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|December 19, 2012, 06:51 AM
Join Date: May 11, 2006
Location: Deep East Texas
Posts: 1,806
The majority of the hogs we have are black...but we also have other solid colors (Reddish, Tan, Buff), then mixed colors (black and white, red and black).
The striped pigs above will likely turn all black or dark red as they grow up.
No matter the color...they are equally undesirable.
|December 19, 2012, 07:14 AM
Join Date: October 7, 2011
Posts: 1,456
Now that's what I call a target-rich environment. If only I still lived in Texas...
"The great object is that every man be armed." - Patrick Henry
|December 22, 2012, 01:07 PM
Join Date: May 11, 2006
Location: Deep East Texas
Posts: 1,806
Have a few free days...
Its a start anyway.
Four Boars and a Sow.
But . looking to catch up with this guy.
|December 22, 2012, 03:30 PM
Join Date: July 7, 2012
Location: Salem Or
Posts: 296
So did you get em with the pile-driver? Looks like someone should be having a pretty good bbq.
|December 22, 2012, 03:33 PM
Join Date: July 7, 2012
Location: Salem Or
Posts: 296
Wow, I just noticed those cutters. Man he's a bigun.
|December 22, 2012, 05:13 PM
Join Date: March 20, 2003
Location: At The Range
Posts: 3,807
Nice Ford Bronco...'85, '86 maybe?
Nice job on the pigs. .458 SOCOM?
Just my .02,
Train until your Heroes are your Rivals
|December 22, 2012, 05:32 PM
Join Date: February 16, 2007
Location: S.E. OHIO
Posts: 853
It's a shame you don't eat pig. It is a bigger shame I'm not there to take one off your hands.
Honest officer this is my only log book.
The only use of a handgun is to get you from where you are, to where your rifle is.
Rome is burning............pass the popcorn.
|December 23, 2012, 12:40 AM
Join Date: September 2, 2011
Location: Pinjarra Western Australia
Posts: 11
It is a very good start Flintknapper well done
Merry Xmas to all
|December 23, 2012, 10:05 PM
Join Date: May 11, 2006
Location: Deep East Texas
Posts: 1,806
What a crazy day!
Got a small boar for my Birthday this evening.
But it was looking pretty grim when the hunt first started.
Yesterday evening I went to my stand about 5:15 p.m. only to scare off a group of pigs that were already there.
Stayed on stand until 10:00 p.m. then left (no pigs). Got the card from the game-cam this morning and the pigs had come back in at 11:10 p.m. (of course).
O.K., I figure I'll just go back this evening (extra early) at 4:30 p.m. and be ready for them when they show up. I rested up during the day planning on staying up late if need be.
Well, that was a good 'plan'…..BUT pigs have 'plans' too. This evening……they had a similar plan ( to ALSO to show up early).
When I got there….ALL of the corn was gone and I could see three little black pigs disappearing into the woods at the end of the logging road.
So now….there isn't any corn left on the ground…even IF something comes back.
Not to be discouraged….I trekked over to an automatic feeder I have set up at another site.
Spun the motor by hand until I got a few handfuls of corn on the ground, put some in my coat pocket and went back to the first bait site. Threw the corn out and got on stand. Not the ideal set up…but what the heck.
I hadn't been on stand 30 minutes when a bunch of mosquitos showed up. Come on guys…this is late December and it's in the mid 70's at dark thirty.
The wind finally picked up (front coming) and that blew the mosquitos away (thank you) but that isn't particularly good for hog hunting.
On top of that, my family members (over the next hour) are texting me "Happy Birthday". Finally….all of that stops and I am able to concentrate on the hog lights I have set up over the bait.
All is well until I bend over to put the Thermacell on the floor and I get a darn nosebleed! What the heck?
Not one of those "wipe it on your shirt sleeve and it stops" kind of nosebleed…but a steady drip, drip, drip.
O.K……. I'll just cut a piece off the top of one of my socks and put it in my nose. In the future I WILL take tissues.
There I am….. debating whether to just go to house or wait it out…when I see a shape approaching the light. I didn't even bother to get my binoculars up, just got my SOCOM up and ready.
At this point…I was going to shoot the first hog that came in and then go to the house.
I watched for a minute to see if any other hogs were with him…but there was not. Even at 125 yds. I could see him clearly under the light.
I settled the crosshair in the middle of his shoulder and sent a 405 gr. Remy Softpoint his way. The hog went straight down but the recoil started my nose REALLY dripping, sheeesh. All in all...I don't know who bled the most.
The bullet exited on the point of the shoulder on the off side (hard to see in the awful phone pics by flashlight).
Anyway, there is one less hog out there. I will try to get the others over the next few days.
I guess I'll have to go to down there right after lunch. Crazy pigs!
Last edited by Flintknapper; December 24, 2012 at 08:58 AM.
|December 23, 2012, 11:59 PM
Join Date: January 12, 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,522
Happy birthday, Flintknapper!
I was nowhere near where it happened!
|December 24, 2012, 07:26 AM
Join Date: June 5, 2011
Location: Dallas, Republic of Texas
Posts: 1,057
Oooh. Look Flint. You got a hog for your birthday! Maybe you'll get an entire sounder for Christmas!
America: Stand and FIGHT!
Support the entire Constitution. Not just the parts you like.
|December 24, 2012, 09:05 AM
Join Date: May 11, 2006
Location: Deep East Texas
Posts: 1,806
|December 24, 2012, 12:40 PM
Join Date: June 5, 2011
Location: Dallas, Republic of Texas
Posts: 1,057
I hear ya. I was just poking some fun at you Sir.
Please enjoy the rest of the holidays and don't let those pork rinds on hooves give you an ulcer!
America: Stand and FIGHT!
Support the entire Constitution. Not just the parts you like.
|December 24, 2012, 07:57 PM
Join Date: January 3, 2010
Location: Lo-cal So.Cal. where the money is plastic & the people are too.
Posts: 145
Hey, I've read about a disease some of the razorbacks in TX [& other southern states?] have called "pseudorabies." Apparently leads to lots of piglet deaths etc. My only question is whether [like many pig maladies] it's transmissible to humans & would therefore make slaughtering & eating any of these wild hogs you're hunting a non-starter?
|December 24, 2012, 10:56 PM
Join Date: December 16, 2009
Location: texas
Posts: 166
AFAIK if you cook it to over 170 degrees, you are good to go.
I'm the BMW guy to talk to.
|December 25, 2012, 06:53 PM
Join Date: December 20, 2012
Location: Hell
Posts: 190
Thank you Flintknapper for one of the most entertaining and informative threads on this site.
As a feral pig hater I'm vastly cheered to see so many animals being removed from the environment.
The local biodiversity can only improve.
Here in Australia we too have a feral pig problem and they adapt so well that they are a wide spread issue.
Trapping is fairly common here and I was interested to see what you have been using for bait.
Do you use corn exclusively?
Other grains?
Meat? carcasses? road kill? Carcasses of the pigs you've already shot?
Here we use all those to good effect but the one thing the feral pigs here just can't seem to resist is over ripe bananas.
No, I'm not joking.
Those brown splotched, over ripe bananas that the green grocer can't sell.
Used much the same way as you use your corn.
It might be an interesting exercise to put out a few hands along with your corn and set up the trail cam to see if your American feral hogs like them.
If nothing else the other wild life will enjoy the treat.
Last edited by Ms_Dragon; December 25, 2012 at 07:00 PM.
|December 25, 2012, 11:38 PM
Join Date: March 19, 2009
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 2,282
It's the decay smell of the banana - it draws deer as well as hogs.
"I shoot my gun at the moon like a primitive hick!" ~ dammitism
|December 26, 2012, 12:09 AM
Join Date: December 16, 2011
Location: Kansas
Posts: 69
I've also heard of Strawberry kool-aid for the same reason...strong smell.
|December 26, 2012, 11:28 AM
Join Date: June 7, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 5
Rasberry jello powder on top of corn works well. We will use strawberry koolaid when I can not find jello powder. We dig hole and bate every 4-6 inches as we fill hole with corn and powder on top of ground,they will dig pretty deep to get all corn. Our ground is sand similar to beach sand.
|December 26, 2012, 08:33 PM
Join Date: February 5, 2011
Location: Belton, Texas
Posts: 50
Just finished reading all 52 pages in five settings over the past 24 hours or so. This has been the most enlightening thread ever!!!!
I live on 250 acres that is in the Texas Wildlife Management Program in Deep Central Texas. I currently have eight feeders out with a fifty gallon water tank by each but so far have only seen hog evidence one time several years ago. This is good...
I understand they are in Bell County but just not here. I have no year round water source so I stay busy hauling water. This might be my salvation.
We are in one of the driest parts of Central Texas and that may be part of the problem (solution). in the last four months I have had 0.6 inches of rain and it took 5 systems to get that including the one that passed through on its way to Mobile, Alabama yesterday. My deer population has dropped dramatically also; even the coyotes have disappeared (with some assistance from grandsons).
Before anyone asks, I have two grandsons that are equipped with hardware and disposition to handle anything that shows up on the place other than lawyers...
