Rocky Patel Sun Grown Torpedo

(Makes my mug look small.) Smoked last Thursday…The Rocky Patel Sun Grown Torpedo is a phenomenal cigar. I’ve changed y mind about having a whisky or port while smoking cigars, now I go for tea…while smoking …

San Cristobal Monumento

Cigar review number one from the group of of latest Nicaraguan cigars Keith sent my way. The San Cristobal Monumento is made by one of my favorite cigar companies, Ashton. Being a fan of Ashton (I …

A Truly Amazing Care Package…

Many of you are familiar with Keith McMullen, co-creator of the name pfMENTUM, co-founder of the original pfMENTUM newsletter and co-director of the Ventura New Music Concert Series/Festival from 1995 until its demise when I left …

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Bloody Mary’s, Texas, David Bartel

SD_bloody_mary.jpg What a lovely bloody mary, from the appropriately named “Bloody Mary’s” in the San Diego Airport. I have much to report on, including the gig, workshop, recording session with Guerino Mazzola, Heinz Geisser, Sirone, and …

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Peter Evans, Trumpet…

Peter Evans, Phil Skaller (fellow UCSD Grad Student), Jeff Kaiser: Stone Brewing Company Trumpet player Peter Evans visited UCSD this week. I had the pleasure to hang out with this true, multi-faceted virtuoso (who is comfortable …

Bobby Fischer, 1943-2008

Bobby Fischer, the greatest chess player of all time, has passed away after a long illness. A true tragedy, he basically went nuts and became an outspoken anti-semitic crazed racist. He died at the age of …

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New Quarter…

Well, after one quarter of graduate school I look crazy pretentious like this: Out sailing off the coast of San Diego with Jim Connolly on his sailboat and he snapped that pic of me while I …

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Papa Malick Faye, Walter Thompson….more

Grad school is turning out to be everything and more that I hoped for. Seminars this week were the best yet, building on an already excellent track record. In addition, Papa Malick Faye was visiting lecturer …

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Dinner with Philip Glass

Roger Reynolds of UCSD’s music department, was gracious and generous enough to invite some grad students over to his house to have dinner with Philip Glass. Composer/Conductor and chair of the music department Rand Steiger was …