Category Archives: music

It wasn’t much like the crazy “rockabilly funeral” Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen sang about (1), but the spirit inside the Hangar on the Hudson Sunday night was sure similar.  All were gathered for “A Celebration of the Art, Music, and Life” of Commander Cody, who ascended to the outer ozone late lastContinue reading “rock don’t cry”

It wasn’t our first, but yesterday’s evening with Rodney Crowell at the City Winery in Chicago was certainly one to relish. When the evening was over, I had a better understanding of what Rodney sings “Oh, what a beautiful world” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTsYHaOSXeY.  I didn’t write down my own setlist as I wanted to devote full attentionContinue reading “taste of joy”

Kathy and I never fail to take in some jazz when we come to Chicago. Usually, it’s at the venerable Jazz Showcase in the South Loop or the much older Green Mill in Uptown, way north, sometimes Andy’s in the Near North. Tonight it was Jazz Showcase to experience the irrepressible trumpeter Victor Garcia inContinue reading “Chi jazz”

I awoke this morning knowing I was facing a very special day.  Another one of those golden anniversaries.  They come around pretty frequently at this age.  One of the first things I did once I got settled into my blue La-Z-Boy was to fire off e-mails to George Frayne of Gansevoort NY and Bill KirchenContinue reading “Two triple cheese…”

Leon Russell pervades through all my preferred Spotify channels, and none are the ”Leon Russell” channel, which surely exists.  You can never go too far without hearing a Leon Russell tune, which is o.k. because all Leon Russell tunes are cool.  He brought his considerable talents to LA from Oklahoma City in the 60s, becameContinue reading “Leon”

Driving to the grocery store is usually a mundane activity which I nevertheless enjoy. But today gave me an epiphany, one I had to share with my friend from the ‘burg, Forrest Hummel (named Steve Layne by his parents, corrected by his peers in Jr High). Forrest and I share a love for music, heContinue reading “Cream!”

Ain’t it great when that perfect tune comes around on your device? It could be something that reminds you of the best moment in your life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k33x_Efa5Lk. Or it could be the saddest song ever, sung here by my pal, Ann Arbor’s own Bill Kirchen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb_Bz4SssxM. That was December 10, 1971, at Crisler Arena, packedContinue reading “some tunes”

I’ve just uploaded 5 videos to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjgcSvb5riojGVFQnxYcjgg which I established expressly for this exercise. My favorite band ever is Commander Cody and His Lost Planer Airmen. I’ve never been happier than I’ve been at their concerts. I’ve been privileged to establish relationships over the years with Bill Kirchen, Commander’s lead guitarist, andContinue reading “You Tube!”

Ray Kamalay and I are about the same age. Except he has talent. He took his ’74 philosophy degree from U of D and did who knows what, but on the side became quite an accomplished singer and jazz guitarist http://www.raykamalay.com/. I met him November before last when he came to perform for one ofContinue reading “Ray”