A Very Hank Mobley Halloween

Art Blakey in Heaven won't shut up about how he's the greatest and isn't it cool that he's listed right under Hank Mobley in the credits for Soul Station, not listed last like most drummers, but then D'Angelo and Jack DeJohnette stomp his goofy ass. Jesus, like the burned out prison warden he basically is, … Continue reading A Very Hank Mobley Halloween →

States

Apropos of nothing, a wine-colored rug. Toys everywhere. A book about spiders. Gunn-Truscinski Duo / Bay Head. Key track: Seagull for Chuck Berry. Outside, garbage trucks and men yelling. Unexplained helicopters overhead. Betty said she saw a purple school bus. There was no purple school bus. There is no purple school bus. The title of … Continue reading States →

Falling

It is September 10th. Spiders are making webs all around my house. It got dark tonight at 7:30. There are guns everywhere. Last year at exactly this time I went up north by myself and stared at a fire while listening to John Coltrane for three days. I fished for brook trout, colorful as the … Continue reading Falling →

Circle

I usually have a song taking up primary residence in my head. These days, it's "Circle," the Miles Davis song from 1967's Miles Smiles. As I said in my last post, I've been a little obsessed with Miles Smiles for a while now. The first three tracks are particularly addictive for me, and "Circle" might … Continue reading Circle →

A LOVE SUPREME vs WONDERSTATE COLOMBIA SIERRA MORENA

A Love Supreme: Dry and mid-range-y, sonically speaking. Colombia Sierra Morena: Jammy and thick. Both have much to say. An abundance. Maybe an overabundance. (Didn't Miles tell Trane to play less?) Both are bursting and intense. Urgent. The coffee is a unique varietal, pink bourbon. A Love Supreme is also a unique varietal, a record … Continue reading A LOVE SUPREME vs WONDERSTATE COLOMBIA SIERRA MORENA →

SONNY CLARK versus COMISKI PARK WEST COAST IPA

I’d like to very insincerely welcome you to a new feature, brought to you by the good folks at THE OWL HEAD SHOE HORN. This is JAZZ VERSUS A BEVERAGE. Each installment promises a sort of shootout between a jazz record and a cup of something. If you’re thinking, “You goofy bastard, that doesn’t make … Continue reading SONNY CLARK versus COMISKI PARK WEST COAST IPA →

Analog Stuff

I was asked recently to talk briefly to my coworkers about “three obsessions.” I chose Bill Evans, “analog stuff,” and physics. “Analog Stuff” is a lazy bit of language, but I wasn’t sure how else to refer to a category that includes listening to music on vinyl versus digital; recording music on tape instead of … Continue reading Analog Stuff →

Homefish

If my geographical life were represented via pie chart, the largest slice would be labeled MIDWEST. I grew up in and around Green Bay; went to college in Marquette, MI; had stints in Milwaukee and Madison. But then there was that nine year stretch when I lived 2,200 miles away in Seattle and played at … Continue reading Homefish →

D’Angelo Verilli / “Spanish Joint”

I’ve decided to take on a preposterous challenge. I will write about a D’Angelo song every day. Or, at least, most days. Or, at least, some days. To be honest, I don’t know where I got the idea to do this. I’m just the kind of guy who comes up with cool ideas like this … Continue reading D’Angelo Verilli / “Spanish Joint” →

Billy and Bobby

Arrrrrrrrr! Billy! Look to the western horizon! See there! A glorious stag! Wait, how's that? Wh....Oooooh I see him now! Majestic! Aye, Bobby! Silhouetted against the fading crimson light, crepuscular and regal, a beast the likes of which thine eyes have ever partaken! Now to fell the stag and set about murdering yonder upstream sportsman!