For a change I can actually post something related to jazz!

Today I went to the Montreal International Jazz Fest with my power-chair, Rosebud. This was the first time I've attended now in two years.

I only got to see parts of two shows: klezmer influenced Gadji-Gadjo and part of a performance by the Stage Band of Ecole de Brebouef... but the more important thing is that I got to see more of the festival grounds than a few years ago, as I learned of the access for disabled folks.

Both Couleur Jazz and CBC Radio had setups there... I couldn't get in to the Couleur Jazz one to find out if they plan to get a better transmitter (the signal strength here is lousy), but it's still great to see it represented there!

Tags: jazz, Couleur Jazz, klezmer, power-chair.

Joint Male and female performance shows - Canadian Idol - July 5^th 2006

No doubt about it, the women overall beat the men this week!

On the men's side Craig and Keith outperformed everyone (again). The first two guys (Greg and Tyler) were dull to me. They might get cut this week, but Brandon Routh was disappointing this week, and I'm annoyed by the goofing around of Chris Labelle. The judges compared his antics to those of Jacob Hoggarth 2 years ago. Difference is Jacob has far more talent.

On the ladies side Allysa continues to unimpress me, as she did for Zack Werner who gave a major burn with his comment "I'm wondering if we should have let you through.". Of the others nobody stood out to me as giving a poor performance.

Tags: Canadian Idol

Canadian Idol results show - June 28, 2006

I'm totally shocked by one of the cuts on the ladies side, and both of the men.

I expected Anna-Belle Olivia to be cut, but with Alyssa Klazek. Valerie Jalbert I figured would be cut later on, but not so soon!

Steffi D was in the bottom four with Alyssa, but ultimately was safe.

Meanwhile on the men's side, Sheldon Elter (the native Canadian) and Rob James were part of the bottom four. Rob was a surprise so soon - but Jeremy Koz and Nathan Brown as the eliminated performers were a much larger surprise - they were so good.

This is likely to be a year of surprises.

(And yes: I admit it: I'm looking to the Idol site to get the names right.)

Canadian Idol performances - June 26 & 27

Firstly, I think the guys had a much stronger performance show Monday than the ladies did Tuesday.

Two of the guys really stuck out to me for different reasons. I don't remember their last names, but Craig (the blond guy from Newfoundland) really blew me away with his high voice. The other was Grant (not sure, but he was a redhead), because he reminded me of Seth Green (Oz on Buffy, Scott Evil in Austin Powers).

I think the native guy will be cut this week (he didn't show a lot of singing talent) and the final singer, the guy with a mohawk. He doesn't strike me as serious enough about performing.

On the ladies side, many of them didn't impress me. Still, to pick two, the trippy-looking redhead and Annie Belle struck me as the least impressive. As a fellow Montrealer it pains me to judge against a home-er, but she showed great discomfort singing in her second language of English.

Wow. I haven't updated this in about a month? Time to correct that!

I've been watching the initial auditions for Canadian Idol. Some parts of Canada really have a small number of talented competitors (5 for Regina, only ONE for the Northwest Territories!). Unfortunately a guy I was rooting for (Phil) had to withdraw... in any event we're now down to the top 24 and choosing the finalists.

One thing really struck me as strange though: when they held auditions in Toronto, wasn't it strange to tell gold ticket winners "Welcome to Toronto!"? Isn't that a bit redundant to you as well?

I already have one favorite to make the finals... of course I don't remember her name at the moment though.

American Idol Finals, Results - May 24^th 2006

Anti-climactically, Taylor Hicks is the 5^th American Idol. With the revellation in the last 4 minutes of a much too long 2-hour show, it was even put out pretty much with little fanfare and a sense of haste. The producers have done that for the other male winner, Reuben Studdard as well.

The reveal followed a song that saw Taylor and Katharine singing at the same time, but not really together. They have no chemistry together.

Canadian Idol starts next Monday. Hopefully I'll have some jazz content here as well while that one is on.

I'm watching the American Idol finale right now... and I'm realizing how I misnamed both Becky AND Bucky's family names wrong. I called them both "Carlysle". It's Becky Donahoe and Bucky Covington. Sad how I got Becky's name wrong after finding her so fascinating,

I'm posting just after a duet by Katharine McPhee and Meatloaf. I was blown away by how BAD he sounded though.

American Idol Performance Show (Finals) - May 23, 2006

That's right: Finals for this year. Tomorrow we crown the new American Idol, and these posts will be done.

(Well, Canadian Idol starts next week, and I'll be blogging about it... but many of my readers aren't here in Canada, so you may not be terribly vested in the results.)

The two finalists traded top performances each round. It was an interesting touch to have them each sing a different new track - but Taylor was given the better song. In itself, that's not fair in my book.

I think Taylor Hicks will be crowned the new American Idol tomorrow night, but I think that Katharine McPhee is the more talented singer of the two.

American Idol Results Show - May 17, 2006

Well, my imagined finals are 0 for 0... both my picks have now been eliminated!

