Feb 28 1:28 am
Just returned from watching Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" w/ my brother. Good movie throughout. I'm not gonna comment on whether the bloody, grotesque scenes are suitable for children, or if the subject matter is worth reviewing by Sunday Bible school-goers. This is just a well-crafted film w/ a pretty accurate adherence to the Bible. There is NOT one ounce of anti-Semitic elements in the film. Romans, Jews, and others are depicted equally and fairly. Not one race was particularly singled out as being the most contemptuous. So I don't know what the fuss is all about. If you can find anti-Semitic refrence in it, either you're completely out of your mind or I'm completely lying. (2:31 am: Just got a questionnaire from Sarah Bohn w/ a list of thoughtful questions about the film. See and answer them here.)

Had a good gig w/Howie and Robert Frahm last night at Europa. Thanks Stephy and Dawn for coming. Good to see you guys. Clarence backed out at the last minute, and with extreme good luck, I got Robert to do it. Robert is a good technical player and plays all kinds of style. Check out his website and listen to his CD sample on CDBaby.

Countdown to Oscars: one day. Penn or Murray? Can't wait to kick off the Oscar party with a pool of the Big Six and some booze.

I'm gonna returning to my dance club/lounge scene. For the last six months, I've been frequenting jazz and blues bars like an old fart. I think I've missed out on many opportunities. I'm gonna go back to hit Red, 1223, ESL, Dragonfly and the like. These days, I'm game for anything, and I've got game.
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Feb 27 2:01 pm
Back from the bar exam and extremely tried! Strangely Kafkaesque, if not just surreal. First, I have accomplished a monumental achievement in my life-not taking 2 days of exam-I have taken exams for 13 straight days before-but driving 5.5 hours from Norfolk, VA to Somerset, NJ non-stop between bar exams. The view was beautiful. I wish I brought a camera with me. It was the most relaxing moment I have had in months, if I wasn't so exhausted. I highly recommend taking long road trips in the afternoon time and appreciate the view.

The bar exams themselves were Kafkaesque, too. It was incidentally Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday). I had never seen so many white people before in my life. Norfolk celebrated it and it had transvestites throwing beads at pedestrians (not those beads) and lesbians making out on the streets, which prompted me to think of coordinating a "Making Out w/ Strangers Party" somewhere down the road in April or May. This will unite people and make us friendlier to each other.

Taking the Jersey bar is like going to a Phish concert: you have hot hippie chicks, dirty jocks, millions of people waiting to use the bathroom, and groupies camping out in the parking lot. The test room itself was surreal - it held more than 10,000 people. Lunch was horrendous. Imagine all 10,000 of us trying to get through a buffet line. Thanks to Jonathan for hosting me. Stayed another night in Jersey b/c I was tired.

Gonna take a long nap now. Catch me at Europa tonight, if you can. So long everybody!
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Feb 23 1:14 am
This is my final entry before heading down to Norfolk, VA to take the bar tomorrow. I will be back Friday night from Somerset, NJ. Be sure to catch me at Europa that night.

Congrats to Johnny Depp's surprise win at the SAG, meaning the race is further tightened between Murray and Penn for the Oscars! I remembered liking Depp's performance when I saw "Pirates" and said to myself, "He will surely be nominated." But a win at SAG is a practical joke on Penn or Murray. I think Depp was better in "Donnie Brasco" and my fav Tim Burton film "Ed Wood." The "Pirates" nod is only a tribute to his career as an eccentic actor.

Another note-worthy note: I have persuaded a jazz legend by the name of Walt Namuth (Thanks to Steve Herberman) to get out of his 10-plus year hiatus to do a gig at Cafe Europa on April 23 (See April schedule). For those who are not familiar with Walt, he was the guitarist in the legendary Buddy Rich Big Band from 1968-1974. Walt is named "Who's Who in Jazz" and ranked top in the DC Guitar Hierarchy. While in the Rich Big Band, Walt was praised for having a life of his own: "Guitarist Walt Namuth emphasizes the funky dimension of 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy' and 'Ode to Billie Joe..."

