Jazzlife - because all of life is jazz

Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis together. How could I resist?

Today I listened to the Mp3s of their album Dig, which I downloaded from Emusic a few months ago. I’d already listened to the solo album I got of Sonny’s (Way Out West) - an album that may even surpass Global Warming as my favorite record by his if I play it enough times - and just today got to listening to this one.

This was earlier in their careers I think, before they grew past their need of being members of groups rather than superstars later, still… wow! Amazing work.

Tags: Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, jazz, Dig, Way Out West, Global Warming.

I finally got a new clock radio, hoping the new one would have a better radio tuner.

It does - but I’m still not able to get a good signal from Couleur Jazz. I was able to tune it in for a few minutes yesterday… now, it’s impossible.

I have to go the digital tuner route for a radio, so I could get the most accurate signal rate. Maybe one will be available at Costco when next I go on a trip to the States

Tags: Costco, Couleur Jazz, digital radio.

Interesting: I was flipping through a magazine today and read a Sony ad about their new Flash ROM Walkmans.

Why that was interesting: I read this ad and thought how their ‘new’ product is really the same technology as my Iriver.

Tags: Sony, Walkman, Iriver, Flash Rom

Aruntx Podcasting Syndication Features Garage Band Music

I’ve been following more than a few podcasts lately. I like this syndication of the media - especially if it makes more jazz available!

Tags: jazz, podcasts

The Canadian Idol finale was tonight.

I have to say: this year, Canada got it right!

On the negative side, I feel they stretched out the show too long. At two hours, it just felt like it dragged at times. Also Rex Goudie went off-key again in the final performance.

One big negative for me was a performance by last year’s winner Kaylan Porter. His record may now have gone double platinum, but I still don’t like his style. Mind you the fact that I didn’t vote for him last year definitely doesn’t help my view - just as I’m not happy with our past mayoral winner (Pierre Bourque) especially when I voted for someone else.

(I know: not an accurate comparison, since mayors and Idol winners don’t have the same importance…)

This year, they did have a nice touch though, having a performance by Dawn Bird, The lady who guides the top 10 through their whole performance.

The biggest plus though was the winner of the 2005 Canadian Idol crown: Melissa O’neil. By the end she was the most talented performer, and her skill and poise belies her 17 years. I think ultimately she may have the best career of all our contest performers to date.

Tags: Canadian Idol, Pierre Bourque, Melissa O’neil

Tonight was the final performance show for the 2005 Canadian Idol competition.

I agree with the judges: Alive (the first single the winner will release) is a hit whoever releases it. Both Rex Goudie and Melissa O’Neal gave distinct and strong performances of it.

That they had Theresa Sokyrka perform her hit from her album - and present her with her first gold record - was tremendous. Unfortunately Frodo Kaylan Porter will perform tomorrow night.

I was surprised: Rex hit a sour note in his performance of Five for Fighting’s song Superman. I guess having perfect pitch means I could hear it more easily than they could.

Who should win and who probably will are two diferent performers. Melissa would be the former.

Tags: Canadian Idol, Melissa O’Neil, Rex Goudie, Theresa Sokyrka.

Luther Vandross, Smooth Crooner of R&B, Is Dead at 54

I just learned this today, although it happened back in July.

Luther performed some of the best soul of my youth, and I was really hoping he’d pull through after his stroke.

Late news, but nonetheless sad.

Tag: Luther Vandross

From one sad event to another: in less than 9 hours, it will be the 4^th anniversary of 9-11.

Four years since that tragic day - and 4 years too many that the scumbags who orchestrated it havent’s been caught.

Four years, and I won’t forget.

Tags: 9-11, Osama bin Laden

(You’ve seen a lot of different attempts at putting Technorati tags in this blog lately. I think I’ve found one I’ll stick with.)

I just watched the Katrina Relief telethon that I taped last night. Just like the one for 9-11 years ago, I was emotional all throughout this one.

I can’t find fault in any of the performances. No surprise; I’d be a cold SOB if I did. I do hope someone else recognized the final singer though.

I noticed that Kanye West only performed this time, didn’t speak. His piece got edited for language quite a bit though.

I loved Chris Rock’s parody of Kanye’s speech at the last telethon though: it was subtle, but he started with “Bush hates midgets.”

Tags: Hurricane Katrina, Telethon, Kanye West, Chris Rock

The Contemporary Jazz Lovers and Concerts Place

I don’t link to many places overall, but this blog deserves it. Much as I love Jazz, Webmistress Missy offers much more in-depth reviews of recent artists and performers than I do.