In 1983, I saw Miles Davis at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. That place is usually reserved for classical music -- Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, which is why I made the special effort to see the master perform. The sound would have been pure in a garage or a speakeasy, but this venue offered Miles trumpet unadulterated by clinging ice in mixed drinks or the murmur of whispered conversation. And Miles, with his back to the audience most of the time, was just too cool. The following video reveals a very young Miles Davis and John Coltrane. But the focus is mostly on Coltrane.

Miles Davis & John Coltrane video on FoxyTunes Planet

Miles Davis and John Coltrane: listen / feel / be

[via FoxyTunes / Miles Davis & John Coltrane]

Dee Alexander

During this past summer 2007, I had the good fortune to see Dee Alexander on several occasions, the last in early September for her tribute to Dinah Washington and Nina Simone. These were sponsered by The Jazz Institute of Chicago, which I finally joined. The following video shows how talented this young lady is.

Of the soft things in life, the pink pads of catsfeet, a baby's bottom, the feathery crowns of dandelions, and the sweet succulent pillows of your lips --- all were made for kissing.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band

What do you remember about the album, how it affected you, how you listened to it, why it was important to you, and so on? Did you wonder about the various persons featured on the cover and why they were included?
It was significant in the same way Kurt Vonnegut novels were. There was something profound about it, something meaningful to discover about it. It helped us glean an understanding of ourselves.