LATIN CD PICK OF THE WEEK - FRANKIE RUIZ

This weeks overdue Latin CD Pick of the Week is Frankie Ruiz with the double cd titled La Leyenda. Now I must say I am a big fan of the late, great Puerto Rican salsa singer, Frankie Ruiz and own several of his cd's including this gem. This particular cd makes up most of Frankie's biggest hits so it is something that can be enjoyed by all. Some of my favorite cuts on this cd include: Lo Dudo, Tu Con El, Quiero Llenarte, Desnudate Mujer, Mujer, Me Acostumbre, Tu Eres and Puerto Rico. A great cd that is a must have for all you salsa lovers. If you're not hip to Frankie then get hip! Go to this link to hear this cd or check out the video for one of the cuts from this great cd! http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Ruiz-La-Leyenda/dp/B0017MQTT6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1293590921&sr=8-8

HAPPY HOLIDAY'S TO ALL

Happy Holiday's to all! Yes, it's that time of year once again! With 372 blogs topics to date there appears to be no end in sight. I never seem to run out of endless topics to talk about as well as my many music and dvd picks to recommend. So from SAXOMAN to all of my many readers (2? 3?), Happy Holiday's to all!

SOUL CD PICK OF THE WEEK - GIL SCOTT HERON

This weeks Soul CD Pick of the Week is the great Gil Scott Heron with the cd titled Winter In America. Now I must say I am a big Gil Scott Heron fan and currently own nine of Gil's cd's. I even got a chance to see Gil Scott live way back in the 70's when he was at his peak. I first got hip to Gil when he released his smash hit, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. I recall that I used to recite the lyrics non-stop to drive my brother crazy. This cd has 13 tracks and also features Brian Jackson helping out on vocals. A really great cd that is must for your collection. Not hip to Gil Scott Heron? Here's a video of him performing his hit The Bottle which is one of the many great tracks on this cd. Check it out!

CULTURAL ASSIMILATION (OR HE DONE TURNED INJUN)

I like to travel a lot with the wife and one of the things we like to do when we travel is assimilate to the culture. Basically we tend not to do the typical tourist things like stay in fancy resorts or 5 star hotels. We want to really experience the country, the culture, and the local food. We tend to mingle amongst the people and go where the locals go and eat where the locals eat. There are people I know that go to another country and never leave their luxurious resort. I mean you don't have to travel thousands of miles to stay in a nice hotel so what's the point? Now as you recall in Dances With Wolves, Kevin Costner had found happiness while adopting to the Indian way of culture and living. When he was finally captured they could only surmise that "he done turned injun". Tom Cruise also experienced this in The Last Samurai where he found peace, tranquility and discipline living amongst the Samurai warriors.
Now it may be a little hard for me to blend in physically with some of these other cultures due to my height and complexion, I still try my best. Anyway, all SAXOMAN can recommend is that when visiting another country, experience life as the locals do.

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK - THE LEGEND OF THE FIST

This weeks DVD Pick of the Week is Donny Yen in the newest action flick titled, The Legend of the Fist (The Return of Chen Zhen). Another top notch action movie from Donny Yen! This film is actually a remake of the classic Bruce Lee film, Fist of Fury. I think it's really amazing that a movie can come out in China in September and be in Chinatown in less than two months. For U.S. movies you have to wait 6 months for a dvd to be released in this country. Far too long in my opinion. This movie is slated to be released in the states in April so be sure and check it out! SAXOMAN recommended!

SO......WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL???

Now I can honestly say I have never eaten at this local place in my neighborhood but I have always been amused by their variety. I mean just look at what they serve, Chinese Food, Donuts and Burgers. What? And if this wasn't enough, the small sign on the right shows that they also sell Louisiana Fried Chicken as well HAHA! Now I just find this combination to be a little bit odd but maybe it's just me. Anyway, maybe one day I may be brave enough to try this out but for now I think I'll just pass.

WHY SO MANY KEYS?

Now I have to admit that I've never really understood people that carry around a whole bunch of keys like shown in the photo. Now I can understand if you are the janitor at a school but other than that, I just don't get it. I mean why would you need so many keys? Why would you want something this big in your pocket? Now I must say that I have only three keys on my key chain and these are, my car key, the wife's car key and my house key. That's it! Nothing else. So if you ever see anyone with a whole bunch of keys like in this photo just ask them where they all go and chances are they don't even know! HAHA!