Though occasionally gigging here and there, Walt has pretty much been a hermit in the last 10-15 years. March 11 will mark his return to the mainstream jazz scene. Walt will be playing with the great Tommy Cecil on bass. Let's hope Walt will come back to stun us!
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Feb 20 1:35 pm
Shek Ki wrote an interesting review about "Lost in Translation." If you can read Chinese, click here. Basically, he's saying that westerners seem to be less tolerant about the seemingly eccentric and exotic Asian culture. On the contrary, Asians are expected to assimilate to the white culture. This creates some sort of inequality. Yet, westerners can still make a movie about it and laugh at the Asian culture and win some awards.

To some extent, William Hung's burgeoning popularity may not have anything to do with his positive atiitude that Paula Abdul praises about ("I tried my very best. I have no regrets."). Rather, the general public may just laugh at him b/c they think he's acting like a clown. There's nothing wrong with making people happy, If William does not think what he does is degrading, that's perfectly OK. Frankly, William was not one of the worst American Idol contestants. I like watching him b/c his persistence and unwillingness to give up put a smile on my face.

Indeed, many westerners I know suffer from the same attitude problem Bill Murray does in LIT. They have forgotten when they are in Asia, they are treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. I used to know this American professor who taught at HK Polytech who used to always complain about Hong Kong's poor air quality, people's poor English, and dirt. But he was the one who wasn't trying.

Contrariwise, Bill Heid toured Osaka, Japan and learned almost fluent Japanese from gigging from club to club, talking to Japanese ladies, and loving the culture while he was there. My friend Michele bought Chinese CDs (though she doesn't understand the lyrics) and ate at a local desert shop in Mongkok (she probably was the only white girl who visited that place) while she was visiting Hong Kong. Open-mindedness will only get you further in life.

Feb 20 12:35 am
It's been a Chet Baker kinda day. I drove to Tryst Coffeehouse at Adams Moragn today to study. The best part was the driving. It was a little escapist leisure in midst of bar exam pressure. Not bad.

Speaking of Chet Baker mood, I have compiled a 19-song CD with masterpieces NOT featured in The Best of Chet Baker Sings. If you are interested in it, I can burn you a copy for free. Just e-mail me your name and address and I'll send it to you. (Fans only; enemies need not apply.)

There are many topics I want to cover. E.g. the sudden, unexpected success of failed idol William Hung who is touring all karaoke bars in CA; hypocritical, wishy-washy Democrats who were all for Howard Dean and now blindly back Kerry or Edwards; the pseudo-intellectual debate over Bill Murray vs. Sean Penn for Best Actor Oscar, etc. Instead, I want to share some words of wisdom that I found on a Friendster profile.

Under "Who I want to meet," she writes, "am also looking for a spanish lover to complete picture above. partial to girls who look good in the morning and when they cry, girls who look sexy when they're angry, boys who are confident and nice, smokers, stargazers, polite players, green eyes, tanned bellies and fake blondes. mostly, in search of someone who understands the uselessness but still believes in love." Good call, Mika. I guess I failed the profile b/c I'm a non-smoker. Have I told you NYC is now a paradise for me?

Feb 16 11:38 pm
After reading Heather's entry "up, down, and all around," I couldn't help but have sentimental feelings. First, I understand the feeling of why she is "depressed, disturbed, and slightly dangerous." It's not exactly the opposite of Chet Baker mood, just a twisted variation of it. CB mood is the romantic side of the coin; while the Bitches Brew state of mind is on the darker side of the spectrum. Remember some up-to-no-good jazz critics used to criticize Chet is a west coast copycat of Miles'?

It's amazing how you can read someone's sentences and strike a cord with your own experience, like reading Oscar Wilde or e.e. cumming or Paul Auster or Philip Roth. Good writers have one thing in common: they summarize life's complexity into simple phenomena, and they never make you guess what they truly mean, or if they really mean it.. It's kinda like listening to a Bill Heid organ solo or a Sonny Rollins sax solo. It ostensibly conveys so much, but none other than to tell one's life's story.

