Opinion: The Northwest Arctic Borough Is In Good Hands With Siikauraq Whiting at the Helm

By Allen Bacon
The Editor
Bosco: The Blog

Today I met an outstanding individual who I secretly wish was running for President of the United States. But she has unfinished business in the region where she is serving and I and the rest of the country will have to wait and vote for a lesser person for President in 2008 until her work is accomplished.

You probably don't know her....yet. Siikauraq Martha Whiting is the Mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough which covers a wide area of Northwest Alaska including many towns and villages in the region. She grew up in Kotzebue, Alaska. She is an Inupiaq . Whiting went to Kotzebue High School here in Northwest Alaska and fully participated in as many activities as possible while being taught by her parents in the traditions of the Inupiaq. She was a standout volleyball and basketball player with Kotzebue High School. After going to college in Southern Alaska and earning a degree in Nature Development, Siikauraq returned and started to give back to the region in which she was born and raised. First, she was an outstanding coach for many years at Kotzebue High School.

She started at the Northwest Arctic Borough ten years ago. Last year she was voted the Mayor of the Borough.

I don't pretend to be an expert on this region of the world. I am learning more and more everyday about the complexities of the issues that the people who serve this region in a postition of leadership face. This much I do know... this region needs somebody who is a part of the rich heritage and Siikauraq is. She gets it. Before she even ran for the office of Mayor, she asked for the blessing of the Inupiaq elders. Make no mistake about it....she is a tough person which belies her beautiful and petite exterior but she almost tears up when she talks about how her tribal elders got behind her and supported her run for the mayorship. This is important to her and it should be important to anybody that is in a position of leadership here.

The other thing I love about Siikauraq is that even though she is steeped in the tradition of the region, she also is saavy enough to know that the new technologies need to be utilized to make sure the word gets out about the people in this region. One thing that I learned in the past few days is that the Inupiaq have been traditionally a people that kept the history going by verbal communication. As the elders naturally pass on, there is a concern that this history may get diluted or even forgotten by the newer generation. So one of the things that Siikauraq as well as others in the community are doing is to make sure that there is a recorded history. This is a touchy subject with many of the elders in the Inupiaq community but with their blessing tools such as the internet, videos and radio programs are being used to make sure that the true stories and voices are carried down to the next generations.

One of the cool things that is being done is a weekly radio show here on KOTZ radio which is produced by Willie Goodwin called the Inupiaq Hour which features the music, history, and language of the Inupiaq community which is such a big part of the region. And since KOTZ is on the internet this message can literally go out to the whole world.

Siikauraq also has surrounded herself with some very good people. Not only do these people know what they are doing in their particular fields and bring great ideas to the table....they are more importantly from Kotzebue and the surrounding towns so they have a deep knowledge of the issues facing the region.

People like D'Anne Hamilton who is the Director of Economic Development who grew up and has spent most of her life in Kotzebue. Hamilton also is knowledgable in the area of multi-media and is a big asset when it comes to effectively getting the word out about the region. She also works closely with longtime Kotzebue resident Cyrus Harris at the Manilaq Senior Center. Harris as Whiting is big on the idea of the Inupiaq tradition of Subsistence Living. Harris actually does the hunting, fishing, and gathering for the Elder Inupiaqs which reside at the Senior Center. The selection of Annabelle Alvite in Grants and Community Development was also a wise choice. Alvite is working hard on writing grants to cover such tough issues as waste management in Kotzebue. With no roads leading in and out of Kotzebue, the waste can not disappear from the area magically she says.

I will be thinking a lot about Siikauraq and the other folks in Kotzebue as well as the other towns in the Northwest Arctic Borough as they face the unique challenges of the region. But I also believe the region is in good hands as long as people like her are in charge. So I wish for her a successful term and another term if she needs it to meet her goals. Then in 2012 or 2016 I will vote for Siikauraq for President of the United States. We need her leadership and vision to extend to the entire country more than ever.

Sports: Mushing, Basketball, and Hockey in Alaska

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

I want to be Cyrus Harris when I grow up. Or John Baker. Harris and Baker are my new friends and they are Mushers. And they both live in Kotzebue, Alaska where I am staying this week.

Harris is a sprinter in Mushing Circles. His race with his 16 Siberian Huskies will be about twelve miles. John Baker is a long distance musher. Baker is a consistent top five finisher in the famous Iditarod Race in March. Last year another Kotzebue resident actually finished number 2. Eddie Eaton is one of seven Kotzebue residents that will be competing in the Iditarod in March 2008.

I've learned a lot about mushing this week. First of all, the optimum age for the dogs is around three years old. And actually a lot of the dogs are not pure Siberian Huskies. "I like to mix in some hound when I am breeding dogs," says Harris.

Dog mushers are unique because when their dogs can not complete anymore they either put them out to stud or they remain with the musher until they die....becoming part of the family. As a last resort they will place them with a family that is going to take care of them.

Saturday is going to be a very cool and exciting day for this sports fan. First of all in the morning two dog sled races are going to start in Kotzebue. These races are actually going to take place on the frozen ice in the ocean. The first race is a distance race that runs from Kotzebue to Noatak and back (about 120 miles) The second race is a sprint which is about 12 miles.

