of his very first charted single “This Masquerade” came out, how many knew that Leon wrote it outside of us old hippies. Ironically as written it fit in with Sinatra, not rock. That was Leon’s magic.

The 1970 self titled album that gave us “A Song For You”, “Tight Rope” and “Delta Lady” would put Leon on the map and he never looked back. When he hooked up with Joe Cocker for Mad Dogs and Englishmen a blistering masterpiece of rock, soul and blues was accomplished. No one ever heard a better rendition of “Cry Me A River” done rock and blues style.

Leon Russell’s stage presence went along with the era when the music that came out of it was razor blade sharp precision of lyrical and musical magic. Not only could he write, play and sing he presented it with class until the end.

We lost two legends of the music world this last week. Leonard Cohen was another song writing genius, but I only have so much in me to write the obits. It gets beyond depressing and the fact that an actor of one of my favorites shows growing up “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” also passed, Robert Vaughan I hope this completes this entertainment saying they go in three’s.

My first crush at 9 years old in 1966 was in-fact David McCallum who played Illya Kuryakin. So, so much of my youth and adolescence was lost this week. Thank God the musical legacy will always live on.

Thank You Leon and Leonard C. even though we are sad feeling your loss, I know Heaven is having a grand jam tonight.

 

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “City Streets” ~ Lisa Hilton.

 

One of those artists that when you go through her catalog of music you say to yourself which one do I post. Starting from the almost classical to the contemporary and every bop of jazz, then those very talented fingers dip into the realm of blues. Melodic and tantalizing.

Hilton has produced 19 albums, solo and with the best of players of the art with a soon to be released 20th due in December. Whether she is doing her own compositions as with City Streets or her covers of the jazz greats to including from those that the 1960’s invoked with folk and rockers like Joni Mitchell and Janis Joplin also on this album are at times mesmerizing.

But for tonight this one caught my ears and soul and said…. yeah.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Singing Everyday” ~ Matthew Halsall.

The album “On The Go” was originally released in 2011, but a Remaster was done adding three previously unreleased gems to the mix, Singing Everyday being one of them. So on May 20th, 2016 “On The Go (Special Edition)” was released.

I literally didn’t know which one to feature, all of them brilliantly done. I always go for the gentle flow for the Sunday sleep in’s but there will be much more to follow.

This British trumpeter and composer since his start has managed to capture the depths of the 1950s & 60s with everything we seek from the genre we love called Jazz. But in doing so has put his own refreshing touch and tone to it on every single piece he produces.

From 2008-16 he has released 7 albums with 2 Singles/EP. I encourage you to taste them all. One in particular will captivate your mind, because it highlights a place you’ve never been before unless born in that time period. “End of Dukkha” will have you in that jazz bar out of the past. This band makes sure of it and it is the biggest compliment I can give to them.

Halsall brings it all back to life and keeps it here.

 

Thank You President Obama ~ 9-11 Never Forget.

New York – Washington, D.C. – Pennsylvania – NYPD – FDNY – NY Port Authority – Americans of every age, race, nationality and religion. We Remain Free ~ ~ ~ In God We Trust.

 

 

You have served us well and if those that celebrated that night yet now call you the worst president they are Hypocrites.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Petite Fleur” ~ Archie Shepp Quartet.

A musician turns into a legend when they can play and everybody knows who they are hearing. They put a signature on their sound so when you hear this man there’s never a question of who. Archie Shepp let’s you know exactly.

I’ve heard many renditions of this Sidney Bechet gem. Victor Goines comes to mind as another fantastic.

Here we have George Mraz’s bass and Billy Drummond’s drums sultry intro with Harold Mabern’s piano further enhancing Shepp’s sax. All the musicians just compliment each other, your ears, soul and heart basically say yeah…. you’ll never forget or need to ever search the piece again, at least not this particular arrangement.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “The Song That Lives Inside” ~ Seamus Blake Quintet.

 

One of Canada’s best players and composers from the last 23 years, this from his 8th album.

On this ballad he managed to capture the mood straight out of a 1950’s jazz after hours club.

Order yourself a drink, close your eyes and lay back…
you’re there.

 

Trump Train Wreck.

Donald Trump Desecrates Purple Heart.

“I Always Wanted to Get the Purple Heart. “This Was Much Easier.”

A slap in the face of every veteran who was wounded and died in combat.

 

During Vietnam when soldiers were throwing their medals away, they were called traitors. Only the draft dodgers who went to Canada were ostracized while those that legally hid out in that other draft dodging place called “college” with deferments got a free pass.

What possessed anyone to hand this deranged “Affluenza” man their purple heart when he dodged serving is beyond me but the video below say’s it all.

From Veteran Will Fisher.

Purple Hearts Equal Bad Days

 

 

Yeah, it sure was easier you piece of shit.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ Melanholija ~ Fish In Oil.

 

Ahhhhh….another exquisitely composed work and more importantly could be in any film score, notably crime noir.

The bass sets the seductive pulse from the get go.