Joe Dorn, W5VEX
Belton, Texas
NRA Benefactor, NRA-ILA Donor
GOA, SAF & TSRA Life
|December 29, 2012, 01:48 PM
Join Date: December 19, 2012
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 49
I just finished reading the whole thread. Wow, good stuff.
I grew up hunting deer and feral hogs in LLano county, Texas. There are tons of both in the county. My little league baseball coach was a trapper/seller that did some work on family land. This thread has it all pretty well covered, but I had a question/comment or two.
1. Have you tried rooter type doors, so that additional hogs can push in after the trap has been tripped? A lot of folks I know/knew don't even use trip wires but use rooter doors and other methods of allowing multiples to push in. Coach used a cattle trailer converted with a one-way door. He did well for a while, but I reckon the hogs eventually got trap-shy, because production fell off.
2. Previous posts have provided evidence of pigs eating carrion, but I have witnessed it first-hand. A hog I put a friend on was in a creekbed intently devouring something. After the shot, we walked up and found that it was a rotting hog.
3. Grandpa had paying hunters coming in from the big city (Houston). Their idiotic exploits are legendary, including:
a. The old man came in one evening to see the "mule deer" hanging in a tree. It was grandpa's mule. (There are no mule deer in those parts anyway.) "Look Mr. XXXXXX, we got us a mule deer". Grandpa was not happy, so he told them, "That's a fine one." They left with it and took it to the meat processing place in town, where they most likely got laughed at pretty good.
b. Later on, some guys from the same bunch actually killed deer. Grandpa told them that he would be so kind as to remove the poison glands before they took the deer to processing. (He took the tenderloins from all their kills to compensate himself for the mule.)
c. Guys fairly regularly wounded animals without recovering them and brought animals in with anywhere from 3 to 5 bullet wounds, and stories of how hard hogs are to kill.
d. A guy shot a black cow thinking it was a turkey.
e. Guys would bring rifles still in boxes, and expect to bolt scopes on and go shoot animals without even zeroing the scopes. Wannabe soldier types would come wanting to "test out" their weapons on live animals, to see what they could do. Wannabe warrior types would sometimes hunt by running through the pastures all done up in camo and face paint.
f. A guy with a semi-auto deer rifle emptied his magazine and wounded two out of several he was firing at. When pops went out a good several minutes after the shots, the two wounded deer were there, still alive, but down. When informed that the two deer (butt shot and gut shot) were still alive, the guy threw his rifle down onto the ground movie style, and proceeded to jump on and stab the deer to death.
Those and many others are why landowners don't let just anybody come and "help out" with the hog problem.
|December 29, 2012, 10:24 PM
Join Date: May 11, 2006
Location: Deep East Texas
Posts: 1,806
Its not like me to let hogs walk ..but I did this afternoon.
A group of 7 small hogs (40 lbs. each) came in not 5 minutes after I got on stand.
I just couldn't bring myself to waste a .458 bullet on one of those little footballs . and they never would line up for me, so I just watched them for a while...then let them walk away.
Maybe trap them later on.
|December 29, 2012, 10:28 PM
Join Date: December 20, 2012
Location: Hell
Posts: 190
Let's pray for 7 little hogs trotting into the trap with the door slamming behind them.
|December 30, 2012, 07:30 AM
Join Date: June 23, 2003
Location: Ohio - The Heart of it All
Posts: 2,918
In the first pic is that a deer behind the herd of pigs? It looks like a deer looking your way.
"Treason doth never prosper, what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." Sir John Harrington
"I just do what the little voices tell me." Me
|December 30, 2012, 10:05 AM
Join Date: May 11, 2006
Location: Deep East Texas
Posts: 1,806
The road drops off behind the hogs and you would not be able to see a deer standing very far behind them, not to mention....my deer wouldn't be caught dead near any hogs.
BUT.....'good eye', you picked out a horizontal 'line' against what is primarily a vertical background (trees). Many folks never learn to do that.
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CASE STUDY Alfred Henry Jacobs: Architect
On view:Monday, August 2, 2004 - Saturday, January 15, 2005
Afred Henry Jacobs: Architect is the first exhibition to examine the career of Alfred Henry Jacobs (1882-1954), a Jewish architect whose vision helped shape Bay Area cityscapes. Jacobs designed some of the first movie palaces and many important homes and businesses in San Francisco, Berkeley and elsewhere. A number of remarkable buildings designed by Jacobs include the Curran Theater on Geary Street in San Francisco, the first house that Ansel Adams owned, the Grabhorn Press Building, and the Winema Theatre in Scotia, CA.
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Oil Falls for First Time in Four Days on U.S. Inventory Gains
Oil fell for the first time in four days in New York after the U.S. Energy Department reported that crude and fuel inventories climbed as imports surged.
Futures dropped 0.8 percent after the government said crude stockpiles rose 1.34 million barrels to 336.1 million last week and imports reached a 10-week high. Oil also decreased after a German official raised doubts that there will be an agreement on easing Europe's debt crisis this week.
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Crude oil for January delivery fell 79 cents to settle at $100.49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices are up 10 percent this year.
Brent oil for January settlement dropped $1.28, or 1.2 percent, to end the session at $109.53 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.
Imports of crude oil rose 375,000 barrels to 9.44 million barrels a day in the week ended Dec. 2, the highest level since September, department data show. Fuel imports advanced 345,000 barrels a day to 2.65 million, the most since June.
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Crude oil supplies were forecast to fall 1.25 million barrels, according to the median of 12 analyst forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey.
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"Gasoline demand remains very weak," Kilduff said. "With demand at this level, it's hard to see prices breach overhead resistance at $102 a barrel."
Gasoline for January delivery dropped 5.85 cents, or 2.2 percent, to settle at $2.5869 a gallon in New York.
Inventories of distillate fuel, a category that include heating oil and diesel, climbed 2.53 million barrels to 141 million. Production of the fuels rose 205,000 barrels to 5.03 million barrels a day last week, the highest level since the data began in 1982.
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Futures fell earlier as Germany rejected proposals to combine the current and permanent euro-area rescue funds and Chancellor Angela Merkel's government said it was more pessimistic on the meeting's outcome.
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Saudi Arabia, which holds the world's biggest crude reserves, extracted more than 10 million barrels of oil a day in November and may do so again in December, Ali al-Naimi, the nation's oil minister, said yesterday in Durban, South Africa. That's the highest level in more than three decades.
Oil volume in electronic trading on the Nymex was 635,330 contracts as of 3:05 p.m. in New York. Volume totaled 446,498 contracts yesterday, 32 percent below the three-month average. Open interest was 1.33 million contracts.


text: PODCAST: 01.09 Posted by TPB Staff on Jan 10, 2012 03:12 ShareTweet 51:25 Your browser does not support the audio element. Talking with Nick, eyewitness of the CONSOL brawl. Debating about Crosby shit Debating about the Penguins' chances Other stuff -Podcast Blog -Subscribe to iTunes -Mobile Site ShareTweetPenguins Tickets About TPB Staff View all posts by TPB Staff →


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After launching his eponymous line of clothes in 2000 and receiving CFDA's Perry Ellis Award for Menswear, Varvatos launched his second line, Star USA. This line's focus is on creating younger, more affordable, key pieces for men. Clean and utilitarian, Star USA is an amalgamation of classic and modern basics that are both unique and wearable, translating into a line that builds upon the cool, effortless American aesthetic for which Varvatos is best known. John Varvatos Star USA in sold in such stores as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Barneys, and Holt Renfrew and in the company's own nationwide boutiques. Now, most excitingly, John Varvatos will launch Gilt Groupe's sales for men.
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Direct cannulation of the parotid duct was performed in 11 children (ages 6 to 15 years) with cystic fibrosis, and resting and reflex salivary flow and ionic composition measured. Two to three months later, the studies were repeated on the same 11 subjects. Results showed that (1) the values obtained were similar to those found in previous studies, and (2) data on nonstimulated salivas from those whose ducts were cannulated on two occasions displayed significant differences in flow of saliva, sodium concentration, and chloride concentration.
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Borussia Dortmund's preparations for the season have been dealt a blow with the news that defender Oliver Kirch and forward Ji Dong-won will be sidelined for eight and four weeks respectively.
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Pumpkin Prom at Moore's Chapel
November 10, 2012 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Pumpkin Prom, a family dance, will be held Saturday November 10, 2012 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Moore's Chapel United Methodist Church, north of Elkton, Md. The Perfect Beat will provide music. Cecil Dancenter will give a free lesson so mom and dad can have a fun evening dancing with their kids.
Jane Bellmyer 443-553-8420.


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Josh holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Factors from Tufts University and a degree in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University. He regularly speaks, writes, and leads workshops about the intersection of brand and business.
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Nutmeg - RIP
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Hi! My name is Nutmeg - RIP
I am Domestic Shorthair from chicago, IL
Nicknames: Nuttle Meg, Nutters, and really anything my owner can think of
Age: 17 years old
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The Healthy Baby CardDanielle
A recent discussion on birth choices, repeat cesareans, and traumatic birth experiences sparked a comment that is probably one of my top hated comments in discussing a negative or traumatic birth experience, especially with the mother who has gone through this experience.