...which brings me to my own well-being. I'm still mean, nasty, angry, and lowdown (plus I'm not a hip pimp these days. I have no time to coordinate my fashion b/c only librarians see me these days). I also realize I haven't lived up to my fullest potential yet. As my Mom says, "Talents (and intelligence) are like muscles. If you don't use them, they get rusty." Or God will take them away from you. I truly believe that. My strengths are: I have a good memory, strong analytical and writing skills, and perceptive (or in Ryfie's word, introspective) about people. After the bar, I will start using my muscles effectively again. I'll also find my own niche - a way for me to shine and be conventionally successful. I have lived in my (own useless) dreams for 3 years now. I'll strike a balance between reality and ideal, and live a life that is acceptable to me. Not to sound narcissistic (as I always do), but in the next few months to come, not only will I be "hilarious," I'll become the hippest pimp of all-time. Not only will I be recognized as the "Asian sex symbol," I'll also be remembered as "a nice dude."

I once wrote a song called "Nobody Can Help you If you Don't Help Yourself." This rings true now. People, witness my metamorphosis! And Heather, don't feel bad, at least you have John and coffee. I only have coffee.

2/15 is a special day for me for nostagic value. Last year, on 2/15, I visited the Phillips Collection, went to City Lights for dinner, and 219 for drinks. It all seems so recent to me now. Maybe life sometimes laughs at us. But I believe you'll always run into the ones you once cared about on the street or a record store someday. You may just smile at each other, or give a casual greeting, and then walk away. Memories will come back and stay with you for awhile. But then you realize, at that point in your life, you were happy. And that was worth it. Yeah, 2/15/2003 was worth it.

Feb 16 1:13 am
An uneventful long weekend it seemed. Aside from trying to avoid Valentine's places, I pretty much locked myself in the library studying. Making progress finally. Turned out I didn't see too many Valentines doing Valentine things. Just a couple of gay couples hugging on the street.

Saw Bill Heid playing the hammond b-3 for the first time (can you believe it?) at the East Coast Jazz Festival (i.e. bad timing, poor publicity, wrong venue) today. Bill snuck me in for about an hour (instead of paying $60). Boy, was that a performance!! The band consisted of Gary Jenkins on drums, Rick Hannah from Baltimore (simply amazing!) on guitar, and Luis Hernandez of CuBop on sax. Bill delivered a long overdue organ show in the tradition of Don Patterson and Larry Young and earned a standing ovation from the primarily black audience. Met radio celeb Pete Fallico, an organ connoisseur and host of Doolin' Lounge in SF. Very nice guy. He said, "I respect anyone who tries to play the organ b/c you have to split the brain and use all four limbs." I agree.

As part of my attempt to root for Lost in Translation on Oscar night (esp. Bill Murray for best actor), my brother cam aross this excellent LIT fan site. Check it out here!

Feb 13 5:36 pm
I decided to take down yesterday's post b/c I was kinda mean and I over-reacted. If you want to know what really happened, e-mail me. AU Law called and apologized and put me on the "Do not ticket"list today. That is not the reason why I tamed. I've got other priorities in life than engaging in meaningless venting. Plus I want to be remembered as a "nice guy," not a hardliner. This lesson teaches me to handle it in a more classy manner next time. However, please don't forget injustice does occur every day. We need to speak our minds. If you have parking concerns with AU Law, contact their Facilities Dept.

For those who don't boycott Valentine's Day, have a good one. Y'all have my blessings.

Yes, I'm struggling to get out of my AC/DC, Metallica mental state to a tranquil Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans peace of mind.

Feb 12 9:02 pm (Boycott Valentine's Day!)
Call me bitter. But I've never liked Valentine's Day, dateful or dateless. Why do you have to pay for a dinner 4 times than it normally costs? Why should you buy flowers for $50 where you can usually get from Walmart for $3.99? What is all the fuss about? It's just a stupid Hallmark-induced holiday! And for those who are dateless, the day makes them feel worse than kids who never get invited to birthday parties. My solution is: Couples, you can only celebrate Valentine's day once. Go watch a movie b/c the ticket prices are the same. Avoid love flicks. Then boycott it from the second year on, if your relationship still lasts...

Last but not least, check this out!