The voting was all close, to within less than 1% difference -- but Elliot Yamin was eliminated... making the finals between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee.

Now comes the finals. I think that ultimately Taylor will be the winner. He's an entertaining performer... but I find his singing style rather limited. As I said before: the world already has a Mike Macdonald and a Bruce Springsteen. I don't see Taylor bringing any new sound to the mix.

American Idol Performance Show, May 16^th 2006

Here we are at the penultimate one, and I have to say the voting will be difficult for you Americans... all three had stellar performances mixed with so-so ones.

My favorite bit of the night came when the judges were down on Katharine McPhee's first song: they gave her flack for song selection, and she pointed out "It wasn't mine!" (Clive Davis chose that first song).

Of the three, I'm guessing Taylor Hicks will be in the finals. I'm just not sure yet if Elliot or Katharine will join him yet. I'll be curious of the results tomorrow.

American Idol, Results Show - May 10, 2006

SHOCK. That's the best way I can sum it up. Tamyra Gray from season 1 level shock.

Chris Daughtry, the guy everyone saw as the frontrunner in the competition, was the person eliminated tonight.

My thoughts of the finals coming down to he and Elliott are now just my imagination.

American Idol, Performance Show of May 9^th 2006

Here we go again. :)

I hope this will be the last year for Elvis week. As I said last year it's difficult to perform his songs without performing like yet another Elvis impersonator. That's not really fair to the contestants.

Based on the performances, I think either Taylor Hicks (he seems to alternate a song acting goofy with a serious one) or Katharine McPhee (after months I finally spell her name right!) will be cut tonight. Sadly, I think Katharine will go this week -- after Becky Carlysle she's been my favorite lady -- she just didn't perform as well as she could.

Goodbye Princess P

I goofed and didn't post yesterday. I just saw the Idol results show though, and came to my keyboard right away this time.

The voting is getting more difficult... ALL the remaining group are very talented. I think now folks are just voting for who blew them away the least.

The bottom two I semi-predicted. I suspected that Elliot Yamin would be there based on his shaky first song. Paris Bennet I only suspected at the beginning of the show tonight.

With Elliot surviving however, my guess of the finals coming down to Chris Daughtry and him may still be possible.

One thing I've noticed this season however: after 4 other years, there seems less emotional upset among the performers.

Idol Results for April 26, 2006

I think it showed great integrity for Simon Cowell to apologize to Katherine McPhee on the show!

The end result was what I predicted last night, but it was also an expected result for the person cut, Kelly Pickler. She also showed a lot of class when the result was announced.

American Idol Performance Show - April 25, 2006

First off: Paula Abdul did nothing to quell the theories that she has a drinking problem tonight... she was crying at Elliot's performance, then stood up to cheer Chris about a half hour later. Such inconsistent behavior is questionable at the least.

It was a really mixed bag, the love songs. I still really dig Katherine McPhee, but the judges didn't tonight. Kellie Pickler stood out as the least impressive of the group, and I'm suspecting she'll be cut tomorrow. Taylor Hicks was great tonight -- but I'm wondering if Mike McDonald really has any more hits for him to cover.

I actually didn't like Chris Daughtry's performance tonight (it seemed off to my ear), but the judges all loved him. Go figure...

Jazz Artist Interview - Chick Corea@ jazzreview.com

Chick Corea is a perennial favorite at the Montreal Jazz Fest. Anything he produces is worthy of study to me, and to many here.

American Idol Results - April 19, 2006

I said the results often surprised me, and Wednesday was no exception!

I was sure Kelly Pickler would get cut tonight, but she was safe. The Bottom Three had two of the best singers in the group, Chris Daughtry and Paris Benet. Fortunately, neither were cut. Instead Ace Young got the axe.

I found him too nasal in general, but it's a safe bet he'll still have a great career.

American Idol Performance Show - April 18^th 2006

We're down to a very talented 7 right now. Ace is still too nasaly for my tastes, and every week I like Katherine McPhee more. The camera really loves her.

Of the current group, I'm guessing Kelly Pickler will be cut this week. I could still be surprised, but she really messed up her song last night.

Out of touch

I read a newspaper article last week about the Burlington Jazz Festival, and realized that I'm out of the loop when it comes to the newer stars of the musical genre... I read the list of several performers -- not all of them -- and realized that I didn't know most of them!

It's a moot point: while we have the free outdoor concerts here in Montreal, the Burlington one is all shows at a local theatre, and all on paid tickets. Too rich for my blood!

American Idol Results Show - April 12, 2006

I didn't get to watch the show (the first Passover seder was far more important), so I read the results on the Idol Website:

Buh-bye Bucky.

Regular readers of this site know I'm not a fan of his, and I've been surprised he wasn't Bottom Three-bound many times before... at least we now know he isn't this year's Houdini in the voting.

American Idol - April 11, 2006

As I expected, coming up with new interpretations of songs given iconic significance by Freddie Mercury was challenging, to say the least.

