Exclusive: 47west63rd attends Peace Rally in Washington DC!

ok i will admit i do not look too PUMPED UP in this picture!!..i've been quite tired lately and unwell... but i was real glad to be there taking a stand for peace and against this ill advised and ill fated adventure in irak!....it felt real good... it felt particularly good to see a lot of other people that felt the same way..

Cindy Sheehan in her camp tent following her speech to those rallying for peace... those that malign this woman for speaking her mind- particularly after having lost a son to this loony business the bush administration has foisted on an all too willing to be duped public (an ignorant and stupid people can be made to believe anything in the name of flag)- are sinking to the level of pond scum.. in any case, it was nice seeing her up close!.. did not want to be just another guy thanking her.. but it was nice seeing her.. at someone's request i took a picture of her with him...so i guess i did make some sorta personal contact with her!...

Dick Cheney, George W Bush and Donald Rumsfeld on a weekend pass from the Federal Penitentiary- where they are serving 20 years for treason- where at the rally for peace earlier today here in Washington DC... notice Dick Cheney holding some blood money from his former employees at Halliburton...

one of my favorite signs from earlier today at the anti-war rally on the national mall! there were many good ones!

Charlie Watts on vinyl

from a september inverview in a french magazine.......(for those unaware charlie is the drummer for the rolling stones)..........

"...I'll tell you what has really changed: the first record I have ever bought was a French import jazz album, on Vogue... very classy with that red and black label... I still own it, and I still admire the cover lovingly... I don't think anyone can look at a CD cover with these eyes today..."

Iris Dement "Living in the wasteland of the free"

I've listened to a lot of songs....and i have to say none moves me more than iris dement's 1996 "living in the wasteland of the free" which gives me mega-loads of goosebumps...it represents so much what i believe...i think thats why it moves me so much.. because someone made a beautiful song with my feelings.... recorded during the clinton years its become particularly fitting- sadly- in the bush presidency....its an unbelievable song.. curiously enough after this album, "the way i should", was released- an album that remains an underrated classic- iris dropped from sight.. i did catch her on tour with john prine a few years ago (at the birchmere).. i also saw her briefly in memphis way back when.. i know i talked to her manager by a pool table but can't remember if i actually talked to iris..... well iris is back after 8 or 9 years with a new album of cover songs.. i'll have to check it out.. she is an absolute phenomenal interpreter, performer and songwriter... she is up there with lucinda williams in my book..


Living in the wasteland of the free


We got preachers dealin' in politics and diamond mines
And their speech is growing increasingly unkind
They say they are Christ's disciples --They don't look like Jesus to me
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got politicians runnin' races on corporate cash
Now don't tell me they don't turn around and kiss them peoples' ass
You may call me old fashioned --That don't fit my picture of a true democracy
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got CEOs makin' 200 times the worker's pay
And they fight like hell against raisin' the minimum wage
If you don't like it, mister,They'll ship your job to some Third World country 'cross the sea
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Living in the wasteland of the free
Where the poor have now become the enemy
Let's blame our problems on the weak ones -- Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got kids fighting inner-city wars
And what do we do, we put these little kids behind prison doors
And they say we're the advanced civilization --That sounds like crap to me
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got high-school kids wearin' Calvin Klein and Guess
Who cannot pass a fifth grade written test
But if you ask them, they can tell you
The name of every crotch on MTV
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We kill for oil, then throw a party when we win
Some guy refuses to fight and we call that the sin
He's standing up for what he believes in --That sounds pretty damned American to me
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

While we stand gloating in our greatness
Justice is sinking towards the bottom of the sea
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free
Living in the wasteland of the free

Now playing: Blue Note 84125- Lou Donaldson's "Good Gracious!" What an album cover! In typical ebay fashion the seller did not disclose a sizable warp which makes the first few minutes of each side unplayable and distorts the sound for a few minutes more.. we'll see how the thing turns out..

but what a session.. donaldson with john patton and grant green.. this is one very enjoyable soul jazz album! and the album cover cracks me up every time... lou donaldson by the way was responsible for bringing grant green to new york city after seeing him play in saint louis..and how fittin given the heavy influence of charlie parker on lou that donaldson would be impressed by grant green whose note for note soloing guitar style was essentially taken from bird too...lou donaldson then introduced grant green to blue note impressario and all around genius alfred lion and the rest is as they say history..

Summer recess over! 47west63rd back in bizness!

like any dc fortunate one i took august off... but congress is back in session.. bush is back in the white house and i'm back in front of my keyboard...