More Portmeirion

A legend in Jazz

Louis Armstrong was one of the first great Jazz soloists and one of its most creative innovators. Throughout the many years of his career thousands were inspired by and tried to emulate his playing. He increasingly came to represent to the world the spirit of American jazz and its international appeal. Daniel Louis Armstrong started his musical career several years before he actually played the trumpet. At the age of seven he and a group of friends would sing on street corners for pennies and nickels. On December 31, 1913 he celebrated New Year’s Eve by shooting his step-father’s gun in the street. He was arrested , and while at the waif’s home in New Orleans he began playing the Trumpet. There were four salient features which made his an outstanding player-his superior choice of notes to shape unique melodic lines, his outstanding tone quality, his sense of swing, and his famous repertory of vibratos. His music had the make-up of any great music experience – expressive fervor, intense artistic commitment ,a natural sense for structural logic and superior instrumental skill . In the early 1900’s jazz was just coming into being. The public’s attitude towards the “new music” was unfavorable. Generally speaking ,jazz, including Armstrong’s playing was being heard in red light districts. There were many players but no outstanding soloists. Louis Armstrong was the first. His trumpet playing was not the only factor in his success. His unique singing also played a major role. He had a charm with his audience that was unsurpassable. Later in his career his singing became as important as his playing. He had become a complete entertainer. As his popularity grew, appearances abroad became frequent. Also in addition to his music, he was active in movies, Television, and even Broadway. He was a giant star.
Louis Armstrong ; a legend In Jazz.

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!