Based on the performances, I think Ace Young will get voted out this week. His was the least interesting of the performances.

Paris' performance to end the show both surprised me, and in the case of the song choice really moved me. To stqaqrt with her look was so much older than we've grown accustomed to in this 17-year old dynamo. The song (Show Must Go On) is one I took as a theme right after I was diagnosed with MS, so I got very emotional at a song with such meaning for me.

American Idol of April 5, 2006: Goodbye Mandiva

The results show has been over for more than an hour now, and I have to echo what Kenny Rogers said: I was heartbroken by the results this week.

I was sure that based on their performances this week either Taylor (who really didn't sound comfortable in the country genre) or Ace (I'm starting to dislike his nasal performances) would be gone. Instead it was Mandisa, who I saw as a front-runner!

Next week I'm both looking forward to and dreading. I'm a huge fan of Queen, but the group also has a very defining sound. I don't see any of the current singers able to really do justice to Freddie Mercury's performance.

Weak Idol tonight

Most of the group didn't fare well tonight. Most of them were told they made bad song choices - and based on her performance tonight, Lisa Tucker in the bottom three tomorrow wouldn't surprise me.

I always think this will be Bucky Carlisle's final shot, but if it isn't I'll suspect he'll be this year's performer who lasts longer that he should. He could fit into the group with Nikki Cox, Carmen Rassmussen, redhead John (forget his last name) and Scotty Salvo.

I'm back!

Apologies for the loud proclamation. I've been checking my WSP for ages to see if they fixed their connection problems. An inability to add new content on a blog is bad for it. I'm taking steps to fix this... I hope to have news soon. It's the paranoia in me that I won't talk of it until it happens.

In jazz-related news, I finally found a Jazz theme for my PC! If I recognize the music style it's ragtime jazz... this theme will rotate with my Dracula one in the sunnier weather.

Tags: Jazz, PC destop, blog glitches.

American Idol Ladies Show for March 7, 2006

For some reason Blogger has been giving me trouble with this site. We'll see if it works today...

Last night was the final ladies performance show for American Idol before the final 6 of their gender are chosen. I can figure one of the ladies who probably won't make it: Kaniq. She was off-tune for much of her song - what the judges politely call 'off pitch'.

Other than her I'm not sure who'll be voted out, but one thing is sure: this year's crop will not be voted out for lack of talent, more for just not having enough votes.

I don't expect I'll be able to say the same for the guys. So far only 3 of them have impressed me.

Overdue Idol Catch-up

1. The mens performance show
   

   If Randy thought this would be the mens' competition to lose, then he must have felt foolish. Of the 12 performances, I can count only 3 that were really great. A few were downright awful. When Bobby performed Copacabana I thought Jackie Gleason had come back from the dead to perform. I agreed with Simon for once: it did feel like a cabaret performance!

   Even worse was the performance by Bucky Carlisle. To my ear it sounded as if he was just growling.

2. This week's results
   

   I was 75% right from my opinions this week: both the girls eliminated I picked... Becky looked great, but her singing was mediocre (apparently she and her twin sister are in Maxim magazine. She didn't lose out) and... I think her name was Stella. She was just too timid on stage.

   I was only half right on the men. As I expected, Bobby was eliminated... but I expected Bucky to get the axe, only Patrick did instead.

   One thing really surprised me here: there were no histrionics among those cut. They all took it calmly. At least this time we didn't have a lifeless performance by a disappointed contestant. Mind you, that's always been something I don't like in theirshow format: "You just lost... so perform for us one more time!"

The first 12 Idols Sang

I was surprised by the judges on American Idol tonight: it took Simon more than 50 minutes to act nasty!

The ladies mostly either gave strong performances or at least earned another week. I really don't like the girl from New York (Brenna? I don't remember any of the names yet) but two of them stood out as the weakest: the third lady was very attractive to me but was an underwhelming singer, and the fifth one (she did a Josh Groban song) just came off sounding timid.

Tags: American Idol, Simon Cowell.

The Twins are out

Tonight was the final cuts for this year's American Idol... and neither Terell or Derell Britnam were chosen. The fact that one was already arrested and the other soon would as well (for forgery, in fact) definitely contributed... but just their full-of-themselves attitudes did it for me. Saying to the camera that they had conducted themselves as perfect gentlemen after one brother had acted like a prima donna, the other narced out his group... they came off as complete jerks.

One of the jazz crooners made the cut. I'll be rooting for him to make it to the final 10 (or 12. I don't remember if they said what it would be).

Today's American Idol show is done, and my first thought: as much as I like the Britnam twins voices, their drama queen petulance is really grating on my nerves.

The 'Brokenote Mountain' bit was a chuckler. The trio were all cut, but the way they sounded hurt my ears, so I won't lie and say it is a shame.

Tags: American Idol, Britnam twins, Brokenote Mountain.

I posted stuff for another blog here, so it's the least I can do to honor the ping here to make some new content here as well!

