RAGSTRETCH GOES AROUND THE WORLD IN JAZZ: PANAMA / AUSTRALIA / DENMARK (WITH FRIENDS!)

My new friend Lars Ole Christiansen posted this video by the intercontinental band RAGSTRETCH.  That hot band characterizes itself here on Facebook as “New Orleans inspired jazz! Scandinavian horns meet New York-based Aussies for an upcoming tour of Denmark and Norway.”

That in itself would be enough to convince me.  But RAGSTRETCH is also fortunate enough to have my friend Shannon Barnett (an astonishing player, shoes on or off) on trombone in the front line.

They are playing William H. Tyers’ PANAMA . . . and they are playing it in Copenhagen.  Can you say, “Jazz is a universal language.”?

I was about a minute into this video before I said, “More people need to hear this RIGHT NOW.”  So here you are!

RAGSTRETCH is Chris Tanner, clarinet; Björn Ingelstam, trumpet; Shannon Barnett, trombone; Craig Fermanis, guitar; Sam Anning, string bass; Rajiv Jayweera, drums.  Recorded at the Copenhagen Harbour Jazz Festival, July 7, 2013

May your happiness increase!

ON MY CAR — OR YOURS

After I had posted this set of ruminations about certain kinds of prejudice, a posting which used Jimmy Rushing as a noble example, the Esteemed Mal Sharpe wrote in.  I’m always glad to encounter Mal — he has original ideas!  This time, he suggested a bumper sticker he would like to display:

HONK IF YOU MISS JIMMY RUSHING

I feel it is a wonderful idea, mixing celebration and regret.

I was sufficiently moved to spend half an hour on a site that lets you design your own bumper sticker in quest of this idea, but calmed down when I saw what my impulse might cost.  I imagined having a boxful of stickers and pressing them on people I thought might share the same impulse.  Would I ever see one on someone’s car?

But Mal’s idea wouldn’t stay quiet, so I came up with other possibilities, of course reflecting my personal leanings.  See if any of them appeal to you, or perhaps you have ones you like better.

I BRAKE FOR LEE WILEY

JOHNNY WIGGS WAS MY TEACHER

HEALED BY LOUIS 

SIDNEY CATLETT IS STILL BIG

FORTY-SEVEN WEST THIRD STREET

“YEAH, MAN!”

I also think my closing line would do well . . .

May your happiness increase!