Jazz

That was a hell of a storm this afternoon, I must say. Looks like the perfect excuse for me to skip town and head on down to Savannah. Got a week-long jazz festival coming up there next week, and Lord knows I won't never pass up the opportunity to be at the center of a celebration of what's mine. Could be I'll stay down that way for the winter; I never did adjust real well to the cold.

And that word going 'round, about that Molly Ringwald girl putting out her own jazz album? I got nothing to do with that piece of ridiculousness. Some folk just ain't meant to be mine.

Jazzmobile's rolling on through again, taking my sweet sound to folk all over this area. Best of both worlds, combining that wandering-minstrel thing so many of us never got rid of with the need to share and create music with others. If it weren't so blessedly hot out, I'd go help them out. But right now, all I want to do is lay on the floor, turn the air-conditioning up real cold, and listen to Coltrane until I can't think about nothing else. Be 43 years next week since we lost him, and I still ain't tired of that man's sound.

...Hell, if I'm listening to all his recordings I might could still be in the exact same place when the 17th rolls around; he sure was prolific in the short time we had him. Sounds like a good way to spend the week.

Summertime, and the living is easy. Weather's glorious, jazz festivals are popping up all over the country, and the summer lineup at the Vanguard is positively delicious. Maybe I'll see if Lorraine can find a few spare hours in that busy schedule for some recording, I got the itch to create something and the lovely lady's always treated me real good. Anyone else feel like some studio time?

She was a class all her own, my Lena. There was a woman who didn't take shit from man, life, Hollywood, nobody. And Lord, could she sing. How many of these young musicians today could achieve even half the things she accomplished in her lifetime? Won't never be another like her, and I'm sure gonna miss her.

Couldn't make it down there in time for this weekend, but next weekend's gonna find me at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Dedicated tents for jazz, blues, gospel, cajun & zydeco, brass bands, world music... mm, cher, it's like a goddamn feast for your ears. I might could head that way as early as Tuesday, see what other events are happening 'round those parts. Kentucky Derby, nothing. Next weekend Jazz Fest is where it's at. Maybe I'll take a ramble westward when I'm done, see just what has got my precious darlings so curiously vague. I don't like secrets when I ain't in on the joke.

Got the urge to move again, been in one place far too long. I guess seeing half the family wandering off on their own trips made me antsy for one of my own. Far be it from me to say no when there's so much country to roam! Still, a roadtrip ain't no fun by your lonesome. I'll take a quick hop out Chicago way, maybe stop in New Orleans on my way back. Always something wild and fun to be had in that crazy, darling city.

But first, I gotta see a man about a guitar, a trumpet, and an upright bass, in no particular order. Ain't no use in knowing how to play something if you don't actually play it now and again, yeah?

Nice lazy weekend. Got the Juilliard Jazz Brunch tomorrow morning at the Blue Note, then nothing until Monday. Then I got Beka Gochiashvili playing at the Birdland. Thirteen years old and already such a talented jazz pianist, the sweet boy. I don't see him near enough, busy as he is with his classes at Juilliard. I think I'll take him to lunch Monday and see what I can inspire in my precious little prodigy.

Think I might take to the stage somewhere this weekend in the meantime. It has been entirely too long since I performed for any kind of audience aside from the strays outside my fire escape.

Well, there's been entirely too much excitement in this town for my taste. I think I'll meander elsewhere for a spell. Other cities, other clubs to visit. New York ain't the only one with a good jazz scene.

If I hurry, I can catch the last couple days of the Portland Jazz Festival. Ain't been out that way in ages; I'd like to see what my sweet children are doing over there. But don't you worry none, NYC, I have a feeling I'll be back. I say it's too much, but all this drama does provide a body with some damn fine entertainment now and again.

One thing I got to say about this town, she sure knows how to throw a party and she does it often! Today and tomorrow I'll be at the Winter Jazzfest, running off my feet trying to see all the acts I can. Anyone as has a mind to brave the chill oughta come on down; drinks are on me.

Hazel, sug, did I see you mention something about bringing a jazz outfit to your studio? If it ain't trouble, I'd like to come by and give them a listen sometime. I'll even promise to bring goodies and not meddle or fuss none, if that sweetens the deal.

Sweet mercy. Ain't nothing ever tasted this good ever, I swear on my life.