Year 5 has begun, meaning American Idol is back.

In very quick fashion, Simon Cowell has earned my ire: he always makes fun at the expense of the plus-size contestants.

I remember him in past years criticizing body image, but this is too much! Yes, some of these people want to lose their weight -- but it has nothing to do with their vocal talent (or lack thereof).

I'm taking the advice from George in the comments in my last post... I'm currently using Napster 2.0 to listen to the latest album by Polar Bear, Dim Lit.

The tunes are good, but I have one small criticism: the songs on the album don't seem to have a unifying theme to me. Maybe I'm missing it, but it just feels like a collection of disassociated tunes.

Tags: jazz, Polar Bear, Dim Lit, Napster 2.0

I'm listening to a collection I downloaded from Emusic awhile ago: The Early Years Volume 2, Tom Waits

Anyone who thinks he can't be melodic should definitely hear this. He's famous for the fact of sounding like a singer who has had far too many cigarrettes and whisky. He often sounds like a barely alive critter, a wailing banshee. I think these recordings were from before he achieved that state.

You may be asking, "Jeff, what does this have to do with jazz?" Well, Holly Cole recorded a fantastic album of covers of his songs, Temptation.

Tags: Emusic, Tom Waits, Holly Cole.

He wasn't involved in jazz (as far as I know, anyway), and I can only think of one song I've ever heard from him (You'll never find), but soulful smooth R&B lost a legend in Lou Rawls today at the age of 72.

Tags: R&B, Lou Rawls.

I'm sorry this blog has been down for most of the weekend. My Webspace provider just wasn't on top of it.

I'm taking steps to solve this.

I learned yesterday that CBC Radio 2 has a jazz show. Unfortunately it doesn't play all day.

Still I may well track it down. If my radio reception for it is good and steady, I may well change my radio to it.

For those of you who listen through Sirius Sattelite radio, it airs there as well.

Tags: sattelite radio, CBC Radio 2.

Now that we're in-between Christmas and New Year's Eve, there aren't many specifically themed songs that I know in the realm of jazz... so I'm just listening to more general holiday-themed songs.

Holly Cole (who I've mentioned here a lot lately) practically made her career on Christmas music. I count at least 2, maybe 3 holiday albums by her. After all her first album was Christmas music!

The other singer I can think of who fits the theme - he's often featured on CoolTV so he may well be a jazz singer - is Nat King Cole. I take any opportunity possible to listen to him, not just the holidays!

Tags: Holly Cole, jazz, CoolTV, Nat King Cole.

Last week on CoolTV I saw an older interview with the late Ray Charles. I was very dismayed to see that, like many other musicians, he was a smoker.

I now suspect the cigarrettes may have contributed to his death.

Tags: Cool TV, Ray Charles, jazz, cigarettes.

Here I am in the waning hours of Xmas Eve. On Boxing Day this year, the 8 days of Hannukah begin.

I'm right now jazzed because I got an awesom gift for this year, a color laser printer. My dad and my brother-in-law couldn't understand why I needed one, but I explained to dad my need for heavy-duty, frequent printing, as a writer and electronically published.

To all the rest of you, I hope the holidays bring you similar great cheer.

Tags: Christmas, printer, Hannukah.

Me in 2003 

When I went to my meal service Christmas Brunch, my driver thought Temptation was the first album by Holly Cole.

I knew there we more before - in fact, I own some of them - but looking at her discography, I'm realizing that I only own 2 of 5. The list (with what I own in bold):

• Christmas Blues (1989)


• Girl Talk (1990)


• Blame It On My Youth (1991)


• Don't Smoke In Bed (1993)


• It Happened One Night (1995)


• Finally Temptation (1995)

With one of my friends we own everything she put out between us, and I want to get more myself (althoughj I've heard nearly everything), but it was still interesting to read.

Tags: Holly Cole.

Coming into the X-Mas holidays, you would think Holiday carols would all I'd be listening to, right?

You would be wrong.

I'll listen to jazz any day of the year, but there's also a fantastic Christmas album by the divine Holly Cole. That's an album I can listen to at any chance.

Holly Cole and Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Lfe". My two holiday traditions.

Tags: Holly Cole, Jimmy Stewart, It's a Wonderful Life, jazz.

The better part of today I've been listening to the soundtrack to the musical Rent via Napster 2.0. Yes, I'm also a fan of musicals - and I'm hetrosexual, so that stereotype is wrong.

I've also been using it to hear a lot of Django Reinhardt's music. He was a jazz pioneer, and I've heard his name, but none of his music until now.

I also found out today that a Woody Allen film about a jazzman a few years ago was actually about Django. I've only seen a few minutes of the film (I don't even remember its name. I'll have to look it up on IMDB), but now I want to track it down.

Tags: Rent, Django Reinhardt, Woody Allen, IMDB.

I've been using Napster 2.0's Daily Playlist feature a lot now.

