And Here's To 2005

What another trip around the sun. Not only does the United States further move to the right on political issues but Congress continues to compete with the President to see just how corrupt it can become before Bush outright dissolves it.

I always get sad seeing the lists of celebrities we've lost and there were some good ones, like there always is.

I think my family had a great year. Of course there were a couple of really low or scary points but watching my son turn one and show excitement over his Elmo slippers for Christmas were more than worth it.

I wanted to give a quick Top 10 list for both albums and musical experiences for the year. I listened to and saw quite a lot of music this year but there sure were some stand-outs. Starting with album releases and in no particular order:

1. Bruce - Devils and Dust
2. Winton Marsalis - Live at the House of Tribes
3. Thelonios Monk with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
4. Joe Cocker - Mad Dogs and Englishmen deluxe
5. Huey Lewis and the News - Live at 25
6. Sonny Rollins - the 9/11 concert
7. Harry Connick, Jr. - Occasions
8. Bob Dylan - Bootleg, volume 7
9. My Morning Jacket - Z
10. 30th Anniversary Born to Run (couldn't help myself)

My top ten concert experiences this year (and these were tough!)

1. U2 at the Oakland Colesium (11/9)
2. 15th row for Springsteen at the Oakland Paramount (5/5)
3. Derek Trucks Band at the Catalyst, Santa Cruz (2/11)
4. sitting on stage seeing the Allman Brothers Band at the S.B. County Bowl (5/7)
6. Branford Marsalis Quartet performing A Love Supreme (3/12)
7. McCoy Tyner Trio at Yoshi's (1/31)
8. The Black Crowes at the Fillmore and opening for Tom Petty (8/5, 26)
9. Ray Brown Tribute at Yoshi's (10/1ish)
10. tribute to Jerry Garcia at the Greek (9/24)

may 2006 bring as much peace and harmony to your life as 2005. See you next year.