basement jukebox
Brother Vernard Johnson (1948-, vocals, alto saxophone), “Soul Metamorphosis” (V. Johnson, D. Ward), c. late 1960s
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
Thus spring begins: old
stupidities repeated,
new errors invented—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
never enough
Don’t “listen” to this.
Close your eyes: let the sounds inhabit you.
Then you will inhabit the sounds.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Clarinet Quintet, K. 581; Armida Quartet with Sabine Meyer (clarinet), live, Italy (Merano [aka Meran]), 2019
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
Come out to view
the truth of flowers blooming
in poverty—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
like nobody else
Blossom Dearie (1924-2009, vocals, piano), “Manhattan” (R. Rodgers, L. Hart), 1959
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
Gray hairs being plucked,
and from below my pillow
a cricket singing—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
Soundtrack to a dream I’d love to have.
Steve Reich (1936-), Nagoya Marimbas (1994); ensemble 0, live, France (Pau), 2010
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
. . . life and the memory of it so compressed
they’ve turned into each other. Which is which?—Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979), from “Poem”
alone
Joe Morris (1955-, guitar), live (Quarantine Concert presented by Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago), 5/1/20
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
We live in reality without possession or occupation and the love of reality unpossessed transfigures us.
—William Bronk (1918-1999, MCOTD Hall of Fame), “Desire and Denial”
never enough
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), Ballade No. 1 in G minor; Krystian Zimerman (piano, 1956-), live, Vienna, 1987
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Chicago (Columbus Park)
alone
Steve Baczkowski (baritone saxophone), live, Buffalo, N.Y., 4/3/20
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lagniappe
reading table
wastepaper kite—
after a quick dusting off
rising to the sky—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), translated from Japanese by David G. Lanoue
back to church
Mt. Do-Well Baptist Church Hymn Choir, “You’re Gonna Need a Friend,” live, McConnells, S.C., 1991
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
streaming
Today, at 3 p.m. (ET), Yo-Yo Ma will be performing all six of Bach’s suites for unaccompanied cello. I heard him play these pieces last summer at Chicago’s Millennium Park. One-word review: breathtaking.
alone
Torbjön Zetterberg (1976-, bass), live (Quarantine Concert presented by Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago), Zengården Monastery, Sweden, 4/18/20
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
As long as I don’t aim,
I won’t miss.
With the catalpa bow,
I shoot an arrow
toward the open sky.—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Kazuaki Tanahashi
only rock ‘n’ roll
PJ Harvey, live, London, 2004
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
Falling blossoms.
Blossoms in bloom are also
falling blossoms.—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Kazuaki Tanahashi
music clip of the day 