The Information Super-Frog

News story: "A New Orleans civil judge has ruled that a case brought by a couple who were turned back by police when they tried to cross a Mississippi River bridge following Hurricane Katrina should be heard by a court." "Turned back" makes the situation sound much more civil than it was.

Nice profile of pianist/composer Tom McDermott from Offbeat Magazine

Last month I mentioned using the phrase "far out" to describe something at a gig.

Well, the situation was when a sax player was invited to play a couple numbers in a band he used to play with.

I should mention he's had problems with alcohol.

He eagerly brought up his horn, but was confused and delusional, generally not being able to follow where in a tune the band was, but playing with considerable enthusiasm and volume.

As he took a vocal on a number that used to be a specialty of his, his arms started shaking severely.

He waundered away with his horn, then back to the band, playing things that didn't go with the music.

He wouldn't stop playing, so we ended the set a early.

He said he was glad to play with us. I told him "It was far out."

Afterwards, one band member wondered if he was having strokes right there on stage. I guessed it was Delirium tremens. It sounds like we were both close, I hear it was likely Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

This past week the poor fellow went into a coma. And now he's dead.

Bye, Frank.

It turns out Doc had supplied me with something nice to say to Frank the very last time he played.