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In the Canadian league, the cap and the floor are very close to one another. As a result, every team has the same payroll. This suggests to me that on Opening Day, every team has an equal chance to win the Grey Cup.

Kurtág — Játékok, interpreted by Pierre-Laurent Aimard

I am going through my vinyl collection today and can offer the following great Mosaic vinyl box set for sale. The Complete Commodore Jazz Recordings, Volume 2 23 LP, Mosaic, 1989 Everything is in Excellent to Near Mint condition - outer box, 2 inner slipcases, records, booklet. This is a very nice copy. All records are flat and play fine. https://www.discogs.com/release/8460405-Various-The-Complete-Commodore-Jazz-Recordings-Volume-II $150 (+ $19 insured media mail shipping for this very heavy box set) U.S. shipping only. I can only ship on the weekend. Pay pal friends/family.

Spinning this new-to-me LP again:

BFT 263 1 – This is a really interesting track, I like it quite a bit, and can’t wait to find out what it is. No ideas on ID’s. 2 – Joni Mitchell (which hopefully will fool no one), “Black Crow”. A live version with, sounds like, Brecker and Jaco. The original was on ‘Hejira’. Is this from the Archives 4 box set that came out? I can probably sleuth it out if so. It’s good. 3 – I like that they use acoustic piano on this. The guitarist is impressive. But the cut leaves me fairly cold, though it’s OK. 4 – Quite the eclectic BFT, I’m enjoying that aspect! They had more fun recording this than I’m having listening to it, the first clunker for me, though there are probably others who will dig it. I saw it’s only four minutes long, but it felt much longer. 5 – Antidote to #4. It’s good, and it’s pretty, though not something that would pull me back. Could almost be a Windham Hill artist. Deeply influenced by those initial Keith Jarrett ECM solo albums, as so many are. 6 – This will be Dan Gould’s favorite cut. I like it OK. Functions great as background music for me, I don’t hear any barriers being broken, but am enjoying it. 7 – I’m enjoying this! No guesses, but good singer, and I could see a whole album by her possibly working for me. 8 - Good listening, quite enjoyable! Can’t see anyone disliking this, it’s so solid. 9 – A Cole Porter oldie done by one of the most celebrated jazz singers. Cut #5 from this . 10 – Good for what it is, but from before my listening domain. 11 – She was a great, sadly undersung jazz singer, one of my all-time favorites! Cut #6 from this . 12 – This sort of thing is totally lost on me. 13 – This is nice, very soothing. Good arrangement. Thanks for a really good listen and for drawing attention to the singer on #11, I am excited to get the ID on that first cut!

Looking forward to SUN RA - American Masters on PBS.

February 1 Joshua Redman - 1969

Micah Thomas: Mountains

I have no idea if this new song will move anybody. I couldn't get through to the end of it but that's just me. I do think that many musicians and artists beginning to use their voices and platforms to advance a cause can move the dial. It's a form of cultural solidarity.

All I can say is that if some doggerel song is what it takes to get people motivated, then people don't stand a chance. Fascists play for keeps, not for songs

Diving in 1 - I dig it all right. Nice song they segue into after the intro. Drumming makes me think this was recorded recently. It's got an ECM feel at moments but those are fleeting, and mainly in the quieter moments. It could very well be a new Blue Note album as well. Hard to pin down anything about this. Wild guess but is Kenny Garrett involved? 2 - Warming up to this one. Took me a minute or so but I caught the groove. The bassist is playing very well. The whole band is pretty tight. They've got that pop-jazz sound going on. Not as slanted toward R&B as Sade though. The sound is more in the vein of rock, and I think that's coming from the guitar style. No guesses but a good song. 3 - The guitarist is the leader? They've got the best recorded sound here. Drummer is all over that snare. He's not letting that thing go anywhere. Trumpet is nice. Kenny Wheeler? My least favorite song so far. Good playing but I'm not able to get around how forward these drums are in the mix. 4 - From the big cavernous studio of track 3 to this tight corner. Quite a contrast. That guitar won't be going over well lol. Rypdal comes to mind here but I usually hear him with more sustained notes. This kind of reminds me of Crazy Doberman but it's a little too "happy" to be them. I've got no guesses. 5 - Solo piano. Corea? I got nothing. 6 - Guaraldi-esque piano style. Is it him? Great breakdown toward the end of the song. Nice one. 7 - Evil Gal Blues but not a version I recognize. 8 - Reminds me of Turrentine and Jimmy Smith. Great tune. 9 - Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love. Again stumped on the singer. Betty Carter maybe? 10 - Love this one. First thought is Earl Hines but then I went to Teddy Wilson. I'm not sure. 11 - Another great jazz vocal tune. I've enjoyed all that you've put on this BFT. This one is What's New. The mic is highlighting the singer's t's, to the point where it sounds like a modern recording. Or she's singing through a Tascam. I could be totally wrong there. Regardless I have no idea who this is. 12. I'm getting that accordion coming through. Outside of Dino Saluzzi I don't know who to guess. 13. Another good tune, with vibes that are played very well. No guesses though. Thanks Randy! Good stuff as usual. Eclectic selections which made for a fun listen.

Just saw Terence Blanchard with Herbie Hancock back in November at Severance Hall in Cleveland. They're out of print again!

My favorite Donald Bryd/Sonny Red sides:

I agree, I had a TTPSU and then bought the NEO, a small step up. The biggest step up for me was the Groovetracer Reference Sub-platter--game changing.

Stunning indeed. Dancing Girl and You’re gonna Miss Me…. I could hear those again and again

Congrats Rooster on the move! Good luck to you and spouse in Pittsburgh.

Nice! The Neo PSU power supply makes a big difference IMO. I have almost the same deck, the P6 with an Exact cartridge.

Well, if you look at it from RRK's perspective, he was probably playing four horns at once, so maybe nobody even knew Sonny even left.

Benny Goodman and his Orchestra “Way Down Yonder! The Legendary V-Disc Masters” Vintage Jazz Classics cd

I fear so too but without resistance the worst is very probably guaranteed. Obviously I have the privilege of being distanced and those nearer should make their own choices accordingly.

One of the greatest...

Look at that band!

Season 4 of "Munch" on PBS Passport.