"At least you have a healthy baby"
While I come from a circle of women who would give anything for a healthy pregnancy, or baby with infertility, miscarriages, and the loss of newborns to horrible undetected illness like Congenital Heart Defects, I don't think the term, or phrase is something we can, or should be appropriately using especially in discussing of a traumatic birth, or experience in general.
After my first son was born, under less than ideal conditions, and a sub par experience at best, I knew I wanted to get involved with mothers who felt like I did. I had been bullied, robbed, and ultimately became one of the mothers who needed therapy, and help after my birth experience. Although during my years working with ICAN, and the local childbirth community I learned that there are mothers out there who put my negative experience to shame.
Which got me thinking after another post I read on Birth rape and childbirth trauma, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a negative delivery experience. It began as a post which compared the amount of time women use planning their wedding vs. the time they put into researching a care provider, hospital, taking childbirth classes, and preparing for the birth of their child. It then spun 180 in my head and the term at least you have a healthy baby flashed through my mind in terms of a horrible wedding disaster.
Let me set the scene :
Bride and groom are madly in love, and planning to get married on the 15th of September. Well the 15th comes, and on the way leaving their lavish ceremony, and planned celebration with their family, friends, and other loved ones, the groom is almost killed in a horrible car accident. He spends weeks in the ICU and finally after the whole experience is able to leave the hospital. Their wedding day becomes an experience overshadowed by trauma, near death, and negative feelings.
Cue the friend who looks at the bride while she is sharing her feelings on the day and says at least you have a healthy marriage. Now, most people would jump on the ass kicking bandwagon over a comment like that, especially knowing the events of that day. Why would it be any different for someone to use the healthy baby card?
It doesn't change what was done, and the women who go through these bad experiences do not wish their children were ill, or dead. No one in their right mind would have that kind of thought, even after such a traumatic experience. But using that term, especially when you have not suffered like the other woman is nothing short of a slap in the face.
Next time someone is confiding in you over experiences, feelings, or trauma, whether it is over childbirth, or an accident that has harmed a family member, be conscious of the words you use. Sometimes they can cause more harm than good.


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Good news for a change of pace
January 10, 2011 - Mike Maneval
While I hope to have upcoming posts soon on Constitutional principles, gambling in Pennsylvania and the national debt, deficit spending and China, the events of the weekend have led me to search out some more positive notes for this post.
Reuters is reporting the Federal Reserve will set a record this year in profits passed to the U.S. Treasury. Each year, the Fed delivered the profits from its securities and other holdings to the U.S. government. This year, the total is $78.4 billion, $31 billion more than last year.
The Huffington Post's Dee-Ann Durbin reports Ford Motor Co. plans on hiring an additional 7,000 employees in the next four years, including 4,000 workers this year.
And, as the Sun-Gazette has reported in the past two weeks, consumer spending is up and is greatly aiding in countering joblessness, preventing the unemployment rate from rising. The nation's unemployment rate is down to about 9.4 percent, after spending much of the spring around 10 percent.
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CD Reviews - January 2008
by George Fendel & Kyle O'Brien
George Fendel Reviews
Dear Readers:
You will notice that we have omitted the star rating system. It was a decision based on several factors. First, a CD may be perfectly delightful and eminently listenable, but it may lack that elusive creative "extra" which would bring it beyond, say, three stars. In that case, the stars may be misleading. Also, such factors as recording quality, length of the CD, consistency of program, and, let's face it, the reviewer's personal preferences come into play, while the stars make the judgment appear "objective." So let's try it this way for awhile and see how it works out.
The Lost Bill Holman Charts, Carl Saunders, trumpet and leader.
It's too long a story for our space, but suffice to say that these brilliant Bill Holman arrangements were safely secured for some twenty years. Thank goodness Carl Saunders unearthed them. And before we get back to Bill Holman, we must also thank our lucky stars that Carl Saunders has become more etched in our musical minds through a series of outstanding recordings over the last several years. Saunders, you see, is a monster, and this CD will help spread his well-deserved, new-found fame. How can it be otherwise, with charts supplied by one of the most respected arrangers of all time, Bill Holman. The tunes are evenly divided between Holman's crisp originals and standards like "Three Little Words," "Dearly Beloved," "We'll Be Together Again," "All Too Soon" and Diz's "Ow!" Saunders calls his septet The Carl Saunders Exploration, and it includes some of the jazziest cats in all of Los Angeles. In our present day world of frequent ear-splitting dreck that is passed off as music, it does my heart good that records like this can still be made. This is one of the very best of 2007.
Mama Records, 2007, 53:00.
Breakfast On The Morning Tram, Stacey Kent, vocals.
On her initial recording for the storied Blue Note label, this CD marks a change for Stacey Kent in that none of the tunes included here are from the great American Songbook era. It also marks the debut of Jim Tomlinson and Kazuo Ishiguro as a songwriting team. They contribute four tunes, the best of which might be the title tune, "Breakfast On The Morning Tram." The more familiar tunes on the recording include "So Many Stars," "Never Let Me Go," "Hard Hearted Hannah" and "What A Wonderful World." Kent is blessed with a unique vocal quality and a slightly contemporary "edge" which works to her advantage in putting over the meaning of a lyric. While all of these tunes seem to work fine, I found the album to have a bit of a folk flavor to it, perhaps because of the dominance of guitar-based arrangements. This is a mixed bag effort. Quality singing throughout, including two selections entirely in French, but the material doesn't consistently match the standard of Kent's earlier efforts.
Blue Note, 2007, 53:00.
Alone, Andre Previn, piano.
I've always found that, in an academic sort of way, Andre Previn is one of the great creators in the world of jazz piano, especially playing solo as he does on this CD. Previn's delightful little twists, turns and forays immediately identify him as the elegant player he's always been. And if you lean toward the standards played with passion and beauty, this is a lovely and intimate recital quality performance. Previn chooses evergreens such as "Angel Eyes," "The Second Time Around," "Night And Day," "I Can't Get Started," "My Ship," "Skylark" and "It Might As Well Be Spring," among other winners. And if you think Previn doesn't swing (a tired old complaint regarding his playing), try "What Is This Thing Called Love." Indeed Previn swings with authority, it's just that it's always "under strict control" and somehow within the context of his "other self," the classical cat in him. Melody lovers, this is gorgeous stuff and it's going to make your dinner guests ask "who's playing those beautiful tunes?"
EmArcy, 2007, 45:38.
The Only Dream, Michael Winkle, vocals.
Just when you're sure that the male of the species has virtually disappeared from the realm of quality jazz/pop singing, along comes Michael Winkle to set your mind at ease. Michael's new CD is a mixed bag of proven standards ("You Make Me Feel So Young," "Blame It On My Youth," "Summertime" and perhaps my favorite cut on the album, "If I Only Had A Heart"). But he also covers some pop things from the past in "Fool On The Hill" and "Crazy Love" among others. Certainly an album highlight is his composition, "The Only Dream That Ever Mattered." It has a contemporary feel and a lyric that tells of one of life's bitter lessons. Winkle is in excellent company here, singing with established PDX cats like Joe Milward, piano; Scott Steed, bass; Paul Mazzio, trumpet; Renato Caranto, tenor sax; and Jeff Uusitalo, trombone (not every guy on every track). There's something for just about every taste and preference on this album. Michael Winkle manages to straddle the line between pop and jazz without ever losing his balance. More info can be found at www.michaelwinkle.com.
Self-produced, 2007, 45:37.
Portology, Lee Konitz, alto saxophone.
Lee Konitz is now in his 80th year, and boasts a resume dating back to Claude Thornhill's band of the '40s, Lennie Tristano's miraculous innovations and Miles Davis's ground breaking "Birth Of The Cool." Konitz, who has achieved international acclaim mostly within the realm of small groups, performs here with a European 18-piece big band led by Ohad Talmor. It marks their third recording together with all the music written by Konitz. The compositions are dense and probing, and in some cases, they actually put Lee's alto in a secondary position to the stunning arrangements. And when we say "big band," you may be assured that this ain't Basie, but a band full of musical colors and hues, perhaps something akin to a George Russell approach or some other third streamer. All the passion and fire of the entire career of Lee Konitz can be found here. At one time this sort of music may have been termed experimental. But now we hear Konitz pouring everything he can into it. And at times, it becomes quite a stirring emotional experience.
OmniTone, 2007, 61:19.
Haunted Heart, Mundell Lowe, guitar, Jim Ferguson, bass and vocals.
A few years ago I had the pleasure of attending a concert in the living room of Diane Mitchell, wife of the late bassist, Red Mitchell. The evening featured the veteran guitarist Mundell Lowe and a newcomer to me at the time, bassist and singer Jim Ferguson. Well, the two have found their way together once again on a brand new CD, and it's a stunner! Ferguson the singer reminds a bit of Chet Baker in that his voice is small and rather high-pitched. But, as they say, some have it and some don't, and Ferguson definitely has it as he effortlessly interprets a stable of songs as familiar as "Gone With The Wind," "My Foolish Heart," "Detour Ahead," "Mean To Me" and "I'll Be Seeing You." A few of my personal faves include his heartfelt take on the title tune, "Haunted Heart"; a revisit to an old Mose Allison blues, "I Don't Worry About A Thing"; a serene reading of "Close Enough For Love"; and a lovely Bill Evans medley featuring Lowe on "Very Early" and Ferguson on "Waltz For Debby." Lowe's elegant guitar fits hand in glove with Ferguson's hint of a Tennessee drawl on all of these well-chosen tunes. I highly recommend you check out www.jimfergusonmusic.com or www.mundelllowe.com.
