College Relations’ Christmas party last night was a blast. Charlie, the department’s funniest man, brought down the house once again with his nuttiness. Cathy, the new addition, added quite a lively vibe to the scene as well. Jeff, the Santa, had done a witty job of handing out the presents. I am glad that my secret gift was well received. I had a great time and will definitely miss it; therefore, I have requested a web cast of next year’s party. I also found out that the senior writer had resigned to move on with her own thing. I wish her all the best and hope will get a chance to read her book in the near future.

As I arrived Martha’s house for the party, I ran into her neighbor who happened to be a security guard at Vassar’s Art Center. I got to know Dom a couple months ago in the parking lot. Every morning, Dom sits in his car strumming his guitar before getting to his job. I said hi to him a couple of times and we had mini conversations in the morning. Dom is such a sweet fellow who appreciates the simplicity of nature like watching the patterns of the falling leaves in autumn. So he invited me into his house to check out the model train track in the basement that took him two years to build. It looked amazing so I pulled out my camera to take a few snaps of it. Unfortunately, I won’t get a chance to get to know more about this new friend.

Two extended improvisational pieces recorded in 1975 demonstrate Keith Jarrett’s deep lyricism, expressive technique and mastery of solo piano. Furthermore, his total physical participation with the music is enticing. He once explained the noises he made were his thoughts that can’t get out onto the keyboard.

Honey I want some che chuoi.
You want some che chuoi, baby? Here you go.
Honey, if you keep feeding me like this I’ll end up on the Biggest Loser.

Back in Viet Nam, mama used to make Bi Xao Tom Kho the day before I take the finals. She said the pumpkin helps make your brain wiser. I am not sure where that logic came from, but I always passed the exams and moved up the next grade. So thanks pumpkin and ma for the magic. It tastes fantastic once in a while.

NPR profiles Fletcher Henderson:

Henderson’s orchestra included a brilliant array of musicians, from trumpeters Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge to saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter. The band reached new heights of popularity and could be heard everywhere — on radio and touring coast to coast.

Download the program.

Yesterday farewell lunch with the department and Christmas party with the employees, today department’s Christmas party at Martha’s house, and tomorrow lunch with the web group at the Artist’s Palate, Vassar is making it impossible for me to depart. Instead of leaving tomorrow, I’ll return after New Year for three more days. I hope to wrap up my last project before I go.

Michel Camilo is a piano prodigy who could maneuver amazingly between jazz and classical. Piano Concerto, Suite & Caribe welcomes listeners into his classical world. From his opening notes on the full-orchestrated piece to his solo ending, Camilo’s spontaneous energy and exemplary execution will leave you breathless. This is a classical album that I could actually get through and still want to hear again.

First of all I wanna thank my connect
The folks at College Relations with all due respect.
Thanks to all the work the skills I possessed
The web group, you guys are the best.

Alright, I ain’t no Jay-Z so let me just get straight to the point. Many thanks to the fantastic folks at College Relations for a very special farewell lunch. Thanks to Carolyn and Tim for their wonderful speech. Thanks to Julia for a beautiful pot and Tamar for the gorgeous photo of Main Building. Thanks everyone for the thoughtful words on the card: “Go with all your heart, but know that you go with all our hearts too.” I am delighted.

Zeldman:

Key decision makers within the W3C intend to do much more, but they need to get their colleagues on board, and consensus-building is a bitch. A slow bitch.

The combined energy from trumpeter Clifford Brown, drummer Max Roach and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins was like the mix of Grand Marnier, Red Bull and Hennessy. At Basin Street rushes off with “What is This Thing Called Love” and never lets up. Brown and Rollins blow like men on fire over Roach’s charging power. Five months after the recordings, Brown’s unfortunate death in a car accident terminated their collaboration. Brown was only twenty-five.