A Dark, Bitter Roast

After nearly four years of the globalist power elite and its media minions screeching against all things Trump, you’d think they’d welcome more allies.[1] T’ain’t so.

Howard Schultz, last seen in Austin Dispatches turning Starbucks into a laughingstock from a hectoring social issues campaign, now takes a drubbing from the establishment in his deviations from the Moldy Green New Deal.[2] Fair enough, but the real reason to attack him is what made him famous: foisting acidic swill on the public that it willingly guzzles behind the wheel instead of paying attention to traffic conditions. That’s probably what gave Schultz the idea he can run for president and win.[3] Fittingly, an executive at the office was praising Starbucks coffee, right before he spilled a pot of it on his shirt and shoes. I interpreted that as a preview of Schultz’s campaign.

Meanwhile, 2016 vice presidential nominee William Weld discarded the remaining Libertarian Party members to further his presidential ambitions.[4] Their latest social humiliation is the consequence of listening to the Reform Caucus and eschewing libertarian principles to become the cheap plaything of big government, country club Republicans – just like Austin Dispatches predicted. Libertarians are supposed to fight, not serve, people like Weld.

Never Mind the Grammys

Of note, someone I know wrote and recorded No. 64 on the list, so if only for familial reasons, it deserves inclusion among the year’s best.

1.      Adolfo, Antonio. Encontros: Orquestra Atlantica. AAM Music.

2.      Allen, J.D. Love Stone. Savant.

3.      Altered Images. The Epic Years. Cherry Red.

4.      Angel. The Casablanca Years. Caroline.

5.      Ardoin, Sean. Kreole Rock and Soul. Zydekool.

6.      The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Associated Ensembles. ECM.

7.      Austin, Tiffany. Unbroken. Con Alma Music.

8.      Bag, Alice [Alicia Armendariz]. Blueprint. Don Giovanni.

9.      Kenny Barron Quintet. Concentric Circles. Blue Note.

10.   Count Basie at Carnegie Hall. Rockbeat.

11.   Batiste, Jon. Hollywood Africans. Verve.

12.   Bayon, Juan. Vidas Simples. Ears & Eyes.

13.   Belle and Sebastian. How to Solve Our Human Problems. Matador.

14.   Bennett, Tony [Anthony Dominick Benedetto], and Diana Krall. Love Is Here to Stay. Verve/Columbia.

15.   Bianchi, Pat. In the Moment. Savant.

16.   Black Art Jazz Collective. Armor of Pride. HighNote.

17.   Bow Wow Wow. Your Box Set Pet (The Complete Recordings 1980-1984). Cherry Red.

18.   Braden, Don. Earth Wind and Wonder. Creative Perspective Music.

19.   Bradley, Charles. Black Velvet. Daptone.

20.   Brownout. Fear of a Brown Planet. Fat Beats.

21.   Buchanan, Roy. Live at Town Hall 1974. Polydor.

22.   Byron, Don, and Aruán Ortiz. Random Dances and (A)tonalities. Intakt.

23.   Caban, Ruben. Shafted. Ruben Caban.

24.   Cachao [Israel Lopez] et al. The Complete Cuban Jam Sessions. Craft.

25.   The Cars. Heartbeat City, expanded ed. Rhino.

26.   The Cars. Shake It Up, expanded ed. Rhino.

27.   Carter, Daniel, William Parker, and Matthew Shipp. Seraphic Light (Live at Tufts University). AUM Fidelity.

28.   Chapman, Reginald. Prototype. Fresh Selects.

29.   Charette, Brian. Groovin’ With Big G. SteepleChase.

30.   Cherry, Don. Home Boy, Sister Out, expanded ed. Wewantsounds/Modulor.

31.   Chestnut, Cyrus. Kaleidoscope. HighNote.

32.   Clark, Mike, and Delbert Bump. Retro Report. Ropeadope.

33.   Coffey, Dennis. One Night at Morey’s: 1968. Omnivore.

34.   Cole, Freddy. My Mood Is You. HighNote.

35.   Coleman, Brandon. Resistance. Brainfeeder.

36.   Coltrane, Alice. Spiritual Eternal: The Complete Warner Bros. Studio Recordings. Real Gone Music.

37.   Coltrane, John. Both Directions at Once, expanded ed. Impulse!

38.   The Chick Corea-Steve Gadd Band. Chinese Butterfly. Concord Jazz.

39.   Corrosion of Conformity. No Cross No Crown. Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

40.   Elvis Costello and The Attractions. Look Now, deluxe ed. Concord.

41.   Danny and The Juniors. The Complete Releases 1957-1962. Acrobat Music.

42.   Duduka Da Fonseca Trio. Plays Dom Salvador. Sunnyside.

43.   Chris Dave and The Drumheadz. Blue Note.

44.   Davis, Miles, and John Coltrane. The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6. Columbia/Legacy/Sony Music.