In between that and Sunday, the Kotzebue City Basketball tournament will be into it's Semifinal games. This has been interesting to watch for me so far. I went to the first two nights. This is where teams from other villages and small towns come in to play at the Kotzebue High School Gym. In case you are wondering, Noatak beat Norvick in the women's division. Then the Noatak Men's team beat Maniilaq in the B Division (30 and over) The main event featured two teams from Kotzebue namely FBX and TNT. TNT ended up winning.

Then I get on a plane and fly into Anchorage and I will be going to an Anchorage Ace hockey game. The Anchorage Aces are a minor league professional team and they will play the Utah Grizzlies. After that I will go over to Carlson Arena to see the interstate NCAA Division I Hockey Game between University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of Alaska Anchorage.

Movie Review: Romance and Cigarettes: Please Leave Being Coen Brothers to the Coen Brothers

Romance & Cigarettes
Directed by John Turturro
Produced by The Coen Brothers and John Turturro
Actors: James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Elaine Stritch, Eddie Izzard, Aida Turtorro, Amy Sedaris
Rated R for sexual content, strong language and dialogue
3 teaspoons of Bosco (Out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

Note to: John Turturro. Just because the Coen Brothers put up most of the money as executive producers for your latest film project Romance & Cigarettes doesn't mean you have to copy their style line for line. In fact I went in to the movie not even realizing John Turturro was involved. I really thought it was a Coen Brother Film. Turns out Turturro was the writer, producer, and director. This is his third turn as a director and even though he's had the experience, he still has a little ways to go.

This is an insane, crass, and mean-spirited musical. It's quirky and fun at first but it just becomes more annoying as the movie progresses. And note to James Gandolfini. If you want to shake your Tony Soprano image, this character you are playing is a guy not too far from the region of the fictitious mobster. This vehicle does nothing to stretch Gandolfini's image.

The guy I did laugh at was, as usual, Christopher Walken, who plays the Elvis-impersonating brother to the Susan Sarandon character. Kate Winslet is totally forgettable in her role as the love interest. She sleep walks or I should say sleep dances through her performance.

In other words, wait for the DVD in early 2008. Don't waste your hard earned money at the theater on this.

Radio: KOTZ: The Coolest Radio Station On The Planet

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

If I am running a radio station, it would probably sound very much like KOTZ Radio in Kotzebue, AK.

At the cornerstone of the station are the on air talent who sound good and have the freedom to program their own music. The sound is a beautiful and eclectic mix. Recently while I was listening from my Southern California home over the internet, it sounded like what I would have on my I-touch. I heard these artists in this order: Bruce Springsteen, An Inupaiq Eskimo local favorite, Shania Twain, and Matchbox 20. The eclectic mix is really in response to the listeners. To top it off listeners are treated to the best of National Public Radio programming including All Things Considered, Prarie Home Companion, Radio Reader, and NPR news at the top of the hour. The station used to carry the popular Morning Edition, but the town folks preferred to hear music, local news and an hour of gospel music in the morning.

"You have to remember that we are the only radio station in the area", says morning talent Ryan Page. "So it is important that we try to meet the needs of everybody." Page, who has a natural and easy to listen to radio voice and intermingles freely between handling the switchboard, playing requests, programming the music, and reading important regional information, loves his job. "I recently took my family down to my hometown in Oklahoma and was off the air for about a year. I really missed it and was glad when I got back to working at KOTZ."

The same thing happened to evening talent Derrick Zoolander (his radio name). Derrick, 21, has been working at KOTZ on the air since he was 12 years old and holds down the 5 PM-9PM show at the station. He recently went to spend time with family in Billings, Montana but was happy to get back to work at KOTZ. "This is something that I really enjoy doing, and am happy to do the show." Derrick has a very unassuming tone to his on air style and the locals love the kid. When they call for requests they treat him like one of their own. "Oh hi Derrick", says one of the callers, "say hi to your family for us and wish them a Merry Christmas."

On the day I was visiting the station, Christmas Day, Rockin' Ryan Page and the other on-air talent were taking turns in 2-4 hour shifts in fielding Christmas greetings from the Kotzebue residents, A holiday tradition at KOTZ. The importance of the radio station in the region is not lost on Page and Zoolander.

"This is an important source of information for the community," says Page, "One of the things we do is relay announcements to the community." In an area with little or no cel phone reception this service has proven to be invaluable and even life-saving over the years.

The love that the community has for the radio station is shown during Page's Christmas Day show. A couple groups of people from town show up to give Ryan and the staff some cookies and brownies to show their appreciation. On this day station programmer Johnson Greene is busy working in the office and longtime engineer Pierre Lonewolf comes in from out of the elements to fine tune the equipment. He hears something while out in his truck that doesn't sound quite right and comes in to make an adjustment. Lonewolf is never more than a few steps away from the station. He lives in the house next door.

Listen to KOZT if you are in Kotzebue, AK and the surrounding villages at 89.9 FM or tune in on the web at www.kotz.org KOTZ is also listed under Bosco Radio: Information/News. Click on the link shown on this page.

Walking and Hiking: Walking San Francisco: The Cool on the Hill Part 2

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog


The last time we left our heroes, they were trying to get into AT&T Park without any success. I have this thing where I try on different baseball jerseys and keep the photos as souvenirs. So I couldn’t leave San Francisco without trying on the Giant jersey and cap. Felix snapped that photo, and we shot a few exteriors by McCovey’s Cove and we left.