Feb 9 4:56 pm (Let me get lawyerly here!)
Top 5 reasons why I won't do blues jams again (with exceptions-see below):
1. I don't get paid. No money no talk.
2. You have these guitar players who are Stevie Ray Vaughan wanna-be's trying to play too loud or these high-school aspiring rockers who try to play "Stairway to Heaven" in the key of E only. When you confront them, "Hey man, this is a blues jam." They answer, "Then let's do 'All Along the Watchtower.'"
3. There are also drummers who can't count and play too loud and don't know what "breaks" are or when they are supposed to stop playing.
4. Too many midgets who either can't tell the difference between an 8-bar and 12-bar blues, or over-achievers who try to convince you to play precisely "Stormy Monday, Allman Bros version, on 5, with slow changes on the second bar...."
5. Why should I wait 3 hours just to play 3 songs? I have better things to do such as picking up girls at Cheesecake Factory. Plus I'm too damn good for these stupid blues jams.

The exceptions are:
1. If my good friends (like Sami or Rusty) are running it AND they invite me to come out AND they promise me they'll put me up with good people; OR
2. I am on vacation in a foreign country/state and no one knows me there AND I'm in the mood to show off my talent to the local audience; OR
3. I'm way too bored or not having played for a few months due to no one wants to hire me for gigs anymore (extremely unlikely) AND I want to embarrass myself by having people point out that I broke my "blues jam" death pact.

So if you see me at a blues jam from now on that does not fit the above 3 scenarios, feel free to laugh at me and call me irresponsible. I probably deserve it.

BTW, who has been reading ALL my columns in the writings page? Please e-mail me and tell me who you are.

Feb 9 12:32 am
The highlight today was that I studied for 8 hours. No, the highlight today was that I sat in w/ the original Danny Gatton boys at JV's: Dave Elliott on drums, Dave Chappell and Dave Kitchen on guitars, and the immaculate Billy Hancock on vocals. Before I came in, Billy did three Bully Holly tunes greatly mimicking the originals w/a spice of good white soul. It's not a bad thing when legends like Dave Chappell calls my harp playing "tasteful stuff" and Billy Hancock saying, "Sonny Boy, it's a pleasure to play with you." I'm sure they were just being nice!

The one and only upright blues bass legend Jeff Sarli even agrees to play with me and Bill Heid & Rusty Bogart. What an honor! This cat has recorded w/ The Rolling Stones, for God's sake. Look for the lineup of Chung, Heid, Bogart and Sarli soon.

Feb 8 2:07 am
Went to Ryfie's birthday party tonight. Got a lot of inspiration...more about that later. Before that, went to Sala Thai to drop off a "25th Hour" DVD, a Sam Yahel CD, and a top secret info sheet for Bill Heid. Ran into my pilot friend Scott Taylor, his daughter Shelby (who will be a great musician someday) and Scott's friends. Seeing Scott was music to my ears b/c his presence gives me sunshine. It's good to see a friend who makes you feel you're missed.

Ryfie's party was a blast. Her friends are nuts. We played games like "Taboo," "Pit," "Guesstures," & a Ryfka original "Perverted Papers." The Pit game was especially exhausting - I had to take my jacket off due to its sheer intensity. The inspiration I got from that party was...maybe I have drifted from my forward phase back to a romantic restraint phase (See my article on the subject). Come to think of it, it's been a awhile I haven't been in the game. Why? Laziness! I promise I'll get back in the game after the bar. I know I've got game and I promise I'll be good at it. Girls, be warned. The lover with mystique will be back!

Another thing: Gifts are very telling about the giver's personality. Next time when you buy a gift, be careful about what you pick. Your dedication and sincerity are reflected in the quality of the present. Receivers can tell whether you have put any thought into the gift at all. And when you go to a shop and try to pick out a gift, saying what Charlie Brown said in the X'mas special, "I want to buy something for a girl I really like" and with a smile on your face, you know you're in love. Now listen to Jeff's pirated version of a Scandanavian "I Fall In Love Too Easily."

Jeff is coming back to DC soon. Welcome back. Got a surprise e-mail from the mystic Heather, made my day. I'll be looking for a girl in a big-ass red scarf frantically from now on.

Googled all my ex-lovers yesterday. Damn, there are more of them than I thought. When I think of all the girls I've loved before, I realize I'm sort of a stud and it puts a smile on my face.

