THURSDAY --TIME FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF.......

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)    Why does it seem so important to the public to know about Tiger Woods and his emotions and his career---perhaps media hype?  He has got to learn to control his putts during the masters.  The “Masters”—is that short for something?

2)    The Palestinian efforts in Israel seem a carbon copy of Israeli efforts vis a vis Britain and the Arab nations back in the 1940s.  History does repeat and not always for the better.

3)     When did we stop fighting righteous wars of self defense and start fighting wars as a “business” matter for varied interests and expending the lives of “volunteers” (mercenaries in need of a career move)?  

4)   Scientists have discovered a new “heavy” element.  Damn, I sure wish I knew what they are all talking about---I once saw a “heavy” person taking up two seats on a Subway car.  Is that a Heavy Element or just an overweight slob?

5)   I have always wondered why some people just have all the bad happenings in their lives.  The first female Chief of the Cherokee nation died this week at age 64---Wilma Mankiller (don’t let the name confuse you)---after surviving many serious physical problems.  There are so many more---including the widow of Norman Mailer—who rises above it all even in danger and pain.

6)    It was a delight to see so many appreciative folks at a luncheon presentation at LIU (in Rockland---why is LIU in Rockland?) by an expert on old time Radio.  It did, however, make me wonder why people so want to live in the past---one comment from the speaker—“...no comedians like that anymore”.  No.  True. Different and clever and topical ones are there though---leaving the shock ones aside (who serve no useful purpose other than shock—which is not comedy).  Think of the likes of Stewart, Carlin, Colbert, etc;  Surely on a par with Fred Allen, Jack Benny, and all those greats the speaker dwelled upon---though—me—I never liked the Abbot and Costello “Who’s on First” routine---his audience adored it and that, in short, is why I do not book acts.

7)     It surely makes sense to me that the  airlines will be charging for food and drink since less people will buy it and that means less people will be using the toilets that they are starting exact a fee for use.  The airlines are always thinking how to stop obesity in the interest of getting more seats on the craft.  Makes sense.

8)   MOMA has an interesting concept with its latest exhibit.  Just get people to sit at a table or stand naked in an entry way and let the world know they are performance artists.  P T Barnum was so far ahead of his time in knowing what people would pay to see.

9)    Joe Welch once asked Sen. McCarthy “...have you no shame, sir?”.  Well, he didn’t but in less serious matters neither do people like Ex-Gov. Spitzer.  Many programs want his self proclaimed expertise so he leaves his Father’s offices from time to time to expound on matters---he, of course, an expert in “Chutzpah”.

10)                    Why are some people so disappointed  when their “friends” on Facebook  disappoint them.  “Friends” on Facebook are what “To My Pal so and so” is when a fan gets an autograph from a celeb.

Check With Me Tomorrow

That would be April 7. I would urge you to click on THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER.   Not comedic but some interesting thoughts about one of our great "troubadors" and the music he created that is still valid today.  Others may have moved on to Pop fame and we may never know where he would have gone.  I do suspect that he would have gone on to follow his ideals and his music to the places he envisioned them in his short time on this earth---

Check in tomorrow at the link above for who, what, and why and a video of what I am talking of.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR SOME MEANINGFUL MUSICAL MOMENTS

Yesterday, on TRADITIONS, you are aware of some wonderful guests---and one I was not able to put on because of time limitations. That one was Sharon Katz. A long time mainstay of this program. A few e mails did arrive asking about her from the piece of her music that was played on the program.

So--let's give you a list of some upcoming shows (and also our guests) and a few videos of them:

First is Sharon Katz at Joe's Pub on April 6 at 8 PM























Second:: This Thursday (April 8) at THe Turning Point in Piermont NY





That is Pat Wictor---unfortunately there is no Abbie Gardner solo I can put here---but trust me---after you buy my bridge---she will WOW you----and forget that inane bumper sticker.


On April 10 the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club in Fairlawn, NJ presents, what is to me, and event that should be witnessed by anyone who wants to recall or discover the music of one of the brilliant and meaningful musical and political people of his era---Phil Ochs.  Were it not for his early demise it may well have been possible that his fame and talent would, in the end, have eclipsed Bob Dylan. A Phil Ochs Song night  will be presented and hosted by his sister (who keeps the candle of memory burning) with a host of wonderful talents who also find Phil Ochs of great importance .  To name a few--Kim/Reggie Harris, John Flynn, Greg Greenway, Magpie---and , you know,  the famous many others.




And now we arrive at April 24 and The Tarrytown Music Hall and the concert that we talked of on TRADITIONS on April 4 with David Bernz (producer) and Rob Tepper(Woody Guthrie performer).  Kisses Sweeter Than Wine is the name of the concert that will feature---Work O The Weavers, The Klezmatics, Theresa Tova (you know her from Sunday Simcha), Pete Seeger, and Fred Hellerman.   It portends to be an amazing evening of emotion and music---and you will find out why this is called Kisses Sweeter Than Wine---which is a Leadbelly song having nothing to do with this group and yet everything to do with the program.   The link above  is where you can purchase tickets for this once in a life-time event which will also be a benefit for The Guthrie Foundation and The Sloop Woody Guthrie.

A brief video of the group that I have admired for so long now---



Please do say hello to me at these events so that we can share some really great memories.