45.   DJ Jazzy Jeff [Jeffrey A. Townes]. M3. Legacy/Playlist Music.

46.   Dolphy, Eric. Musical Prophet: The Expanded 1963 New York Studio Sessions. Resonance.

47.   Domino, Fats. The King of New Orleans Live! Sunset Blvd.

48.   Dommengang. Love Jail. Thrill Jockey.

49.   Donato, João [João Donato de Oliveira Neto]. A Mad Donato. Discobertas.

50.   Don’t Play With Love: The John L. Nelson Project. Make It Music.

51.   Earth, Wind & Fire. Earth Wind and Fire/The Need of Love. BGO.

52.   Electric Squeezebox Orchestra. The Falling Dream. OA2.

53.   Elias, Eliane. Music From Man of La Mancha. Concord.

54.   Ellington, Duke. In Coventry 1966. Storyville.

55.   Ellis, Tinsley. Winning Hand. Alligator.

56.   Entourage. Ceremony of Dreams: Studio Sessions and Outtake, 1972-1977. Tompkins Square.

57.   Eric B. & Rakim. The Complete Collection 1987-1992. Geffin/4^th & Broadway/UNI/MCA.

58.   Erskine, Peter, and The Dr. Um Band. On Call. Fuzzy Music.

59.   Escoffery, Wayne. Vortex. Sunnyside Communications.

60.   Espinosa, Gabriel. Nostalgias de Mi Vida. Zoho.

61.   The Fabulous Poodles. Mirror Stars: The Complete Pye Recordings 1976-1980. Cherry Red.

62.   Hugo Fattoruso y Barrio Opa. Far Out Recordings.

63.   Feather, Lorraine. Math Camp. Relarion.

64.   Fern Hill Bluegrass Band. Four Seasons. Fern Hill Bluegrass Band.

65.   Ford, Robben. Purple House. Ear Music.

66.   Formell y Los Van Van. Legando. Egrem.

67.   Foxygen. Hang. Jajaguwar.

68.   Frahm, Nils. All Melody. Erased Tapes.

69.   Freitas, Amaro. Rasif. Far Out Recordings.

70.   Fuller, Tia. Diamond Cut. Mack Avenue.

71.   Steve Gadd Band. BFM Jazz/Varèse Sarabande.

72.   Hal Galper Quartet. Cubist. Origin.

73.   García, Fernando. Guasábara Puerto Rico. Zoho.

74.   Gibbons, Billy F. The Big Bad Blues. Concord.

75.   Gil, Gilberto [Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira]. OK OK OK. Geléia Geral.

76.   Goldblum, Jeff, and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. My Baby Just Cares for Me. Decca.

77.   Gonzalez, Dayramir. The Grand Concourse. Hippos in Tanks.

78.   Gordon, Dexter. Espace Cardin 1977. Elemental Music.

79.   Gordon, Dexter. Tokyo 1975. Elemental Music.

80.   Green, Grant. Funk in France: From Paris to Antibes (1969-1970). Resonance.

81.   Green, Grant. Slick!: Live at Oil Can Harry’s. Resonance.

82.   Greenslade. Spyglass Guest, expanded ed. Esoteric Recordings.

83.   Gould, Victor. Earthlings. Criss Cross.

84.   Guns n’ Roses. Appetite For Destruction - Locked N' Loaded Edition: The Ultimate F'n Box. Geffen/Universal Music Enterprises.

