Music Day

Around the first of each month I plan to say a few words about some of my favorite music and musicians. I have been a jazz fan for many years, going back more years than I care to or can remember. But there will always be the first listen that sticks in my mind.

Back in the day everybody, and I do mean everybody, read Rolling Stone. So, when I read a review about an album, actually a double album, called Emergency by the Tony Williams Lifetime, I bought it. Played it. Hated it, thinking WHAT IS THIS?

Well, some time in '70 or so I picked up a copy of Rolling Stone and read about a new Miles Davis LP called Bitches Brew. So, being curious about this highly praised work, but being totally clueless about jazz in general other than the Tony Williams Lifetime Emergency LP, I bought it. Played it. Hated it, thinking WHAT IS THIS?

To make a long story short, 40 years later I still listen to these two groundbreaking works. First impressions aside, Bitches Brew is and probably always will be my favorite jazz album. It has perhaps gained in stature for me over the years. Jazz fusion's major artists were all part of this classic music: John McLaughlin/Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report with Zawinul and Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea/Return to Forever, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Bennie Maupin. Years later my interest was renewed when I heard Bobby Previte and his band "The Horse" playing Bitches Brew, similar to the original but with a modern edge to it. It had been a few years since I listened through to all these great compositions, but to me they sound as fresh as when I first hated then loved them.

Now there is a Tony Williams Lifetime Tribute band with Vernon Reid, Cindy Blacman, John Medeski and Jack Bruce. Bruce was a member of the original band, and appears on the second Lifetime LP, Turn It Over.

It's good to know this music is still around and appreciated by fans like myself. Too bad that Miles and Tony aren't around any more.

Everything's good...

"Everything's good...Everything. Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that. That's all, that's all! If anyone find out, he'll become happy at once, that minute."

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"To wake up to
who we are
what we are here for

To make all life
more poetical, more sane
more living, loving

To experience
the true of all things
this moment...
this moment...
this moment..."

William Segal

"When will the kingdom come?
It will not come by waiting for it.
It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is'
It is spread upon the earth mbut men do not see it"

Jesus

Just the Facts

Fact: Your eye color is mainly dictated by where your ancestors lived. People from sunny environments had dark eyes which helped block out the sun. People with blue or light eyes lived in darker environments with less light.

Popeye has better eyes than Bugs Bunny because the lutein in spinach is better for yor eyes than beta-carotene in carrots.

Setting your computer monitor lower on the desk will reduce eye strain because the opening between the lids will be reduced, which prevents dry eyes.

To save money, instead of buying bottled water just drop a piece of cut fruit into a glass of filtered water.

We all produce one to three pints of gas daily. Less than 1% of it smells.

Why do we yawn? The body senses a dip in the oxygen level in the blood, so you yawn to take in more oxygen.

It is a myth that we use only a portion of our brain. In fact, the entire brain is used, thoug not all at the same time.

Miracles

"There are two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Einstein

The Amistad Case

On February 24, 1841, an aged John Quincy Adams began arguing the case of the Amistad before the United States Supreme Court. Adams had thought himself too old to argue the case on behalf of 53 African slaves who seized the Amistad. Spain had demanded the return of their "property (the kidnapped captives)" and President Martin van Buren had agreed. The captives, led by Cinque, insisted they were not property at all, but human beings who had been kidnapped. Adams argued that, "The moment you come to the Declaration of Independence, that every man has a right to lfe and liberty, as an inalienable right, this case is decided. I ask nothing more on behalf of these unfortunate men than this Declaration."

Adams won the case. The court ruled that since the transatlantci slave trade had been banned, the Africans were free men. A blow had been struck for liberty!

Happy Birthday George!

Today is George Washington's birthday. He would be 277 if he were still alive, but he isn't so let's not go there. We Americans consider George to be the father of our country. There is good reason for this on three counts: He led the Continental Army to victory against the strongest and best equipped army on earth, he presided over the writing of the Constitution, and he served as the first president of the new United States. Without his leadership it is doubtful that the colonies would have united. Many members of the Constitutional Congress openly stated that Washington was the one and only reason they agreed to attend the Constitutional Convention. His leadership of the Continental army inspired the recruits to continue the fight when the odds were against them. As the first president he set the example for all who followed.

Without Washington there would be no United States.

Today is your lucky day

"Forget mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you are going to do now and do it. Today is your lucky day."

Will Durant