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Blind Willie Johnson (1897-1945), “Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed” (trad.), 1928
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
*****
reading table
Mingling with the wind
the snow comes falling;
mingling with the snow
the wind comes blowing;
by banked coals
I stretch my legs,
idle, idle,
in this grass hut
a shut-in,
and counting, find
that the second month too
like a dream
has come and gone—Ryokan (1758-1831), translated from Japanese by Burton Watson
timeless
Blind Willie Johnson (1897-1945), “God Don’t Never Change” (W. Johnson), 1929
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
Midnight frost—
I’d borrow
the scarecrow’s shirt.—Matsuo Basho, 1644-1694 (translated from Japanese by Robert Hass)
only rock ‘n’ roll
The Dirtbombs, live, San Francisco, 2008
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
sounds of Chicago
Art Ensemble of Chicago (Roscoe Mitchell, 1940-, saxophones; Joseph Jarman, 1937-2019, saxophones, flute; Lester Bowie, 1941-1999, trumpet, MCOTD Hall of Fame; Malachi Favors, 1927-2004, bass, percussion; Don Moye, 1946-, drums, percussion) with guests,* live (performance begins at 8:20), Switzerland (Lugano), 1993
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
*Amina Claudine Myers (organ, vocals), Frank Lacy (trombone), James Carter (tenor saxophone), Chicago Beau (harmonica, vocals), Herb Walker (guitar, vocals).
only rock ‘n’ roll
METZ, live (“Blind Youth Industrial Park,” “No Ceiling,” “Hail Taxi,” “Framed By The Comet’s Tail,” “A Boat To Drown In”), Toronto, 12/14/20
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lagniappe
yesterday, Chicago
timeless
Sleepy John Estes (1899 or 1900–1977; vocals, guitar), with Hammie Nixon (harmonica) and Charlie Pickett or Son Bond (guitar), “Floating Bridge” (J. Estes), 1937
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, outside Chicago (Illinois Prairie Path)
Why not begin the last week of a dark year with sounds of joy?
Paul Motian Trio (PM, drums; Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone; Bill Frisell, guitar), “Misterioso” (T. Monk), live, New York (Village Vanguard), 2005
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
sounds of Chicago
Saturday I posted the first of these two (wonderful) performances; here’s the second.
Mars Williams presents: An Ayler Xmas Vol. 4 (Night 2) (Mars Williams, tenor saxophone, toy instruments; Josh Berman, cornet; Jim Baker, piano, viola, ARP synthesizer; Krzysztof Pabian, bass; Brian Sandstrom, bass, guitar, trumpet; Steve Hunt, drums; Peter Maunu, violin), live (performance begins at 5:15), Chicago (Constellation), 12/19/20
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
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reading table
An empty day without events.
And that is why
it grew immense
as space. And suddenly
happiness of being
entered me.I heard
in my heartbeat
the birth of time
and each instant of life
one after the other
came rushing in
like priceless gifts.—Anna Swir (1909-1984), “Priceless Gifts” (translated from Polish by Czesław Miłosz and Leonard Nathan)
sounds of New Orleans
The Meters (with Lowell George, slide guitar), “Just Kissed My Baby” (Z. Modeliste, A. Neville, L. Nocentelli, G. Porter Jr.), 1974
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
sounds of Chicago
Mars Williams presents: An Ayler Xmas Vol. 4 (Night 1) (Mars Williams, tenor saxophone, toy instruments; Josh Berman, cornet; Jim Baker, piano, viola, ARP synthesizer; Krzysztof Pabian, bass; Brian Sandstrom, bass, guitar, trumpet; Steve Hunt, drums; Peter Maunu, violin), live (performance begins at 3:45), Chicago (Constellation), last night
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
*****
reading table
Such a moon—
the thief
pauses to sing.—Yosa Buson (1716-1784), translated from Japanese by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto
music clip of the day 