This is where Felix and I split up. My son met a good friend, Alex Cruse, at the Borders across from the Ballpark. Alex co-wrote Hugging Headgear with Felix and was the lead actress in that film. She moved to the Bay area last year. The cool thing about the writing of Felix’s film, Hugging Headgear is that Felix wrote all the parts for males in the movie while Alex wrote all the speaking parts of the females in the movie. And the formula worked in this coming of age love story because you get real perspectives from a young lady and from a young man. Her acting as Lotus in the film is very well done and natural. Felix also directed Alex in a short film based on the Adrienne Rich short story Living In Sin in 2004.

Alex and Felix take off for China town on a bus and I walk across the street to Panera Bread where I check my I-touch for emails. That’s the cool thing about the I-touch. I just carry in my pocket along with my Razr phone in the other and that’s it. No more carrying around my laptop. I go light on this hike. After Panera, I’m back on the road and heading toward the Bay Bridge. I go by a new condo construction and it’s really nice. They are yet to open but they are close to the ballpark and UC San Francisco. They even put in some nice outdoor basketball courts.

I proceed into this industrial section of town, and I’m starting to wonder if I’ve made a mistake. I continue up a hill. I do a lot of hill walking but this hill is challenging Gilbert hill back home for steepness. I get close to the top of the hill and I realize I am in the little Victorian community of Portrero Hills. I instantly fall in love with the place. From the top of the hill I get a great view of San Francisco (see photo). I eat a late lunch at a small place called Gamins. I am in the mood for fish and chips and a coke and the food, while not great, really hits the spot. ESPN Sportscenter is on the TV there and I’m loving life.

After that I check out this wonderful pet store called Pawtero Hills. Get it? Paws down the best pet store I’ve been into and in a great setting. Malone, the wonder dog, would approve.

I next walk into this tiny and old mom and pop grocery store, Hilltop Grocery Store, where I meet Linda, who is around 70 years old, and originally from Arizona. She lets me know that the store has been around since the 30’s. We also talk about this game show she saw on TV the previous night where they had asked if you dug a hole straight down from Los Angeles where would you end up at. The choices were China, Australia, and some other place. I told her China is too obvious so go with Australia. Everybody says you end up at China.

After saying goodbye to Linda I go to another great store that specializes in natural foods and I buy a Harvest Bar. There is also a book store called Tom’s Books where I read about the history of Portrero Hills. Another book store that doesn’t carry my friend Bentley Little’s books in hard cover. There is also a great Graphic Art Studio called the Big Idea there and they have a mini art exhibit outside their shop. I talk a while with one of the Creative Directors there before ending up at the Thinker’s Café for coffee before I head down the hill. I check emails again because they have a wi-fi. They have fair trade and organic coffee which is really cool. I start talking to Julie who is sitting outside with her 1 year old daughter. Julie, who has a law degree from Georgetown, moved a few years from Connecticut to Portrero Hills with her husband who works as a lawyer for the Public Utilities Commission. She’s taking some time off to raise her daughter but she is chomping at the bit to get back to work.

Julie and her husband love the community here and I can’t blame them. I enjoy the quaintness and the views and the old Victorian homes are to die for. Julie and I discuss the baseball steroids scandal and weather the baseball players accused actually did anything legally wrong. I argue, as far as I know when they started doing the steroids there was not any law against it in MLB. We also talk about her disdain of Southern California and I try to persuade her that SoCal is not so bad.

It’s starting to drizzle as I walk back down the hill. I cut across the UC San Francisco campus and watch an intense table tennis battle between two students in the Commons area. Great new campus they have there but the students have either left for the winter break or just finishing up finals so it is getting quiet around the campus. I get back on fourth street and walk through the city. I get back to the hotel around 6 PM. Felix is back and we head over to Irvings Pizza down the street where we grab a couple of slices of Vegetarian Pizza.

Felix is meeting up with his good friend Danielle who literally lives two blocks from our Motel. Danielle is working on her Masters at Berkeley and had just finished her final. So she was ready for a nice break. After a shower, I hoof it back up to Van Ness and walk down to the Art Conservatory to catch Sharon McNight’s show (See Review). After the show I stop by a tacquieria on Geary and have some carne asada tacos for late dinner before heading back to the Motel.

Next up…Walking to and across the Golden Gate Bridge and Into Sausalito.

Walking and Hiking: Hiking In San Francisco: The Cool On The Hill

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

If there ever was a city made for walking…San Francisco is it. After arriving late on Tuesday night I was chomping at the bit to get out and walk and explore the city. For the uninitiated, I love to walk and hike. I love urban walking mainly and walk an average of 35-40 miles a week.

First of all, I hate to admit this to you all….but I go cheap on the hotel room when it is just me or my son and I. I don’t see the purpose of paying a lot of money for a room that you hardly ever see because your eyes are closed. And it is just us guys anyway….so Motel 6 it is. I found this room down on Geary Street near Van Ness for around $80 night. The one thing I can always count on with Motel 6 is a clean and comfortable room. The area immediately around it is another matter .

After checking my email (this Motel 6 has wi-fi) and putting on my trusty black Reboks and pocketing my I-touch I am out the door with my son. First order of business before hitting the road is to grab breakfast. We stop at a place next door to the motel called Moulin’s. Moulin’s is run by a husband and wife, Janet and John. The food is sustenance….nothing spectacular. Felix and I have the same thing…something resembling a Denver Omelet, fruit, and dry toast with coffee. John will not reveal what kind of coffee he is using or what the third fruit was in my fruit mix.