Lily's Dad's Music, 2007, times not indicated.
Volume Two: Sextet, and Volume Three: Lee Morgan, trumpet.
Among all of Lee Morgan's Blue Note titles, these two have been hard to find until recent reissues on both. Right off the bat, it was kinda odd that the first of these, Volume Two, was titled "Sextet," because the other one, "Volume Three," is also, guess what, a sextet! Another similarity among the two is that nearly all the selections are written by the great tenor man, composer and arranger, Benny Golson. But oddly, Golson plays only on "Three" with Morgan, Gigi Gryce, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Charlie Persip. On "Two," the tenor chores are handled by Hank Mobley with Horace Silver on piano and all the others remaining the same. Anyway, the two CDs give you a chance to reacquaint yourself with Golson's Greatest Hits in "Whisper Not" and "I Remember Clifford." But, make no bones about it, Morgan and his crackerjack colleagues also deliver the hard bop goods on lesser known Golson gems like "Slightly Hip," "Domingo," "Mesabi Chant" and others. Lee Morgan, to this day, remains an important part of the phenomenon called the Blue Note Sound, and on these two discs he brings that sound, always fresh and timeless, directly to you.
Blue Note, 2007, Volume Two, 40:17, and Volume Three, 44:32.
New Groove, Peter Beets, piano.
On his fourth album for Criss Cross Records of Holland, Peter Beets alters the recipe slightly. This time around, the gifted pianist takes a hiatus from the standard piano-bass-drums trio. He substitutes a guitarist for the drummer, and according to Beets himself, there's some precedent for the move. Beets is a great admirer of the Nat Cole and early Oscar Peterson trios, both of which were drummer-less. In fact, Cole's "Easy Listening Blues" is included in a menu loaded with goodies like "You're My Everything," "I'm Old Fashioned," "They Say It's Wonderful," "Three Little Words" and "But Beautiful." The disc is rounded out with compositions from players such as Django Reinhardt ("Nuages"), Stan Getz ("Parker 51"), and Oscar Pettiford ("Tricrotism"). Two different trios work the magic here, but it's Peter Beets' vigorous, Oscar Peterson-influenced piano that pulls it all together. He may well be the most exciting, thoroughly swinging jazz pianist on the other side of the pond. I was honored to write liner notes for one of his earlier Criss Cross releases, and at that time, I sang his praises enthusiastically. New Groove is indeed just that, and it once again shows Peter Beets to be a monstrous torch carrier.
Criss Cross, 2007, 63:27.
Northern Star - The Singapore Sessions, Amandah Jantzen, vocals.
I haven't heard anything to the contrary, so I assume that Amandah Jantzen still considers Portland her home. It's simply that a regular, reliable gig has kept out of our city for a long time. While you gotta be glad she's got the gig, we sure miss her polished jazz singing here in PDX. But here she is with what I assume is the creme de la creme of Singapore jazz cats with a fresh new palette of mostly familiar songs, and a few new delights as well. Among the latter category is "Sequined Mermaid Dress," a swinging opener with a clever lyric. It's a tune that deserves to be "picked up" by other singers. "Social Call" is a catchy line from Betty Carter and "Bye Bye Country Boy" is Blossom Dearie's invention and a tune slowly gaining more recognition. Other standouts include Matt Dennis's ode to sorrow, "The Night We Called It A Day"; an invigorating combination of "All Or Nothing At All" and "Stolen Moments"; a bright tempo on an oldie called "Foolin' Myself"; a sprightly Latinized "You Don't Know What Love Is," and a fresh take on Rodgers and Hart's "Everything I've Got." These and more provide Jantzen with the means to prove to you that she's always been good, real good. But now she's better than ever. For more info, try www.amandahjantzen.com.
Starfire Records, 2007, approx. 52:00.
Basie At Birdland, Count Basie and His Orchestra.
Well now, here's a moldy oldie which has stayed in the vault of Roulette Records and out of our hands for way too long. But it's back, and it's the "Frank" band, one of Basie's most ebullient - that '50s and '60s gathering that featured such big timers as the two Franks, Foster and Wess, along with stalwarts Thad Jones, Snooky Young, Marshall Royal and, of course, the venerable Freddie Green. Jon Hendricks even drops by the club for a quick reminder of the very essence of scat singing on Neal Hefti's "Whirly Bird." The band sounds bright, polished, and full of vigor on familiar Count vehicles like "Little Pony," "One O'Clock Jump," "Segue In C" and an assortment of blues lines. A delightful bonus on this album is the presence of, count 'em, no less than eight bonus tunes, with only one alternate take. That adds up to over 30 additional minutes of music, Basie fans. Maybe the guys knew they were making a record on that summer night of 1961 at the club often call the jazz corner of the world. In any case, they were hitting on all cylinders. Pick this one up before it becomes rare — again.
Roulette, 2007 (reissue), 73:03.
A Morning In Paris, Sathima Bea Benjamin, vocals.
This very rare recording, made back in 1963 in Paris, puts near-cult singer Sathima Bea Benjamin to the test, obviously quite early in her career. She sings twelve great ballads and handles them stylishly and skillfully. Her pianist on the date, Abdullah Ibrahim, takes on the role of accompanist with sensitivity and subtlety. But the big names on the date were both pretty decent piano practitioners themselves, namely Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Duke backs the singer on "I Got It Bad" and "Solitude," both of which, of course, are his own creations. Strayhorn takes over the piano bench on one of his tunes, "Your Love Has Faded," as well as on the lovely "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square." Other evergreens rendered effortlessly by Ms. Benjamin include "Darn That Dream," "I Could Write A Book," "I Should Care," "The Man I Love," "I'm Glad There Is You," "Soon and Lover Man." Benjamin's fans will welcome the appearance of this long sought after session.
Ekapa Records, 2007, 42:25.
Breathing Space, Ben Paterson, piano.
Hey, Origin Records – don't stop with just one CD by Ben Paterson and his trio. Origin gives us no indication where Ben Paterson comes from, but I can tell you that musically, he comes from the long and honored tradition of piano cats with great chops. Paterson, who looks like a youngster from the photo, plays with authority; understands the piano bop tradition from note one; leaves space intelligently (notice the album title) and swings like a veteran. His trio includes Jake Vinsel, bass and Jon Deitmyer, drums. The trio gives us a well polished, straight ahead, no gimmicks menu of such delights as "Whisper Not," "Alice In Wonderland," "I Wish I Knew," "Nardis," "Hymn To The Orient," "Dancing In The Dark," "Gloria's Step" and more. This is the essence of swinging, in the pocket, piano trio jazz. Raise your glass to young players such as these. They are the ones who will keep the tradition alive for years to come.
OA2 Records, 2007, 48:15.
Keep Your Hat On, Pete Petersen and the Porkpie Sextet.
Get ready for some swinging, down the center of the groove, well-paced, scintillating straight ahead jazz and bop from a Portland cat who writes and plays in the best of the tradition. Pete Petersen's original compositions breathe, giving all players room to cook up energetic solos. His arranging has been compared to that of stalwarts like Marty Paich, Neal Hefti, Sammy Nestico and Frank Foster, although all those cats wrote mainly for big bands. In the case of Petersen, the writing is for a sextet that flows with such enthusiasm that they often sound more like a big band. Each original is a distinct, solid little adventure and all comers contribute mightily. In addition to Petersen's spirited tenor, the sextet includes Brian Dickerson, alto sax; Greg Garrett, trumpet and flugelhorn; Ben Medler, trombone; Brian Ward, piano; Andre St. James, bass; and drum chores split between Ed Pierce and Donny Osborne. The two familiar tunes are "Falling In Love With Love" and Ray Brown's "Uptown Sop." The other seven tunes are Petersen's own, and every one of them rings out with the joy of playing the real deal.
Pony Boy Records, 2007, 47:38.
C'est Magnifique, Ruby Braff, cornet; Bucky, John, and Martin Pizzarelli.
It seems that almost from the inception of the Arbors label, the late Ruby Braff was one its anchor artists. Braff earned the loyal following of fans who found his mellow, swing-style cornet irresistible. On this newly issued CD, his last studio session for Arbors, Braff is in the company of no less than three Pizzarelli family musicians, dad Bucky on guitar and sons John (also on guitar) and Martin on bass. Joined by Ray Kennedy, piano and Jim Gwinn, drums, the ensemble gets off to a sterling start with "Lulu's Back In Town." Other highlights include "You're A Lucky Guy," "When A Woman Loves A Man," "C'est Magnifique," "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "Dancing On The Ceiling." John even manages to make his way through a couple of classics with vocals on "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "As Time Goes By." With three 'Pizza delivery men' on this date, it's still Ruby's gig, and as always, in his inimitable fashion, his mellow cornet is the center of sophisticated swing.
