like nobody else
Ran Blake (1935-), “‘Round Midnight” (T. Monk), live, Italy (Milan), 2015
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lagniappe
reading table
Not quite dark yet
and the stars shining
above the withered fields.—Yosa Buson (1716-1783), translated from Japanese by Robert Hass
like nobody else
How about a trip to Paris?
Blossom Dearie (1924-2009), “C’est le Printemps” (“It Might as Well Be Spring”)
(R. Rodgers, O. Hammerstein II; adaptation, J. Sablon), “Plus je t’embrasse” (“Heart of My Heart”) (B. Ryan; adaptation, Max François), live, Paris, 1961
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lagniappe
reading table
Autumn again
getting old is like
a bird flying into a cloud—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by David Young
two takes
“God Has Smiled on Me” (I. Jones)
Don Pullen (piano), George Adams (tenor saxophone), live, Italy (Perugia), 1984
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Rev. James Cleveland, Oh Happy Day, 2004
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lagniappe
baseball: Chicago Cubs
“There’s a favorite saying in Chicago,’’ [Billy] Williams said, “I hope they do it in my lifetime.’ So everybody who’s living today, got to witness this.”
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“I can’t put this into words,’’ said [Kerry] Wood, whose team was five outs away from the 2003 World Series, only for the city to be introduced to Steve Bartman.
“It’s epic. It’s amazing. What this team has done, and what they’ve done for the city and for the organization, it’s a mind-blowing experience.
“These guys come out, unaffected by the history, and we’re in a place we haven’t been in a long time.
“Now, they’ve set themselves in history, and they’re going to be linked forever.’’
***
[T]he average age of the Game 6 starting lineup was 23.
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“There has been so much emotion over the years from this fan base,” Cubs outfielder Ben Zobrist said. “It’s not just Chicago. It’s not just Illinois. It’s all over the country. It’s all over the world.’’
Hard to believe that four years ago, these Cubs were 100-game losers, and a laughingstock.
Today, they are champions of the National League, with hopes of bringing home their first World Series title since the Teddy Roosevelt administration, back in 1908.
***
“I came here because I wanted to win in Chicago,’’’’ said Cubs starter Jon Lester, who shared the NLCS MVP award with second baseman Javier Baez. “It’s unbelievable to be part of it. We still have a little ways to go, but we can celebrate.
“We’re going to have a good time tonight, get drunk a little bit with everyone else, and then we’ll get ready for Cleveland.’’
***
“To stand on that platform afterwards,’’ Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, “and you’re looking at the ballpark and the fans and the “W’ flags everywhere. I think about the fans, and their parents, and their grandparents, and great-grandparents, and everything else that’s been going on here for a while.’’
***
This game really wasn’t about suspense, but inevitability.
It was over in the first inning when the great Kershaw – who pitched seven scoreless innings here in blanking the Cubs in Game 2 – gave up two first-inning runs for the first time in 44 starts.
Kyle Hendricks, the major league’s ERA leader, who was acquired four years ago from Texas for Ryan Dempster, suffocated the Dodgers’ lineup. He gave up a leadoff single to Andrew Toles in the first inning, and went 86 pitches until he gave up another one.
By night’s end, the Cubs had outscored the Dodgers 23-6 since falling in a 2-1 hole in L.A.
“They were relentless,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You hate to have sour grapes, but the better team won the series.’’
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“I love being in a city that’s playing October baseball where you can feel everybody captivated by the ballclub,’’ [Theo] Epstein said. “Everybody is tired from staying up late, prioritizing baseball above anything else.
“You look around, you smile, you soak it all in, and it takes your breath away.’’
The Cubs are in the World Series.
This I could listen to all day.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Three Voices (1982); Sonya Holowell (live and recorded voices), Australia (Sydney), 2016
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lagniappe
reading table
Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer.
—Simone Weil (1909-1943)
*****
baseball: Chicago Cubs
Greg Maddux on tonight’s starting pitcher, Kyle Hendricks:
If it was a radar contest, then why play the game, right? Velocity is nice, but command and movement are better.
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He has the ability to throw a two-seam fastball to both sides of the plate. Most pitchers are four-seam to one side and two-seam to the other. If you can throw your two-seamer to both sides of the plate, that’s an advantage to the pitcher.
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He has the ability to recognize when a hitter is sitting on a certain pitch and throw something else.
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He relies on the low fastball that sinks pretty good. Very good at trying to keep the ball in front of the outfield with that pitch. That’s what it’s about—locating your fastball, changing speeds and keeping the ball in the ballpark.
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He’s fun to watch.
sounds of Chicago
Common (with Robert Glasper [keyboards], Bilal [vocals], et al.), “I Used To Love H.E.R.,” “Letter To The Free,” “The Day The Women Took Over,” “Little Chicago Boy,” live, Washington, D.C. (White House Library), 10/3/16
sounds of New York
Nate Wooley Quartet (NW, trumpet, compositions; Chris Pitsiokos, alto saxophone; Brandon Lopez, bass; Dre Hocevar, drums), live, New York, 10/6/16
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lagniappe
reading table
Seen in plain daylight
the firefly’s nothing but
an insect—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694; translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill)
more
Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994), Preludes and Fugue for 13 Solo Strings (1972); Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra (Witold Lutoslawski, cond.), live, Warsaw, 1973
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lagniappe
art beat
Danny Lyon (1942-), New York (Lower Manhattan), late 1960s
wake up!
Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994), Partita for violin and piano (1984); Michael Foyle (violin) & Maksim Štšura (piano), live, London, 2015
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lagniappe
art beat
Danny Lyon (1942-), New York (Lower Manhattan), late 1960s
old school
Concert Supremes (Louisiana), “It’s Alright,” live
music clip of the day 