85.   Guy, Buddy [George Guy]. The Blues Is Alive and Well. Silvertone.

86.   Haden, Charlie, and Brad Mehldau. Long Ago and Far Away. Impulse!

87.   Han, Connie. Crime Zone. Mack Avenue.

88.   Harriet Tubman. The Terror End of Beauty. Sunnyside.

89.   Harris, Allan. The Genius of Eddie Jefferson. Resilience Music.

90.   Harris, Stefon. Sonic Creed. Motema Music.

91.   Hart, Beth, and Joe Bonamassa. Black Coffee. Provogue/Mascot Label Group/J&R Adventures.

92.   The Rev. Horton Heat. Whole New Life. Victory.

93.   Henderson, Eddie. Be Cool. Smoke Sessions.

94.   Henderson, Lauren. Ármame. Brontosaurus.

95.   Hendrix, Jimi. Both Sides of the Sky. Experience Hendrix/Legacy.

96.   Lori Henriques Quintet. Legion of Peace: Songs Inspired by Nobel Laureates. Motema Music.

97.   Hill, Marquis. Modern Flows, Vol. 2. Black Unlimited Music Group.

98.   Hill, Z.Z. [Arzell Hill]. That’s It!: The Complete Kent Recordings 1964-1968. Kent Soul.

99.   Holland, Jools, Marc Almond, and The Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. A Lovely Life to Live. Warner Music Entertainment.

100. Hughes, Glenn. The Official Bootleg Box Set, Vol. 1: 1994-2010. Purple.

101.  The James Hunter Six. Whatever It Takes. Daptone.

102.  Ingram, Barbara. Philadelphia Sweetheart. Society Hill.

103.  Jon Irabagon Quartet, and Tim Hagans. Dr. Quixotic’s Traveling Exotics. Jon Irabagon.

104.  Jackson, Gene. Power of Love. Whirlwind Recordings.

105.  Jarre, Jean-Michel. Equinoxe Infinity. Columbia.

106.  Jarrett, Keith. La Fenice. ECM.

107.  Jarrett, Keith, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette. After the Fall. ECM.

108.  Jones, Hank. In Copenhagen. Storyville.

109.  Jones, Mike, and Penn Jillette. The Show Before the Show. Capri.

110.  Judas Priest. Firepower. Columbia.

111.  Khan, Sean, and Hermeto Pascoal. Palmares Fantasy. Far Out Recordings.

112.  Khruangbin. Con Todo el Mundo. Dead Oceans/Night Time Stories.

113. King Crimson. Heavy ConstruKction (Live in Europe, 2000). Discipline Global Mobile.

114. King Crimson. Live in Vienna. Discipline Global Mobile.

115.  Steve Kuhn Trio. To and From the Heart.Sunnyside Communications.

116.  Kuti, Femi. One People One World. Knitting Factory.

117.  Kuti, Sean, and Egypt 80. Black Times. Strut.

118.  Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. Live at KEXP! Colemine.

119.  Lancellotti, Domenico. The Good Is a Big God. Luaka Bop.

120.  Lawrence, Azar. Elementals. HighNote.

121.  Leão, Nara. Ao Vivo Anos 60 70 80. Discobertas.

122.  Lee, Vivian. Let’s Talk About Love. Tara/Vivian Lee Jazz.

123.  Locke, Joe. Subtle Disguise. Origin.

124.  López-Nussa, Harold. Un Día Cualquiera. Mack Avenue.

125.  Los Pleneros de La 21. Live at Pregones. Los Pleneros de La 21.

126.  Mabern, Harold. The Iron Man: Live at Smoke. Smoke Sessions.

127.  The Manhattan Transfer. The Junction. BMG.

128.  Wynton Marsalis Septet. United We Swing: Best of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Galas. Blue Engine.

129.  McKay, Nellie. Sister Orchid. Palmetto.

130.  McMurray, David. Music Is Life. Blue Note.

131.  McPherson, J.D. “Socks”. New West.

132.  Metallica. …And Justice for All, 2^nd expanded ed. Blackened Recordings.

133.  Mingus, Charles. Jazz in Detroit/Strata Concert Gallery/46 Selden. BBE.

134. Mitchell, Roscoe, and the Montreal-Toronto Art Orchestra. Ride the Wind. Nessa.

135. Mitchell, Roscoe, and Matthew Shipp. Accelerated Projection. RogueArt.

136. Morgan, Frank, and George Cables. Montreal Memories. HighNote.

137. Morganfield, Mud [Larry Williams]. They Call Me Mud. Severn.

138. Morrison, Van. The Prophet Speaks. Caroline.

139. Morrison, Van, and Joey DeFrancesco. You’re Driving Me Crazy. Legacy Recordings.

140. Muldaur, Maria. Don’t You Feel My Leg: The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker. The Last Music Co.