Arbors, 2007, 73:51.
The Masters Return! Christian Fabian, bass (Fabian Zone Trio).
I've experienced the joy of jazz through listening, reviewing and deejaying for many years, but hardly a month goes by when I do not learn of a new jazz artist whose music impresses me. Such an artist is bassist Christian Fabian. Judging from the titles contained herein, Fabian is a bop and straight ahead devotee. Consider, among others, "My One An Only Love," "Willow Weep For Me," "Billie's Bounce," "Bebop," "All Blues" and "Milestones." The 'Masters' in the album title refer to Mike Longo, piano; Lewis Nash, drums; and a couple of inspired guests in Jimmy Owens, trumpet and flugelhorn, and Andres Boiarsky, tenor sax. As Fabian puts it, "The musicians on this disc were given their wisdom directly from Monk, Diz or Miles, and therefore are referred to as The Masters." In addition to the selections mentioned above, Fabian, Longo and Owens all contribute originals of varying moods and tempos. There's no pretense here, just straight ahead, well brewed bebop.
Consolidated Artist Productions, 2007, 60:51.
Attractions, Cynthia Sayer, banjo, vocals.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That's right, banjo! And if you know anything about very early jazz, banjos were quite the thing back in the day. Ms. Sayer brings back the feeling of that era, whether she's singing (and playing) "Viper Mad" and "Dark Eyes" from back then, or "Over The Rainbow," "Half As Much" or even "Aba Daba Honeymoon" from more recent times. She pulls it off with lots of style and some help from guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, trumpet ace Randy Sandke and other jazz pals. Then there's "Shakin' The Blues Away," "Romance Without Finance" and even a trippy banjo solo on "Hungarian Rhapsody No.2." Great fun!
Plunk Records, 2007, 55:32.
Bass On Top, Paul Chambers, bass.
As the title suggests, this 1957 reissue puts Paul Chambers in the spotlight as soloist on a selection of great standards and timeless bop tunes. Chambers, of course shares the proceedings with Kenny Burrell, Hank Jones and Art Taylor. Not a bad band, huh? Students of the bass, whether players or listeners, will dig Chambers' ease of playing and his resonant sound on tunes like "Yesterdays," "Chasin' The Bird," "Dear Old Stockholm," "The Theme" and "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To." This is another in a series of newly minted and most welcome reissues from Blue Note. Finally, Kenny Burrell shows us, as always, how jazz guitar is supposed to sound.
Blue Note, 2007 (reissue), 43:23.
Canopy Of Stars, Yoko Miwa, piano.
Somebody ought to make it a law that liner notes be included for new artists. Unfortunately no such law exists, and neither do any descriptive notes for Yoko Miwa and her trio. I can tell you, however, that she has a very deft and sure touch, and that she writes songs with attractive melody lines. There's a freshness, an airiness to her playing and it seems that one so young (judging from her cover photo) would not be ready to write with such depth. My guess is that she was a Berklee College of Music product because this was recorded in 2004 in Massachusetts but mastered in Tokyo in 2005. Interested? Try yokomiwa.com.
Polystar, 2005, playing time not listed.
One More Mile, Brent Jensen, soprano saxophone.
Earlier releases by Brent Jensen have all concentrated on his alto chops, so I was a bit surprised to see him playing exclusively soprano on this album. A certain Seattle soprano player has adversely affected my ability to digest the soprano, but Jensen brings new hope. He plays with vigorous jazz chops on such material as "Sweet And Lovely," "Birk's Works" and "Alone Together." These and several originals make interesting, albeit slightly edgy listening at times. Jensen is joined here by Seattle vets Bill Anschell, piano, Jeff Johnson, bass and John Bishop, drums.
Origin Records, 2007, 49:53.
Modern Times, Pearl Django.
Another Seattle based group, but with a night and day difference, is Pearl Django. Their specialty is swing music, typically in the manner of 1930's swing groups. Hence the quartet's use of both an accordion and a violin in addition to guitar and bass. Each of the four players contributes at least one bouncy original, and standards like "Smile," "Once In A While," "September In The Rain," "Warm Valley" and "Cheek To Cheek" complete a well-balanced program. The group is augmented on several tunes by the talents of no less than four additional guitarists. Nice stuff!
Modern Hot Records, 2007, 53:22.
A Jones For Bones Tones, Conrad Herwig, trombone.
The title of this CD is a clever turn around on the familiar "Tones For Joan's Bones," and also a signal (if you think about it) that trombonist Conrad Herwig herein embarks on a salute to trombonists who have influenced his musical pallet. Among the best known of them are Frank Rosolino, Slide Hampton, J. J. Johnson and Curtis Fuller. The album consists entirely of Herwig's original tributes and the quintet features a second trombonist in Steve Davis. As he has done on past albums, Herwig once again scores here with a fresh thematic approach. Bone players, don't overlook this one!
Criss Cross, 2007, 59:44.
Kyle O'Brien Reviews
Seein' & Speakin', Hank Hirsh Quintet, saxophone.
Hirsh has become a vital part of Portland's jazz scene since bringing his veteran horn playing to town a few years back. He recalls an earlier era of jazz, one of hard bop, blues and swing without overcomplicating. His personal style is somewhere between Stanley Turrentine, Ben Webster and Sonny Rollins, and his original tunes sound familiar even though they're all new on this disc. On the easygoing blues, "Coppin' the Jug," Hirsh lays back and doesn't try to mess with the groove. It's a welcome style, considering most artists nowadays push too hard and don't take the time to remember the Basie mentality of less is more. Hirsh has instilled the same attention to rhythm to his son, Sam, who plays a wonderful piano, especially considering his young age of 18. The Neil Hefti-ish "The Rain Suite," also allows things to develop from a slow groove to a blistering bop without seeming contrived. The band – including Dave Speranza on bass, Alan Tarpinian on percussion, Dave Bones on trombone – is cohesive and knows how to balance technique with a sense of fun, because music IS fun. The title track is a trad-jazz groover that lets Hirsh and Bones open up, while "The Pearl," shows that Hirsh can write modern, pretty and subtle as well. There are a couple of sticking points; Hirsh's tone is still a bit thin and reedy at times, especially when he blows loudly, which makes for some uncomfortable squeaks. It's puzzling, since on the more tender tunes, he has a lovely tonal sense. Another nitpick is that the tunes occasionally get a little too loose and need to come back for some focus. Otherwise, though, Hirsh displays a great sense of songwriting, bringing back the fun and approachable nature of modern jazz.
2007, Six Perfections Music. Playing Time: 72:46.
Lights and Shadows, Bobby Few, piano.
Few was Steve Lacy's pianist for over a decade, and the inclusion of Lacy's cascading "Flakes" is a solid fit for this disc, a solo piano outing that borders on the avant garde. "Flakes" sounds like an ice skater on the brink of falling, which was Lacy's intention, so on that note, good job, Few. The rest of the tracks are all penned by Few and they recall a slightly less dense and more melodic Cecil Taylor. They create a sense of mood, as on the dark "Different Land," which uses space smartly to create an eerie unease. Few does have a sense of melody, as he displays on "Enomis," a pretty, chordally based song that's just enough off-kilter to not be schmaltzy. When he takes things more outside, as on the title track, the tunes seem to meander more, like Few is searching without ever finding a focus. But with the closing track, "Dreams," Few proves he has plenty to say, as both a melodic player and a free spirit.
2007, Boxholder Records. Playing Time: 57 minutes.
This Time Around, Sandy Kastel, vocals.
When I received this disc in the mail, I immediately dreaded listening to it, since the promo materials said, "you may remember Kastel as the former Miss NevadaÖ" I didn't remember her and I immediately flashed to bad pageants where a pretty, vacuous girl sings "Buttons and Bows" loudly and poorly. I grudgingly put in the disc and was happy to hear a tight big band blasting away. And when Kastel's brassy, if indistinctive voice came in, it was on key and had a hint of personality. That said, while I wasn't immediately turned off, the disc did nothing to convince me that there was a reason that Kastel should be mentioned in the same sentence with names like Cassandra Wilson or Dianne Reeves. Sure, her voice is nice enough, but her phrasing on overly played tunes like "Fever," and "Cry Me a River" is predictable and she stays far too close to the safety of the beat to stand out. Plus, the disc is so overly produced that it sounds like muzak backing her, save for the smart big band arrangements. Kastel will probably be a hit in Vegas showrooms, but she has a long way to go to if she wants to be considered a legitimate jazz singer.
2007, Silk and Satin Records. Playing Time: 62:33.
Canopy of Stars, Yoko Miwa Trio.