After suffering some playful verbal abuse from John at Moulin’s, Felix and I throw him some cash and proceed east down Geary and hit first Market Street and then hang a right at Embarcadero.

Mo, the Wonder Dog and AT&T Ballpark

Let me digress a little. I do not pour over those books about Things to Do in Whatever City they are about. I’d rather just get out and explore. And this is what I did in San Francisco this time. I did have a goal this day and it was to see the home of the San Francisco Giants, AT&T Park. Somewhere in between, I had my photo taken next to a large spider and met a handsome 2-year old Golden Retriever named Mo who was out with his owner and owner’s baby.

I wanted to go inside the park. I attempt to bribe the guard but nothing doing. We thought about running inside and doing a guerilla type photo shoot in right field but cooler heads prevailed. Mo’s owner , a beautiful Asian woman tells me about the tour. She also tells me that she and her husband have Giant season tickets and then I’m envious. This is the most interesting and beautiful ballparks I’ve ever seen. It must be great to watch a game there. After telling us the tour was $10 per person, I decided against it. I don’t have to pay for my tours at Anaheim because they don’t want to lose a chance of selling a luxury box or season ticket. So I get Felix to take my photo next to the Willie Mays Bronze Statue. I was going to get my picture next to the Juan Marichal statue but I never got over him throwing at Don Drysdale’s head.

Letters: Nordstrom Letter Writing Campaign Seems To Be Working

Hi all!
I first want to thank each one of you who took the time out of your busy schedules to call or write to Nordstrom about their piano policy. Here's the latest news...it seems the Orange County region will keep their pianists for the time being! Wow! This couldn't have happened without all your support! Local stores have apparently been bombarded with protest calls and letters. We pianists owe all of you a major THANK YOU!

Of course, who knows what will happen a few months from now...but for now, it seems the Orange County stores are choosing to keep live piano music in their stores, unlike most all other Nordstrom stores nationwide.

We'd like to keep the pressure on, however. So please continue to leave comments with individual store managers about the importance of having live piano music at Nordstrom. There are so few victories for live music these days...but it seems you all have helped to make that a reality thus far in Orange County.

Many blessings to each one of you, and have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!!!


Ron Kobayashi
www.myspace.com/ronkobayashi
www.carpetcat.com

Comedy Review: Sharon McNight Goes On The Offensive

Sharon McNight
Songs To Offend Almost Everyone
The New Conservatory Theatre Center
San Francisco
Through December 30, 2007
4 Teaspoons of Bosco (Out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

There were no preconceived notions going into The New Conservatory Theatre Center (25 Van Ness in San Francisco) on Wednesday night to see a show by Sharon McNight entitled "Songs To Offend Almost Everyone". The title itself should give a clue and even though I tried not to be offended I still don't like "I see London, I see France, I see......" So I was a bit offended.

So you got exactly as advertised....McNight used all of George Carlin's seven words (squared) and then some. The, Quick Witted, Cabaret singing, former dance instructor was raunchy, nasty, sexy, bawdy, naughty (sometimes simultaneously)....but right on the money and entertaining. Fronted by an excellent jazz trio of Daniel Fabricant (bass), Michael Grossman (Piano), and Randy O'Dell (percussion) the silver-tongued McNight moved effortsly through all the numbers.

My biggest thrill was to hear again the works of satirists Tom Lehrer, Ray Stevens, and Randy Newman interpreted fresh and new by McNight. Her rendition of Lehrer's Vatican Rag and Masochism Tango as well as Ray Stevens/Chet Atkins Would Jesus Wear A Rolex? was the best stuff of the evening and even better than the recorded originals. The sing alongs were good fun especially on an old Bessie Smith number. The list of songs was an interesting history of the most offensive songs in the period of recorded music and a lot of it you would probably know if you have ever listened to Dr. Demento's radio show. The San Francisco State educated McNight, by the way, does a dead-on Mae West imitation and has even played her in past shows.

McNight wants to take this to Off Broadway and she shouldn't have any problem doing it. This is a fun and entertaining show. Her website is http://www.sharonmcnight.com/ for more information.

This show runs until Dec. 30

Trip In Progress: Coast Starlight to Seattle: Day 1

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog


Editor's Note: My son Felix and I are traveling to the Bering Strait of Alaska to shoot a documentary on a Northern Alaskan town along with friend Kelsy Franklin. We are taking the Coast Starlight Amtrak service from Fullerton to Seattle with stops in San Francisco and Eugene. I will be providing photos and a diary of our trip as we go.

Day one of our journey is in the books. Felix and I have successfully made it to San Francisco. We arrived at our hotel around 11:30 on Tuesday night. The first day was wonderful and a day I will not soon forget.

The driving rain did not stop from Fullerton until we hit Salinas. Somehow, this did not dampen the spirits of Felix and I and our new friends on the train. The wonderful coastal scenery came in gray tones, but it was still nevertheless beautiful and breathtaking. The scenery on this line is supposed to be one of the most spectacular in the country next to the Empire Builder (Seattle to Chicago) and Zephyr (Chicago to San Franisco via the Rockies.) and certainly the rain did nothing to persuade me from that claim.

