Jasmine Breeze

Well, Happy New Year, for starters.

At the last minute, we decided to to take the day off, being, well, it was a holiday, and, we had other festivities, namely a family member's birthday to celebrate, and, being here in Boston, we would have broken the law if we didn't sit and watch the NHL's over-produced, over-hyped Winter Classic, at legendary Fenway Park.

As for today, there was nine-inches of snow to shovel, and, after hitting it twice, we were left in a very un-creative mood.

So, we ring in the New Year with a gem-of-a-gem for you.

The YouTube title credits it as "The Crusaders", when, actually, it is Crusader drummer Stix Hooper (who we got to sit behind, and talk with, at a Sonny Rollins concert in Los Angeles, back in the early 1980's), from his album, 'The World Within'.

Enjoy!

Jasmine Breeze / THE CRUSADERS

Royal Jam ... Fly With Wings Of Love

Well, we let the day get away from us today.

We hope you had a great Christmas Holiday, as we did on this end, busy few days, that it was.

In the event your Christmas didn't go very well, perhaps, a family member, or two, over-indulged, maybe things got a little rowdy, and you found yourself longing for a good, old-fashion Christmas celebration ...

Your drunken, loutish family members would be on-the-money, as the way to go.



Last week, Stephen Nissenbaum, at The Boston Globe, looked into it, and wrote;

Christmas was a riot ..Ever long for a traditional New England Christmas? Be careful what you wish for

So where does this leave the old-fashioned Christmas of yesteryear, untainted by commercialism or ideological dispute? The evidence from Boston suggests it was never there. When the Boston public embraced a more family-centered, domestic version of the holiday, it was already commercial at its very core

No snips, go read the entire piece ... It's hysterical.

And, since "flying" has been in the news all weekend all weekend, we have the soundtrack for you to read by.

It's a gem, from the early 1980's - The Crusaders, with B.B. King, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded live, at Royal Festival Hall.

And, there's monster piano work by Joe Sample ...

Enjoy!

Fly With Wings Of Love (Live 1981/Royal Festival Hall, London)

Happy New Year!

Voorspoedige nuwe jaar ... Kul 'am wa antum bikhair ... Urte Berri on ... Shuvo noboborsho ... Sun nien fai lok ... Xin nian yu kuai ...Stastny Novy Rok ... Godt NytÅr ... Gelukkig nieuwjaar ... Bonan Novjaron ... Onnellista uutta vuotta ... Bonne année ... Ein glückliches neues Jahr ... Eutychismenos o kainourgios chronos ... Hauoli Makahiki hou ... Shana Tova ... Boldog uj evet ... Selamat Tahun Baru ... Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon anno ... Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu ... Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo ... Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab ... Felix sit annus novus ... Barka da sabuwar shekara ... Godt Nytt År ... Manigong Bagong Taon ... Szczesliwego Nowego Roku ... La Multi Ani si Un An Nou Fericit ... Ia manuia le Tausaga Fou ... Feliz año nuevo ... Heri za Mwaka Mpya ... Gott Nytt År ... Sawatdee Pi Mai ... Chuc mung nam moi ... Blwyddyn Newydd Dda ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

All things considered, we're not sure just how much happiness is coming in with the sashed-wrapped New Years' baby.

And, where we write from on this new day, it's about 12-degrees, accompanied by 30-MPH winds, producing a -15-degree wind chill, so there's little happiness in walking out the front door (which is adorned with the fresh 6-inches of snow from yesterday).

It "warms up" to about 30 tomorrow.

Enough of that, today's a day of parades, bowl games, polar bear club members jumping into icy waters, Mummers Parade (you have to wait until January 18th for the classic, irreverent, Doo Dah Parade), special concerts, and, of course, for many, the nursing of hangovers.

So, whatever you are doing today, no matter how 2008 played out for you, we have, we believe, the tune that can assuage you for 2009, carrying you forward, a call to perseverance and optimism, of gratitude, and believing in yourself.

It comes via a collaboration between Joe Cocker and The Crusaders, appearing on The Crusader's album, 'Standing Tall', and was nominated for a Grammy in 1981.

Our New Years' gift to you - "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today"

Enjoy! ...

And, Happy New Year!

I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today

{Jazz} Im So Glad Im Standing Here Today -