Once again Radovanović’s guitar goes totally into the psyche of Hendrix after the 8:30 mark when it slowly begins to cook and then depicts into the manic hallucination stage of Melancholy. Although Petrović’s sax is always dripping in sex making this a hard one to be sad at the beginning, he also transitions as nicely into the chaos.

The drumming and percussion explicitly throughout defining the different stages. All of the bands members completes this titles musically descriptive piece.

Not the first time or the last featuring this band. I really wish somebody in film somewhere in this world would find these guys or isn’t anybody writing scripts anymore worthy of the noir Fish In Oil creates so tastefully. Their music always sends my mind into an imaginary place I make up with the scenes and those acting them out.

If Brexit Has Taught Us Anything…

 

This is what all four of my grandparents saw upon arriving here in the early 1900’s. This is what America has always been about.

Let that never change.

 

Gordie Howe In Remembrance… Sadness and Celebration.

 

Tears flooded out of my eyes just months ago on March 28th watching and hearing 20k+ singing happy birthday to this legend at the Joe. What a moment…even Mickey Redmond choking up.

Ciamillo Heating & Cooling a Living Nightmare.

The only reason I used the place is because of being a fellow Italian thinking I wouldn’t get screwed, what a gigantic delusion on my part.

What took place in my home was a crime but a stopped check also halted the robbery that took place until a Warren, Mi. Judge 5 months later handed the crooks right back the money without knowing and the sad part not wanting to know the actual facts that had occurred. Our wonderful juridical system.

Well the facts are going to be told detail by detail and an honest review of this company and the horrid experience they put not only me but an 85-year-old woman through.

Sorry Michael Chupa you don’t get to have the last say. You are a coward.

All calls placed concerning Camillo Heating & Cooling were documented incoming and outgoing, and the duration of calls. They were printed from Vonage Account.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Magnolia Triangle” ~ Stanton Moore Trio.

What an exceptional job by three stellar players on this James Black composition.

All you have to do to get the full picture in audio is look on bassist James Singleton face. This artist feels what he plays and expresses it to the max.

David Torkanowsky piano comes to life equaling Stanton Moore’s energy.

Easter Sunday. Have a Blessed and Peaceful Day.

 

Live Streaming (at time of posting) of the Holy Mass of Easter Day in Rome by Pope Francis.

Bernie Sanders….. The Bird is the Word.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “I Can’t Believe in Spring” Davide Petrocca & Olaf Polziehn.

Italian bassist and German pianist creating magic…

 

 

 

I Can’t Believe in Spring
Composed by Davide Petrocca.
Recorded live at Theaterhaus Jazztage Stuttgart, Germany 2014.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “I Talk To The Wind” ~ Crimson Jazz Trio.

Ian Wallace may have not been with King Crimson when this first album In the Court of the Crimson King was created that included this song, (he joined in 71) but he certainly managed to capture and transcend it into a great jazz work. Ian along with Jody Nardone and Tim Landers created this trio in 2005 and put out two albums paying homage to his former groups compositions.

King Crimson Songbook Volume One in 2005 and
King Crimson Songbook Volume Two with Mel Collins in 2009 two years after Ian’s death.

1969 still sounding good.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Sweet Sorrow” ~ Joshua Redman Quartet.

 

More like Sunday “Sass”…what a great piece of composing here by Redman that would befittingly seep into any film noir, sounding here right out of the 40s and 50s. Makes you want to write a script.

Certainly slips right into the album’s title – “Mood Swing” released in 1994 with a line up of players musicians dream of.

 

Joshua Redman –
Tenor Saxophone

Brad Mehldau –
Piano

Christian McBride –
Bass

Brian Blade –
Drums

Governor Snyder Reinvents Michigan By Poisoning and Killing it’s Residents.

 

I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song if I tried, written by  Flint Michigan’s rock band Grand Funk Railroad with dead on lyrics by Mark Farner. 1973

General Motors knew not to use this water from the get go so don’t tell me this Governor didn’t also know what was wrong. Too corrosive to use on engine parts because they would damage and disintegrate them, what in God’s name did anybody think they would do to human beings body parts?

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Woodstock” ~ George Kahn.

What a refreshing jazz arrangement on this Joni Mitchell classic by George Kahn and company. Released off his 2004 album “Compared To What?”

Some nice bass work by Brian Bromberg to guide the entire piece.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Quiet Temple” ~ Barney Wilen with the Mal Waldron Trio.

This beautiful rendition from the Mal Waldron composition “All Alone” (originally released as a solo in 1966) was put on an album in 1990 to pay homage to French film soundtracks.

Waldron’s career started in 1950 with Ike Quebec, He was Billy Holiday’s pianist in her final years and throughout seemed to play and lead with every renown jazz artist there was.

A native New Yorker he moved to Europe where his home-base became France, Munich then Brussels where he died in 2002. He remained actively playing until the end.

Barney Wilen was born in France and started with Miles Davis when Davis was touring there. He led his own bands and produced numerous albums from that year on until his death in 1996.

 

American Pharoah Goes Out In Style with Grand Slam!

