Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

The things you find on You Tube.

A history lesson in a stunning type of jazz, in a bio of a central figure

João Gilberto, a Leading Light of Bossa Nova, Is Dead at 88

Are brilliant musicians sometimes just nerds?

See the photo of Stan Getz on the cover of his album, Stan Getz - the essential recordings.

It hurts to look.

Still, a lot of the music is really nice.

So jazz is dead?

Neil Young to top bill as Montreux Jazz Festival turns 50

Montreux has over the past half century become a magnet for big names of the music business and rising stars alike.

It has retained its jazz label despite dramatically expanding its repertoire over the years.

This year, Canadian singer-songwriter legend Neil Young will be one of the top attractions when he hits the main stage on July 12, 15 years after his only previous appearance at the festival.

Describing him as the "godfather of the punk movement, then of grunge", organisers hailed Young as "a truly monumental figure on the music scene."

We're a long way from Swiss Movement.

Copeland is awesome

How perfect for early April in Pittsburgh.

Appalachian Spring.

Love of country is like love of family.

It's not about ideology or religion or race or ethnicity.

It's about these people who are your people.

This country that is your country.

Saturday Morning

Ahmad Jamal is awesome.

Best in class

The worst pop lyrics of all time.

And that says a lot.

Feliz Navidad.

Cha Cha Cha

At the local B&N, the most amazing, cheerful latin music accompanied a youthful tenor singing in Spanish.

Though I guessed they might be Cubans, I imagined a white band and someone looking like Desi Arnaz.

I went to the desk and asked who the musicians might be.

Imagine my surprise to discover for the first time, ever, Abelardo Barroso.

Check Wikipedia and You Tube.

Black people make absolutely the best music, classical apart.

What the hell, this is B&N store music?

El Manisero.

En Guantanamo.

Somebody at corporate HQ knows what he's doing.

Or she.

A long way from elevator muzak.

Man, I have got to work on my Spanish.

Furtwangler's Beethoven

Perhaps the secret is only that his is a slower tempo.

More time to savor.

Listening to "Pastoral."

Six Gnossiennes

Awesome.