Yes, we had quite the musical weekend. On Saturday, we took the kids to see the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. Besides the price being right, it was also a chance to see Naomi's piano teacher play. The treat of the night was the playing of violinist Jeremy Cohen. He was the starring musician in a set featuring a Duke Ellington medley. It was quite a riveting piece.
Jeremy Cohen is a member of Quartet San Francisco. Here's a link to the video page at their web site that includes a video of the quartet playing "Libertango" by Astor Piazzolla amongst other compositions.
Jeremy Cohen's set that featured the Duke Ellington medley really did steal the show. It even had the kids' attention. After the intermission, the orchestra played the story of "Peter and the Wolf." The idea of a story through music sounds interesting, but Ryan did not see it the same way as he soundly slept his way through the entire number.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Story of Billy McLaughlin
Billy McLaughlin was the guest musician at our church this weekend. He demonstrated his unique method for playing the guitar. The story about his battle with a neuromuscular disease called focal dystonia was shared, but it was only after checking out his web site that the extent of his battle was really apparent.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Very Definition of Inspiration
What if Wynton Marsalis played a set with your high school jazz band, and it was entirely unplanned? This is exactly what happened to the Vaca High Jazz Ensemble at this past weekend's Vacaville Jazz Festival.
The story goes that Wynton Marsalis was driving down I-80 on his way to the Monterey Jazz Festival when he saw a banner for the Vacaville festival. He of the nine Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize quietly joined the high school band on stage. His time included one solo (see video below). As quickly as he joined the band, he was gone after a handful of songs, some autograph signing and other pleasantries.
This is probably something that these kids and their parents are going to remember foe quite some time.
The story goes that Wynton Marsalis was driving down I-80 on his way to the Monterey Jazz Festival when he saw a banner for the Vacaville festival. He of the nine Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize quietly joined the high school band on stage. His time included one solo (see video below). As quickly as he joined the band, he was gone after a handful of songs, some autograph signing and other pleasantries.
This is probably something that these kids and their parents are going to remember foe quite some time.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Ichiro Gets 2000
Ichiro got his 2000th Major League Baseball (MLB )hit today against the A's. If you combine this with the hits that he got in 9 years playing professional baseball in Japan (starting as an 18 year old) before joining MLB, it would be enough to place him 12th on the all-time MLB list just 5 behind Willie Mays' 3283 hits.
Pete Rose leads the hit parade with 4256 career hits in his major league career. He got a hit about every 3.3 times at bat. Ichiro in just his MLB career has averaged a hit every 3.0 times at bat. If you add his Japanese baseball stats, then it's one hit every 2.93 at bats.
He's made it to 2000 faster than anyone not named Al Simmons who went on to finish with 2927 hits. He'll be 36 when baseball starts next year, when he should have about 2040 hits. By the time he finishes his first season as a 40 year old five years from now, he should be at about 3140 hits.
At one point, it was thought that Ichiro's stats in Japan would be needed to help him get into the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This is no longer the case. He's gotten 200 hits in all 10 years in the majors. Pete Rose did not get his 10th 200-hit season until his 17th season. Ichiro also has been a Gold Glove fielder each year in the majors. He's broken the all-time single season hits record. He led the Mariners to their record 116-win season. Now it's just a matter of how many more stats he will amass before he decides to hang up his cleats for good.
Pete Rose leads the hit parade with 4256 career hits in his major league career. He got a hit about every 3.3 times at bat. Ichiro in just his MLB career has averaged a hit every 3.0 times at bat. If you add his Japanese baseball stats, then it's one hit every 2.93 at bats.
He's made it to 2000 faster than anyone not named Al Simmons who went on to finish with 2927 hits. He'll be 36 when baseball starts next year, when he should have about 2040 hits. By the time he finishes his first season as a 40 year old five years from now, he should be at about 3140 hits.
At one point, it was thought that Ichiro's stats in Japan would be needed to help him get into the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. This is no longer the case. He's gotten 200 hits in all 10 years in the majors. Pete Rose did not get his 10th 200-hit season until his 17th season. Ichiro also has been a Gold Glove fielder each year in the majors. He's broken the all-time single season hits record. He led the Mariners to their record 116-win season. Now it's just a matter of how many more stats he will amass before he decides to hang up his cleats for good.
Ponyo
We went to see this movie with my mom during her visit with us. Now I'll find Ryan humming the theme song from time-to-time. So here is the song with lyrics.
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