The first Michael Robotham book I read was Suspect. I was introduced to one of the best characters in the mystery-thriller genre Joe O’Loughlin, who not only battles wits against the bad guys but also battles Parkinson’s disease. Since that first books I’ve followed all of Joe’s adventures and Book 37 of 2012 Say You’re Sorry is the fifth book in the series that just keeps getting better.
So today was a jazzy kind of day. This afternoon I was doing some writing so I decided to listen to some jazz. I had download a Chick Corea and Gary Burton a while ago, so I decided to start the afternoon with another Chick Corea album. I chose his 2012 release Further Explorations. The album is a two disc tribute to Jazz legend Bill Evans.. On the album, Corea he leads original Evans alumni – bassist Eddie Gomez and the late drummer Paul Motian – on Further Explorations. The album was recorded on May 4-17, 2010, live at the Blue Note in New York City. (2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Evans’ original Explorations LP. Not being a huge fan of either Corea or Evans I didn’t realize that the album was a tribute album to Evans, but I did know that the album evoke the feel of Bill Evans and the second album that I listened to was Bill Evans’ The Complete Vanguard Recording 1961. As I look at the track lists for both albums tonight I see that two of the tracks I listened to “Gloria’s Step” and “Alice in Wonderland” appear on BOTH albums! Well, I’ll be, again, I’m not that familiar with either artist and the music was on in the background so I guess maybe I can be excused for not noticing that they were the same songs on each album!
Yesterday I noted that at number 8 on the ProgArchives list of best albums over the last few years is A Tower Of Silence by the Australian neo-prog band Anubis. I gave it a quick listen and it sounded like something I would like, so I put it on the iPhone and gave it a more thorough listen this morning. I put it on as I was shopping in Target this morning and I really liked what I heard. We had been in the store for about 40 minutes or so we were ready to leave so I thought I’d check as to where I was on the album – I was all the way to track FOUR! I hadn’t noticed that the opening track “The Passing Bell” – was in typical ProgRock fashion was over 17 minutes long!
So this evening I decided to check out some newer Prog Rock than early 70s Genesis and Gentle Giant. Now there’s nothing wrong with either of those bands, I just want to check out the new stuff, too. So I went back to the Prog Archives and looked at the list of Best ProgRock albums of 2010-11 and 12, because the album at number 7 King of Number 33 was released in 2012 and is the second release from DeeExpus.
So yesterday I started my prog-rock education, I decided to start with one of the first Prog-rock bands Genesis. My sons Nick and Andrew always tell me to listen to them, So I started with their first Prog-rock album Trespass, which was their second overall album. I had it on in the background as I was working and it sounded pretty good to me.
From Collingsguitars.com
So from his early musical days as a founding member of The Byrds to his latest album with Herb Pederson At Edward’s Barn, Chris Hillman has been a part of my musical journey. Whether it was in bands like The Byrds, The Flying Burritto Brothers, Stephen Stills’ Manassas, Souther, Hillman or Furey, or just playing on albums like Dan Fogelsberg’s High Country Snows, Chris Hillman’s voice and playing has been there for over 40 years Just take a look at his Discography page to see how much he’s been a part of everyone’s music over the years
So my goal for the Goodreads Reading Challenge was 40 books this year. For the longest time it looked like I would come nowhere near that total but a good October and November has brought me within 4 of that total. Now the trick will be to get 4 more books reads before the end of the year. December is always a challenging reading month, with so much to do getting ready of Christmas and then I usually am working more at Target, etc, so it will be tough but maybe doable!!
It’s been a while since I had a bluegrass day, but last night after a review of the Roots Music Bluegrass Charts, and some quick listens, I found three bands that served as today’s soundtrack! First was Cory Piatt’s Daydreams (#17), followed by Cumberland River’s latest The Way We Live(#37) and finally Sleepy Man Banjo Boys with their latest The Farthest Horizon. (#23). It’s been a good music day!!
Today is the birthday of a British music legend Mr. John Mayall turns 79 years old today! I am like many, many people whose music collection he touch so Thanks, John!! From Wikipedia:
