The stories behind the headlines...

LAKE HAMMOND - He's the host of Minnesota Public Radio's Saturday night jazz show, and I thought his name was "Lake Hammond". I can't be the only one...didn't you think his name was "Lake Hammond"? I've met the man, and I still think he's saying "Lake Hammond"! Isn't he saying "Lake Hammond"? I wonder if he ever thinks he's saying "Lake Hammond"... Our opener, a hunk of New Orleans second-line funk, is dedicated to one of jazz's best friends, the incomparable and irreplaceable Mr. Leigh Kamman. (Or did he say...?)

NUDE MATH - Maybe you read about this in the National Geographic at your dentist's office... A team of archeologists from the University of Chicago recently uncovered some long-lost scrolls of the Greek mathematician Archimedes. This scribbled note appears in one of the margins: ����ݏ����Ƈ��, an approximate translation of which would be "Math is music with its clothes on."

CLOWN WITHOUT PITY - I wanted to write a ballad. I never had before. I thought it was about time. (I don't particularly like ballads, which made it even more of a challenge.) I first turned to Weather Report's lovely "A Remark You Made" for inspiration...but, alas, none was forthcoming. Then, in a change of direction, I decided to visit the south shore of Jersey, where this sultry R&B belly-rubber slinked its way into my head. A squeeze of the wheeze to Ted Daniels for the title.

BEE JAY - A twisted bit of Motown, this one goes out fondly and with gratitude to Lani & Dave & Mike & Jim & John, all of whom remember when...

LE BOZO, C'EST MOI - Modesty forbids.

EROTICA SYMPATHY - I wanted to write a ballad - take two. I like "Clown Without Pity" very much - so greasy! - but it is, when all is said and done, pasticcio. This is the slow song I originally hoped to find. The soloists dig playing on the changes, which evolved organically as I searched for every possible progression that would work with the minimalist melody. (Hey, look everybody! I wrote a ballad!)

BOZO ALLEGRO - The phrase "bozo allegro" was first the only remembered residue of a 1980 dream, next the name of a cat, then the title of this piece (which was originally the overture for my musical Tinseltown), and lastly (in 1995) the monicker of the band. This, our theme song from the beginning, is now finally - seven years later - available on CD. Recorded at the comedy club Laff Trax in Milford, MN - many thanks to Kaye Lammon - here's a taste of BOZO live.

RESPONSIBLE BAD BOYS - I hate to deal with gross simplifications, but what else can you do when talking about testosterone...? As the ladies know, there are two kinds of guys: the bad boys and the responsible men. With this tune, BOZO answers Mr. Freud's anguished question and posits their trumpeter and bassist as exemplary RBB's - although Phil and I can be damn outrageous, we will mow the lawn, do the recycling, and (usually) remember to put down the toilet seat.

LITTLE WONDERLAND - Bo Diddley meets Nicholas Slominsky - and both Bo and Nick are better off for the encounter...