DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME;

"Team Sweden vs. Team USA"

Mike contemplates whether or not to toss Ana to Bruce the Lover

back in the 70's and 80's pepsi cola used to have the blind folded taste test.
we here at the Diary had our own kind of taste test. it wasn't easy and the
point was not to put our players against each other. people always ask me the
differences and so i came up with the 'comparison' idea. enjoy...

name: Anna Landberg vs. Ana Lenchantin
instrument: cello
similarities: both are excellent musicians and very nice people. also share
same initials.
dissimilarities: Anna lives in freezing stockholm and loves red wine. Ana
lives on the beach near the marina and prefers cranberry and vodka to wine.
comment: both women are really bossy but atleast they are cute in how they
boss you around.
edge: TIE

name: Bjorn Samuelsson vs. Probyn Gregory
instrument: trombone
similarities: none
dissimilarities: where as Probyn is very health conscience (i call him 'raisin
nut boy') and will seldom touch a beer, Bjorn will drink everything not nailed
down and join me for kebabs afterwords.
comment: as Probyn is really a guitarist who also can play a variety of
instruments, there really isn't much of a comparison here.
edge: Bjorn

name: Caroline Valdermossen vs. Carrie Bartsch
instrument: violin
similarities: both are sweet and cute gals and both date a member of the
ensemble. Caroline dates (viola player) Eric Holm (i call him my 'Holmboy')
and Carrie and Probyn are an item.
dissimilarities: where Caroline and Eric and littel snuggle bunnies and hardly
ever separated, it's quite clear that Carrie runs the show on the west coast.
although they are cute as a button as well, when i want to ask Probyn something
i just ask Carrie.
comment: where Caroline and Eric wake me up with their early morning
practicing in their hotel room, Carrie and Probyn pretty much sleep in.
edge: this is WAY to close to call, although Caroline DID shave her head
recently.

name: Malin My vs. Paula Yoo
instrument: violin
similarities: both ladies are just a ray a sunshine, a slice of heaven and
totally fun to be around. Rusty and i nicknamed Malin 'Survivor' after the
clothes she wore on the USA tour and she had a good sense of humour about it.
Paula and I tease each other all the time and both of them are always making us
laugh. both love to drink.
dissimilarities: where as Malin is more of a Luddite and couldn't care less
about gadgets, Paula travels with more computer toys than Bill Gates.
comment: both are excellent violinist and very dedicated musicians.
edge: TIE

name: Stefan Persson vs. Dan Clucas
instrument: trumpet
similarities: both are avid jazz fans and good drinkers. both are tall as
well.
dissimilarities: Stefan speaks swedish. Dan doesn't. Dan plays flute. Stefan
doesn't.
comment: both guys are good guys to hang out with and i think Stefan really
benefits from being swedish, where the government really rewards and supports
musicians. but Dan brings something great to the table in his flute playing.
edge: Stefan, by virtue of the fact he's a trumpet nutter, accomplishing feats
unknown to most mortals. honorable mention for Dan's flute parts on Orange
Skies.

name: Eric Holm vs. Heather Lockie
instrument: viola
similarities: both are blond & nordic looking.
dissimilarities: Eric loves to dance and has all the latest 'J-Lo' moves down.
Heather would rather eat 'Draino' than listen to J-Lo.
comment: although we nick-named Eric 'dougie houwser' cause he looks like that
tv character, Heather picked up an even better one from this last tour; VIOLIN
GIRL! VIOLIN GIRL! some nut kept yelling that in Philadelphia. problem is,
SHE PLAYS VIOLA.
edge: too close to call. wait, Eric doesn't have 'twins'. ok, Heather wins.
(sorry Eric)

name: Ketil Solberg/ Andreas Forsman vs. Julie Carpenter
instrument: violin
similarities: all three are very dedicated and fun to drink with.
dissimilarities: where Julie is the 'party gal' and Andreas is my mild
mannered 'kebab partner', Ketil is the mad scientist of the bunch; the
consummate prodigy who has no patience for mistakes, who also loves to eat.
and loves whiskey.
comment: Ketil is so good that it's really not fair to make any comparison,
although the dress Julie wore at the NY show made this race tighter than a
mesquitoe's ass.
edge: Ketil

name: Fredrick 'Oscar' Oskarsson vs. Probyn Gregory
instrument: trumpet
similarities: well, these two 'kinda' look alike actually
dissimilarities: Oscar likes a good, lean steak, where as, Probyn digs trail
mix.
comment: Probyn has toured and recorded with Brian Wilson and the Eels and is
a member of LA's pop heroes, the Wondermints (of which Ana has recorded with)
Oscar plays with various groups around stockholm but nothing as extensive and
as significant as Probyn's accomplishments. but since trumpet isn't Probyn's
main instrument (he's an expert guitarist and is fluent on several other
instruments), Oscar some of wins this one in a photo finish. sorry bout that
Probe, cause you also were squeezed out by Bjorn.
edge: Oscar

=====

Mike Randle
mike@lovewitharthurlee.com

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