One thing I must say is that the service on the train has come down considerably since I was aboard last year. Now, this just may be the team on board the Coast Starlight. But I was endlessly hounded by one of the attendants as she tried to exercise her authority over a guy who was just trying to get to San Francisco. First of all, she was on Felix and I for sitting in the lounge before the trip started rolling. Then she got on us for sitting downstairs, saying that these seats were reserved for the handicapped. We saw no such sign...there were two empty seats...and everybody in the section looked able-bodied! When I asked her if we could just hang out until somebody else needed to use the seats she then told us to go back to our assigned seats. And it got better...Somewhere around Pasa Robles I decided to take a walk the length of the train to stretch my legs...I ran into her again as she said in a loud voice, "Sir, sir do you know where your seat is?". Well Felix and I finally went back to our seats as we were getting ready to disembark in Oakland. She again confronted us...in our seats mind you...."Where do you think you two are going?" "Uh, Oakland", I said. "Where are you supposed to be sitting?" "You assigned us to these seats, " I said, "And stop riding my ass!"

An Appreciation: Dan Fogelberg

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

Editor's Note: One of my favorite singer/musician/songwriters died today at his home in Maine of prostate cancer. Dan Fogelberg was only 56. He is survived by his wife Jean.

I always thought Dan Fogelberg was underappreciated. If you think he is only defined by his hits such as Power of Gold or Leader of the Band and Same Old Lang Syne you would only know a part of the story. His musical resume was large and vast.

I was first introduced to Fogelberg's music by my good friends Jim and Michelle Clements back in the mid 70's. I was visiting them in Nashville and they were telling me about this guy who was playing the Nashville clubs that they really enjoyed. Jim let me listen to his first album titled Home Free and I was hooked. I was a big fan of the Southern California Country Rock Sound and even though Fogelberg was from Colorado and sounded as if he can straight out of Nashville he fit right in with the likes of the Eagles, Poco, Linda Rondstadt, Jackson Browne and Souther, Hillman, Fury. His style also lent itself to James Tayor.

Whenever Fogelberg would come out to Southern California I would try to go. My favorite show was one that I saw at the Anaheim Convention Center in 1979. Fogelberg played the first half of the show unplugged. It was just him and his piano or guitar depending on the song. Then his band came out and he rocked the house despite the poor acoustics of the Convention Center.

I liked Fogelberg most when he was at a faster pace and singing angrily of heartbreak and unfulfilled love like The Last Nail, As The Raven Flies, Love Gone By or Someone's Been Telling You Stories If you ever have gone through a breakup and cranked these songs up...somehow it just made you feel better.

The Bosco TV Music Channel is preempting our regularly scheduled programming to bring you a tribute to Dan Fogelberg including some priceless live performances of Old Lang Syne and The Leader of the Band

Rest in peace Dan...I'm getting my Netherlands album right now. This one's for you.

Bosco's Record Vault: The New York Rock & Soul Review: Live at the Beacon

The New York Rock & Soul Review
Live at the Beacon
Donald Fagen, Phoebe Snow, Michael McDonald,
Boz Scaggs, Jeff Young, Charles Brown, The Rascals
1991 Arista Records
5 teaspoons of Bosco (out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

Editor's Note: In the Bosco Record Vault Series we take a look at past albums that had an impact or were in retrospect important turning points for artists. In the first review we look at the 1991 Live Album The New York Rock and Soul Review; Live at the Beacon an important time for Steely Dan's Donald Fagen.

In the early 90's, Steely Dan fans were "reeling in the years". There had been no SD Music for over ten years, save for a great Donald Fagen solo album The Nightfly and a couple of songs that appeared in movies. Later the story came out that Fagen was suffering from a combination of writers block and apparent stage fright which extended back to the Steely Dan salad years...the late 70's. Remember, Steely Dan was only doing studio work in the late 70's and early 80's with Fagen and Walter Becker assembling the best musicians they could find for each song.

So, in 1991 Becker is off in Hawaii raising a family and producing great records for the likes of Ricki Lee Jones, and Fagen is doing a variety of projects including writing op-ed pieces for publications. It was in 1991 that it was announced that Fagen would be performing at the famous Beacon Theatre in New York City for the annual Rock and Soul Review. The result was a wonderful live album. The performance was also was the beginning for Fagen and eventually Becker to get back together, write music, make albums, win Grammys and yes even tour once again.

This lineup reads like a who's who of 50's 60's and 70's Rock and Soul Icons. In addition to Fagen the lineup included the late and legendary Charles Brown, The Rascals, Michael McDonald, Phoebe Snow, and Boz Scaggs. Also performing is the late saxophone great, Cornelius Bumphus who appears on many of the legendary Steely Dan albums.

Before this album there was very few legal live Steely Dan recordings. Remember, this is way before SD's Alive in America which was released later in the 1990's. The only song recorded live song was Bodistavta which was a B side on Ricki Don't Lose that Number single. On this album Fagen and Jeff Young and the Youngsters give us live versions of Pretzel Logic (with Michael McDonald reprising his background vocal duties), and Chain Lightening. In addition, Fagen does a live version of one of his solo songs from The Nightfly entitled Green Flower Street

Concert Review: The Sessions Make Successful Debut as Quartet

The Sessions with ALS
and Danny Montoya
The Ugly Mug
Orange, California
December 9, 2007
5 Teaspoons of Bosco (Out of 5)


By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

It has been a real pleasure to see the development of the Southern California-based folk rock group The Sessions. I first saw The Session's in October at The Chapman Coffee Shop in Orange along with Nam Ninja. At that time the group was a duo featuring frontman and songwriter Daniel Wolf along with an accomplished 19 year old lead acoustic guitarist Brandon Light. The group was totally unplugged due to the noise restriction of the CCS.