As more recent pop singers fill my Library I end up with folks I don't really have an interest in... but I've also been able to load up on favorites like Django Reinhardt, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins. I've also been able to discover new potential favorites like Eric Dolphy and Idris Ackamoor, so it all balances out.

Tags: Django Reinhardt, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Idris Ackamoor.

I'm taking my 1-week trial of Napster 2.0 right now. It is now available on Canada, so I gave it a try.

I don't plan to continue after my trial, but I've enjoyed downloading Miles Davis albums that I don't yet have, as well as Holly Cole material.

At the moment I'm lidtening to an album of the Best of Miles. I didn't know he recorded a musical version of Cindi Lauper's, Time After Time

Tags: Miles Davis, Holly Cole, Napster 2.0, Cindi Lauper.

I'm working on my novel as I type this, listening to streaming audio through WinAmp.

The surprising thing is that I'm not listening to Jazz! I've actually been listening to a mix of reggae (to counteract the gray sky and cold weather), and eightees music. I am, after all, a child of the 80s. :) I graduated high school in 1984.

Tags: jazz, reggae, 1980s, NaNoWriMo.

Sorry I haven't posted in a long time. NaNoWriMo started November 1^st. If you dont know what that is, it's the national novel writing month. All around the world, we writers sign up to write a 50,000 word first draft of a novel. This is my 3^rd year taking part. I also intend it to be my 3^rd victory.

The entire time I write, I tend to have radio via Itunes playing in the background. I usually listen to jazz stations, but I'm finding a great cure for upcoming winter blues is reggae music as well.

Tags: NaNoWriMo, jazz, reggae, Itunes.

Cool TV (the digital jazz station) is playing in the background at the moment.

I now know what music legend Carlos Antonio Joabim looked like. I have a CD of his music, but a static image doesn't really give a feel of a person.

In the performance Chick Correa was also playing with him. Chick I've seen several times now.

The channel plays many shows from the Montreal Jazz Fest. Since I don't see that festival much anymore, I can catch up.

Tags: jazz, Cool TV, Carlos Antonio Joabim, Chick Correa, Montreal Jazz Fest.

I've come to realize I prefer listening to Jazz MP3's rather than the radio:

When I ran out of MP3s to listen to at my gym Monday, I decided to switch to the radio tuner on my Iriver to listen to Couleur Jazz.

The reception often dropped out if I just turned a little. A shame, since they were playing songs I'd never heard.

At least I know the MP3s will stay the same quality irrelevant of whether or not I move.

Tags: jazz, Iriver, MP3, Couleur Jazz.

I've almost finished my latest podcast collection on my Iriver.

Considering how they all update within the week, I'm still falling behind with my once a week show download though.

Tags: podcasts, Iriver.

I learned this week the benefits of using regular (in this case, rechargable) batteries with my Iriver instead of the dollar store stuff:

• The dollar store ones barely last a week before they're drained.


• I've been using the same rechargable for three weeks now.

At least now I don't run through batteries so fast!

Tags: podcasts, Iriver, batteries.

Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis together. How could I resist?

Today I listened to the Mp3s of their album Dig, which I downloaded from Emusic a few months ago. I'd already listened to the solo album I got of Sonny's (Way Out West) - an album that may even surpass Global Warming as my favorite record by his if I play it enough times - and just today got to listening to this one.

This was earlier in their careers I think, before they grew past their need of being members of groups rather than superstars later, still... wow! Amazing work.

Tags: Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, jazz, Dig, Way Out West, Global Warming.

I finally got a new clock radio, hoping the new one would have a better radio tuner.

It does - but I'm still not able to get a good signal from Couleur Jazz. I was able to tune it in for a few minutes yesterday... now, it's impossible.

I have to go the digital tuner route for a radio, so I could get the most accurate signal rate. Maybe one will be available at Costco when next I go on a trip to the States

Tags: Costco, Couleur Jazz, digital radio.

Interesting: I was flipping through a magazine today and read a Sony ad about their new Flash ROM Walkmans.

Why that was interesting: I read this ad and thought how their 'new' product is really the same technology as my Iriver.

Tags: Sony, Walkman, Iriver, Flash Rom

Aruntx Podcasting Syndication Features Garage Band Music

I've been following more than a few podcasts lately. I like this sindication of the media - especially if it makes more jazz available!

Tags: jazz, podcasts

The Canadian Idol finale was tonight.

I have to say: this year, Canada got it right!

On the negative side, I feel they stretched out the show too long. At two hours, it just felt like it dragged at times. Also Rex Goudie went off-key again in the final performance.

One big negative for me was a performance by last year's winner Kaylan Porter. His record may now have gone double platinum, but I still don't like his style. Mind you the fact that I didn't vote for him last year definitely doesn't help my view - just as I'm not happy with our past mayoral winner (Pierre Bourque) especially when I voted for someone else.

(I know: not an accurate comparison, since mayors and Idol winners don't have the same importance...)

This year, they did have a nice touch though, having a performance by Dawn Bird, The lady who guides the top 10 through their whole performance.

