Wow. Just… wow.

Hehe, some of the comments here in the last week are suddenly starting to make more sense now. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....r_embedded

I doubt I can embed video in links, so I’ll just leave that for you guys to check out yourself. I’d rather have new episodes, but that doesn’t make the song/video any less awesome.

My daughter, 19, is attempting to make a career as a professional dancer. She was one of those ‘professionals’ brought in to front the Nutcracker over the last two Christmases. Last year she danced the lead female role, eight performances, in a real theatre with 500 seats, sold out for every show.

After each performance, the dancers would come to the lobby – in costume – to meet the audience members. And as a proud dad, seeing little girls wanting to pose for picures with my daughter and asking for her autograph – even though nobody really knew who she was – got my eyes a bit moist around the edges…

I knew it wasn’t the Joffrey or ABT, and that my daughter may never ever reach those heights, but she loves doing it, and so do all those little kids. Bask in their joy.

Think the Nutcracker interpreted by good modern dancers and staged by Tim Burton, and instead of the first act set in the 18th century, it’s set in hipster New York City circa 1975. (No canned music – MMDG always uses a live musicians, in this case a 55-piece symphony orchestra.)

It’s available on DVD, but catch it if you ever get a chance to see it live. You’ll never think of The Nutcracker the same way again.

@jeffreyw: More critters! Makes me a little happier!

I’ll have to check that out. I love McCoy Tyner, and I have been listening a lot lately to his album Guitars, which came out about a year ago. Really nice duets with Marc Ribot, John Scofield, Béla Fleck, Derek Trucks and Bill Frisell. The song with Frisell at about 3:40 in this clip is particularly good. Can’t remember the name right now. And “Greensleeves” with Derek Trucks at about 7:00.

I really like Tyner’s “big acoustic piano” sound. Second only to Ahmad Jamal, whose album The Awakening is in my top five jazz albums of all time.

Oh, and a question: does the airing of grievances that has been going on nonstop here for most of the week count as an actual Festivus?

Clearly not. The aluminum Festivus pole has not been deployed from storage in the crawlspace, and, while there has been an ample airing of grievances, there have been no feats of strength or Festivus miracles.

I believe Cole is rigorous about keeping to the canonical date, which of course will be next Wednesday.

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

I had that inclination when I first heard it, but I have seen nothing to change my mind. A sublime beat and interesting lyrics.

This may kill any indie cred I thought I had, but fuck it. That’s a damn good song.

the new pics. I will try again.

Thanks!

how are the kitties?

have a great weekend. I don’t know about festivus, it actually reminds me more of this Inca/andean tradition. ;-)

http://www.amazon.com/Solo-Liv.....B002F3BPSQ

Not sure it’s one of Tyner’s best performances, but If you have audiophile tendencies, you have to hear it for the sound. Actually sounds like a real piano.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Oh, and a question: does the airing of grievances that has been going on nonstop here for most of the week count as an actual Festivus?

I got hooked early on and it was the one show this fall that I made sure to watch no matter what. I actually got both cd’s though some of the music is not my taste (broadway fare) the pop music from all ages is great to have.