The sound was rich and textured and the original songwriting and music is well crafted. They also mixed in covers of songs from Gnarles Barkley and Justin Timberlake. I try to search for a good example of what Wolf's voice sounds like and I am hard pressed to find one. He is a truly unique voice with the only caviat being that even by his own admission he is good for a maximum of seven songs. That situation is going to resolve itself as he continues to sing more and his vocal chords get stronger. In other words, he knows his limit and knows when to walk away when he is finished.

While the duo of Wolf and Light continued to do their weekly show at the CCS, they were busy behind the scenes auditioning and searching for a bassist and drummer. The search led to adding two more accomplished musicians - a drummer Shem Dahoud, and bassist Peter Alison. With Alison, Wolf got a bonus...the young man plays a mean cello.

The Sessions actually debuted in Hollywood on Saturday night Dec. 8 to a full house. They were supposed to play at Plush in Fullerton, Southern California on Sun. Dec. 9 but the club bailed at the final minute leaving The Sessions stranded. Wolf made some phone calls and moved the show to The Ugly Mug in Orange, CA. Somehow, the word spread fast and the place was packed for the impromptu concert.

Danny Montoya, a strong-voiced energetic solo blues singer and guitarist opened with a wonderful set. Then the four Sessions took the stage and launched into a seven song set. All songs were original save for the Gnarles Barkley cover, a slowed down, gritty version of "Crazy" with the lead-in being Wolf's original "A Penny Saved". The Sessions were joined on stage by rap artist ALS (Jason Frerking) for "Goodbye" and "It Happened". The set ended with the energetic rocker "The Chase".

The Sessions are featured on this month's selection on the music channel of Bosco TV. The website is myspace.com/iheartthesessions . Danny Montoya can be found at myspace.com/dannymontoya. ALS can be found on the web at myspace.com/als

Self Published Books: "Our Daily Bran" Is Cereal For The Soul

Our Daily Bran
By Warren Anderson
B&L Lithograph. Publisher
4 Teaspoons of Bosco (Out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

One thing I love about self-published books is that usually these are books that the big publishers don't have the vision, patience or the courage to produce. A lot of them are bad, mind you, but every once in a while you run across a real gem. Our Daily Bran, a collection of poems by Warren Anderson definitely falls in the latter category.

First of all, you have to love an author who paints his own cover. Anderson is an accomplished landscape artist and his cover sets the mood for his book of poems. It is calm and pastoral with just a hint of mischief. As a publisher myself, I would have tied into the Bran theme more. I would have probably created a faux Bran cereal box for the cover. But that's just me and my graphics background coming through.

I love where Anderson gets his inspiration for his interest in the written word . "My word hero is Vin Scully (the LA Dodger broadcaster), says Anderson. "who can colorfully describe the action without distortion, use metaphors and similes that sparkle and call a game without umpiring or rooting for the home team. For instance, Vinny described a huge base runner who stumbled, fell down and tried to get back to the bag, as looking "like a beached whale trying to get back in the water! He described the floating knuckle ball as a butterfly or debris and described the pitchers for tomorrow's game as a Dodger with all of his strikeouts and a pitcher who has a long name as the Cub with all of his syllables.", continued Anderson.

In fact one of my favorite poems/stories in the book, The Sights of Mexico is an account of Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela pitching. Or the hilarious Next of Kin is another personal favorite.

I guess the best way to describe Anderson's style is that he is like a cross between Charles Osgood of CBS radio, Shel Silverstein, Garrison Keillor and Billy Graham. The first part of his book is devoted to religious themes while the second part is primarily whimsical and clever poetry on everyday life.

The son of Swedish immigrants, Anderson grew up in Minneapolis. He earned his degree in Southern California and entered public school work as a teacher, counselor and administrator. He is a Christian and enjoys writing poems on Biblical themes. "I will read a text several times for inspiration, not looking for doctrinal evidence or debate but for pathos, triumph, personal edification or even enjoyment. I am interested in what the text says to me, rather than what I can prove from the text.", Anderson said.

Anderson's book is available through BOSCO Books. A perfect stocking stuffer, the book is $12 plus $3 for shipping and handling. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express excepted. Email requests to: boscotheblog@earthlink.net.

Letters: Nordstrom Piano Players Facing Layoff

Editor's Note: Ron Kobayashi is a long-time friend and a Jazz pianist. (See Bosco Music Links). He emailed this letter to BOSCO today.

There is a strong possibility that the Nordstrom Department store chain will be discontinuing all live piano music in their stores nationwide beginning in 2008. As Nordstrom pianists, we would like to encourage all Nordstrom customers to contact the corporate headquarters in Seattle, WA to let them know how valuable you feel the live piano music is to your shopping experience.

Many of the Nordstrom pianists make their sole living as piano performers, and needless to say, this change would severely impact their livelihood. Furthermore, live piano music sets Nordstrom apart from every other department store, creating a mood and ambiance that is an integral part of customer satisfaction at Nordstrom.