The biggest plus though was the winner of the 2005 Canadian Idol crown: Melissa O'neil. By the end she was the most talented performer, and her skill and poise belies her 17 years. I think ultimately she may have the best career of all our contest performers to date.

Tags: Canadian Idol, Pierre Bourque, Melissa O'neil

Tonight was the final performance show for the 2005 Canadian Idol competition.

I agree with the judges: Alive (the first single the winner will release) is a hit whoever releases it. Both Rex Goudie and Melissa O'Neal gave distinct and strong performances of it.

That they had Theresa Sokyrka perform her hit from her album - and present her with her first gold record - was tremendous. Unfortunately Frodo Kaylan Porter will perform tomorrow night.

I was surprised: Rex hit a sour note in his performance of Five for Fighting's song Superman. I guess having perfect pitch means I could hear it more easily than they could.

Who should win and who probably will are two diferent performers. Melissa would be the former.

Tags: Canadian Idol, Melissa O'Neil, Rex Goudie, Theresa Sokyrka.

Luther Vandross, Smooth Crooner of R&B, Is Dead at 54

I just learned this today, although it happened back in July.

Luther performed some of the best soul of my youth, and I was really hoping he'd pull through after his stroke.

Late news, but nonetheless sad.

Tag: Luther Vandross

From one sad event to another: in less than 9 hours, it will be the 4^th anniversary of 9-11.

Four years since that tragic day - and 4 years too many that the scumbags who orchestrated it havent's been caught.

Four years, and I won't forget.

Tags: 9-11, Osama bin Laden

(You've seen a lot of different attempts at putting Technorati tags in this blog lately. I think I've found one I'll stick with.)

I just watched the Katrina Relief telethon that I taped last night. Just like the one for 9-11 years ago, I was emotional all throughout this one.

I can't find fault in any of the performances. No surprise; I'd be a cold SOB if I did. I do hope someone else recognized the final singer though.

I noticed that Kanye West only performed this time, didn't speak. His piece got edited for language quite a bit though.

I loved Chris Rock's parody of Kanye's speech at the last telethon though: it was subtle, but he started with "Bush hates midgets."

Tags: Hurricane Katrina, Telethon, Kanye West, Chris Rock

The Contemporary Jazz Lovers and Concerts Place

I don't link to many places overall, but this blog deserves it. Much as I love Jazz, Webmistress Missy offers much more in-depth reviews of recent artists and performers than I do.

American Red Cross: Give Them Help!

I've been thinking a lot about the tragedies Louisiana and other States down there have recently had due to Hurricane Katrina. I've already spoken of how the devastation of New Orleans has affected me.

The folks down there have lost their entire lives, and need the help of ev eryone.

Please donate all you can to help the recovery. The link is here.

Canadian Idol Results - September 7, 2005

Well, the results came in, and yet again - like last year - we have one extremely talented singer in the Finals, and one just OK but coasting on the drooling teen girl demographic.

After having a blowaway performance last night Aaron Walpole was eliminated. Rex Goudie was mediocre at best, but he sailed on through.

Might we be seeing another Kaylan Porter-like victory next week (meaning the more talented one loses)?

Tonight's Canadian Idol - Sept. 6, 2005

This show yet again proved just what big stars Barenaked Ladies have become in Canada.

I think we'll have another surprise in the results tomorrow night. I suspected Aaron Walpole would end up cut - then he performed. I think now, based on the performances that Rex Goudie will be cut and the Finals will be between Aaron and Melissa O'neil.

I look forward to tomorrow's results now with great interest!

The news has come out that Fats Domino was in the French Quarter of New Orleans when Katrina struck.

It was reported that he's alright though.

At least we have a small relief. Although one of his songs was used as a joke on Happy Days, he has really made a great contribution to the world of music. To lose him as well would have been an even bigger tragedy.

New Orleans Gone

I posted the last entry first, so that this would be above it.

The devastation caused there by Hurricane Katrina was mind-boggling to begin with. Today however came the statement that 90% of this great city is destroyed.

"N'awlins" is the birthplace of ragtime jazz. It's an important piece of both American and jazz history. Now it's a memory.

This really depresses me - but depression is a trifle compared to the losses there.

Canadian Idol Stunner - August 31, 2005

The results show really floored me this week. I was expecting thatg Aaron Walpole would be cut. He's talented, but as the judges have said is just too theatrical in his performances.

I already said that Elvis wasn't a great theme for the Idol competitors. The person cut for them however made my jaw drop: Suzi Rawn. On her birthday no less.

I guessed before that the finals would come down to her and Rex Goudie. Now Rex will likely be there... but maybe against Melissa O'Neill. I'm almost concerned that typing her name may hex her now...

Canadian Idol for Aug. 30, 2005

Performance night again.

First off, the songs of Elvis was a hard theme choice. His performances have generated so many impersonations that it's hard to bring something original to them.

