favorite new albums: Joni Mitchell: Travelogue Jello Biafra: The Big Ka-Boom The Blasters: Trouble Bound Uri Caine: Solitaire Ellery Eskelin: Vanishing Point Dave Douglas: The Infinite Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Un Gran Dia En Al Barrio favorite reissues: John Hartford: Steam Powered Aereo Takes (Rounder) Alterbates and unreleased cuts from one of the greatest records ever made, and a package that does what few similar packages have done: It really does give you a bunch of revelations as to the true creative process of a classic album. We learn as much from what producer David Bromberg left out as what he put in. And what he left out was often just as incredible as what he released. Think Of The Good Times: The Tuscon 60s Sound (Dionysus) amazing comp of AZ garage bands Joe Meek: The Alchemist Of Pop (Castle import) Finally -- all the good stuff on a 2 disc set Cannonball Adderley: Radio Nights (Hyena) live 60s Cannonball -- can't go wrong Glenn Gould -- Sense Of Wonder (Sony Legacy) both Goldbergs, plus interviews and outtakes. It really IS all that Music From The Yiddish Radio Project (Shanachie) Really nicely done, with plenty of lost treasures other reasons to be happy even in light of current events: Proper Records -- 25 bucks for a 4 disc set of the great pre-1952 treasures of jazz, with great sound and serious booklets, inlcuding sets anthologzing Hawk, Prez, Sassy, etc, plus boxes on Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bob Wills, and others? Finally to be able to afford ALL the stuff you know you need. The Sony Legacy Reissue Program -- From Miles to Jewish music, a major label is really getting it right. fav movie: Bowling For Columbine fav book: 9/11 -- Noam Chomsky fav live shows: Dave Douglas New Quintet at the Jazz Bakery (I went every night) Blasters reunion shows Tower Of Power winners of the "Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Randy, and Jermaine without Michael ain't the Jackson 5" award: Dead Kennedys tour without Jello Biafra winners of the "so we couldn't get EVERYONE, but we're still amazing" award: Tower Of Power (lead singer serving triple life sentence, but the touring band is still intense) the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen rara avis (I didn't buy it til this yr): Steve Earle with the Del McCoury Band -- The Mountain