141. Murray, David, and Saul Williams. Blues for Memo. Motéma.

142. Neville, Cyril. Endangered Species: The Complete Recordings. World Order.

143. Nocturnal Projections. Complete Studio Recordings. Dais.

144. The Old Gold Show Presented by Frank Sinatra: January 2, 1946. I360/Innovation/MVD Audio.

145. The Old Gold Show Presented by Frank Sinatra: March 13, 1946. I360/Innovation/MVD Audio.

146. Orquesta Akokán. Daptone.

147. Otis, Shuggie. Inter-Fusion. Cleopatra.

148. Palmieri, Eddie. Full Circle. Ropeadope.

149. Parker, William. Voices Fall From the Sky. AUM Fidelity.

150. Pasqua, Alan. Soliloquy. Alan Pasqua.

151. Pelt, Jeremy. Noir en Rouge: Live in Paris. HighNote.

152. Perry, Lee "Scratch" [Rainford Hugh Perry]. The Black Album. Upsetter.

153. Person, Houston, and Ron Carter. Remember Love. HighNote.

154. Oscar Peterson Plays. Verve.

155. Porter, Lewis. Beauty & Mystery. Altrisuoni.

156. Prince [Prince Rogers Nelson]. Piano & a Microphone, 1983. NPG/Rhino/Warner Bros.

157. RAM. August 1791. Willibelle Publishing & Sales.

158. Redman, Joshua [Joshua Shedroff] et al. Still Dreaming. Nonesuch.

159. Reich, Steve. Pulse/Quartet. Nonesuch.

160. Rosnes, Renee. Beloved of the Sky. Smoke Sessions.

161. Royston, Shamie. Beautiful Liar. Sunnyside.

162. Salvant, Cécile McLorin. The Window. Mack Avenue.

163. Sanchez, Antonio. Channels of Energy. CAM  Jazz.

164. Sands, Christian. Facing Dragons. Mack Avenue.

165. Satriani, Joe. What Happens Next. Legacy/Sony Music.

166. The Savory Collection 1935-1940. Mosaic.

167. Saxon. Thunderbolt. Militia Guard Music.

168. Scaggs, Boz [William Royce Scaggs]. Out of the Blues. Concord.

169. The Sha La Das. Love in the Wind. Daptone.

170.  Shaw, Woody. Tokyo ’81. Elemental Music.

171.  Shipp, Matthew. Sonic Fiction. ESP-Disk.

172.  Shipp, Matthew. Zer0. ESP-Disk.

173.  Shorter, Wayne. Emanon. Blue Note.

174.  Sidran, Ben. Ben There, Done That. Sunset Blvd.

175.  Simon, Edward. Sorrows & Triumphs. Sunnyside.

176.  Simone, Nina [Eunice Kathleen Waymon]. Mood Indigo: The Complete Bethlehem Singles.

177.  Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely, 2^nd expanded ed. Capitol.

