End of Another Week

Feeling much better after a week of recuperation from my kidney procedure. I was feeling every bit of my age the last week, but I'm finally getting back to normal. Looking forward to a nice weekend with my kids.
There's been alot going on, on a number of fronts. Karl Rove and Harriett Meiers have agreed tot testify about the US Attorney firings that occurred in 2004/2005 and also the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Seigelman. While they'll be testifying in a closed hearing, they will be testifying under oath and also will have the transcript issued upon completion of the testimony of all witnesses in that matter. So they'll avoid the spectacle of a public airing of the laundry with them sitting at a table with a phalanx of microphones and cameras shooting away while they read their statements. Everyone and his uncle is still going to report on this and they'll still have to weather the storm. I hope the issues at hand get dealt with fairly so we can move ahead and avoid this type of Nixonian practice in the future. It's no coincidence that all the people who caused trouble the last 8 years in the Bush Administration were Nixon people from the 70's. Rumsfeld, Cheney, Rove and then they trained a whole new generation of criminals, what a way to go.
The economy is still in the toilet. Seems like its' spiraling out of control and most people are standing on the sidelines while the rest of the stock market and other legalized sources of gambling going right into the abyss.
In ecourage you to read Paul Krugman in the NY Times as well as Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com both are smart, shrewd and passionate about the topics they cover. Krugman is one of the few economists who was right about the housing bubble and what was going to happen after and Greenwald has been all over the Iraq, Guantanimo and US Attorney firing issues.

Well I'm gonna call it night. Enjoy your weekend, whatever you do, and stay informed!!!
Peace,

Down for the Count

I've been down for the count the past few days. Had to get a procedure done, non invasive, but it's made me feel pretty lousy for the last few days. Getting back into the swing slowly, but still not feeling 100 percent. Feeling so lousy, I haven't been doing much, and I've had a bit too much time to think. Some of the thinking was useful much of it just chatter. One thing I thought was useful was the most important recordings in my development or life as a musician and lover of music. Without any further ado, these are the albums. They transcend genre and are all from a fairly short time span in the 70's, but not necessarily when they were recorded, just when I discovered them. The thing that they all have in common is that I NEVER tire of listening to them. I've listened for years, always come back to them and enjoy them still. They are in no particular order.
1. Peter Frampton - Something's Happening
2. Pat Martino - Joyous Lake
3. Shakti w/John McLaughlin - Natural Elements
4. Eberhard Weber and Colours - Silent Feet
5. Ralph Towner - Solo Concert
6. Joe Diorio - Peaceful Journey
7. Lenny Breau - Mo Breau
8. Ted Greene - Solo Guitar
9. Joe Pass - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1975
10. John Coltrane - Sunship
11. Jan Garbarek - Photo with.....
12. Larry Coryell - European Impressions

These albums represent the list of recordings that are "great" to me. All are of immense quality and creativity, but all have struck me in some way that makes me want to listen to them to learn them and to enjoy them over and over again.
All of these albums except for Peaceful Journey are available in some for on cd. Peaceful Journey is supposed to be released this year on Art of Life Records which is doing a great job releasing all of Joe's old Spitball Records releases from the 70's.
Peace,