AND THAT'S JAZZ!

Yes, gentle readers, I've been lazy again lately.  I guess you'll just have to get used to my absences.  I've been enjoying our cooler autumn weather.  But today's post will go from cool to red hot.

Let me explain.  I had never heard of Patricia Barber before this morning.  But I discovered her on my friend Dana's blog, Bug's Eve View.  I listened to the recording there and said "Wow!"  (I encourage you to visit her blog and listen to "Let It Rain", too.)  So then I went to You Tube and found Barber and her jazz quartet performing "Norwegian Wood".  Just give a listen.  Warning: it's 10 minutes long but the drum solo at the end is well worth the wait.  So, without further ado . . .

RAIN

Finally, after what seemed like a failed monsoon season, the rain came yesterday in short but recurring thunderstorms through the afternoon and early evening.  For my friends over in drought and fire ravaged Texas then here is the sight and sound of what you need.



So far today no rain but the temperature was just above 60 degrees when I got up this morning.  It feels wonderful.

PICANTE *

Asian Peppers

* Hotter than Hell

A FACE IN THE CLOUDS

Hmmmm.  I wonder what this means.



A MOVIE AND SOME MUSIC

I find less and less to write about in my sedentary life these days.  But I can make some recommendations.  First among these is a Danish movie I watched today - "In A Better World".  If I were a critic I would give it five stars.  It has already won the 2011 Oscar and Golden Globe awards for Best Foreign Language film.  And the actors are not only skillful but beautiful to look at.  If you haven't seen it . . do.

Now, off on a totally different track, here is one of my favorite singers performing with one of my favorite bands.  Van Morrison and the Chieftains with some Irish soul.

AND NOW. . .

. . . for something completely different.  I have my blogger friend, Tess, to thank for this.  She posted it on her Facebook page and after listening to it twice I had to share it with y'all.  By the way, that "y'all" is proper because the singer is a Texas girl named Janis Joplin.  This recording, with some studio crosstalk, is her first ever studio recording of "Me and Bobbie McGee".  Enjoy.

SEPTEMBER . . FINALLY

At last, it's here.  September.  But summer lingers on here with temperatures in the 90's daily.  But cooler weather can't be far beyond.  So in that spirit here are some talented musicians performing a song for the season, written by Kurt Weill although this video gives the credit to the famed Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt.