I love to listen to John Lee Hooker Chill while I work. It's music that sits in the background until a particular phrase grabs your attention. Same is true of Townes Van Zandt.

I'm listening to more guys in general and Freddie Cole, whom I've written about is one. His CD Merry Go Round is a little evocative of his legendary older brother but his style is his own. That one's on Telarc.

The GBS's (Great Big Speakers) have me enjoying major orchestral stuff more than usual.Berlioz, especially Les Troyens and Simphonie Funebre et Triomphale I have on Phillips show off huge forces in excess of 200 players on the latter.

And all three of the Dvorak Symphonies 7,8, and 9 that I've played myself many times. (I'm old enough to remember them being numbered 3, 4and 5!) I can do more than just hum along now that I've got an "axe" again. If you'd like to try major Romantic and Brahms is too long-haired, the 3rd movement of the Dvorak Eighth is almost "pop" while the whole work really flows and holds your attention without effort. Really fun to listen to.

For Jazz, I can listen to Sonny Rollins all day long. Alfie, the soundtrack he wrote for the movie is often on the turntable. And I have a new fascination with Sarah Vaughan. I immediately found Billie Holliday boring, too.