The official notice to discontinue the piano program has not been made yet, but we’d like to preemptively head-off any such change. So we are asking you to please contact the Nordstrom Corporate offices below:

Nordstrom1617 6th Ave. Ste. 500Seattle, WA 98101(206)628-2111www.nordstrom.com (write a message on the customer feedback link)

Many thanks to all of you…

Ron Kobayashi (Pianist at Nordstrom since 1988)
www.carpetcat.com
www.myspace.com/ronkobayashi

Art Review: The Bloody Mary's Exhibit Surprising Diversity

The Bloody Marys
Muckenthaler Center
Fullerton, CA
Through Dec. 23, 2007
4 Teaspoons of Bosco (out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

For the amount of time that the eight members of the Bloody Marys have spent together from the early 1980's until now, you would assume that there would be some commonality between their art but the reality is that it could not be more diverse.

The Bloody Marys; Martha Bartholomew, Fay Colmar, the late Elaine Kennedy, Marjorie Kerr, Mildred Kouzel, Pat Morgenthaler, the late Joan Ross, and Virginia Spencer, named after their favorite alcoholic beverage and it's feminist undertones are showing their art as a collective for the first time in their careers. The show is taking place at the beautiful Muckenthaler Center in Fullerton, Southern California through Dec. 23.

The women have known each other and exhibited separately as working artists since the 1970's but they started getting together for monthly meetings in the early 1980's after their kids were grown first, at Martha Bartholomew's house and then at the late Elaine Kennedy's cabin in Mammoth, CA . There, according to Fay Colmar, "We would paint watercolors outside on the green, the music of McGee Creek rushing by as our backdrop." The only rule that they observed was: No men were allowed!

"Our dinners were a safe place where we could share our most inner thoughts, our political opinions, family problems, and of course, the issues of the art world.", continued Colmar. "In those days, there was little representation of women artists in the museums."

Colmar added, "That prompted lots of discussion as well as other questions. Was it possible to be over-educated? Can knowledge paralyze intuition? How to be authentic artists? 24 years later, our art speaks for itself. Each of us has our own individual way of making art but as our friendship deepened over the years we discovered many similarities in our personalities."

" We are all democratic, family oriented, highly spritual", Colmar said. " We love arranging a beautiful dinner table, then sitting around that table eating great food, drinking fine wine and laughing and talking. For each of us, making art is our passion and that is reason enough for celebration."

This art reviewer was impressed most with Colmar's Mixed Media series utilizing actual natural artifacts from locations around California and blending her sensational eye for color with the 3 dimensional presentation.

I would have liked to see Mildre Kouzel's work, mixed media on wood, portraying US 99 and other California roads interpreted differently. Technically she is sound but I would like to see the art match the subject. For instance in US 99 I would show scenes from the actual road instead images of BB King, et. al.

The show runs until Dec. 23 and is worth a look if you are in the Southern California area.

Internet Dating: Bosco and The Russkie

By Grant Liesch
Dating Services Editor
Bosco: The Blog

Editor's Note: This is an actual letter that our Dating Services Editor Grant Liesch received via the Internet. No words were altered. The proceding letter is Mr. Liesch's kind and tactful response to his perspective Russian Bride.

Subject: Hello, dear friend!

Write to you the woman from Russia. My name is Olga. And I'm 26 years old!

I want to find the man for serious relation in your country. I am ready for creation family and want it very much. I cannot find the man in Russia for myself because it very difficultly in Russia. It is a lot of men in Russia who drink alcohol much and I'm not like it. I want to create family and to live in your country because the government to care about people. I want to live and be sure in the future. In Russia it is not possible to live easy.

I want to tell about myself a little. I live in city Yoshkar-Ola. It's 1000 km from capital of Russia Moscow. My city small and very beautiful. work as the seller in shop home appliances. I'm cheerful woman who like to go for sports and do all what like are usual peoples. My history: I'm with my girlfriend were going to go in your country as tourists for search of men for serious relations. But my girlfriend could not go with me. She had problems with your family.But very soon I will receive visa and I don't want to lose a chance to arrive in your country.

I will receive visa in 7 days for your country. Now I'm in Moscow also and waiting for reception of my visa. It will be great if you can meet me and we can to have relations with you. I'm understand that it very strange, but probably it's desteny for you and me. I understand that you will ask me "Where did you get my e-mail?" I'm right??? ;) Ok, I got your e-mail through internet dating agency in my city. I gave them my letter and they told me that they will send my letter for 4-5 men. And I will be very happy if YOU will answer to me. I will be very happy you will write me and we will have our meeting very soon. And it is possible we a meeting in 7 days because I can arrive to you.

Please tell to me about yourself a little! What is your full name? Your age? City? I send to you my photo with hope that you will like it and answer to me back... I will wait your answer so much...Write to me on e-mail : xxxxxxxxx

Yours new friend Olga

Dearest Olga,

Are we really friends? I would like to be your friend. But only platonically. We don't know each other...or do we? I knew a cute girl named Olga in high school. But she was from Mexico, not Russia and didn't write/speak like Natasha from Bullwinkle.

I'm not sure if you would be interested in me. First of all, I have this little rule to never get interested in a woman the same age or younger than my daughter. My daughter is also 26. Then there's the fact that I drink a lot of vodka. I'm like a vodka siv. Those two things alone would probably disqualify me in the Olga-derby. But there's more. What's your view on the cold war? Can a Russian and an American really be together? I'm not sure if I can ever fully trust you. How do I know if you are violating the SALT agreement by stock-piling extra missles?