Boston-based Miwa balances technique, intellect and passion on this, her third album. The Kobe, Japan native studied at Berklee before accompanying Kevin Mahogany. As a solo artist, she shows herself to be a taut pianist with a penchant for the pretty, without being flowery, and a fine composer. Backed by bassist Massimo Biolcati and drummer Scott Goulding, Miwa creates a lovely and balanced trio album. The melancholy "Solitude" has guest bassist Bronek Suchanek bowing a longing melody while Goulding accents with the lightest of cymbal touches. Miwa displays a keen sense of swing on "Borders," as she mixes thick chords with nimble runs, and Latin rhythms, as on the sultry "Tango Soledad." At times, Miwa holds back a bit too much when she should be pounding away, but it's this restraint that makes this a sophisticated recording. Now, if we can just get Miwa away from Boston for a tour.
2007, Polystar Jazz Library Recordings. Playing Time: 52 minutes.
Noir, Anat Cohen & the Anzic Orchestra.
Clarinetist/saxophonist Cohen brings together her wonderful clarinet tone and a beautifully led small orchestra, conducted by her Israeli friend Oded Lev-Ari. The result is a smart, Latin-tinged disc, with Cohen's clarinet standing out as a focal point. It slides in gracefully with Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona's lush "La Comparsa," with strings and horns highlighting Cohen's lithe clarinet. She switches to tenor sax on the swinging "No Moon at All," though she shows slightly less prowess and subtlety on that horn. Things return south of the border with "Carnaval de Sao Vicente," with her expressive licorice stick giving a klezmer flair to the pulsing rhythm. Her brother, trumpeter Avishai, adds some flourish with his clear solo. This disc jumps between north and south American continents, with the bop-swing of Johnny Griffin's "Do It," and the bluesy "Cry Me a River," contrasting with the sizzling "Samba De Orfeu/Struttin' with "Some Barbeque" and the Brazilian groove on "Bebe." But while the tunes contrast, they never clash. It's a stretch to call the proceedings "Noir," since the tone is fairly upbeat, but the rich arrangements and Cohen's lovely playing make it a true winner.
2007, Anzic Records. Playing Time: 52 minutes.
Early American: Melodies of Stephen Foster, Andy Biskin Quartet.
Beginning your disc with a music-box version of "My Old Kentucky Home" seems a bit hokey, especially when the rest of the disc does a fairly admirable job of updating Foster's folksy, simple melodies. But when one learns, in the liner notes, that it was played on a windup music box from the late 1800s, the choice seems more apt. Biskin is a clarinetist in the modern jazz vein, so approaching these timeless melodies with a decidedly contemporary approach might seem blasphemous to some, and welcome to others. "Camptown Races," starts mildly enough, but Biskin takes a light chamber approach and alters the chords significantly, making the combination of tuba, clarinet, guitar and drums pleasing and upbeat without being Dixieland-ish. Other Foster tunes get an update, like "Nelly Bly," a folksy number that utilizes altered modalities on tuba and banjo to make it seem like those old guys playing on the porch got a whole lot younger. "Old Folks at Home," teases the melody but surrounds it with swirling dissonant chords. Others, though, don't quite hit as well. "Oh! Susanna," plays the melody straight and two-beat, then slows down periodically for no good reason. It almost seems as though they're poking fun rather than revering Foster. When the quartet isn't playing off Foster's themes, Baskin's self-penned numbers take over. They're hit and miss as well, taking some clichÈd themes and putting them in the middle of some relatively cool music, as on "Early American," where again, one wonders if Baskin is having fun, or merely a joke. The musicianship is top-notch and the instrumentation interesting, but the approach treads the line between folk and fun.
2006, Strudelmedia. Playing Time: 56 minutes.
Friendly Travelers, Wolfgang Muthspiel and Brian Blade.
Blade is a master drummer, so it's interesting to see him branch out here and pick up guitar and even sing a bit. Playing with Austrian modern jazz guitarist Muthspiel, Blade gets a chance to show off his contemporary jazz chops. While he mostly sticks to drums and percussion, he stretches musically, and Muthspiel gives Blade plenty of room within the wide parameters of the compositions here. The opening track, "Gnadenwald," sounds like a mix between Pat Metheny and early John Scofield, and the tracks get even more interesting from there. There are elements of African music ("Youssou"), open-ended improvisation ("Between the Beats"), free-bop ("End on 4"), and dual guitars (the touching "Friendly Travelers"). The two work together perfectly, creating rich textures and intriguing harmonics, as on the aptly titled, "Heavy Song," which recalls both Mike Stern and John Coltrane. This may be one of the most interesting contemporary duo albums to come along. For those who like a musical journey, Blade and Muthspiel prove to be welcome guides.
2006, Material Records. Playing Time: 54 minutes.
Brooklyn Suite, Jentsch Group Large.
Brooklyn guitarist/composer Chris Jentsch was commissioned by American Composers Forum as a feature for his electric guitar sounds and textures. He utilizes his large group format to bring his ambitious work to life. This is orchestral jazz, which is not nearly a new concept, but Jentsch is adept at composing for a big band while using a small group feel. The horns move the musical action forward sometimes and sit back in the mix on the others, creating colors of sound. There are other soloists besides Jentsch, including on trombone, saxophone and clarinet, but it is not in the traditional set-up/feature as a regular big band chart. Styles range from compositional contemporary to swinging call-and-answer. While some of the music is derivative, it is never stale. Jentsch's electric guitar work brings modern tonalities, which keeps the sound lively and fresh, along with musical themes that aren't overstated. The music can be propelling and dense ("See You in Bali") or stark and pensive ("Going to Hail"), and all is meant to capture Jentsch's daily existence in his New York burg. Job well done.
2007, Fleur de Son Classics. Playing Time: 60 minutes.
Just Chase Away, Melani Skybell, piano/vocals.
There is certainly no shortage of female singer-pianists on the national jazz circuit. Some are deserving of greater recognition and some just won't make it. Put the Texas-based Skybell in the former category. The North Texas State grad has the tools to take herself outside of the heart of Texas to bigger things. Her voice is clear and her delivery easy and effortless. To make things nicer, she writes most of her own tunes, and her songsmithing is engaging and listenable. Most tunes fall into the light bossa category, and her band lays right back with her, making for a relaxed album, as on the infectiously swaying "Let's Get Away," with Pete Brewer playing a fitting flute solo. There is a bit of swing and waltz here too, showing that Skybell isn't just a one bossa note wonder. Her voice is sweet and sophisticated and her piano work unassuming. Her most assertive piano comes on the slow bossa, "The Stars in Your Eyes," where her chords move the song along in pretty fashion. Her lyrics are mostly love and romance based, but considering the romantic mood of the disc, the style fits her voice and tone well. Getting her out of Texas and in front of more people would be a good thing.
2007, Melani Skybell. Playing Time: 46 minutes.
Comet Ride, Willie Williams Trio.
Remember when jazz CDs started off with a bang? When notes came flying out of horns and it was called hard bop because it challenged the listener to keep up? That's how the latest disc from tenor saxophonist Williams opens up. But lest the listener think that a massive aural assault is headed their way for an hour, the blistering nature of the opening track, "Comet Ride" – which has Williams throwing walls of notes out like Coltrane – it's tempered by the lulling "Tenor Ballet," a methodical, nearly liturgical chamber ballad that utilizes space, soft tones and a bowed bass. The rest of the tunes by this veteran player, who has worked with Arthur Taylor, T.S. Monk, Art Blakey and others, is a mix of retro swing and bop, and solid original trio music. There's spontaneous improvisation ("Three Generations"), easy waltz ("I'm Misunderstood"), Coltrane-ish bop (the Giant Steps-like "Changes of Heart") and tributes to earlier boppers, including "Freedom Suite," which incorporates tunes by Eddie Harris and Jimmy Heath. While the concepts on here aren't new, and the spacious reverb in the recording makes the disc sound as if it were recorded in 1967, it's a fine outing by an unsung player.
2007, Miles High Productions. Playing Time: 75 minutes.
Lo Que Somos Lo Que Sea, Grupo Los Santos.
This New York-based group's heart is in Havana. It's a sophisticated take on traditional Cuban music, with splashes of modern and contemporary jazz thrown in for extra flavor. The group takes the traditions of Cuban music – son, timba, rumba – and updates them with a jazz sensibility. While it is sophisticated and tightly structured, it's not quite as free-flowing as the actual music from the island. It lacks the thrill and intensity of other groups from the Caribbean, but it's obvious these guys are truly committed to the music. Saxophonist Paul Carlon and guitarist Pete Smith take the chords outside enough to make it interesting and add layers. And drummer William "Beaver" Bausch does an admirable job of creating enough rhythm by himself – a job usually done by two or four players. And the lack of a piano, a staple in Cuban music, makes the group have to try harder to make up for the absence of an instrument that provides chords and rhythm. But taken as is, Grupo Los Santos manages to make engaging Cuban-based jazz originals, replete with intersecting melodies and fiery solos. The addition of Rumbatap pioneer Max Pollak on tap adds that extra rhythmic element that brings this group closer to Havana.
2007, Grupo Los Santos. Playing Time: 54 minutes.
Odessa/Havana, David Buchbinder.
