Tuesday, April 17, 2007

God bless those affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy.

And shame on the media who have decided to place the blame for this incident squarely on university administration and law enforcement officers.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Don't miss it!


Grammy-Award winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin will be holding a saxophone clinic at Paige's Music in Indianapolis on April 24th at 6:30 pm. Jeff plays with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, one of my all-time favorite groups. If you are a sax player, a jazzer, or just want to know how this guy can fit two saxophone mouthpieces in his mouth at the same time (dirty!), I recommend you check it out...the guy is absolutely brilliant.
(And for more Jeff in Indy, come to the Jazz Kitchen in Broad Ripple on May 13th where he will be playing with his Mu'tet. For more info: www.jeffcoffin.com.)

Thursday, April 12, 2007

While I am commenting on things Heidi will probably disagree with....

Let me preface this whole post by saying that I am an absolute music snob. Those who know me know that I never listen to Top 40 radio - I listen to a lot of jazz, Broadway, soul, and anything recommended by my brother, Kyle, who has the best musical tastes of anyone I know. My favorites musicians run the gamut from Jamie Cullum to Bela Fleck to Alison Krauss to Pat Metheny to Michael Brecker to Tower of Power, etc.

That being said:

Y'all remember back inthe good ol' days when I was recapping American Idol...you know, back when Idol was good. Well, if you do - you will recall that I was a huge fan of one Elliott Yamin The adorable guy with the funky teeth and the killer soul and R&B sound. Well, the funky teeth have been replaced by veneers (and, I hate to say it, but they look a bit like Chiclets stuck in his head), but the voice is still there. Oh yeah....I bought his self-titled album on iTunes. And let me just say how much I love it.

Yes, it still has the same production quality of every other Idol's first album (a little too clean, a little too pop), but it is so very clear that this guy has a phenomenal voice and musicality that I believe that been missing from every Idol that has come before him....and apparently after him (read: San-effing-jaya). Seriously. If you are a pop fan, get this album. If you are even an R&B fan, get this album. This boy can saaaang. And he does a cover of one of my top ten favorite songs ever, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" - just awesome.

I really think that this is the best male voice that has come out of Idol yet (yes, even better than Clay Aiken - and for me, that is saying something)...and with a little more time and experience, Elliott Yamin could have a significant musical career ahead of him.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

"Thank God You're Here..."

Is anyone else watching this show on NBC? It may just be my odd and unfailing love for Dave Foley that I am watching (seriously, I have had the biggest crush on him ever since Kids in the Hall and News Radio), but I am really enjoying it.

If you don't know what I am talking about - TGYH is an improv "game" show, somewhat similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway? - only they use well-known actors...Jennifer Coolidge, Wayne Knight, Kevin Nealon, etc. in the different sketch scenes. David Alan Grier (of In Living Color) is the host and Dave Foley is the "judge." It's pretty damn funny...and there's nothing else on at that time....so yeah, I am hooked. These actors are put in costumes, and sent through a door where someone greets them with "Thank God you're here!" and the actors are thrown into a scene. Hilarious. One of my favorites so far: Joel McHale (from The Soup...or Talk Soup...or whatever the eff it is called) - just fantastic. Love him.

And Dave Foley.