I don’t know what Paul Motian’s doing, I don’t understand how he’s doing it, all I know is that it’s wonderful. I’ve just returned from seeing the Motian 3 at the Village Vanguard, a high-powered trio that consists of Motian, Jason Moran, and Chris Potter (and no bassist to hold the anchor). Moran, just shy of 33, is, as I’ve written many times, the most extraordinary jazz pianist around. Potter, 37, as I’ve noted a couple times, is a tenor saxophonist with a galvanic tone and fleet agility. But Motian, at 76 (older than both of his trio mates combined, playing topnotch jazz since his days with the Bill Evans trio a half-century ago, and more combustive now than ever), is the heart-racer.

Dudes! We're in Las Vegas. This town is bananas, all sex and smoke and blurry light, gambling and booze and deep fried foods.

Whenever I run into <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/092407leland/">my audiophile doppelganger</a>, Music Hall's Leland Leard, I'm sure to ask him about what's new in his playlist.

Imani Coppola's <i>The Black & White Album</i> was playing strong in the Music Hall suite. Imani sings:

Bellari's pretty little boxes remind me of my guitar effects pedals. And maybe that's why I find them so attractive.

Shanling seems to have erected a shrine to the holy iPod with its new STP-10 stereo vacuum tube amplifier ($900).

The Shanling STP-10, with the lights on. This hefty little toy is built like a tank, and made to make your iPod smile.