Suppose I oughta go apologize to the lady next door for threatening to kick her dog if it didn't quit jumping on my leg while I was trying to have a smoke yesterday.

I must've forgot how much work it takes to get one's family under one roof -- I've been running myself to exhaustion and things still ain't near ready. I know, I got a week and a couple days before, but the cooking's gotta get started by this time next week or there won't be near enough to feed everyone. Dessert alone's gonna take a full day if not more! I swear, the things I do for love of y'all...

All y'all who are coming, show up at mine around, oh, five-ish? Anyone who wants to show up earlier will get roped into helping me cook and set up. Any latecomers will, of course, be sternly lectured for not letting me know they was coming, but the door'll still be open for those of my sweet family as chooses to just wander on in.

Oh, and who's gonna earn themselves rights to the first pie by offering my Blues a ride over? No need to give him a ride after; I expect I'll be making up a couple of temporary beds when I get done mourning the state of my liquor cabinet.

Edit: Fine, yeah, I give. If any of y'all got significant others you want to bring along, go ahead. Lord only knows how many of 'em won't have a family gathering like this.

[Music Gods]

Mes chéris, there are twenty days until Thanksgiving and I need to know now, how many of you may I count on seeing at my table this year? I don't care about the meaning of the holiday and the oppression and commercialism or whatever you young things are complaining about this year -- it's just about the only day of the year I have an excuse to gather up my family and stuff them full of the good home cooking I know they ain't eating.

There'll at least be bourbon, sweet potatoes, and pecan pie. Surely that's gotta tempt some of y'all into coming. Don't make an old lady spend the holiday all alone, or I'll be mighty displeased.

'Fraid I might be a bit late to the Halloween revels tonight, children. My darling boy Wynton's in town finishing up a three-night event at Lincoln Center and I wouldn't miss a second. Damn, but that man can play. Go on, give this a listen and then just try and tell me he ain't one of the most talented musicians --in any genre-- of the past twenty-odd years.

( Wynton Marsalis Performing with the LCO )

I've been too much in my own head and my own music lately. Got myself in a rut, I think. Got to go exploring, take in the music of my sweet family that's so popular lately. I want to start with something that's got a beat -- I want to dance.

Course, ain't no fun going out all by my lonesome. I'll have to find me someone who knows how to give a girl a good time.

Is it that time again? I love drabbles! even if I never actually wrote the prompts I was given last time, like the lazy procrastinator I am I've gained and lost some characters since the last drabble go-round, so this round should be fun! Any pairing/prompt/etc, and the more the merrier! I have a full day of travel tomorrow including lots of waiting time at the airport(s), so hit me with as many drabbles as you'd like so I can amuse myself.

My babies include:
-Jazz
-Johnny Reb
-Laudanum
-Biological Warfare
-Laura James

George Russell, Composer Whose Theories Sent Jazz in a New Direction, Dies at 86

I don't expect y'all to know who he was, but George was something special. Alongside Davis and Coltrane, he was one of the pioneers of modal jazz. Now, I must admit I never did finish reading “The Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization for Improvisation," which was his book where he laid out the basic theories behind modal jazz's use of the Lydian mode. But I understood him. It was always all about the music.

I think I want to go home for a bit. I ain't been back since... well, suffice it to say, I ran away left when Prohibition was still in effect. Been away too long, but it's time I returned. Just to see how things've changed. Brother-mine, want to come along? No fretting about me running off again if you run off too!

Aw, hell. I got all wrapped up in traveling and coming home to my brother that I plumb forgot about the seventeenth. My Billie, my Lady Day, poor sweet honey who died under arrest for yet another set of trumped-up drug possession charges.

Not the first time I've forgotten. I never did seem to do right by that child. She made me itch for things I swore I'd given up, and I figured it was just better for the both of us if I stayed away. Maybe I should've stayed closer. Could've stopped... I dunno. Could've fucking tried.

Anyone needs me, I'll be down by the Birdland. It's open mic tomorrow night and I do believe I could be persuaded to sing again.

I'm back, mes enfants. Didn't miss me too terribly, did you? I headed out Chicago way to check out a couple of up-and-comers at the Green Hill, they weren't bad. There's potential. Had to give them a few pointers, though -- classical training won't do you a lick of good if you don't got the soul for the music, you know?

( Oh, your daddy's rich and your mama's good-looking, so hush little baby, don't you cry )