 

This horse Saturday concluded not only a career that took The Triple Crown in 2015 like a grand prize-fighter but won the prestigious Breeder’s Cup Classic in the finest fashion of any icing on a cake.

American Pharoah and that icing absolutely glowed.

It had this race tracker crying tears of pure joy. It’s what all in our industry lives for and this champion gave this sport of Thoroughbred Racing his all. He charged down that stretch like a warrior not to be denied taking with him his fans hearts. Everybody there, watching from another race track or in our living rooms felt like we were running the strides along with him.

Me I pray before a race, just come back safe, God let them all come back safe. As Pharoah made the far turn then began to open up I started yelling, open up, stay safe, open up, don’t take any bad steps. Man it was exhausting! LOL

Like Bob Baffert had said this one you wanted for the horse because he earned and deserved to go out with one more final victory. I hope to God that AP realizes how much joy he has brought to all of us, I believe he does because it was from God that this gift came to us.

The Class and Cream of the Crop.

 

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Lazy Afternoon” ~ Pete La Roca.

 

Pete La Roca took this Jerome Moross composition and infused his musical soul and in my opinion put out the best rendition of this song that was ever done. With the help of Joe Henderson’s atmospheric sax playing, Steve Swallow’s guiding rhythm on the bass, Steve Kuhn’s climatic piano and finally Pete’s brushes softly guiding the piece… you go on a journey.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Where Breathing Starts” ~ Tord Gustavsen Trio.

Gorgeous composition from Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen from his debut album Changing Places in 2003. He has produced 5 more since, his last being in 2014.

Sadly this artist from the beginning has pretty much stayed touring all of Europe with very sporadic visits to the USA and Canada. In 2013 he did play the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

From trio’s to quartets and entire ensembles all of his albums have only charted basically in Norway and France with a 100 in Germany in 2012. Sort of sad the U.S. in 12 years hasn’t caught on to him. I encourage all to dive in to all of his works, I guarantee there will be no disappointments.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Femmena” ~ Salvatore Tranchini, Jerry Bergonzi, Franco Ambrosetti.

Radio Suite was recorded in 1996 with 17 tracks and was released in 1998.

Trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti has been recording since 1964 and has a very lengthy discography both as leader and sideman.

Saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi started in the 70’s and was a frequent guest on Dave Brubeck ensemble tours. His last release was 2013.

Antonio Faraò is one of the finest jazz pianists to ever come out of Rome. He has been recording since the 90’s.

Mike Richmond has played with so many jazz greats the list goes on forever. He has been recording sine the late 70’s.

Drummer Salvatore Tranchini has done most of his work and releases in Italy.

 

Femmena

Composed by Pericle Odierna.

Sunday Sleep In ~ “Dat Mistige Rooie Beest” ~ Karel Boehlee Trio.

 

This Rogier Van Otterloo composition was originally performed by Toots Thielemans for the soundtrack of the 1973 film Turkish Delight or “Turks Fruit”. Karel Boehlee’s piano and Trio brings it back to life, not that Toots harmonica will ever be drowned out. It just seemed the song disappeared for some time.

The name of this Dutch artist Karel Boehlee himself doesn’t seem to be widely known outside of the jazz world even though he has been putting out albums since the late 80’s. More than a dozen, seven for a Japanese label. Seems he’d rather jam with whomever at all types of venues whether big, or small cafe’s. His band-mates from 2004-2012 as fine tuned.

Bassist Hein Van de Geyn has also worked with a long list of infamous names over the many years including Chet Baker back in the 80’s. He also has produced as composer many albums both as leader and side man.

Drummer Hans van Oosterhout who performed with Toots is still one of the most sought after jazz drummers today.

 

(from left) Hein Van de Geyn, Karel Boehlee, Hans Van Oosterhout.

Sunday Sermon ~ Mass with Pope Francis.

I cried about a third of this Mass at Madison Square Garden, his message, the music and choir so moving. At almost the end Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s words describing how much we love Pope Francis that lead to a thunderous applause and had me standing in my own living room tears flooding out of my eyes also applauding, the smile on the Pope’s face priceless. So much love out of this holy man of God.

The meeting with his Bishops upon arrival in the USA, the money the church takes in, if you don’t take care of the poor in need with it then Pay Taxes like a business!

Yet over the days I have read the venomous comments about this Pope from some evangelicals but yet he resides in a small apartment living humbly and Walking the Talk.

What what the Joel Osteen’s of the world do who live in multi-million dollar mansions, drive $100,00 vehicles and own private jets. Their message is Property, give to their mega-churches so they can live high and mighty. This is their saved.

You decide what the message of Jesus is.

Pope Francis is delivering it and may God Bless him in the name of Jesus. We love you and as you always ask at the end of every message will you please pray for me.

Yes We Will.

I only wish we can hold you over for another month to visit all of our major cities because those that got to see you have been truly Blessed. But I was at this Mass in New York, New York as much. I not only saw and heard you, I felt you.

Jesus is Love and you are love. His greatest messenger!