algae bloom in Austin city water & Ornette Coleman on Nov. 19

[Madelon Umlauf]

until the algae bloom dissipates Austin tap water will
remain undrinkable. you can even smell it faintly when
taking a shower. now THAT is something I never 
experienced before whilst living here far too long

62% of Austin voters voted for light rail

our Lloyd Doggett in his new Delay-ed district was 
handily (as they say), nay very handily elected with
68% of the vote

Ornette Coleman will be playing at the UT 
Performing Center on Nov 19. There are 3 ticket 
options: $45, $35 & $20. As the house will not
sell out, it will be easy to infiltrate better seats.

We used to go and hear him at the Five Spot
and elsewhere in the late 60s in NYC when we 
lived there. No cover, just a coupla drinks.

My sense is that 40 years later, he is gotta be
a burnout. Or else he'll pull a Sonny Rollins --
when Sonny Rollins played the same venue
he dumbed his set down, way down to accomodate
what he thought the locals would get off on. 

This Uncle Tomming of one's act is not uncommon;
I remember Maceo Parker doing this shamelessly
at Katz's.

Some don't though. We heard Miles at the Colliseum
(best acoustics in Austin according to the soundies,
now torn down) and he of course made NO compromise
in terms of where he was playing. I would have to say
that this set was the ultimate jazz experience of my 
life. I've heard Miles 3 other times. This was the band
with John Scofield on guitar. Unfortunately it was 
arena seating but they did have a mixed drinks bar.

The set about 2 hours or a little less was without
breaks and at first it didn't make any sense. Only
towards the end was one able to get it and then one
found oneself dwelling in the playing of the music.

Then you dont want it to end anytime soon, like
good sex, but it does anyway. Damn!