A few weeks ago Sharon’s cousin and his girlfiend----um womanfriend ----- er --- ladyfriend , visited us. As we were showing them the sights they took quite a few photos . One of these turnd out to be the best shot of the two of us in a long time. I just know this is because of our new lightweight selves! You have to go back many years to find us as trim as we are now. We have worked at this for a year and a half now. Every morning starts on the scale. Just a daily remider not to let things slip. Although not so strict now we still try not to eat too much of the wrong foods. It has all been worth it and this photo is the proof!

Earl Grey & Darjeeling .end of an era

To Earl Grey and Darjeeling and the end of an era

DARJEELING
1989-2007 GONE TO RUN WITH THE KITTIES IN HEAVEN

The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics

for anne chuck jones award winning cartoon

from me to kg

to kg

Whoops-----my brain just drifted off to Portmeirion again! Review from Amazon.co.uk Synopsis "The Times" called Portmeirion 'the last folly of the Western World' while the "Guardian" saw it as 'a giant gnomes' village'. For eccentric architect Clough Williams-Ellis, the man who designed and built the resort, it was 'propaganda for good manners,' a statement of how planned development could enhance rather than destroy its environment. And for the quarter of a million visitors a year who make the trip to this Italianate village in North-West Wales, it's quite simply one of the most magical places on Earth. It was here Noel Coward wrote his comedy "Blithe Spirit", Patrick McGoohan filmed the legendary 1960s TV series "The Prisoner" and George Harrison celebrated his 50th birthday. It's the kind of place where Larry Adler gave informal concerts to other guests and hotel staff, Ingrid Bergman could be found talking movies with Bertrand Russell, and where royalty - from Edward VIII to King Zog of Albania - would join the general public in seeking escape from the modern world. Here too was born the world-famous Portmeirion Pottery, founded by Clough's daughter, Susan William-Ellis, and still one of Britain's leading ceramics companies nearly a half-century on. The book "Portmeirion" is published to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the opening of the resort in 1926. Lavishly illustrated with many unpublished and rare photographs, plans and drawings, it is the first book to cover the whole story of the village, the extensive gardens both at Portmeirion and Plas Brondanw, the Williams-Ellis family home, Portmeirion Pottery as well as Clough himself.

Laurel and Hardy - Blotto

One of the funniest comedy bits ever!

Pepper Adams in the UK

my man!

Kenny Garrett with Miles Davis

Hard drivin stuff!

A few months ago I did a post about my friend David Watson and his soon to be released CD. If you remember, he is an excellent Jazz musician and the CD has now been recorded. Although not released yet ,demo copies are here!

Title track Sample

It was recorded at the System Two Studios in New York. Check out the guys on the CD * David Watson Vocals* Mike LeDonne piano *

Bob Cranshaw Bass ( Cranshaw has played with Sonny Rollins Lee Morgan, Wes Montgomery, Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Thelonious Monk, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, and Buddy Rich, as well as toured with George Shearing, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, and Oscar Peterson. Say no more!) *

Mickey Rocker Drums he has played with
Dizzy Gillespie ,Eddie Gomez ,Tommy Flanagan ,Jimmy Heath, Jerry Dodgion,Sonny Rollins , Alfred Lion , Milt Jackson, Randy Johnston, Duso Goykovich, Bobby Jones ,Horace Silver, Ray Brown , Joe Pass , Stanley Turrentine,McCoy Tyner ,Sarah Vaughan ,Harold Vick, Phil Woods ,Joe Williams,Cedar Walton, Zoot Sims, Donald Byrd , Randy Brecker,Ray Bryant, Benny Carter, Chick Corea ,Duke Pearson,Robert Schimmel, Shirley Scott, Junior Mance ,Blue Mitchell,Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald ,Frank Foster ,Thad Jones ,Pepper Adams ,Garnett Brown , George Gershwin, Gene Harris,Herbie Hancock,The Modern Jazz Quartet, The N.Y. Hardbop Quintet ,Joe Henderson,Bobby Hutcherson ,Nat Adderley, Gene Ammons Count Basie, Hank Jones ,
and more!
There are 11 tracks on the cd with a nice balance of swinging and ballads. On a few tracks LeDonne switches to Organ. Nothing better than blues and a b3 . A lot of the material was created by David . He has a wonderful story telling style that can melt you heart on thoughtful ballads or swing seriously.
You can tell this group has spent time together because they are tight!

This recording was done in New York and lives up to the Jazz legacy created there. Stay tuned for a release date!

Donald Rumsfeld's hands

very clever!

john zorn - naked city - batman

Crazy Stuff!

Sarah Vaughn - Somewhere Over The Rainbow

God I love this jazz music!

Sun Ra 1981 Chicago

Is this out there ?
No it's just Sun Ra

Ernie Kovack's Nairobi Trio

A Ton of Bricks

Almost every afternoon you will find me on our lanai with reading material in my hands. Although I sometimes struggle to stay awake I do get some reading done too. I recently read James Cook The Journals. It is a narrative of his three ocean voyages during the late 18th century. The third voyage occurred in 1776-1780 and of course ends with Cook’s death here on the Big Island of Hawaii. Returning to our Lanai ; it faces the south east and a wonderful view of the ocean 6 miles away. This is a key point of my story which I will now continue. One day as I was reading , I reached a point where he was approaching his “final” landing . This was Kealakekua Bay which is to the south and west of our house. While reading about their course just off the coast it suddenly hit me. I set the book down and stared out at the ocean thinking. Man! 228 years ago his ship sailed right across “ MY OCEAN VIEW” Every now and then something hits you like a ton of bricks!

It Don't mean a Thing - Ella Fitzgerald/Oscar Peterson

Doesn't get any better than this!

The Journey is the Destination II: Chicago to New York

Two of my favorite subjects,Jazz and Railroads!

Returning to my Beer topic,it is getting to be my favorite time of year, Holiday ale season! Every October, craft breweries begin releasing there special Christmas ales.
Generally they are available until mid January. This great tradition has probably evolved from Wassail, a hot, spiced punch often associated with winter celebrations of northern Europe, such as Christmas, New Year's and Twelfth Night.
Living in Hawaii there are fewer to choose from but usually I can find my 3 favorites
Anchor brewery special Ale http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beers/christmasale.htm
Deschutes Jubleale http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/BrewPub/OnTap/5811.aspx
and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale www.sierranevada.com/beers/celebrationale.html

Anchor has been producing special ale for over 30 years. Each year the recipe is slightly different but is always loaded with holiday spice flavor! Taste is great but the tradition is the thing! If you are careful these beers will keep for years. Once on an British Christmas holiday with friends we had a collection of Special ales dating back 10 years. We sampled them all and the 10 year old bottle was the best!
So go out and find one of the many available today and enjoy

Happy holidays!

Benny Goodman Quartet - I've Got A Heartful of Music

Maybe I will get tired of playing with youtube soon . Until then here is more great jazz fun