It's not often you hear music described as an "explosive Jewish/Cuban musical mash-up," but that's exactly how trumpeter/composer Buchbinder describes this very interesting project. Call it klezmer-mambo or what have you, but there's no denying that it's a unique blend of both styles. They share some tonalities and passion, so the combination isn't as contrived as you might think. Buchbinder collaborated with pianist/composer Hilario Dur•n and a crew of Canada's top jazz and world musicians to come up with a combination that fuses minor modalities and eastern roots with Afro-Cuban rhythms and improvisatory flourishes. Trumpet and piano dominate the landscape, on original tunes like the minor-keyed "Impresiones," but the additions of strings, reeds and percussion make for new and modern textures. Western influences come into play as well, especially on the modal "Next One Rising," where pianist Duran does a sizzling solo. This is truly original music, with a sound that connects and captures the listener in a new and fun way, all the while keeping its musical integrity.
2007, TZ. Playing Time: 49 minutes.
One Summer in Winters, Jeff Alkire, alto sax.
This disc by saxophonist Alkire starts in a mellow mood with the colored Alkire tune "At This Moment." It's an odd way to make a statement but it shows us right off that Alkire likes to use space and touch in his compositions and his approach. He picks it up with modern bop on his "Pancakes," where he lets trumpeter Riley Mullins and pianist Kelvin Sholar take able solos before he makes a statement that is more tonal than flash. Alkire is certainly a solid player with a sweet tone that searches and bends, though he can still take it outside and have fun. But it's his use of tone and space that makes him stand out against other, harsher young saxophonists. His ballads are a practice in spatial sensibility, as on the title track, a drifting pastiche of winter colors, highlighted by Craig Bailey's flute and Esperanza Spalding's floating bass work. This is a cohesive disc that is both modern and mellow. The only recognizable cover here, "All the Things You Are," is a simple trio piece that deconstructs the tune and presents it bare and beautiful. It won't light the world on fire, but it does create a wonderfully tranquil mood.
2007, Jeff Alkire. Playing Time: 62 minutes.


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Our Evolution Learning Community will be hosting "Darwin's Legacy: Evolution's Impact on Science and Culture," a multidisciplinary student conference, on March 19-21, 2009, at UNCW. In addition to the student presentations, there will be addresses by keynote speakers, including David Buss, Peter Carruthers, David Mindell, and Kevin Padian. (Faculty are invited to attend with their students, but all oral and poster presentations, other than the keynote addresses, will be given by students.)
The conference will be a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts who are conducting research or creative endeavors related to evolution to present their research, investigate graduate study opportunities, network, enhance their resumes, and enrich the body of knowledge surrounding evolution. (Plus March is very pleasant at the beach in Wilmington!)
For more information please visit the web page at:
Abstract submission forms and travel grant applications are online at the above address. Registration will be available online starting in December. Abstracts and grant applications are due 1/30/09. Preregistration ($50) deadline is March 2; after that date, registration is $75.
Contact Patricia Kelley with any questions at email@example.com.


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Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers, by Larry David Tuxbury and Matthew McElligott. Illustrations by Matthew McEllligott.
The Benjamin Franklinstein series:
Benjamin Franklin has been in suspended animation in his Philadelphia basement for the past two centuries, waiting to be awoken when the world faces a big emergency and needs its historical inventors. When lightning strikes the basement, Ben's up and searching for the emergency. He's also coping with advent of remote controls, bicycles, and Bermuda shorts. The only person who knows the founding father is alive is middle-school student Victor Godwin, Ben's upstairs neighbor and guide to the modern world.
I have to admit that I meant to read the first book in this series, Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! but mistakenly ordered the second, Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers, so I'll be reviewing the second book here. Both books—and the third in the series, Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Dedison—were written by Matthew McElligot and Larry Tuxbury and excellently illustrated by Matthew McElligott. They're for kids aged 8 to 12.
Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers:
The newly reanimated, electrically powered Benjamin Franklin and his guide to the modern world, middle-school student Victor Godwin, learn that an undead duo of famous inventors is under the control of a mysterious "emperor" with nefarious plans for taking over the city of Philadelphia. With the help of a local meteorologist, Ben, Victor, and Victor's friend Scott use science and the weather to foil the emperor's evil scheme.
This week I was feeling homesick for the United States in general and Pennsylvania in particular and wanted something light and fun to read, so I turned to the Benjamin Franklinstein series. My thought was that it would be harder to find a cooler premise than a reanimated Benjamin Franklin monster-hero loose in Philly hunting alleged vampires on the Fourth of July. By golly, I wasn't disappointed, although I did wish for more Philly atmosphere.
One final caveat before moving on the kid-o-meter scales: although I ordered the book thinking it was fantasy, after reading it, I would classify it as science fiction. Nothing that happens is magic; it's all explained by (admittedly fantastic) science.
Kid-o-meter scales
1. This book made me laugh out loud: 4. Benjamin Franklin just woke up from a really long sleep (like more than 200 years long), so he doesn't quite have the hang of things like TV remotes and bicycles yet, but he does like cartoons and stickers. One of this book's major strengths is its humor.
2. This book has good action: 3. Action abounds in this book, from vampire-like attacks on prominent city officials to zombie-like people chasing Victor and Scott, to a big final battle between Ben and early aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright.
3. This book is suspenseful: 3. There's certainly enough suspense here to keep you reading. You'll wonder what the huge bats flying around and terrifying Philly really are; what the evil emperor's goal is; who the emperor is; and how Ben, Victor, and Scott will stop him—just to name a few things.
4. The ending does not disappoint: 4. Right up to the final page I thought I'd give this item on the scale a lower rating. I thought the ending was good, but I just couldn't understand why the emperor was hatching evil plans for dominating the city. What was his motivation? However, a surprise revelation in the very last sentence explains it, and I'm pretty sure you'll want to read the next book to find out what happens.
5. I cared a lot about what happened to these characters: 3. Ben is charming, Victor is a pleasant tech-type kid who learns a lesson about underestimating others, and Scott is a really nice kid and loyal friend to Victor—even when Victor's being difficult. I think you'll care what happens to them.
Kid's questions
1. How old is the main character? Middle-school aged. I don't remember that the writers gave his actual age, but my guess is 11 or 12.
2. Is there a group of friends I can imagine I'm part of? Yes. Ben and Victor are joined by Scott and, near the end, by Scott's father, who I hope returns in later books.
3. Is this a series or just one book? A series.
4. Is there at least one nice grownup? All the grownups but the evil emperor are nice in this book: Ben, Scott's father, Victor's mother, the major, the chief of police, the local reporter. Even the Wright brothers would be nice if they weren't under the control of the emperor.
5. Does it get mushy? Is there L-O-V-E? Nope. Not even the tiniest whiff of mush.
Adult's questions
1. What's the major source of suspense? Ben, Victor, and their friends have several mysteries to solve. First of all, was Ben awakened by accident or on purpose? In other words, is society facing a great emergency, or did a fluke bolt of lightning reanimate Ben? What's the truth behind the sightings of huge bats in the skies over Philadelphia? Are vampires at large, or is there another explanation? Who are the mysterious brothers in black, owners of a new bicycle shop, and what are they really doing with all those bikes? Who is behind the evil plan connected with the bike shop?
2. Which classic fantasy elements does this book contain? Well . . . I thought this book was fantasy when I bought it, but after reading it, it's clear to me that it's science fiction. The reanimation of Franklin, the apparent vampire attacks, the huge bats spied in the sky over Philly, the evil emperor's plan to take over the city and Ben's plan to foil the attempt are all scientific, not magical, at their core.
3. What's the book's take on tolerance and empathy? Tolerance and empathy aren't major themes in the book, but Victor does learn not to judge people so quickly: even unserious, silly-seeming people may be good scientists.
4. Is there profanity or violence? The book contains no profanity. Some of the scenes include chases and fights, but there's no bloodshed, and no one dies. A number of "custodians"—people who watched over famous inventors while they were in suspended animation—have either died or disappeared mysteriously, but those events happened offstage before the action described in the book. I think the book is entirely appropriate for younger middle-grade readers.
5. How about mature themes or dark creatures? I did not notice any mature themes in this book. The giant bats, the vampire-like attacks on some of Philadelphia's prominent citizens, and the pale and evil-seeming Wright brothers may seem to be dark creatures at first, but they are not. Instead, science lies at the heart of the plot.
This well-structured, nicely written, funny, imaginative, and well-illustrated book does not resonate with deep underlying themes, let alone deep underlying themes of darkness or evil, so my guess is that your kids will not find this book disturbing in the long run—just suspenseful, a little bit scary, and a lot of fun to read. After reading Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers, your child might become interested in learning more about Benjamin Franklin, American history, famous inventors like the Wright Brothers, famous scientists like Nikola Tesla, and scientific facts about electricity and meteorology. I doubt the book will prompt a deep interest in dark creatures like vampires.
6. What's the take on religion and/or God in the book? The subject doesn't come up.
7. What about politics and government? This topic doesn't come up directly, either. The mayor and police chief are portrayed as good people placed under mind control by the sinister evil emperor.