Feb 5 10:59 pm
I made two people happy and one person sad today. Each time I make someone unhappy I feel terrible. That's b/c I have remorse. Sometimes my survival tactics stem from my over-eagerness to protect myself from racial discrimination in this country (trust me-I get a lot of shit in this country. See "It's Hard Being a Woman" on lyrics page.) But if it ends up hurting somebody I'd rather forgo these tactics. Sorry Bruce. From today on I will try to make at least one person happy every day.

The advantage of having ties in a community is that you get a lot of respect and you can call for help readily. The advantage of going to a foreign land is that nobody knows who you are and you can relax. Also, you can start your life anew and be anonymous. That was my experience in Shanghai. I strolled the streets with exceptional freedom without worrying about people asking me for autographs. After a long vacation, you come back to your place of establishment and find out after all, nobody misses you.

There's a "About Me" section in Friendster where you can enter something telling about you. I have a hard time filling it out b/c I don't wanna be too cocky, yet at the same time, I want it to reflect my true self. Well, let's see. I am too judgmental sometimes I view other people's faults as monumental yet my own trivial. I get turned on by knowing that a girl has bisexual tendencies. I'm too critical about other critical people. I enjoy making other people's days by recommending good music to them. I am a romantic, deep down and out. My sentimentality defies my reason. I'm Sofa King in love with too many girls, all of whom have added me on their Friendster's list. Last but not least,I love 50's Rock N'Roll.

Feb 3 10:53 pm
What has the world come to? The perpetrator (the alleged musican who tried to obtain a gig from Europa Lounge thru improper means-see my Feb 1 entry) called me and yelled at me, as if I started the whole thing. Well, I argued with reason and ensured that he doesn't get that gig. (E-mail me if you want to know who this person is.) This debacle shows you once again that the music industry is a dog-eat-dog business.

Got a lot of studying done tonight at the AU Law Library, thanks to Sarah's suggestion. Great location. There's a Starbucks across the street, plus a couple of fast food places. I'll spend my whole February there.

My good friend William Tang (aka No. 1 harp player in HK) has recently relocated to his hometown Rochdale, UK, passing me the exact title. Good luck, Will. You'll always have my blessings!

Another item: my high school NMH has recently undergone a decision to combine the Northfield and Mt. Hermon campuses into one campus. This momentus decision has created a major divide. An alum has put up a website getting some feedback. Personally, I'm against closing Northfield campus b/c I used to spend so much wonderful time including hosting a radio show, using Dolben library, watching movies. I left infinite footprints on Northfield. If you're an NMH alum, please participate in the discussion on NMHUnited.org.

Enough of serious issues, now relax with this fun game.

Feb 1 2:02 am
Got some studying done today. Little by little overcoming the jetlag. I hate flying. Got my luggage finally on Thursday morning at 1:30 am. Woke me up from a deep sleep. Damn Air Canada!

January/February is a strange time. No one wants to write or call. My in coming/outgoing e-mail and calls have been an all-time low. I think the weather has a lot to do with it. It's cold, windy, depressing.

I found out today from a reliable source that someone was trying to stage a "coup d'état" over my status as a booking agent for Europa Lounge, while I was gone for vacation. They tried to lure the owner into giving them a gig instead of booking thru me. That is totally and utterly unprofessional and unethical behavior, especially amongst full-time musicians. This should not be tolerated in any music business, local or national.

To you midgets and alleged musicans out there: Let me clarify and regurgitate: EVERY MUSIC ACT AT EUROPA LOUNGE IS BOOKED THRU ME, AND NO ONE ELSE. Is that clear?

Speaking of which, the Februray calendar at Europa Lounge looks very promising, featuring great talents such as Benjie Porecki, Peter Edelman, Janine Wilson, Steve Herberman. Vocalists Pam Bricker, Julie Hall, Liz Briones will return. Check out February's schedule here.

Oh, this year's Wammies nominations are in. How can Exploding Eddie & Duke Ellington be both nominated in the same ("Jazz Group/Duo") category? Nonsense. They might as well nominate Sherwood, Bill Washburn, Mr. P.C. Don't forget 9-11.

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