Regular thoughts and incidents from the life of Jeff Boman, a writer, artist and website designer with a strange lifepath.
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.
Sorry I haven't posted in a long time. NaNoWriMo started November 1st. 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 3rd year taking part. I also intend it to be my 3rd 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.
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 learned this week the benefits of using regular (in this case, rechargable) batteries with my Iriver instead of the dollar store stuff:
At least now I don't run through batteries so fast!
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.
I've been following more than a few podcasts lately. I like this sindication of the media - especially if it makes more jazz available!
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.
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 4th 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.
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.
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)?
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.
