"...an exploration of the rhythmically propulsive tradition of the saxophone-bass-drums trio. The trio pays homage to classic 'lounge era' favorites, but with original twists and arrangements that cause the unfamiliar to veer in and out of the familiar. "Pennies from Heaven" is retooled as the somewhat Latin and swinging "Pesos," the old standard "Perdido" is reinterpreted a la Monk as "Pretty Toes," and "I Hear a Rhapsody" is thoroughly transformed into "I Hear a Rap CD." While filled with a sense of fun and funk, the band is always anchored in the superlative playing of each musician."

For an aural taste (and I hope I can get more than just a taste sent down to us for the show) of the sound, there are some RealAudio samples from the LAE disc "Lava Jazz" (with Dave Carpenter doing the bass work) and I hunted down an additional Flash-based sample (along with other Erskine samples). Maybe Peter can zip up a couple of complete tunes, send by email (or stick out on his server), and we'll burn a CD for the show...gotta love the Inet (update...we don't have "Lava Jazz" at the station so it will need to happen this way or not). Other Pete discs may have to do.

Reviews of the Lounge Art Ensemble have been graciously supplied by Mr. Erskine himself (BTW, nice site Peter, but the Mining Co. link on the above page is no longer of this world as is the Mining Co.) and others,

"Their timing and melding on unison passages is matched by their soloing, sometimes on a variety of instruments (Shep goes back and forth between soprano and tenor saxophones, for example). Together they deliver some of the finest jazz being played today--innovative, fresh-sounding and catchy."

Some questions about LAE and the coming gig that come to mind...

Interesting article on MS plans to hook you low cost and keep you when you need something bigger.

Netcraft runs a nifty little utility to tell what web server (and operating system , etc.) any website is running on. Here's what TheNewJazzThing.com is running.
4:02:44 PM    comment []  Google It!  

"...any effort to deter North Korea after a "surgical strike" on Yongbyon coming in the midst of a Middle East crisis, will rely overwhelmingly on American strike forces. The Pentagon, in fact, may be forced to recommend the threat of nuclear retaliation for any North Korean attack on the south, or on Japan, following elimination of the most threatening part of North Korea's nuclear potential. This, of course, would further alienate America's South Korean ally and shatter any coalition assembled for action against Pyongyang, thereby reinforcing the bilateral nature of the crisis."

The gist of this article is that direct U.S. - N. Korea talks are needed, although that's not the current policy of our president.
3:23:13 PM    comment []  Google It!  

"Specs are like bodily orifices: Everybody has them and they all have certain unique characteristics. But just writing a spec means nothing. If you write a spec that no one implements, did it ever really specify anything?" Don Box, an architect in Microsoft's .Net software group, asked developers at the XML Web Services One conference here."

2:27:48 PM    comment []  Google It!