The first great family bike ride of the season happened last weekend. Ella and Martin had a school picnic at Linne Woods in Morton Grove. It was a gorgeous day, so we got the bikes out and rode about 8 miles in each direction. Linne Woods is right along the North Branch Trail. The real challenge is getting to the trail from our house near Portage Park. Our route took us by the Jefferson Park station, across the Kennedy, and up to the bike lane on Elston.
Martin, 4 1/2, has taken to the hook-on bike this year. This was the first big test of his stamina on the hook-on. There were some concerns early on, but in the end he did a great job, riding behind Maria. Ella, almost 10, was on her new 24 inch bike. She did well overall, but was frustrated by a couple of the hills along the way, and had to walk her bike up. I was nervous about all of us riding in traffic, and was much happier and more relaxed when we got to the trail. The kids had a good time at the picnic, and it provided a nice rest before the ride back home. Back in our neighborhood, we stopped at our favorite Hot Dog Express for milkshakes.
12 June 2011
Charles Lloyd
I have a list of musicians I'd like to see perform (I posted an earlier version here). This list is no mere folly, but a real passion for me, to be taken seriously with a sense of urgency. Last year, Maria and I had just decided that we needed to see Hank Jones when we heard of his passing. Too late! Damn! But last week Maria and I were able to scratch a couple names off the list.
Charles Lloyd has been on the list for a while. There's something about his tone on the saxophone which is melancholy and introspective. I can imagine that it might not please some people, but I find it gorgeous. Some years ago, he recorded a couple albums with Brad Mehldau that I find especially irresistible.
Last week Lloyd played at Symphony Center. The first half of the show he played with drummer Eric Harland and tabla master Zakir Hussain. This part I found interesting, though the few songs tended to go on too long, and the instrument swapping was a little self-indulgent. Lloyd would play piano a while, then Harland joined him on piano, then Lloyd played drums, etc. In the second half, they were joined by Jason Moran on piano and Larry Grenadier on bass; I would gladly have heard more from them.
It was great to finally see Lloyd play and to hear him speak. The revelation of the night was the magic that Hussain evoked from the tablas. In his hands, these are no mere drums, but a unified musical instrument that spans the audible spectrum, and made me wonder several times, “Where are those sounds coming from? How is that possible?” To top that, Hussain added vocals to a couple songs with incredible intonation and sustain, all while he sat on the stage, in a posture that should actively prohibit any such feat.
Unfortunately, I found myself spending considerable energy not intensely focused on the performance, but rather keeping myself from throttling the two young women immediately to my right, who: showed up late; wandered out and back in, forcing us to stand several times; opened and ate snacks noisily; and talked with each other at normal volume the entire time. Stay the !@#$ at home!!
Charles Lloyd has been on the list for a while. There's something about his tone on the saxophone which is melancholy and introspective. I can imagine that it might not please some people, but I find it gorgeous. Some years ago, he recorded a couple albums with Brad Mehldau that I find especially irresistible.
Last week Lloyd played at Symphony Center. The first half of the show he played with drummer Eric Harland and tabla master Zakir Hussain. This part I found interesting, though the few songs tended to go on too long, and the instrument swapping was a little self-indulgent. Lloyd would play piano a while, then Harland joined him on piano, then Lloyd played drums, etc. In the second half, they were joined by Jason Moran on piano and Larry Grenadier on bass; I would gladly have heard more from them.
It was great to finally see Lloyd play and to hear him speak. The revelation of the night was the magic that Hussain evoked from the tablas. In his hands, these are no mere drums, but a unified musical instrument that spans the audible spectrum, and made me wonder several times, “Where are those sounds coming from? How is that possible?” To top that, Hussain added vocals to a couple songs with incredible intonation and sustain, all while he sat on the stage, in a posture that should actively prohibit any such feat.
Unfortunately, I found myself spending considerable energy not intensely focused on the performance, but rather keeping myself from throttling the two young women immediately to my right, who: showed up late; wandered out and back in, forcing us to stand several times; opened and ate snacks noisily; and talked with each other at normal volume the entire time. Stay the !@#$ at home!!
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