I didn't see anything original enough to wow me, but of the four I think Aaron Walpole came off the weakest. This wasn't Suzi Rawn's week either.

Karma Works

You'll notice I have this blog still in my Blogroll, even though Sam died from breat cancer early this year.

I kept it in tribute to her. I had a few things published by DP7, the company she abd her husband Todd founded. I never met her in person, but she was still like family.

I'm listening to some podcasts with the Windows beta for IpodderX right now.

My friend Evo Terra from the Dragonpage podcast network (he and Mike Meninguez put out several science fiction 'casts) raves about this program on the Mac. Although Itunes has some problems, I find it a little more functional. Besides, it's free; IpodderX is shareware.

I needed a breath of fresh air after finally listening to the free track from Itunes. For some reason they seem to offer mostly alternative or rock songs that don't interest me.I think only Theresa Sokyrka and The Vanity Project, by the lead singer from the Barenaked Ladies tracks I've listened to more than once.

As a nice change of pace, I'm listening to Ray Charles final album, Genius Loves Company.

While I don't share the religion, his duet with Gladys Night of "Heaven Help Us All" (a song by Stevie Wonder. In one bar they showed more soul than Casey Leblanc showed period.

Today at my gym was the first time I used my new Iriver. First time I worked out to Podcasts and it was also my first time hearing Couleur Jazz in weeks!

The programers must have read my mind: while I was doing my exercises, they played one of my favorite Sonny Rollins' tracks also.

Finally, Casey Leblanc was eliminated from Canadian Idol.

As I always said, she has the vocal talent. She just didn't have the stage presence or charisma to be a performer yet. She's only 16, and you felt that on stage.

She can't come back to compete again (I think. I'm not familiar with those rules), but if she pursues this she may learn to perform as she lacks the skill to do now.

I taped Canadian Idol for later viewing tonight, because I was out.

While most of the judges were up on Casey's performance, I agreed with Zack: watching her was like watching paint dry. She went back to her old problem: technically her vocals are strong, but she has no charisma or stage presence.

Of the five people left, I'm hoping the final two will be Rex Goudy and Suzi Rawn. While their vocals weren't the best this week, they have charisma to make up for it.

I'm guessing right now, but based on the performances Melissa was the weakest this week.

I got my new Iriver working today, so now I'll be able to exercise with my new jazz MP3s!

Results night on Canadian Idol this evening...

The bottom three was composed of the three best of the Josh, Suzi and Rex. I was sure Aaron would be there this time, but he was safe.

In the end, Josh left this week.

I liked a point the judges made (I think it was Zack): the bottom three were all people who would make it in the music industry anyways.

Tuesday was Canadian Idol performance night again.

Surprisingly Casey Leblanc actually gave her best performance of the series. Based on what I heard, the bottom three would be Aaron Wampole, Josh Palmer and even more surprising Suzie Rawn. Those last two just didn't perform at their best in my opinion.

On my local news tonight was the 80^th birthday of jazz piano great Oscar Peterson.

The concert hall at my University was named for him. Canada Post will be issuing a stamp commemorating him as well.

He's one of my fellow Montrealers I'm most proud of.

I got an IRiver MP3 player / radio tuner / voice recorder I won off Ebay yesterday.

With it was included a 40 song free trial of Emusic, a legal MP3 site

Without hesitation, I took it. I now have Ray Charles final album, a classic by Sonny Rollins, a team-up between him and Miles Davis... and as my sole non-Jazz pick, a collection of Frank Zappa music.

I'm really looking forward to hearing them all soon.

While the signal for Couleur Jazz is lost to me, I've changed over to 92 FM. For my readers outside Montreal, this is a light rock radio station, and one of our rare English ones.

One thing about it bothers me (besides the lousy music): it's called "The new 92". After 10 years of that name, it isn't so new anymore.

It's official: Couleur Jazz lost signal on my clock radio again.

This drives home to me again how analog radios aren't that great for tuning anymore. Unfortunately digital ones are still too pricey for me.

On Canadian Idol Casey Leblanc is rapidly becoming this year's "success you love to hate". I still can't believe she was safe.

At least the other out-of-place teen Darryl Brunt got cut this week. The funny thing: when I first heard him, I thought he'd be the winner of the whole thing.

With 6 left, I'm not sure yet who'll win. We have three solid competitors: Rex Goudy, Josh Palmer and Suzie Rawn. While Rex is a crowd pleaser, I think Josh and Suzie are the ones most talented.

I just finished watching this week's Canadian Idol. This week's theme was Big Band / Golden Age / Standards.

Some of the performances were outstanding: Josh Palmer's When I Fall in Love comes to mind right away.

Not surprising the two 16-year olds didn't fare well: Casey Leblanc again proved to me she isn't able to sell her performances yet; Daryl Brunt... well, even the judges said he was like "Pee Wee Herman singing standards".

I'm expecting them both to be in the bottom 3 Wednesday. I'm not sure who the 3^rd will be.

I just learned Ibrahim Ferrer, an innovator of world music, just passed away at the age of 78.

