When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular name. (The Naming of Cats by T.S. Eliot)
Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal. This week I am listening to the jazz contribution of drummer Charlie Watts. I’m getting a step closer to publishing a translated version of Samba in Brazil in Brazilian, Portuguese and enjoying great documentaries, among many other things during these waning days of summer.
1. Rest in Peace Charlie Watts 1941 – 2021, most people know of the drummer Charlie Watts as an integral part of the Rolling Stones rock group. Few realize Charlie was a jazz drummer and was involved in some great jazz projects.
Watts contributed to Tim Ries – The Rolling Stones Project, a great album featuring some incredible musicians including, John Patitucci and Brian Blade. Ries re-imagines some of the classic Stones pop tunes with jazz rendering.
Watts’ true love was jazz and here he is with a tribute to one of his jazz heroes Charlie Parker. The Charlie Watts Quintet – A Tribute To Charlie Parker With Strings.
2. This week I left my sanctuary in the Ontario north country and headed for Toronto on a rescue mission. Our cat Milo who was staying with one of my daughters was not doing well. The featured photo is of Milo a few years ago.
When we arrived back in Toronto, we found Milo in bad shape. Milo was 14 years old (Dec. 2006 – Aug. 2021), he was a feral kitten, we rescued him from an abandoned shed.
Milo had taken ill, he suffered from kidney disease. We took him to an emergency vet but there was nothing to be done. Milo had a great life, pampered and loved; now he is in a better place, on The Heaviside Layer, RIP Milo.
Milo was the inspiration for a couple of short stories I wrote, Milo’s Christmas and The Adventures of Milo.
3. This week I watched a fascinating documentary on the early life of the street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
For real – do you happen to have one of his paintings? At the last auction in NYC, a skull-head painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat soared to $93.1 million at Christie’s Auction House.
4. I am reading, actually, I am struggling to read the Selected Tales of Edgar Allen Poe. The language he uses is difficult to comprehend and his scenes are long and tedious. I read a little and then look to P.G. Wodehouse to lighten the mood; with The World of Jeeves.
5. My park training continues, however, I got the green light from Dino sensei of Black Tiger Karate that his martial arts school is open for business.
After my park training on Tuesday, I went to the dojo, it has been a long time since I’ve been to a dojo. It was nice to see old friends, training mates and Dino sensei.
I stayed for a couple of hours and practised hitting the makiwara and the large hanging bag. Great fun!
Thank you for reading. If you think someone you know would enjoy my newsletter please share it with them. If you are looking for a great children’s book check out my new book, Samba in Brazil; Paperback version, on sale for a limited time.
Or one of my other books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve.
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.
Copyright © 2021 Paul Yanuziello, All rights reserved.