On another note, can you tell me what was up with Gorbachav's face? That was some scary birthmark the dude had there. And his wife! Forget about it! Do you look like Gorbachav's wife? I might re-consider this whole thing about meeting you if you look like her. She was hot!

You say that you are athletic. Are you a weight lifter? Do you take performance enhancing drugs? I can't be with a woman if she is taking any performance enhancing drugs. I don't take any performance enhancing drugs, Olga.

You say you "want to find the man for serious relation in your country"and meet me for "relations". Let me assure you I am "the man". But I'm confused. What do you mean by "serious relation"? Do you mean "relationship" or do you mean "relations" like having sex. I like to have fun when I'm having sex and I hope my partner enjoys the experience as well and has fun with it and not be all serious when we are doing it.

Oh, one very important thing. Do you have any toasters at your appliance shop? What kind of deal can you get me on a crock pot? Is this duty free?

So Yoshkar-Ola is exactly 1000 Km from Moscow. That is amazing. Most of the time it's like 997 or 1011 Km but never exactly 1000!

Woe, hold your Petastroykas there honey. I'm not going to give you any info on myself. I saw that movie with Nicole Kidman where this young lady comes over from Russia as a mail-order bride. Next thing you know the Russia Mafia is all up in boyfriend's grill. I'm not doing that. Feel free to send me your head shot though. Did you get one of those glamour shots done? If not, I know this place in Moscow where you can get one.

And one more thing. I may be your destiny. But I will never, ever, be your "desteny". I don't even know what a "desteny" is. And let me assure you I am usual peoples too. If you want to meet me I will be in the Disneyland parking lot in the Dumbo section next Sunday. Did you get a park pass? Can you get me in, too?

Yours New Friend,

Grant

Bakery/Cafe Review: Blue Frog Hoppin' With Muffins, Cakes, Pies, Good Coffee and Wi-Fi

The Blue Frog
Glassell Avenue
Old Town Orange, California
Open Tues. - Sat. (Closed Monday)
Rating: 4 scoops of Bosco (Out of 5)

By Elva Rose
Restaurant Observer
Bosco: The Blog

I have never been to Paris, but somehow I imagine myself ducking into a small, quaint cafe/bakery away from the mist of the morning after a brisk walk. And that cafe/bakery would look exactly like the Blue Frog in Old Town Orange of Southern California. Complete with it's French blue colors with white trim and a matching awning over the service area mixed with the delicious aroma of the bakery, the Blue Frog is a wonderful experience.

While the full bakery is delicious....try the single portion pecan pie...my favorite, the Blue Frog also has a wonderful and extremely affordable breakfast and lunch menu. For less than $7.00 you can get a delicious Chicken Caesar salad, or a grilled breast of chicken on Chiabatta bread, or a tasty burrito for breakfast entitled The Big Froggy, with Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, sausage, home fries, salsa, wrapped in a tortilla.

In addition to that, eat upstairs overlooking the main dining area or curl up on the couch sip great coffee, and read or study. The Blue Frog also is a free wi-fi hot spot. The other neat thing is that it is in Downtown Orange on Glassell Street, right in the middle of the best collection of antique stores and historical buildings in the country. It is also right across the street from the famous Army-Navy Surplus store where various movies have been shot including Tom Hank's That Thing You Do. Ok, it's not French music playing over the speakers the music is a wonderful eclectic mix that adds to the atmosphere. The day I was there they played a Jack Johnson album, then a Joni Mitchell album, and finished with an older Bob Dylan entree.

My only drawback is that it isn't open on Mondays. Why stores take off one day when there is so much interest and business to be had is beyond me. But other than that I highly recommend the Blue Frog and the experience of being there.

Comedy Review: This Show is So BLANK, Bosco laughed His Ass Off

The Match Game Live
Upright Citizens Brigade
Hollywood, California
First Friday and Saturday of Each Month
10 PM (Reservations A Must)
Rating: 5 teaspoons of Bosco (out of 5)

By Allen Bacon
Editor
Bosco: The Blog

Gene Rayburn would be very proud. Comedian extraordinaire Jimmy Pardo and his buddies are doing a live sendup of the old television game show the Match Game and the results are hilarious; the funniest stuff I've seen in a long time.

The Match Game Live, is an actual game. Two contestants, one man and one woman, are picked from the audience to participate and have the chance to win up to $100 or, as was the case the night I was there, Jimmy Pardo's old leather jacket. The interaction between the Chicago-born fast talking Pardo (a regular on Comedy Central shows) and the audience, the two contestants and the all-star panel is hysterical. The show even comes equipped with the funky old Match Game music, which is worth the price of admission itself.

And the six member panel is nothing to sneeze at either. On the night I was there, Comedy Central star Paul F. Thompkins, Late Night with Conan O'Brien's ex-sidekick Andy Richter, Madmen star John Hamm were among the six on the panel. I understand the night before that Janine Garafalo was on the panel. And that's part of the attraction of the show...you never know who is going to be on the panel...and it is usually the top comedy talent.

Make it an evening by going to one of the great restaurants along Franklin Ave. in walking distance from the UCB Theatre (Partly owned by Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler) and be sure to make on line reservations before going down to see the Match Game Live. Show starts at 10 PM on the first Friday and Saturday of each month. Next shows are on Fri. Dec. 7 and Sat. Dec. 8.