178.  Sinatra, Frank. Standing Room Only. UMe/Universal.

179.  Smith, Dr. Lonnie. All in My Mind. Blue Note.

180.  Smith, Walter III. In Common. Whirlwind Recordings.

181.  Snidero, Jim, and Jeremy Pelt. Jubilation!: Celebrating Cannonball Adderley. Savant.

182.  Solal, Martial. Solo Piano: Unreleased 1966 Los Angeles Sessions, Vol. 2. Fresh Sound.

183.  Sosa, Omar, and NDR Big Band. Es: Sensual. Otá.

184. Souza, Luciana. The Book of Longing. Sunnyside Communications.

185. The Spinners. While the City Sleeps, expanded ed. Kent Soul.

186. E.J. Strickland Quintet. Warriors for Peace. Jammincolors.

187. Sun Ra [Herman Blount]. The Cymbals/Symbols Sessions. Modern Harmonic.

188. Sun Ra [Herman Blount]. “Of Abstract Dreams”. Strut.

189. Sung, Helen. Sung With Words: A Collaboration With Dana Gioia. Stricker Street.

190. Superchunk. What a Time to Be Alive. Merge.

191. Thompson, Richard. 13 Rivers. New West.

192. Tower of Power. Soul Side of Town. Artistry Music.

193. Sonny Troupé Quartet Add Two. Reflets Denses. Ekay.

194. Turre, Steve. The Very Thought of You. Smoke Sessions.

195. Voivod. The Wake. Century Media.

196. Warwick, Dionne [Marie Dionne Warrick]. Odds & Ends: Scepter Records Rarities. Real Gone Music.

197. Washington, Kamasi. Heaven & Earth. Young Turks.

198. Washington, Walter “Wolfman.” My Future Is My Past. Anti-.

199. Waters, Muddy [McKinley Morganfield]. Live at Rockpalast. MIG.

200. Webster, Ben. Valentine’s Day 1964 Live. Dot Time Legends.

201. White, Barry [Barrence Eugene Carter]. The 20^th Century Record Albums 1973-1979. Island.

202. Williams, Buster. Audacity. Smoke Sessions.

203. Winter, Edgar. I’ve Got News for You: Featuring the Edgar Winter Group and Edgar Winter’s White Trash, 1971-1977. Cherry Red.

204. Winter, Edgar. Tell Me in a Whisper: The Solo Albums, 1970-1981. Cherry Red.

205.  Yamanaka, Miki. Miki. Cellar Live.

206.  Yellowjackets. Raising Our Voice. Mack Avenue.

207.  Yo La Tengo. There’s a Riot Going On. Matador.

208. Zappa, Frank. Live in Barcelona 1988. Sonic Boom.

209. Frank Zappa and The Mothers. The Roxy Performances. Zappa.

210. Zeigler, Jeffrey. The Sound of Science. National Sawdust Tracks.

211. Zeitlin, Denny. Wishing on the Moon. Sunnyside.

Further Political Follies

The Jan. 25 Chronicle fulminates about sexual harassment in the Texas Senate, but two of the four senators named lost re-election last year, and one of the remaining senators is a black Democrat.[5] The Chronicle won’t turn Texas into a pinko stronghold by driving out elected officials from its preferred party because they don’t hew to the sensibilities of upper-middle class white women, none of whom apparently ever considered a smack in the chops or laughter – either derisive or hysterical – to rebut unwanted advances from boorish men whose looks are decidedly not that of Hollywood matinee idols.[6] Either approach is cheaper than hiring lawyers.

Austin Death Watch

A Travis County judge ruled that Austin’s open-carry ban at City Hall is illegal. Suck on that, hoplophobes.[7] The January Todo Austin mentions subcontinental Indians are the fastest growing ethnic demographic in town.[8] No wonder Austin’s not as cool as it used to be.

Media Indigest

Limey scandal sheet The Telegraph lost a libel suit filed by First Pouty Eurominx Melania Trump.[9] The January Society Diaries contains a perky piece about the historic glories of Houston shopping.[10]

GQ’s new editor-in-chief introduces himself in the February edition. Judging from his photo, he needs the grooming and style tips found in the older issues of that magazine.[11]

Neighborhood News

On Feb. 4, I witnessed the aftermath of a collision at the southbound onramp to MoPac Expressway across from The Domain. On Feb. 13, I witnessed a near collision at Burnet Road and Helen Milton Smith Way among cars criss-crossing in and out of tight traffic. On Feb. 12, KAMX-FM reported a collision at northbound MoPac and Braker Lane. On Feb. 15, KFMK-FM reported a collision at MoPac and Duval Road. KXAN-TV’s traffic Web page recorded collisions at northbound MoPac and Capital of Texas Highway on Feb. 1 and 4, at northbound MoPac near Duval on Feb. 6, and at northbound MoPac and Parmer Lane on Feb. 12.

Likely thieves pried open mailboxes at my apartment complex sometime between Feb. 15-16.[12]

The Feb. 15 Business Journal reports Amazon has acquired another 145,000 square feet in office squace at The Domain.[13] Five other businesses have opened, reopened, or relocated to the neighborhood; one has closed.[14] An old folks’ warehouse has changed management.[15] As of this issue, workers are constructing two office buildings and two apartment complexes.[16] Circle Brewing Co. is considering moving from West Braker Lane to Elgin.[17]

On Jan. 26, I found a penny in the neighborhood H-E-B parking lot.

Business Roundup

A Cuban restaurant has signed a lease for a second location off Congress Avenue downtown.[18]

NOTES