REGGAE CD PICK OF THE WEEK - BUNNY WAILER

I realized I was long overdue for a Reggae pick so this weeks Reggae CD Pick of the Week is an outstanding release by Bunny Wailer titled Blackheart Man. Now for those that don't know, Bunny Wailer was an original member of Bob Marley and the Wailers but decided to stay in Jamaica instead of touring the world. This is one of his finest recordings and if you're a fan of Bob Marley or the "Roots" style of reggae then this one is for you. Not hip to Bunny Wailer? Here's a clip of him from 1986 singing the title track from this cd, Blackheart Man. Check it out!

OOOOHHH.......RINGTONES

So those of you that read my last blog post about being the last person on the planet to get a cellphone, there's more! I have just discovered ringtones! What? Yes, I know that I'm a little out of the loop. So instead of the cheezy sounds that come with my phone I can get some really cool tones. I can have my phone ring to James Brown's Sex Machine, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Impressions, Giant Steps, Miles Davis Freddy Freeloader, So What and even electric Miles too! And there's more, Dexter Gordon, Horace Silver, Grant Green, WHOOHOO!!! Too much. I can assure you that soon the cost of my ringtones will far exceed the cost of my calls! HAHA! This is dangerous!

SAXOMAN - LAST PERSON ON THE PLANET TO GET A CELLPHONE

Yes, you read right! SAXOMAN has finally gotten a cellphone. What? Now you're probably wondering how anyone could exist without a cellphone nowadays. I mean everyone from Gardener's to Grandma's have cellphones so let me explain. I've actually had a "work cellphone" for the last five years but never sprung with the extra cash for my own personal phone. I figured I didn't want to carry two phones in my pocket and being a cheapo I didn't want the additional bill. So know the wait is over. SAXOMAN now has his own phone! I am mobile! HAHA! Now all I have to do is learn how to use it! I am sure now that my many readers (2? 3?) will now harass me day and night. HAHA!

THE 3D CRAZE - WILL IT LAST?

Now it seems like a lot of movies nowadays are coming out in the 3D format. There are movies that don't even need to be in 3D like The Green Hornet. I mean, come on now! You can now buy 3D tv's and 3D dvd players and dvd's as well. Now I don't know about all of you but the last thing I want to do is buy another tv for a small portion of things that are in 3D and I'll be dammed if I'm going to sit in front of the tv wearing 3D glasses. Now I think 3D is really cool and enjoyed it when I went to see Avatar in 3D and the IMAX big screen. Oh yeah!
I'm sorry but I really think that this is just a passing craze that will soon fade away. Now I must say though that the thought of watching my beloved Purple and Gold (Lakers) and other sporting events in 3D sounds tempting, but I think I will have to pass on this fad for now.

JAZZ CD PICK OF THE WEEK - MILES DAVIS

This weeks Jazz CD Pick of the Week is Miles Davis with the cd titled Four and More (Recorded Live In Concert). Now I must say that I own a ton of Miles Davis recordings and was shocked to find out I didn't have this cd in my vast collection. How could this be? I looked the cd over and over, looked at the track listing, looked at my iPod and nothing! What? Classic 1964 jazz and I don't have it? Now adding to the confusion was that I had the Miles cd titled My Funny Valentine which is Part 1 of this concert but there is another cd titled My Funny Valentine and Four and More which is Part 1 and 2 of the entire concert. Jeez....how confusing. So once I figured out that I only needed the second part of the concert I picked up this cd. This cd features the Miles group with a young Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams and George Coleman on tenor sax. This cd sizzles as the group burns through classic tunes such as So What, Walkin', Seven Steps to Heaven and more! The group plays these tunes at a tempo much faster than normal and there are a couple possible reasons for this. Just before the gig Miles informed the group that they wouldn't be getting paid for the gig since it was a benefit for the Civil Rights movement. The group was furious and took out their anger on the music. Now either the group played these tunes faster than normal just to be done with them but I think they played them fast because they were so angry with not getting paid. Either way, a great set of Miles music that you need to check out! Not hip to this cd? Well check out the link to hear some samples!

http://www.amazon.com/Four-More-Miles-Davis/dp/B0007OP2CA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1291427449&sr=1-1

KING KONG VS GODZILLA - HAHA

Believe it or not I actually saw this movie way back when it first came out. I remember seeing this advertised and said to myself, "WOW, two of the best monsters going head to head, I gotta see this!" Before I went I wondered how both monsters had come back to life as King Kong had been shot down from the Empire State building and I believe Godzilla was electrocuted. Anyway, it didn't matter to me! Now as I settled into my theater seat and first saw King Kong I said "What the??? That's not the King Kong I remember!" So I was a little disappointed as it appeared to be just someone in an oversize gorilla costume. Oh well.....I still stayed for the entire film. Not hip to this? Well, just check out the original trailer. HAHA!