He just won an award at last year's Jazz Fest. The Antonio Carlos Jobim award.

Also Peter Jennings has died as well, a victim of cancer (he announced it a few months ago). He was 67.

The 4400 is being re-aired on Space to build up to the new series launch.

This is now the first time I've seen it from the beginning. I always come in on the 4^th and 5^th show, so now I finally know where the character stories grew from.

My mind is reeling: crooner Paul Anka's latest abum Rock Swings is a mix of rock n' roll songs as crooning tunes. Couleur Jazz plays the album a lot.

Pat Boone tried to do this with heavy metal a few years ago, and it was a disaster. This one seems to be doing better.

Still, hearing Smells like teen spirit as swing is bizarre.

Well, Canadian Idol's results show was this evening. For what it's worth, I don't think Josh or Suzie deserved to be in the bottom three.

I know this is all because of Canada's votes, but I have to ask myself what Canadians are on when they hear the performances.

They keep voting for Casey Leblanc enough to be safe. She's on key, granted... but while she plays the part, I think she's too young, and doesn't have the feelings of her song choices.

Darryl Brunt... I can't help but think "boy band" everytime I hear him.

Amber Fleury was cut tonight. In other performances she was ethereal. She just didn't have "it" with the Cher song she chose, and I think it got her voted out.

I knew Tony Bennet was a jazz crooner. I'm just amazed at how melodic he's sounded.

He gets a goodly amount of play on Couleur Jazz for various songs. I just remembered him sounding off for years when I heard him before though - so this is a surprise.

Week 2 of Canadian Idol wrapped tonight. So far, it's looking to duplicate the stupider stuff on the American one.

There Scott Savvo got farther than his 'talent' deserved. Here it's Casey Leblanc. After her bouncy-cutey version of a serious and soulful Stevie Wonder hit last night I was sure she'd get the boot... but she was safe.

Instead, the much more talented Ashley Latao got cut. Her I'll actually miss.

(For those of you letches who think Casey jumping around got her votes: she's only 16, you sick freaks!)

Because I deserved some recognition:

The University of Blogging Presents to bomanj An Honorary Bachelor of Survey Science Majoring in Gossip Signed Dr. GoQuiz.com ®

Username:

Blogging Degree
From Go-Quiz.com

Milt's Page

Another lover of Jazz. How could I not link?

In my gym yesterday, Let's get it started by the Black Eyed Peas played on the radio.

It's a very catchy song, and perfect encouragement to exercise... I'm just annoyed knowing that the original song (Let's get retarded in here) had to have the lyrics changed by the Politically Correct^{stupid TM} to get widespread record play. Like we all really think they were slagging the actually mentally disabled </sarcasm>.

One neat thing from the show last night: when some of the Idol contestants flew home from practice, I recognized the airport! Since I was in Calgary at the beginning of the month, and a few contestants flew to Calgary, they arrived at the same terminal I did.

Well, one of the weak singers on Canadian Idol was cut on tonight's show. One I expected to make the bottom three (Casey) was safe.

I wonder if folks getting cut makes a difference in the end. With albums now coming out from folks cut like Jason Greely (we really need a new Stomping Tom...), Shane Wiebe (his reedy voice was painful last year) and Jacob Hobbard's band (well, him I liked)... I don't see not being the final winner hurting a career start.

Mind you, I don't expect them to get past that first album.

Your Blogging Type is Unique and Avant Garde

You're a bit ... unusual. And so is your blog. You're impulsive, and you'll often post the first thing that pops in your head. Completely uncensored, you blog tends to shock... even though that's not your intent. You tend to change your blog often, experimenting with new designs and content.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Eenterestink...

So far I've managed to keep Couleur Jazz reception on my alarm clock. I've been noticing some things about the programming though:

• They make a promise of not playing the same song twice in a 24-hour day. That would be fine - if said songs didn't then get played right off the next business day. Plus: the same songs I heard on constant loop before the station went live seem now to be a recurring part of the programming.


• A recurring theme seems to be part of the morning programming: a lot of Latin Jazz. I wasn't aware that Montreal had such a large Hispanic population to cater to.

Any comments on the small redesign of my blog?

Canadian Idol held its wildcard show tonight.

In my opinion: I found the performances mostly subdued. Only the last singer - Josh something - showed any actual charisma and presence to me.

Some tech crunch here... if you've been reading this blog for awhile, you'll notice my paragraphs are reading right once more.

I discovered this morning that Blogger is now using stricter XHTML, so I have to use full paragraph tags, not just ending a paragraph with one.

Ah well. I missed the 2005 Montreal Jazz Fest entirely.

That's fine though. Considering how I spent the first few days on my vacation in Calgary, and had the headache of a basement flood when I got home, it was just one thing too many for me to deal with. There'll always be next year.

I today learned I can get Couleur Jazz on my digital cable on TV!

Now when the reception signal on my clock radio gets bad, I'll get crystal clear reception anyway.