Noj

I don't necessarily want to hijack the thread, since I am enjoying this discourse, but... I have INSPIRATION INFORMATION and SHUGGIE'S BOOGIE: SHUGGIE OTIS PLAYS THE BLUES, and both are really good. Have any of you guys heard his other studio albums? How do they measure up to I.I.? Also, did he completely slip under the radar back then? Or were some of you listening to Shuggie concurrently to Sly & Marvin?

I love Sly, he's as funky as it gets! I was just listening to this the other night:

I have been very happy with Collectables reissues of Rahsaan Roland Kirk among others...are there sound quality issues with those? I never heard them in any other incarnation, so I have nothing to compare them to.

Had Photoshop fired up and scanned this old scratchboard of Jimi I did ages ago:

Well, now I've read everyone's responses. I didn't even notice there was no piano. So much for picking up on themes! I'm amazed how quickly folks pick up Max Roach or Elvin Jones, or notice that someone has studied their JJ Johnson but isn't JJ, or gather that a song is from a soundtrack based on an instrument appearing late in the song, or know that something is European...incredible. I really love these discussions--I try to listen with your ears. At this point, I have trouble distinguishing horns from other horns--much less differentiating horn player from horn player.

1 - A call to arms, where do I march? Nice choice for an intro. 2 - The drummer is killing. Very enjoyable. Looking forward to finding out who this is. 3 - I'd buy this in a heartbeat. 4 - Enthralling song, another I wouldn't hesitate to buy. 5 - Slow and beautiful, I really enjoyed the bass player on this one. 6 - Nice sax/bass/drums trio--so many sounds coming from that drummer, like breathing. 7 - Buddy Rich? Good largish-ensemble work, I dig it. 8 - Another sax/bass/drums trio...slow but adventurous. 9 - Cool! I enjoy the way the sax and drums are working off the bass--at 1:30 this could easily be some hardcore punk or a rugged hip hop beat, it sounds mean! 10 - Now that's a funky ass groove! Reminds me of Marlena Shaw, or (even though I know for sure it isn't) Nina Simone. 11 - Another brief little gem, had the ol' noggin nodding. 12 - I think I recognize the tune, but nothing is coming to me. I seem to be noticing a pattern in the choice of bass and drums in every song on this BFT--perhaps COUW's theme lies therein? 13 - Mellow, reminds me of Lonnie Liston Smith or Pharoah Sanders. 14 - Another tune I think I've heard somewhere, perhaps in an old movie. Subtle, melancholy little melody. 15 - Solo sax, continues that melancholy vibe to the close--great way to end a great cd. Wow, incredible disc COUW, thanks. I can't wait to read the other responses. Sorry it took me so long to respond, I've had a busy week. Thanks again to Jim Dye for the distribution.

Another big for Pat and albums such as CONSCIOUSNESS, WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN, and FOOTPRINTS. Martino does a long, smokin' version of the pop tune "Sunny" on the album LIVE! which I got as a twofer with CONSCIOUSNESS (renamed "HEAD & HEART" by the folks at 32Jazz). The highlight of this twofer is the funky yet dark and smoky "Willow." B)

Cool man! B) It must be satisfying to see your design realized in three dimensions. I was in the illustration department at my school, but if I'd had my way I would have been in every department. Product design always looked fun to me, but my focus was traditional painting.

Nice sketches, are they yours? Indulge the bandwidth and post images all day, MWTGA!

Man, my wallet is going to take a beating.

I'm going to do some diggin' for images and inspiration (while listening to Boogaloo Sisters, of course), so I'll be ready to go. B)

Actually, I watched Thiebaud paint at Pasadena City College which is where I went before Art Center. They are only a few miles apart. Thiebaud painted some delicious looking cakes.

These are all illustrators who also do gallery art. "Low brow" is what it's called, I think. I went to school with a few of these guys and a few others were teachers of mine.

Jeff Soto

Saiman Chow

Justin Wood

PJ Fidler

The Clayton Brothers

Mark Ryden

Todd Schorr

The Goldsworthys are really cool! Elegant and delicate, and nicely composed.

I exclusively root for the Raiders. "Suck" doesn't begin to describe how bad they were this year.

I don't even want to speak about karma with Al Davis at the helm.

That was a fumble, and I know football way too well to have anyone tell me differently. Rules my foot. Sure Oakland could have won anyway--only a defense without "nuts" doesn't win when you cheat them out of a turnover in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. Great playoff games so far even though I hate every team that is playing. Manning could do no wrong yesterday, I was impressed. He has finally become the QB he was expected to be.

Hope you have a great one, 7/4!