8. Any gender issues whack you in the eye? The main characters are all male, which didn't bother me. The mayor and a reporter are strong women characters, although they play minor roles. Victor's mom appears in a few scenes and makes food. It's not clear if she works from home, outside the home, or is a homemaker. Perhaps the authors have left this information purposely vague or explained it in the first volume in the series. As an aside, Victor's mom doesn't worry that her son hangs around alone in the basement of an older and very odd downstairs neighbor for large parts of the day, which would really have concerned me if I were in her place, but this is fiction, and it's necessary for the plot for Victor to spend a lot of time together with Ben. Victor's father doesn't appear in the story at all. Again, I don't know why, but maybe his absence is explained in volume one. It's not necessary to the plot for us to know, either, so maybe the writers left it out for this reason.
Perhaps in an attempt to rectify the absence of a main female character, a middle-school-aged girl appears about halfway through the book in the role of a "custodian," one of the people who puts inventors in suspended animation and reanimates them when they're needed. She's taken over the role after the disappearance of her parents, the real custodians. I look forward to reading more about her and her missing parents in the volume 3 of the series.
9. Any other important themes or issues crop up that you might want to discuss with your child? The writers engineer a disagreement between Victor and his friend Scott toward the end of the book; the argument comes about because Victor needs to learn not to judge a book by its cover. To summarize, Ben and the kids need a meteorologist to help them defeat the emperor, and Scott wants to turn to his father, the local TV weatherman known for his outrageous on-air shenanigans. Victor, however, can't believe there's a competent atmospheric scientist behind the joking exterior. He soon learns better and grows to respect Scott's father. I would want to discuss this incident with my kids: Is our first impression of people always correct? Why or why not?
10. Is the book especially challenging to read, and if so, why? No, this is a good book for younger middle-grade readers.
11. How's the writing? What's the writer's major strength? What's the writer's Achilles heel? There are two writers here, and the end product is a competently written, well-structured, fun, and humorous sci-fi adventure. I'm no great judge of illustrations, but I found the illustrations in this book very appealing, and think your kids will, too.
If the writers have an Achilles heel, it has to do with believability of characterization, but remember, they're working with a limited word count. Additionally, as an adult I may notice things that their target audience would gloss over as unimportant or irrelevant to the plot and thus uninteresting. That said, I felt there were several instances in which characters reacted in questionably believable ways. I've already mentioned the first one, Victor's mom's reaction to her son spending a lot of time alone with the odd (e.g., always wears a scarf to hide the bolts in his neck) older man who lives downstairs.
The second is cursory treatment of the trauma of the middle-school-aged girl custodian's loss of her parents. Ben, Victor, and Scott meet this girl in a local diner. When she divulges the information that her parents are missing and she's presumably living with a group of other custodians, the group's reaction—especially Ben's—seems too lukewarm. Here's a middle-school kid who's lost her parents. Where's she living? Is she eating right? Who's taking care of her? Any reasonable adult would be concerned, and many reasonable kids, too.
Finally, Scott's Dad reacts with great equanimity to learning that Benjamin Franklin is alive and well and has been in suspended animation for 200 years. He's not torn about helping Ben or curious for proof. He's not excited to tell the world about the ability of people to go into suspended animation. He just wants to help.
12. The Philly thing. As a Pennsylvanian and the daughter of a man who grew up just south of Philly, I just can't let this review go without a comment on the setting. To my mind, the least realistic part of the story was not that Ben Franklin put himself in suspended animation and re-awoke, or that a mysterious Emperor is using mind control to turn the Wright Brothers into bad guys to take over the City of Brotherly Love. It's not that a few character react to events and circumstances in ways I found a little hard to swallow. Nope. It's that the city has been cleaned up and cooled down.
In the book, it's summer in Philly, but no one dodges a bullet or dies of heat stroke, both of which are, I feel, equally likely. No hoagies are eaten, no cheese steaks, no soft pretzels with or without mustard, no whoopee pies. There no tasteful statues of Mary and Jesus in people's yards (OK maybe that's a south-of-Philly thing). So what gives? Well, maybe the writers toned down the wilder local pastimes and lowered the temperatures for the youthful readership, but what I really suspect is that they are in factuality from someplace else, like maybe New York.
How comes do I suspect this? The big giveaway is that one of the characters asks the other—twice—if there are swamps in Philly. Oh heck yeah there are. Out by the airport. Back in the day my dad and his brothers used to bike in there and trap & skin muskrats there and sell their corpses for food and their pelts for those Davy Crockett hats kids wore when it was Howdy Doody Time. Those were the days, huh? Can you believe stuff like that went on only half a lifetime ago? Now Philadelphians have advanced to the point where they don't kill animals like that anymore (I think), just each other. I hope that changes soon, too, because it's no joke.
Man, I'm STILL homesick.


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A Louisville woman is under arrest, accused of beating six children with an extension cord.
Police say Yolanda Pearson became angry when she came home and found a wash cloth on the bathroom floor.
Investigators say the victims – who are between the ages of 10 and 14 -- walked to a nearby police station to get help.
Pearson is charged with criminal abuse and assault.
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The stifling South Carolina heat is upon us, but at least most of the primary battles have been settled.
And while Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott had declined to issue outright endorsements of Sen. Lindsey Graham during the primary, the trio made nice Wednesday.
The three GOP leaders held a presser at the Governor's Mansion to illustrate their united front heading toward the November election season.
Smiles were everywhere as the group all are considered heavy favorites to win re-election.
While the post-primary hangover is soon to go away, Haley still has one bit of lingering work to take care of before the Legislature returns to finish up business Tuesday.
Her vetoes of lawmaker spending and action are expected to be released soon in advance of lawmakers coming back to Columbia.
In other news overnight:
Scott's GOP victory sets up historic South Carolina election (Associated Press)
S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley says she is not getting involved in the runoffs (The State)
Henry McMaster's runoff opponent to be unclear for days (Associated Press)
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About This Activity
Enter as a couple or individual. All runners receive a race t-shirt, Kilwins chocolate, after party drink ticket, and entry into the after party with live DJ and free photo booth. Plus, free food, door prizes, and dancing. We'll be at Brixx Ice Co beginning at 1:30 for pick up and, anyone who has not registered can do so at that time.
Organizer Info
Get ACTIVE on the Go
Map & Direction
Brixx Ice Company 500 E. 1st St. Dayton, OH 45402Get Directions


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Doctor insights on:
Infected Pore On The Nose
Picked at whitehead on nose, now a hole bigger than pore and pit like. Dermatologist says not infected. Will my skin repair itself? Will retin a help?
Skin lesion: Leave your skin alone. It will repair itself. If there was no infection and the whitehead was the only thing that came out of it, it will most likely leave no scars, but let it heal itself and keep your hands off your face. ...Read more
Nasal (Definition)
NaSal is a nasal preparation which is a kind of ...Read more
I have the things coming through the pores outside and inside from my nose also the skin is very oily it must be a STD which I've caught stdfromtoilet?
Not sure how to: Answer this question. You describe issues related to your nose but yet you feel like this is a related to a STD. Not that you don't have a problem, but it's not likely a STD causing these issues. Additionally realize it's very unlikely that you've be infected with an STD from a toilet set. Most bacteria, viruses, and parasites cannot live outside a person for any prolonged period of time. ...Read more
Nose looks like a ball at end. Huge pores.
Rhinophyma: Usually after rosacea for many years.Get a more detailed answer ›
Dry, oily and stingy nose pores, what to do?
Simple...: Use a paste of ' Besan' and 1/6th amount of ' haldi' with water at night........will help definitely. Wash off in the morning. Take Vit A supplement. ...Read more
I have many pores on my nose and around my nose.. what can i do to remove those pores ? because some people have no pores, their face is just flawless
Large Pores: Large pores are genetic. Need to practice good skin hygiene to keep them clean and unblocked. Natural skin tighteners are ice, baking soda paste, lemon & pineapple juice, light scrubs, yogurt mask. May need exfoliants like alpha and beta hydroxy acids every 4-6 weeks to stimulate collagen and tighten pores. There are also Dermapen and light-based tx by medical professional that can smoothen skin. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Which antibitocs are best for infected nose piercings?
Skin soft tissue: Skin and soft tissue infection need coverage based on background. Was a clean device used? If so a simple oral cephalosporin will help. They are all prescription and you will need to see your MD. ...Read more
How can you unclog tiny pores on my nose?
Comedone extractor: Wash face w gentle cleanser 2x/day & use oil free products. No oily hair or heavy foundations. Exfoliate occasionally. Try not to pop pimples. Avoid touching face (cradling chin in hands). Remove makeup before bed. Shower after strenuous exercise. Consider otc products (salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide). If > mild acne see dermatology (discuss meds, comedone extractor, pore strips, etc.). ...Read more
I have "holes" in my armpits. They get infected easily. Are they just large pores?
Armpits: a lot sebaceous cysts in the axilla (armpits) are from deodorants. Use baby powder for a while. I found Arm and Hammer stick deodorant best for cyst prevention after your initial episode has cleared up ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Getting enlarged nose pores/ what can I do?
Dermaroller : Other than physician grade skin care products and treatments, a dermaroller treatment is probably the best to decrease pore size. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
I think my nose ring is starting to become infected. What would you recommend my next course of action should be?
Take it out: Take it out and see a doctor today. An infection in the cartilage can be very serious and lead to a deformity if not treated early. ...Read more
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