recently and were completely amazed by how awesome they were. By far, one of the best live performances we've seen. The piano, trumpet, bass and drums compliment each other in a perfect balance, but can also crush it in solos. Daniel Freedman's solo was mind-blowing. (No offense to the two Chuck drummers we know). Not only did he go for what seemed like 10 minutes, it was clear he was enjoying himself thoroughly.

'Alona' is the most 'jazzy' of them all, but other stand-outs include 'Sefarad' and 'The Immigrant's Anthem' (where you really can appreciate the trumpet of Avishai Cohen).
thirdworldlove.com



:: Zii e Zie We recently had the great fortune seeing this Brazilian giant perform.

We were as impressed by his incredible display of energy (for someone in his late sixties) as by his range: samba, bossa nova, funk, with a sprinkle of psychedelic rock. You can find all this in his latest production: 'Zii e Zie'. Standouts include: the melancholic 'Por Quem?' (For Whom), 'A base de Guantanamo' (Guantanamo Base) -about that little known place in Cuba made popular by Tom Cruise's 'A Few Good Men' that also highlights his political activism- and 'Incompatibilidad de genios' (Incompatibility of Temperaments).
  » www.nonesuch.com/albums/zii-e-zie

  » www.caetanoveloso.com.br

:: Who said we only could recommend new CDs? We'd like to share with you this great online station: East Village

Radio www.eastvillageradio.com Especially LaDecadance. "Melody Nelson hosts La Decadanse, an all french pop show featuring all things ye-ye, oldies, chanteuses, 70's party jams, 80's pop and everything in between... And of course, lots of Serge Gainsbourg!"

BOOKS

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:: 'The Tao of Travel' by Paul Theroux. In this quick read, Theroux highlights some of his best pieces on traveling, while also quoting many (including Samuel Johnson, Paul Bowles, Henry David Thoreau, Elias Canetti -a superb quote on prices in Marrakesh, Evelyn Waugh, and many more) on the art of travel, the reasons we do so, and what we get out of it. The hardcover edition is a great piece itself reminiscent of our travel journals.

Some of the great quotes from Theroux's other books include: 'Athens is a four-hour city', 'Half of jazz is railway music, and the motion and noise of the train itself has the rhythm of jazz', 'In the matter of visas and border crossings, the smaller the country the bigger the fuss: like a small policeman directing traffic'.

The last page has 'The Essential Tao of Travel':
1. Leave Home
2. Go alone
3. Travel light
4. Bring a map
5. Go by land
6. Walk across a national frontier
7. Keep a journal
8. Read a novel that has no relation to the place you're in
9. If you must bring a cell phone, avoid using it
10. Make a friend

It's a story of Nicholas Urfe, a young Englishman in a Greek island who gets involved in some psychological game with the enigmatic Maurice Conchis and a cast of equally mysterious women. Full on psychological chess with enough twists to keep you entertained and guessing until the very last page with a great quote: cras amet qui numquam amavit quique amavit cras amet (Look it up. 'Do it. Do it now!') Throughout the book there are lots of Jungian and Shakespearean references, with a healthy dose of mythology. A great mystery, story, ('mystory'?) of love, betrayal, fears, growing up, dying, and living. Haunted us for a while.

and after with their home video. It's impossible not to be moved by it, or outraged by the lack of response to what happened -still. The main character is as resilient and likeable, with an amazing positive attitude in the face of this national tragedy. The soundtrack is very good, especially 'Amazing' by Black Kold Madina. troublethewaterfilm.com